Georgia: Kazbegi & The Caucasus

Georgia: Kazbegi & The Caucasus

The Greater Caucasus. Ancient towers, glacial passes, and a church at the edge of Russia.

Oct 1-8, 2027 · Stepantsminda, Greater Caucasus

Georgia: Kazbegi & The Caucasus, photo 1
Georgia: Kazbegi & The Caucasus, photo 2
Georgia: Kazbegi & The Caucasus, photo 3
Georgia: Kazbegi & The Caucasus, photo 4
Georgia: Kazbegi & The Caucasus, photo 5
Georgia: Kazbegi & The Caucasus, photo 6
Georgia: Kazbegi & The Caucasus, photo 7

About this trip

Stepantsminda sits at 1,740m in the Greater Caucasus, five kilometres from the Russian border. Above the village, Gergeti Trinity Church, a 14th-century Georgian Orthodox church, perches on an isolated spur at 2,170m, with Mount Kazbek's 5,047m glacier rising directly behind it. One of the most dramatic viewpoints in Europe, earned on foot.

Eight days, seven nights, based in Stepantsminda. Each day a different route: the Truso Valley's fizzing mineral springs and ruined medieval fortress, the Juta amphitheatre, and the defining moment, one night wild camping at the base of the Chaukhi Massif. Georgia's Dolomites. Granite towers at 2,450m, no other commercial operator runs this as an overnight. Fire Pot camp dinner under the stars, Kazbek visible on the horizon.

Georgia is not yet on the mass-market radar. Tbilisi is extraordinary, wine, ancient history, some of the best food in Eastern Europe. The Caucasus mountains are staggering and barely visited by Western trekkers. Flights from London are cheap and often direct. The in-country cost of living is low, which is why Jove can offer a full week, all meals, accommodation, private transfers, licensed local guide, at a fraction of what comparable Alpine weeks cost.

Highlights

  • Eight days in the Greater Caucasus, one of Europe's last genuinely wild mountain ranges
  • Wild camp at the Chaukhi Massif (2,450m), Georgia's Dolomites. No other operator runs this overnight
  • Gergeti Trinity Church at dawn, one of the world's most spectacular viewpoints, earned on foot
  • Truso Valley: fizzing mineral springs, medieval fortress, 5km from the Russian border
  • Full board throughout, Georgian guesthouse cooking, welcome and farewell dinners in Tbilisi
  • Private minibus, licensed local mountain guide, maximum 12 people
  • Flights London to Tbilisi, typically under £300 return
  • Jove kit gift, merino base layer included for all Georgia expedition participants

Itinerary

Fly into Tbilisi International (TBS). Direct flights from London take around 4 hours; connections via Istanbul are also good value. Transfer to hotel in the old city. Group dinner together: Georgian wine, khinkali, khachapuri. Briefing over dinner. Early night.

What's included

  • 7 nights accommodation, hotel Tbilisi old city (nights 1 & 7), full-board mountain guesthouse Stepantsminda (nights 2-6)
  • All meals throughout, guesthouse full board, welcome dinner Tbilisi (Day 1), farewell restaurant dinner Tbilisi (Day 7)
  • Fire Pot freeze-dried camp dinner and breakfast for the Chaukhi wild camp night (Days 5-6)
  • Private minibus transfers throughout, airport, Military Highway, all day-hike access points
  • Licensed local mountain guide for all hiking days
  • National park entry permits
  • Jove kit gift, merino base layer (Icebreaker or equivalent)

Not included

  • Return flights London-Tbilisi (typically £200-350, full flight guidance in your pre-trip briefing pack)
  • Tent and sleeping bag for the Chaukhi camp night, rated -5°C minimum. Jove provides kit discount codes in the pre-trip brief
  • Personal travel insurance (required, must cover mountain rescue and medical evacuation)
  • Drinks beyond wine at guesthouse dinners

Good to know

  • £1,450 per person, all in-country costs included, flights separate. £300 deposit to hold your place, balance due 8 weeks before departure.
  • Small group. Small by design.
  • This trip is planned for autumn 2027, subject to our recce visit. Register your interest now, you'll be among the first to hear when booking opens and dates are confirmed.

Physical requirements

This trip suits fit, experienced walkers comfortable with consecutive days of mountain terrain. You should manage 15-20km with 800m+ ascent on back-to-back days without significant difficulty. The Chaukhi camp night adds altitude (2,450m) and a loaded pack, sharing a two-person tent halves the weight. No technical climbing required. Previous multi-day mountain experience essential.

What to expect

Group size

Typically 6-10 people, small enough that you’ll actually get to know everyone.

Going solo?

Almost everyone who books a Jove trip comes on their own.

Your instructors

Qualified instructors, all outdoor first aid trained.

Pace & fitness

We keep an eye on pace throughout, nobody gets left behind.

Meeting point

Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) on Day 1. Jove coordinates the group transfer to the hotel. Full flight guidance, including best routes and timing, in the pre-trip briefing pack.

A note from Freddie

I first read about Stepantsminda in a book about the Caucasus and sat on it for two years. The photos of Gergeti Church with Kazbek behind it look unreal, like someone's composited them. Then I looked at the flights and realised London to Tbilisi is four hours and costs less than a train to Edinburgh. Georgia is one of the most dramatic mountain environments in Europe and almost nobody in the UK goes there. That's exactly where Jove should be.

Freddie, Founder of Jove Club

Freddie Sankey

Founder, Jove Club

Price per person

£1,450

Dates

Oct 1-8, 2027

Duration

8 days

Difficulty

Advanced

Location

CAUCASUS · GEORGIA

Almost everyone books on their own. You won’t be the only one.

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Google Reviews

What they said
when they got home.

5.0· 31 reviews on Google

It's been on my bucket list to explore the Scottish Highlands and try wild camping for some time now and Jove Club gave me the perfect trip I could have hoped for! Freddie was an amazing leader, highly organised and planned an incredible trip (Highland Hootenanny) that was a varied blend of challenging hiking, camping, and exploring Scotland's beautiful nature. Freddie was very knowledgable of the areas, and we went to spots that took us away from the touristy areas of the Highlands to enjoy some truly peaceful and stunning nature. I felt a real sense of achievement having completed the active parts of the trip, and these were well-paced/planned to enjoy some downtime and local culture (lively highland pubs!) in between adventurous days. I learned a lot of outdoor skills from Jove Club including mountain safety, how to plan & prepare hiking trips, trail running, wild camping & cooking just to name a few, and look forward to using these skills on future trips. I would highly recommend the Highland Hootenanny trip to those looking to challenge themselves mentally and physically, improve mountain skills, and explore the Highlands in a sociable group setting. Thanks Freddie for some unforgettable memories!

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James Patterson

I joined a Jove Club trail run weekend in Devon and had such a brilliant time, couldn't recommend it enough! It gave me the opportunity to do something I'd otherwise shy away from organising myself, and I felt well looked after and in safe hands throughout. I attended this trip with my partner, but would feel very comfortable going solo too, its a great way to find new friends with similar hobbies. What I love most about Jove Club is the welcoming environment, it feels accessible to all levels, but every person leaves feeling more confident, stronger and fitter. I love how there is regular training programmes on offer to get you fit enough for the challenges ahead. They've really thought about it all. Thanks Fred and the team for the great experiences!

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Clare Doohan

I've attended multiple Jove club sessions in London from running sessions, rock climbing and fitness sessions. Both Fred and the other trainers are great, they are passionate about what they do and incredibly knowledgeable. Would recommend anyone wanting to try new things or meet like minded people to give them a go!

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Emma Towers

I went to the Jove Weekender earlier this year, and it has definitely been one of the highlights of my year! The Jove team were so down to earth, and everyone in the group was so nice. I went from zero navigational skills to being able to use a map and compass confidently over the course of the weekend. The social on the Saturday night was really fun and was a nice way to unwind with new friends after a day of hiking. I also had my first go at trail running! I already am looking at the future trips to see which I should sign up to next! They're absolutely the group you are looking for if you're looking for adventure, along with fitness, outdoor skills and making new friends along the way!

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Emma Clarke

I did the week long trip in Scotland with Jove and it has been one of the best experiences I had hiking. An unforgettable week with wild camping, long hikes, unpredictable weather and some truly beautiful scenery. Challenging at times, but there's something very special about spending your days walking through mountains and remote landscapes, carrying what you need with you, and ending the day surrounded by nature. Freddie made sure we were safe but also testing our limits. All in all, one of the best trips I had! I'll definitely join another!

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Andreea Covaci

After taking on the Welsh 3000s challenge with Jove Club I can highly recommend Freddie and his team! Having someone you can trust to guide you through a challenge like this is so incredibly valuable (especially when the Welsh weather isn't on your side). The team of Mountain Leaders and support team that Jove Club put together were fantastic. Even as the weather turned savage they kept spirits high. It was great to be with like-minded individuals for the weekend. Thank you team Jove 🏔

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Michelle Clarke

I was nervous about taking on the Welsh 3000s challenge. I was right to be nervous. It turned out to be the most incredible experience I've ever had! Principally because of the supreme organisation of Freddie, Fran and the Jove Club, who instructed, supported, encouraged, fed, guided and protected me for the entire gruelling 51km, up and down the Welsh peaks in gale force winds, horizontal rain, no visibility and the dark. I loved every minute of it. I could not have completed this as a group of friends on our own. Freddie's skilled navigation (in the dark), mountain expertise, and clear leadership ability made this terrifyingly enjoyable. What hurts most are my cheeks from smiling for 21hrs. I didn't realise I could complete this challenge. What the Jove Club has showed me is I'm actually made of stronger stuff than I thought. Drying out my boots for next year!

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Willow Dawes

I did the Welsh 3000s challenge with Jove Club and absolutely loved it!! Freddie and the team organised everything so well and it was brilliant to be amongst friendly, adventurous people looking to push their limits. I really enjoyed doing something genuinely testing, with the weather, distance and elevation all playing their parts, and at the same time being part of a really supportive group with Jove giving a real sense of confidence and positivity. Jove Club offers loads of different activities and adventures, I'll definitely be signing up for another one soon. Thanks Freddie, Fran, the Mountain Leaders and all those on the challenge 🏔

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James Morgan

I had the best time on the Jove weekend trip to the Peaks. Got there and they helped set up my new tent, very friendly from the off. Zero judgement across the weekend for anything. It was about learning the skills needed to thrive outdoors, without any of the judgement you get with some providers. It gave me my confidence back outdoors, and I've booked onto my next trip already.

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Leah Brunskill

Jove are fantastic. I've been going to their weekly strength sessions at Battersea park for a couple of months now and I've felt my confidence and strength for mountaineering and trail running come on in leaps and bounds. Their trips are incredibly good fun and genuinely valuable. Can't recommend highly enough, wish I'd joined sooner!

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Alex White

Enjoyed a wonderful weekend of hiking, camping, trail running, navigation & fitness sessions (and some cracking pubs, pie & pizzas!) in the Peak District with a group of wonderful people. We all had different levels of previous outdoor experience & all were catered for. Thanks to Freddie & the Jove club team for leading us safely & challenging us.

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Claire

I joined a Jove Weekender Trip to the Peak District for the weekend and had an amazing time! Freddie & the team were very welcoming and knowledgeable and it really gave me confidence to try and do more hiking in the future! I'll definitely be joining for some of the London sessions and hopefully a future trip. Would thoroughly recommend!!

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Bryony Kirby

Joined Jove Club for an amazing trip to the Cairngorms to learn winter mountaineering skills! Small group of adventurous people, everyone was super supportive and keen to learn. Perfect weekend spent outdoors!

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Lizzie

Huge shout out to Freddie for sorting out the winter skills training in the Cairngorms. We had an extremely knowledgeable instructor who took us through everything we needed to know about Scottish winter! I had a great weekend away and the group really topped it off as a stand out trip. Would also highly recommend the weekly social bouldering sessions in London.

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Tom Roberts

I could not recommend Jove Club enough for anyone who wants to get outside, explore the country and test their physical and mental limits. I've done things in the past year I would never have done myself, with an amazing group of driven, friendly and kind people, and it's been an absolute blast.

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Richard Scothern

I had such a great time on the Peak District climbing trip! Having joined for their London bouldering sessions for a couple of months, it was great to put my new skills to use outside. We had an amazing instructor who made me feel so at ease. The group was great fun, everybody was so positive and supportive of each other. Can't wait to join more trips next year!

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Emily Elizabeth

I did the Welsh 3000s challenge with Jove Club in July and it was unreal. Freddie is a fantastic leader, he makes everyone feel comfortable and welcome. Looking forward to my next Jove Club adventure!

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Emily

Before Jove, I never really thought of myself as a runner. But within weeks of joining, I was running 5Ks, then 10Ks. My first proper test was our Brecon trek, two days, 35km, 1,300m of elevation. It was brutal, but it was also the moment I realised how much the people around you shape the experience. Jove isn't just about getting fitter, it's about pushing your limits in a way that actually feels fun.

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Vevek Shah

I love Jove Club. On paper, I had everything I needed to be happy, but it wasn't until I joined Jove that I realised something was missing, adventure! It's so easy in London to get stuck in a rut. Jove gets me out of the house with like-minded people and gives me things I didn't even realise I was missing. Join, you won't regret it.

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Christopher Sykes-Popham

I went on the Peak District Climbing adventure not knowing any of the group but felt immediately welcomed by everyone. The group was very supportive given my lack of any prior climbing experience and definitely pushed my limits. The trip itself was extremely well organised, everything was covered from food and instructors to what gear to bring. Immediately came home and booked myself on another adventure!

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Olly

I had an absolutely incredible experience on a walking adventure weekend with Jove Club! From start to finish, everything was brilliantly organised. Freddie's enthusiasm and leadership created such a positive, welcoming atmosphere, making the weekend about more than just the hike. If you're looking for a well-organised, exciting outdoor experience with great company, I can't recommend Jove Club enough.

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Henry Lort-Jones

Can't express enough how glad I am that Freddie has created Jove Club! The recent Brecon trip was epic, a tough challenge that we all pushed through. In only a couple of months I've made significant strides towards my fitness goals. The regular adventure challenges add purpose to the training in London and the people in the club are top quality.

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Harry Webb

The Peak District climbing weekend was meticulously planned by Freddie and Jove Club. I felt a massive sense of achievement on the Sunday afternoon walking off the crag. If you are considering a weekend away with like minded people to push yourself beyond your comfort zone then I wouldn't hesitate recommending Jove Club.

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Connor Herrington

The mix of classes, in particular the run and fitness sessions outdoors, is absolutely amazing and unlike anything else I've found in London. The sessions are inclusive of mixed ability but with enough challenge for everyone. Really look forward to putting my fitness to the test during one of the trail runs and adventure trips!

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Francesca Richards

Joining Jove is the best thing I've done for my fitness and health this year. Anyone looking to get fit, get outdoors and meet great people, this is where it's at. In just a few months I've met some great people, built confidence, and lost 3kg whilst getting stronger and running faster.

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Joseph McEachron

Jove is the missing piece of London life. Such a welcoming and friendly club with a fantastic range of activities. Everything geared towards adventure trips is such a great way to train and get fit with a proper functional goal. The Peak District climbing weekend was fantastically well organised, can't wait to do another.

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Tom Frew

I've had a great time with Jove, it's got a great mix of challenging and fun activities. The Peak District climbing trip was super well organised, great instruction provided, and a great way to get out of London for a weekend and learn some new skills.

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Vito Tomasi

The Jove Club climbing weekend in the Peak District was a fantastic experience, filled with great routes and even better company. Everyone from beginners to seasoned climbers felt included and challenged. A brilliantly run weekend that captured the spirit of adventure.

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John Cain

Great sessions which are well planned and adaptable to fitness levels. Welcoming atmosphere at meets and easy to use site for booking.

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Calvin Freese

I have attended fitness and climb sessions and would really recommend Jove. Accessible and tailored to your fitness but with plenty of challenge and very social!

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sioned press

Attended a session last week, great and welcoming atmosphere, the PT was very knowledgeable and provided alternative exercises. Will be back!

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Elin Wilde

£1,450