Mount Kazbek — A Gift of Nature and a Gaze of Faith

🏔️ Georgia's Snow-Capped Volcano! Mount Kazbek is located in the southeastern part of the Greater Caucasus Mountains on the border between Georgia and Russia. It is a complex dormant volcano with a lava layer up to 305 meters thick. The upper slopes are covered with glaciers, while the lower slopes are dotted with meadows, making it undoubtedly the most spectacular scene in the Caucasus Mountains. Legend has it that Prometheus was imprisoned here, and it is recorded in the Bible as the resting place of Noah's Ark. The Gergeti Trinity Church at the foot of the mountain is a landmark of Georgia. In 1979, it was designated as a national nature reserve, home to unique flora and fauna of the Caucasus. It is a popular destination for hiking in summer and skiing in winter. 📍 Address: Stepantsminda, Georgia, a 3-hour drive from Tbilisi 🚙 Car rental tips: It is recommended to choose an SUV. The winding mountain roads along the way are perfect for capturing drift shots like those in "Initial D"! 📸 Two iconic photo spots: 1️⃣ Gergeti Trinity Church Cliff A 14th-century church perched alone on a 2,170-meter cliff! Use a telephoto lens to frame the church and snow-capped mountains in one shot, instantly evoking the feeling of the Wall from "Game of Thrones." 2️⃣ Gergeti Meadows A paradise on earth when wildflowers bloom in July and August! Lie down in the waist-high flowers to shoot Instagram-worthy photos. Remember to bring a wide-angle lens to capture the entire snowy mountain backdrop. ☕️ Must-try at the foot of the mountain: The trendy café "Rooms Hotel" hidden in Stepantsminda! With panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows facing the snowy mountains, their honey cake paired with Georgian pour-over coffee is amazing! ⚠️ Hard-learned lessons: 1. At an altitude of over 2,000 meters, avoid strenuous exercise depending on your physical condition. 2. The temperature at the summit is lower than at the foot! Dress warmly in time. 🚁 Luxury experience: Take a helicopter directly from Tbilisi to fly over the entire Caucasus Mountains! The aerial view of the volcanic crater’s ice and snow forming a Taiji pattern is a spectacular sight, and the whole trip takes only 45 minutes~