Chaukhi pass is one of the highest passes in Georgia.

One week hike with the Norwegian tour company Hvitserk, crossing the Chaukhi pass from Roshka to Juta. This popular area is known as the “Georgian Dolomites.” Afterward, we went to Stepantsminda with a fantastic view of Kazbegi mountain.

First night in Tbilisi

We were 16 people that had started from Oslo and arrived in Tbilisi in the middle of the night. Our Norwegian guide had become ill and had to stay at home. However, we were taken good care of by the Georgian guides.

We stayed in this cliff-hanging hotel in Tbilisi for the first two nights. And also the last night at the end of this trip. On the first day, we got a local guide to show us through the old, touristic part of the city. In the evening we had dinner at a restaurant with traditional Georgian food, with some Georgian music and dance. And even a wedding party was present.

Heading awards the mountains

The following day we finally were heading for the mountains. A few cars were transporting us to the starting point of the hike. A week before we arrived, there had been heavy rain, and parts of the road were damaged; it was a wonder we could pass some places. Good that we had four-wheel drive. Our luggage had been transported in advance and was already taken care of by the horse riders. So now it was time for us to start the hike.

First day of hiking

We started from this tiny place with just a few houses. One thing that was very different from the mountains in Norway was that the hills stayed green to almost 3000 meters high and became rocky higher than that. The walk was not going to be so long the first day, and it was warm, over 20 degrees despite the fact we were high up. We arrived at the camp where the horses were resting, and we could put up our tents.

The Camp

We were camping next to a little lake, and some took their first dip in the water. The horses were grassing, and we could see how green it was around us. We had two chefs with us, and they made us a good dinner. I will not lie; I like the freedom of tenting; however, I never sleep very well in a tent. I had paid extra to have my own tent at least.

After breakfast, we dismounted the camp and were ready for the actual pass crossing.

The crossing of Chaukhi pass

For the first hour or so, we were hiking up the green hills, it was not very steep, but because of mild weather, we became pretty warm. We were passing Abudelauri lakes – three beautiful alpine lakes with different colors (green, blue, and white). Since we were now close to 3000 meters high, we walked pretty slowly, but I think a couple in the group felt the strain from the height.

Finally, we came to the more rocky part of the mountains and crossed the Chaukhi Pass at 3341 meters high. It was very windy at the highest point of our hike, so we had to lay down when we had a rest. However, this was just for a short time. We crossed some small parts of snow, and then we started on our way down, and it was time to take the jackets off again.

We came down to our new campsite, and here we were going to stay for the next two nights. The following day we had a hike up to Peak Mukhadze, 3289 meters. It was also a fantastic hike; we got a view over a significant part of the Caucasus.

This view did I wake up to in the morning!

Back into a comfortable bed

The following day was the last hike down from this mountain. We walked down the very green valley and arrived at Juta, where there was a cafe, and some got a cold beer. Here we were picked up by the cars again and were driven to a charming and comfortable hotel—Rooms Hotel in Stepantsminda.

Kazbegi Mountain and Gergeti Trinity Church

The last day of hiking was below the fantastic Kazbeghi Mountain, which reaches 5047 meters. We started with a short visit to the Gergeti Trinity Church, which is lying so majestic on the top above Stepantsminda. The Gergeti Trinity Church from the 14th century. Its isolated location on top of a steep mountain surrounded by the vastness of nature has made it a symbol for Georgia.

Since the day before, I had some stomach problems, so when the group was going to hike up to the glacier below Kazbegi, I walked down to the town and rested in the hotel garden for the rest of the afternoon.

A big thanks to our three eminent guides that brought us safely over the mountains and the Chaukhi pass. They also gave us much information about Georgia, its history, and its present situation.