Walking guide
Walking in the Caucasus - Georgia
Peter Nasmyth · 2006
Walking guide to Georgia's Greater Caucasus, incl. the Kazbegi region valleys around the Gveleti waterfall.
Georgia · Kazbegi
Gveleti Waterfall
A short hike from the Georgian Military Highway near Stepantsminda leads to this glacier-fed cascade in the shadow of Mount Kazbek, one of the Caucasus's most recognizable peaks. It's a common half-day add-on for travelers visiting the nearby Gergeti Trinity Church.
A popular short hike in the Georgian Caucasus Essentials guide
Checked September 2026 by David Bussell
Gveleti Waterfall drops 30 metres (98 ft) on the Gveleti stream, inside Kazbegi National Park. It is a plunge-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Stepantsminda, with TBS the closest airport. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy.
As a plunge waterfall, water leaves the rock entirely and falls free through the air.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Gveleti Waterfall itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Stepantsminda are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotography
When to go
Getting there
- Base town Stepantsminda
- Airport TBS
- Country Georgia
- Region Kazbegi, Western Asia & Caucasus, Europe
- Access Easy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint
How it compares
This waterfall
Gveleti Waterfall
Georgia
Height30 mWidth—
Most similar
Vodopád Skok
Slovakia
Height30 mWidth1 m
Also a plunge waterfall, of similar height and in Slovakia
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
30 m
30 m
108 m
330 m
979 m
Gveleti WaterfallVodopád SkokVictoria FallsEiffel TowerAngel Falls
Khone Phapheng Falls
10,783 m
Victoria Falls
1,708 m
Vodopád Skok
1 m
Angel Falls is 33× taller than Gveleti Waterfall. Victoria Falls is 3.6× taller. We don't have a reliable crest width for Gveleti Waterfall yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
Watch and read
Videos from Gveleti Waterfall
13:15
5:20
Chosen from YouTube; videos belong to their creators and play from YouTube's privacy-enhanced player.
Books worth packing
Lonely Planet Georgia, Armenia & AzerbaijanLonely Planet
Guidebook
Lonely Planet Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan
Lonely Planet · 2024
Current Lonely Planet with Kazbegi and Georgian Military Highway coverage for reaching Gveleti from Stepantsminda.
Georgia (Bradt Travel Guide)Tim Burford
Guidebook
Georgia (Bradt Travel Guide)
Tim Burford · 2018
In-depth Bradt guide to Georgia, strong on the Kazbegi area, mountain villages and hiking logistics.
On the map
42.6667, 44.6333
Quick answers
Where is Gveleti Waterfall?
Gveleti Waterfall is in Georgia (Kazbegi), inside Kazbegi National Park. The nearest base is Stepantsminda and the closest airport is TBS. Its coordinates are 42.6667, 44.6333.
How tall is Gveleti Waterfall?
Gveleti Waterfall drops 30 metres (98 feet). It is a plunge-type waterfall on the Gveleti stream.
When is the best time to visit Gveleti Waterfall?
Peak flow is June to September. Summer keeps the valley trail from Stepantsminda clear of snow.
What can you do at Gveleti Waterfall?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint.
How do you get to Gveleti Waterfall?
The usual base is Stepantsminda, and the closest airport is TBS. A short walk or roadside viewpoint from there. Free.
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