Best time to visit the Caucasus
Wild rivers, green hills and distant snowy summits signal springtime in the Caucasus, although autumn can tip the balance when it comes to the best time to go trekking.![]()
Unless you're into winter sports, the best time to visit the Southern Caucasus is either side of July or August with spring peonies and anemone, and autumnal foliage supplying a beautiful backdrop to accompany walking tours. The further north you travel, and the higher the elevation, the cooler things get with the hanging glaciers of North Ossetia Nature Reserve indicative of lengthy winters and mild summers. Religious and harvest festivals are taken extremely seriously throughout the region with Easter events celebrated just as earnestly in Orthodox Christian churches as harvest time in the fertile valley vineyards of the south.
Southern Caucasus Weather Chart
MIN °C
MAX °C
RAIN (mm)
JAN
1
7
25
FEB
1
6
26
MAR
3
10
30
APR
9
17
40
MAY
12
22
20
JUN
18
27
20
JUL
21
30
15
AUG
21
30
18
SEP
17
26
18
OCT
11
19
20
NOV
7
14
15
DEC
2
9
20
Azerbaijan Georgia and Armenia holiday
Enjoy the uniqueness of three colorful Caucasian countries
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Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan highlights tour
Three stunning countries in one unforgettable tour
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Hiking in the Caucasus holiday
Hiking in the gorges of Georgia's Greater Caucasus Mountains
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£1030 to £1345
9 days
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Azerbaijan, Georgia & Armenia tours with added comfort
Discover the unexplored territories of The Caucasus
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Cycling in Georgia holiday
Cycle Georgia - discover beautiful landscapes and countryside
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A week in Georgia, guided tour
Churches, monasteries, snow capped mountains, lakes & waterfalls
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£1949 to £1999
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Caucasus travel advice
Where to stay in the Caucasus
Jonny Bealby, founder of our partner, Wild Frontiers, spent five months riding a horse across Central Asia and the Caucasus for his book Silk Dreams, Troubled Road. He shared the following tips with us on travelling through the Caucasus region:
“Baku, Tbilisi, Kazbegi and Yerevan have a range of 5* hotels and cute boutiques but on the whole travellers should be prepared for a mix of accommodation including some on a very basic level. One of the best things to do is a homestay – particularly in Georgia – where the facilities might be limited but the hospitality unequalled.”
“Baku, Tbilisi, Kazbegi and Yerevan have a range of 5* hotels and cute boutiques but on the whole travellers should be prepared for a mix of accommodation including some on a very basic level. One of the best things to do is a homestay – particularly in Georgia – where the facilities might be limited but the hospitality unequalled.”
Itinerary tips
“Baku, the historic old town is fascinating. The same can be said of Tbilisi. One should also see both the old Georgian capital and cathedral in Mtskheta – birthplace to their Christianity – and Gori, birthplace of Joseph Stalin.”
“Travel up the Georgian Military Highway, passing the picturesque Ananuri fortified church, before continuing on to a highlight of any trip to the Caucasus: Kazbegi, where you’ll find a stunning mountain and some great walking. After this don’t miss the cave towns of Uplistsikhe and Vardzia, before crossing the border into Armenia and visiting Lake Sevan and the Tatev Monastery.”
Walking in the Caucasus
“The walk between Kazbegi and the village of Juta, in Georgia, takes you over the 3,000m Abudulari Pass, and down to the tiny village of Rustav, from where you can white water raft to Ananuri. It’s a stunning walk over two and a half days and really gets you into the wilds of the Caucasus.”
Cultural contrasts
“There are many obvious cultural differences between countries/republics, as some are Muslim with more Asian ties and some are Christian with more European ties. But on the whole I have always found all the various peoples of the Caucasus to be extremely friendly and hospitable and very good fun.”
“One of my wildest encounters was thinking I could compete with some locals in a chacha [a homemade grape vodka] toasting session – things got very messy!”
More Caucasus articles
Check out our Caucasus highlights to help you make the most of your time as you explore across borders.
The Caucasus is a little slice of heaven for hikers, with sublime scenery and routes.
Buffeted by many influences, each of the Caucasus states has forged its own identity.
