Ultimate Guide: How to Get to Juta from Kazbegi + Juta Hiking & FIFTH Season Lodge Tips (2025 Update)

Getting to Juta: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

📍 How to Get to Juta Village from Kazbegi (Stepantsminda)

🚕 Taxi from Kazbegi Central

• Departure: Stepantsminda (Kazbegi) Central Taxi Stand

• Destination: Juta Village entrance (not halfway!)

• Fare: ~80 GEL per car (one-way, local rate)

• Payment: Cash only

• Duration: ~25–30 minutes

💬 Important Reminders Before You Depart

1. Clearly confirm the taxi goes all the way to Juta Village entrance — not just halfway.

2. Some drivers may drop you off mid-mountain and request a second fare via a transfer.

3. Use Google Maps to show your destination and confirm:
   “Juta Village entrance. No transfer. 80 GEL. Okay?”

4. If possible, confirm with a local who speaks English to assist with translation.

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🥾 Juta Hiking Route Breakdown (FIFTH Season to Campsite)

Total hiking route includes:

• Juta Village Entrance → FIFTH Season Lodge (steep uphill)

• FIFTH Season Lodge → Campsite via Chaukhi Lake & Waterfall (gentle trail)

• Return via same route

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🥾 Juta Hiking Route – Easy Breakdown (Roundtrip)

📍 1. Juta Village Entrance ↔ FIFTH Season Lodge

• Terrain: Steep uphill (gravel road)

• Time: Approx. 20 minutes one way, 40 minutes roundtrip

📍 2. FIFTH Season Lodge ↔ Campsite (via Chaukhi Lake & Waterfall)

• Terrain: Mostly flat and scenic hiking trail

• Time: Approx. 3 hours roundtrip

📍 3. Total Time – Juta Entrance to Campsite and Back

• Approx. 3 hours 40 minutes roundtrip

💡 Note: If you're staying at FIFTH Season Lodge, you can start the hike from there and save 40 minutes of uphill walking.

📌 Tip: If you're staying at FIFTH Season Lodge, you can skip the steep uphill and start your hike directly on the scenic part!

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🧭 Hiking Notes

• The first 20 minutes from Juta Village to FIFTH Season is the steepest part of the hike. It's manageable but will raise your heart rate.

• Once you pass the lodge, the trail becomes wide, flat, and very beginner-friendly.

• The roundtrip from FIFTH Season to the campsite (passing by Chaukhi Lake and a small waterfall) is around 3 hours.

• The full hike, including from Juta entrance to the campsite and back, takes approximately 3 hours and 40 minutes total.

  

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🛏️ FIFTH Season Lodge – Best Stay in Juta

Location
Directly on the hiking trail with unbeatable mountain views

Facilities
1F café & restaurant
Shared dormitory rooms and private rooms available

Pricing
360 GEL on-site (with breakfast) – cheaper than Booking.com

Reception
Yes – rare to find in other Juta mountain lodges

Stargazing
Perfect dark sky with Milky Way and meteor showers clearly visible

Downside
May not meet cleanliness standards for sensitive travelers

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🚐 How to Leave Juta and Return to Tbilisi

• There is no public transport from Juta

• Best option: Pre-arranged or on-the-spot taxi back to Tbilisi

• Price varies by negotiation and number of passengers

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🍇 Churchkhela Shopping Tip – BADAGI Brand

Churchkhela is a traditional Georgian sweet made with nuts and grape juice – perfect for souvenirs.

Where to Buy
Tbilisi city center – BADAGI brand stores are widely available
Kutaisi Airport Departure Zone – Great last-minute purchase before flying out

Flavor Tip
Purple color: Made with Saperavi grapes – deeper, richer flavor (my favorite!)
Light brown: Made with other grape varieties – milder and softer taste

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✨ My Story: Getting Lost (and Found) Under the Stars in Juta

My day started with a breathtaking breakfast at ROOMS Hotel Kazbegi, panoramic mountain views and morning sun flooding the dining hall. Afterwards, we took a taxi from Kazbegi Central to Juta.

Even though I clearly confirmed with a translator that we were going all the way to the village, things went sideways. The driver suddenly stopped midway up the mountain, pointing at another car and insisting I transfer. Reluctantly, I negotiated another fare, and eventually reached Juta. Later, a local told me I shouldn’t have had to switch cars or overpay — it should’ve been a direct ride.

From the Juta Village entrance, we began the 20-minute steep uphill hike to FIFTH Season Lodge, where we stayed. The view from there? Absolutely mind-blowing. You could see the entire trail in front of you and towering peaks surrounding you. At night, with no light pollution, the sky was an explosion of stars, shooting stars, and the Milky Way stretching from horizon to horizon.

The hike from the lodge to Chaukhi Lake and the campsite was about 3 hours roundtrip, and honestly? It felt more like a scenic walk. Gentle slopes, open meadows, and snow-capped peaks – it was pure magic.

We spent the night at FIFTH Season. The room was rustic and not perfectly clean, which didn’t bother me, but my wife found it less comfortable. Still, the mountain lodge experience and night sky made it worth every minute.

The next morning, after hiking back down, we arranged a shared taxi back to Tbilisi. We negotiated the price to 40 GEL per person, which was reasonable and more comfortable than the marshrutka (20 GEL but crowded). Upon arrival, we visited BADAGI to buy Churchkhela for friends – I highly recommend the purple one made from Saperavi grapes.

We wrapped up the night back at Moxy Hotel with a room overlooking the Kura River, and dinner at New Asia, a Chinese restaurant with legit Mapo tofu and crispy sweet pork.

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