Another of my favorite day trips from Kazbegi is visiting Truso Valley and hiking along its incredibly scenic trail, which runs through the breathtaking open valley, offering views of beautiful historical watchtowers and fortresses that dot across the landscape.
Unlike Juta Valley, where you'll mainly find mountains, the Truso Valley hike offers not only mountain views but also a rich history and other points of interest, such as mountain villages, travertines, thermal hot springs, and more.
It is an incredible alternative hike to do in Kazbegi and within this guide, I'll provide all the information you need to plan the perfect trip to Truso Valley. Without further ado, here's the ultimate hiking guide to Truso Valley:
- Truso Valley Hiking Itinerary Map
- 1-Day Truso Valley Hiking Itinerary
- Where to Stay in Kazbegi?
- Things to Know Before Hiking in Truso Valley
- When to Visit Truso Valley?
- How to Get to Truso Valley?
- How Long Does It Take to Hike Truso Valley?
- How Difficult is the hike in Truso Valley?
- What to Pack for Truso Valley?
- Further Reading for Georgia
Truso Valley Hiking Itinerary Map
| 🌤️ Best time: | June-September |
| 🚘 Getting there: | Shared transfer |
| 🕓 Time to spend: | 7 - 10 hours |
| 🚶♂️ Difficulty: | Easy-Moderate |
| 💰 Cost: | 18+ USD |
1-Day Truso Valley Hiking Itinerary
From Kazbegi to Truso Gorge
Driving time: 45 minutes
Road condition: Paved + Rough unpaved dirt track
Our journey begins in Kazbegi, where you will be spending the night and doing the day trip from. To get from Kazbegi to Truso Valley, I highly recommend you go with the daily shared transfer organized by Mountain Freaks. The transfer runs every day at 9:15 AM and 11:15 AM from their office in town and costs 18 USD per person. They will pick you up again at 4:30 PM and 6:30 PM respectively.
The transfer will leave at 9:15 AM sharp, and they will wait for no one, so make sure you are at the office 15 minutes prior. The staff at the office will also provide you with some preliminary information for the hike so you can listen in before you depart.
After the introduction, you will be assigned a car. You will be riding in a Mitsubishi Delica, which seats 5 people. Depending on demand, there may be 2 cars available, but no more, so seats can fill up pretty quickly. To ensure your spot, be sure to book the transfer at least a day or two in advance.
- Archil and Nino Gigauri Guest House (Budget)
- Chemodann Kazbegi (Mid-Range) 👍 Top Pick
- Rooms Hotel Kazbegi (High-End)
- Round Trip Bus Transfer to Juta from Kazbegi (1 Day) 👍 Top Pick
- From Tbilisi: Kazbegi Ananuri Gudauri and Trusso Valley by 4x4 (1 day)
The journey should take about an hour to reach Truso Gorge, the starting point of the Truso Valley hike. Apply your sunscreen, and let's get started!
From Truso Gorge to the Travertines
Hiking time: 1.5 hours
Difficulty: Easy
The trail begins in the village of Kvemo Okrokana, where you will be able to get a glimpse of what life is like for the people living in the valley. After you cross the river, you can turn left and continue the trail through the village.
There is a really nice tower in the village that you can spot from the trail. There will be many of these towers and ruins along the valley, so be sure to keep an eye out for them.
After passing the village, you'll follow a dirt track that hugs the cliffside as you make your way through the valley. Expect a few ups and downs and limited shade for resting, so it's best to power through this section as quickly as you can.
There are beautiful little waterfalls down the gorge and several nice viewpoints along the trail, so be sure to keep an eye out for them. If you're hiking in the morning, the sun will be behind you, which makes the hike a bit more bearable.
After about an hour, you'll arrive at a bridge crossing the Terek River. As you continue along the trail and the river widens, you'll be welcomed by the expansive valley where the true beauty of Truso Valley comes into view.
From there, it should take about 15 minutes to reach the Truso Travertines, a naturally occurring white limestone formation created when carbonate minerals precipitate out of ambient temperature water. It's similar to the formation found in Pamukkale, Turkey, but without the terraces.
In some areas of the travertines, you'll find a thin layer of transparent water covering the white surface of the slopes. This is part of the ongoing process that contributes to the formation of the white limestone you see. It was pretty awesome to walk around and witness this process with our own eyes.
From the Travertines to Abano Lake
Hiking time: 25 minutes
Difficulty: Moderate
Upon reaching the travertines, you'll come to a junction with one path leading to Abano Lake and another to Zakagori Fortress. I highly recommend taking the route to Abano Lake. This path will lead you to a bridge crossing the river, where you'll find a shaded area with a cafe where you can rest.
Right next to the cafe, there will be a path that will go up the mountainside. Take that, and follow the trail for about 15 minutes before you arrive at Abano Lake, a small but beautiful thermal hot spring, which makes for a perfect spot to take a break and have lunch.
The lake was formed by an underground stream filled with carbon dioxide flowing to the surface through carbonate rocks. The lake "boils" loudly with carbon dioxide bubbles bursting, so do not swim or drink from it!
There's a small trail that takes you up the rocks where you can admire a view of the lake from above and fully appreciate its scenic beauty. The colors of the lake are also quite incredible from this vantage point. Spend some time here before continuing with the hike.
From Abano Lake to Ketrisi
Hiking time: 1 hour
Difficulty: Easy
From Abano Lake, you should be able to see a mountain village and a tower on the horizon. That is your next destination. As you continue along the trail, you will be surrounded by an open grassland with the entire view of the valley at your fingertips.
It should take about 1 hour to reach Ketrisi, a small mountain village located at 2,300 meters above sea level. The trail is relatively flat and easy, but it is long with very little shade from the heat, so be sure to stay hydrated.
The trail should take you to Ketrisi Tower, an old defensive tower set against the stunning mountain peaks of the Greater Caucasus. You can spend some time here and explore the beautiful ruin before continuing on our hike.
We won't be heading to Ketrisi Village at the moment, so you can continue along the trail towards Abano Village. The hiking trail here gets a little confusing, so it's best you make your way down the dirt track that runs along the river right after you pass Ketrisi Tower and follow the track to Abano Village.
From Ketrisi to Abano Village
Hiking time: 30 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
After hiking for about 30 minutes from Ketrisi Tower, you'll arrive in the village of Abano, which literally translates to "a bath", referring to the Abano hot spring we visited a few hours earlier.
Along the way, you will also see St. 12 Apostles Monastery, which you can admire from the outside, but going in was prohibited, at least when I was there. Once you are in Abano, you will also find another beautiful monastery and a nunnery where you can check out, or you can rest in a cafe/restaurant there.
From Abano Village to Zakagori Fortress
Hiking time: 35 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
From Abano Village, you'll finally get a close view of the stunning Zakagori Fortress. At this point, you'll need to decide whether to trek an additional 30 minutes (1.5 km) to reach the fortress and spend 5 more minutes climbing it, or start heading back to the pick-up point.
If you arrive in Abano before 1 PM, you should have enough time to reach the fortress and start heading back by 1:30 PM. The trek back will take about 3 hours, so you should arrive at the pick-up point by 4:30 PM, just in time.
As you can see, you'll barely make it back in time for the pick-up, and you won't have much time to enjoy the fortress, especially if you arrive in Abano later than 1 PM. So, be sure to weigh your options carefully.
In my group of 5, no one made it to the fortress, except maybe my drone 🤣. We all stopped in Abano and decided to spend the rest of the day trekking back at a more leisurely pace. Why rush if you don't have time to enjoy it, right?
From Zakagori Fortress back to Truso Gorge
Hiking time: 2.5 - 3 hours
Difficulty: Easy
After you are done at the fortress, you can make your way back to the pick-up point. From Zakagori Fortress, it should take about 3 hours to get back, while if you decided not to continue to Zakagori Fortress, it should take you about 2.5 hours to get back from Abano.
On our way back, we are going to take a different route so we can avoid having to hike up and down unnecessarily. Remember Ketrisi Tower? Yeah, we are not going to climb back up there. We are going to take a shortcut through Ketrisi Village which will take you directly to the junction at Truso Travertines, bypassing all the hills you climbed before.
As you make your way back along the dirt road, follow it all the way to a bridge that will take you across the river to Ketrisi Village. From there, you can explore the town, perhaps rest at a nearby roadside cafe, or continue on and you will arrive at Truso Travertines.
It should take about 1 to 1.5 hours to hike from Abano to Truso Travertines, and another 1 to 1.5 hours from the travertines to Truso Gorge, the pick-up point. Your transfer will pick you up at 4:30 PM sharp, and then you'll head back to Kazbegi. Congratulations! You've completed the one-day hiking itinerary for Truso Valley. Enjoy a well-deserved rest!
Where to Stay in Kazbegi?
Things to Know Before Hiking in Truso Valley
- Navigating the Trail: the hike in Truso Valley is pretty straightforward. You can simply follow the directional signs that dotted the trail or just follow the dirt track, and you will be arrive at Zakagori Fortress in no time. Just make sure, you cross the river and follow the trail to Abano Lake at the first junction after the travertines and then make your way back through Ketrisi village instead.
- Cars on the Trail: My least favorite thing about this hike is sharing the trail with cars. At one point on my way back, there were so many cars (as tours rushed to return to Kazbegi) that it became extremely frustrating, having to make way. The constant stream of vehicles was kicking up dust along the entire trail, making hikers like us suffocate. So keep that in mind before hiking Truso Valley.
- Fitness Level: The hike isn't particularly difficult, but it is long, covering over 14 km in 6–7 hours. You'll need a decent level of fitness to take it on.
- Water Source: Be sure to carry enough water for the hike, unless you're okay with filling up from the river next to the trail. The water is good, though it may have a slight metallic aftertaste, so keep that in mind.
- Bathroom Access: There are a few stops along the way with access to toilets, such as at this cafe, Ketrisi, and Abano Village. You should have no trouble finding them, as long as you pace your drinking.
- Pack Layers: As with any mountain, the weather can be unpredictable. It's best to pack layers so you're prepared for any conditions that may come your way.
- Lunch: You might be able to buy lunch in Abano Village, but it's about 4 hours from the trailhead, and prices can be quite high. It's best to pack your own lunch for the hike.
- Wi-Fi and cell service: There was no cell service the entire time I was hiking in Truso Valley, but in case of emergency, you can always rely on the locals living in various villages dotting the trail without problems.
When to Visit Truso Valley?
If you're looking to hike, the best time to visit Truso Valley is during the summer months between June and September. During this period, the weather is generally favorable with minimal rain. Although it can be quite hot at times, the conditions are great for hiking, and I'd take hot days over rainy ones any day.
You can hike off-season, but you have to be extra careful and equipped with proper gear as much of the trails are likely to be covered in snow. I would avoid visiting outside of the recommended period if you are not used to hiking in snow.
How to Get to Truso Valley?
To get to Truso Valley, you will have to first fly into Tbilisi, the capital city of Georgia. There are not many flights flying to Tbilisi directly, so you will have to rely on transit flights like Turkish Airlines via Ankara, Qatar Airlines via Doha, or Air Astana via Almaty. You can browse through Skyscanner or Expedia to find the cheapest flight from your home country to here.
Once you arrive in Tbilisi, you will then have to get to Kazbegi or Stepantsminda, a base where you will be exploring Juta Valley from. You can take a day trip from Tbilisi and ask them to drop you off in Kazbegi, take a local Marshrutka van from Didude Bus Terminal, or rent a car and drive yourself.
The journey should take about 3-4 hours, and depending on the option you choose, it could cost between 5 USD to 25 USD. Once you arrive in Kazbegi, you can spend the night there and either take a shared transfer organized by Mountain Freaks which costs 18 USD both ways, or find a taxi to drive you to Truso hike's starting point. They often hang out around Kazbegi Town Square, and it will cost you about 40 GEL (15 USD) one-way, 80 GEL (30 USD) roundtrip.
If you do not want to hike at all, there is also a dirt road that goes all the way to Zakagori Fortress, the end point of our hike, but I don't recommend driving yourself. It's better to organize a 4WD tour from Kazbegi. The tour should cost 50+ USD per person and you should be able to organize them through various tourist agencies in Kazbegi Town Square.
How Long Does It Take to Hike Truso Valley?
It should take about 6 - 7 hours to get from the starting point all the way to Zakagori Fortress and back. With the shared transfer organized by Mountain Freaks, you will be dropped off at the starting point at 10 AM and they will pick you up at 4:30 PM, giving you about 6.5 hours to hike in total.
If you hike fast, you might be able to get to Zakagori Fortress and spend some time there, but if not, you can stop at Abano Village and you should be able to see Zakagori Fortress from there.
From my experience with the shared transfer, you have just about enough time to hike to the fortress and back, but it leaves you very little time to rest and enjoy the view. I wish the transfer would pick us up an hour later, that would have given us enough time to actually explore Zakagori Fortress.
What I would recommend is to hike to Abano Village, see how much time you have, and if you think you won't be able to reach the fortress in time, then you can rest at the village, enjoy the view of Zakagori Fortress, and start heading back. That way, you see the fortress, but also have time to rest and enjoy the scenery a bit more.
If you decide to get to Truso Valley by other means (private tours), you can expect the trip to last around 10 hours in total, including driving from and to Kazbegi.
How Difficult is the hike in Truso Valley?
The Truso Valley hike is not particularly difficult or challenging as you will be walking along a relatively flat trail most of the way, but it is a very long one, covering over 14 km on foot in 6-7 hours.
It took me 3.5 hours to reach Abano Village, including rest stops, photo breaks, and more. The return trip took about 2.5 hours with maybe one stop. It was an exhausting day, made even worse by the intense heat and the lack of shade in the valley to escape from it, so make sure you are prepared for a long day of walking in the sun.
What to Pack for Truso Valley?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Truso Valley, Georgia:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Georgia
I hope you found this Georgia travel guide useful. If you are looking for something to read to help with your Georgia trip planning even further, be sure to check out the articles below:
- For a complete itinerary to Georgia, check out: 2 Weeks Backpacking Georgia Itinerary.
- Tbilisi is definitely one of my favorite cities in the Caucasus with its vibrancy and liveliness that rival no one. If you are planning a trip here, be sure to check out our guide: 15 Incredible Things to Do in Tbilisi.
- Looking for a great day trip from Tbilisi? How about visiting the romantic wine region of Kakheti? Here is A Complete Travel Guide to Kakheti.
- Nestled between the rolling mountains of the Greater Caucasus Range, Kazbegi is hands down one of the best places to visit in Georgia. From the photogenic Gergeti Trinity Church to all the awesome hikes you can do, here is A Complete Travel Guide to Kazbegi.
- One of the best day trips you can make in Kazbegi is to visit Juta Valley and go hiking around one of the many hiking trails here. Here is A Complete Hiking Guide to Juta Valley.
- As one of the oldest cities in Georgia, with a history spanning 3,000 years, Kutaisi has a ton of things for you to see and do. If you're planning a visit, be sure to check out our 10 best things to do in Kutaisi.
- Svaneti is one of the most beautiful regions in Georgia. It is home to not just beautiful mountains, but also the Svans with their rich history, and unique culture. If you want to visit Svaneti, this is the travel guide for you: A Complete Travel Guide to Svaneti
- One of the best hikes you can do in Svaneti is the Koruldi Lakse hike. Here is A Complete Hiking Guide to Koruldi Lakes
- For a complete list of things to do in Mestia, check out: 10 Best Things to Do in Mestia
- Ushguli is one of the highest inhabited settlements in Europe, and it is a must-visit if you are exploring Svaneti. Here is A Complete Travel Guide to Ushguli
- Batumi is more than just the Dubai of the Black Sea; it has a rich history, delicious cuisine, and plenty of things to do. Here are the 11 Best Things to Do in Batumi.
- Wondering where to go after Georgia? Why not drop by Armenia or Azerbaijan afterward?
- For all articles about Georgia, visit our Georgia Travel Guide page.
- Looking to travel to the Caucasus Region? Check out all my articles about the region here: The Caucasus Travel Guide page.
- You can see all my Asia-related articles here: Asia Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.
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