Camping and Glamping in Georgia: Where to Pitch a Tent and Wake Up in the Mountains

Georgia is a paradise for camping. Here you can pitch a tent almost freely by the mountain lakes of Tusheti, beneath the 5,000-meter peaks of Svaneti and in the valleys of Kazbegi, and sit by a fire at night under the most star-filled sky you have ever seen. And for those who want nature without a sleeping bag on rocks, there is glamping — cozy tents with a real bed and a view of the summits. Below is where to legally pitch a tent, the best spots, glamping, season, gear and how to do it all safely.

Camping vs. glamping: the difference

First let us separate two ideas, because very different people go for each. Camping is classic tents: you carry everything yourself or drive it in, pitch camp on your own, cook on a stove and sleep in a sleeping bag. It is about self-reliance, budget and maximum communion with nature — but also about physical readiness.

Glamping (from "glamorous camping") is nature without the discomfort. A ready-made tent or geodome with a real bed, linen, electricity, often a shower and breakfast. You arrive to everything set up, soak in the views and go to sleep in the warm. Glamping costs more than a tent but far less than a hotel of the same view level — outside your window is not a car park but the ridge of the Caucasus.

There is also a middle option — camping next to a guesthouse. In many mountain villages you can pitch your tent in the yard of a family inn for a token fee: you sleep in your own tent but use the toilet, shower and the hosts' hot dinner. For those who want autonomy but are not ready to give up all comforts, this is a handy compromise, especially in wet weather.

Georgia is great because it offers both formats in the very same stunning places. You can go wild with a tent in Tusheti for the price of some petrol, or book a glamping dome in Kazbegi with a view of Gergeti and breakfast at a panoramic window. The choice is a matter of budget, preparation and how ready you are for spartan conditions in exchange for adventure.

Is wild camping legal in Georgia?

Good news: Georgia is one of the freest countries in the world for wild camping. There is no blanket ban on pitching a tent like in many European countries. In the mountains, by rivers, on pastures and in nature you can set up camp almost anywhere — and it is the norm, used by locals and tourists alike.

There are only a few sensible limits worth respecting:

• Private land. Do not pitch on a clearly fenced or cultivated plot without the owner's permission. In a Georgian village it is enough to ask — most often they will let you, or even invite you to the table.
• National parks. Protected zones (Tusheti, Kazbegi, Borjomi-Kharagauli) have rules: some have designated campsites, fires only in set places. Check at the park visitor center.
• Fires. In the dry season and in forests be extremely careful with fire. Often it is better to cook on a gas stove than to build a campfire.

Best camping spots in Georgia: a map

There are hundreds of camping spots in Georgia, but the truly iconic ones are concentrated in the high mountains. Here are the main destinations, sorted by difficulty of access.

"Hard access" = a dirt mountain road, often needing a 4x4. Check pass conditions: the Abano pass in Tusheti is open roughly June to October.

Tusheti, Kazbegi and Juta: high-mountain camping

If you get one shot at camping in Georgia, make it the high mountains of the eastern Caucasus. Tusheti is a protected region in the northeast reached by one of the most spectacular and dangerous roads in the world, over the Abano pass (2,900 m). The reward is medieval slate towers, emerald valleys, mountain lakes and an almost total absence of civilization. You can pitch a tent near the villages or by the lakes — the views are unreal.

Closer and simpler is the Kazbegi area (Stepantsminda). From here it is a short hop to the village of Juta and the jagged Chaukhi massif — one of the most photogenic valleys in the country, perfect for a first mountain camp. Nearby is the trek to the Abudelauri lakes from the village of Roshka: blue, green and white lakes at different altitudes. If you plan a route, it is worth reading up on Kazbegi and the Gergeti church separately; many combine camping with classic tours of the region.

The logistics of the eastern high mountains are the main challenge. Public transport barely reaches here, and the dirt roads require a 4x4 and experience. So many people drive to a base point with a guide-driver, then continue on foot with a tent — this removes the risk of getting stuck on a pass and wastes less time on the road.

Svaneti and western Georgia

Svaneti in the northwest is the second must-see for a camper. It is a land of 5,000-meter peaks (Ushba, Shkhara), medieval towers and a stern highland culture. A classic spot is the Koruldi lakes above Mestia: the climb rewards you with a panorama of the main Caucasus ridge, and the sunrise from your tent here stays with you for life. Further on is Ushguli, one of the highest continuously inhabited villages in Europe, beneath the Shkhara glacier.

Western Georgia is good for more accessible camping too. Nearby are the canyons and caves of Imereti: you can combine a tent night with day trips. On the Martvili canyon and the city of Kutaisi as a convenient base we have separate guides — from there it is easy to set off into the Svaneti mountains or to the lakes.

One note: Svaneti roads are tough in places, and mountain weather changes in an instant. In Svaneti a local driver who knows which road is passable after rain and where it is safe to camp for the night is especially valuable.

Glamping in Georgia: comfort in nature

Not everyone is ready to sleep on a mat — and that is fine. Georgian glamping has grown in recent years from an exotic novelty into a full industry. Dome tents and safari tents with real beds stand in the most scenic places in the country, and you get nature without a single sacrifice in comfort.

Where to look for glamping in Georgia:

• Kazbegi. Geodomes with a panoramic window right onto Mount Kazbek and the Gergeti church — the calling card of Georgian glamping.
• Kakheti. Tents among the vineyards — ideal for those combining nature with wine tasting.
• Borjomi and Bakuriani. Forest glamping in pine mountains, good in summer and, with heating, in winter.
• Racha and Svaneti. Wilder options for those who want to get further out, but with walls and a bed.

In price, glamping in Georgia is roughly 120 to 400 GEL per night depending on level, season and the view. That is more than a tent, but for the money you get a bed, often breakfast and a shower, and you still wake up in the middle of the mountains. For couples, families with kids and anyone who values comfort, glamping is the golden mean between a hotel and a tent.

How much camping and glamping cost in Georgia

One reason campers love Georgia so much is the price. Wild camping here is almost free: you pay only for the road, food and gear. That makes the country ideal for long budget journeys through the mountains, where a week in a tent costs less than a couple of hotel nights.

Here is an approximate breakdown of costs for 2026 to plan a budget:

If you have no gear of your own, in Tbilisi and Kazbegi you can rent tents, sleeping bags and stoves by the day — cheaper than hauling everything from home for one trip. Glamping, by contrast, handles everything: you arrive light, no gear needed. For a short holiday where you would rather not fuss with logistics, that is often smarter than buying a tent for two nights.

Camping season in Georgia: when to go

High mountains

The main spots (Tusheti, Juta, Svaneti, Koruldi) are accessible roughly from mid-June to September. Before that the passes are under snow and the roads are closed. Peak is July–August: warm, everything in bloom, but more tourists too. September is beautiful: fewer people, golden slopes, but the nights are already cold.

Foothills and forests

Lower in the mountains and in forest parks (Borjomi-Kharagauli, Bakuriani) the tent season is longer — May to October. Spring brings greenery and waterfalls, autumn mushrooms and soft sun.

Winter

Winter camping in Georgia is for the well-prepared with the right gear only. Beginners are better off choosing heated glamping in winter. For winter routes in general, read our guide Georgia in winter: where to go and what to do.

What to bring camping in Georgia

The Caucasus mountains do not forgive carelessness: +25°C by day, near zero at altitude by night. A basic kit for mountain camping:

• A wind-resistant tent (it blows hard at altitude) and a sleeping bag rated to 0°C
• A warm layer and a rain jacket — weather changes within the hour
• A gas stove and canisters (fires are not allowed everywhere and firewood is not everywhere)
• A water supply or filter — not all mountain water is safe
• A power bank and offline maps (signal drops in the mountains)
• A first-aid kit, sunscreen, a hat — the sun is harsher at altitude
• Trekking boots and poles for the approaches to campsites
• Cash in lari: there are no card terminals in mountain villages

Safety in the Georgian mountains

Camping in Georgia is safe if you respect the mountains. The main risks and how to remove them:

• Weather. The main danger of the high mountains. Thunderstorms, fog and sudden cold arrive fast — watch the forecast and do not head over passes in bad weather.
• Shepherd dogs. Livestock is grazed in the mountains, and large Caucasian shepherd dogs guard the flocks. Do not approach the herds, go around, do not run.
• Water. Drink from springs above the pastures or filter it. Water below the grazing areas may be unsafe.
• Roads. The Abano pass in Tusheti and some Svaneti roads are genuinely dangerous — do not drive without mountain experience.
• Navigation. Download offline maps (maps.me, Organic Maps): the signal drops and the trails are not always obvious.

First-time and family camping

You do not have to be an experienced mountaineer to try camping in Georgia. For a first time, choose accessible and safe spots rather than the Abano pass in Tusheti straight away. A great start is the Juta valley in Kazbegi: a modest altitude gain, spectacular views of the Chaukhi massif, a village nearby where you can eat and ask for help. Borjomi-Kharagauli national park is another gentle option: marked trails, shelters along the route, forest shade.

With children it is better to start with glamping or a designated campsite near the car. That way you have a toilet, water and the option to leave quickly if the weather turns. In the mountains kids especially need warm clothes, sun protection and a gradual altitude gain — acclimatization works differently for them than for adults.

The main tip for a beginner: do not chase the wildest spot. A beautiful night in an accessible place with a safety margin is more memorable than an exhausting hike you just want to escape. Gain experience on easy routes and next season Tusheti and Svaneti will be within your reach.

Getting there and hiring a guide

The main obstacle to Georgian camping is not the tent but the road to the spot. The best places lie beyond mountain dirt roads where public transport does not go and you would be afraid to take a rental sedan. There are three ways: scheduled transport to the nearest town plus hitchhiking (slow and unpredictable), renting a 4x4 (mountain-driving experience needed) or a guide-driver.

The third option is optimal for many. A guide-driver in a prepared vehicle gets you to the trailhead — whether the Juta valley, Omalo in Tusheti or the climb to Koruldi — removing the main risk of getting stuck on a pass. He knows which roads are passable after rain, where it is safe to camp, where the water source is, and on which day not to venture into the mountains because of the weather. From there you go with your tent on your own — or he picks you up on the agreed day.

I take travelers into the Georgian mountains all season and often help campers specifically: a lift to the trails, tips on campsites, and for those who want comfort, picking a glamping with the best views. Everything is private, tailored to your fitness and pace, no groups and no rush.