Georgian Military Highway
Photo: Nicolai Bangsgaard, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Georgian Military Highway (Georgian: საქართველოს სამხედრო გზა [sakartvelos samkhedro gza], Russian: Военно-Грузинская дорога [Voyenno-Gruzinskaya doroga], Ossetic: Арвыкомы фæндаг [Arvykomy fændag]) is a mountain road that crosses the Greater Caucasus Mountains and connects Tbilisi in Georgia with the Russian town of Vladikavkaz in North Ossetia. It passes through narrow gorges squeezed between colossal mountains, which makes for some amazing views.
This epic journey across the traditional boundary of Europe and Asia reaches nearly 2,400 m in the Jvari Pass and is dominated by the massive Mount Kazbek whose 5,033 m peak straddles the continental divide.
Despite being a rough ride, it is the easiest way to navigate the political minefield of the Caucasus region and to travel between Russia's Northern Caucasus and the countries of the southern Caucasus. The only open border crossing between Russia and Georgia is along this road.
UnderstandKnown since antiquity, this route following rivers up through the mountains became vital to Russian Imperial expansion in the late eighteenth century.
PrepareWhile the distance isn't far and the road is in generally good condition, the long wait at the border should be prepared for. Take plenty of water in summer.).
Get inThe ends of the road, Vladikavkaz and Tbilisi, are well connected to the outside world.
RouteNorth — Vladikavkaz — Verkhny Lars — Russia-Georgia border — Kazbegi — Gudauri — Pasanauri — Ananauri — Dusheti — Mtskheta — Tbilisi — South
Stay safeAltitude sickness (associated with heights over 2,400 m) should not pose a problem on the road itself but it may affect travellers that venture off the highway into the mountains.
Go nextIn the north the road ends in Vladikavkaz, a major hub of the North Caucasus region. In the south it ends in the Georgian capital Tbilisi.
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Georgian Military Highway" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: Nicolai Bangsgaard, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons