Kazbegi Transportation

So, I just wanted to add to these posts that I've been in Kazbegi this summer for just a one day trip to Gergeti Sameba Church and the transportation from Tbilisi is still the same. The minibus leaves from Didube bus station, the first at 9 am and is very easy to find. The last minibus from Kazbegi is at 5 or 6 as I remember, so don't be late there will be no more transport if you don't take the last one, or you will have to hire a taxi, which is usually expensive. The best solution about being late is staying at one of the guesthouses there. :)

The last Marshrutka leaves at 17:00, when we were there it was full, so we decided to grab something to eat and then head back to Tbilisi. Unfortunately, when we decided to go back around 18:30 there was no way to get back, the square was empty of taxis and the only driver there claimed 150 Lari for the trip instead of 60. Eventually the owner of the homestay which we were staying in arranged us a driver for 60 Lari. So if you are tight on time, make sure you have a way to get back.
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/e6f24/1a3910/9/

Yamze, who we stayed with in Kazbegi, arranged us a Taxi back to Tbilisi, late in the evening, for 60 Lari.
The driver name is Beja, he owns an old Lada car. Does trips to and from Kazbegi, speaks some English and Russian, in addition to Georgian. He starts off from Didube, doesn't know Tbilisi to good, so if you are traveling with him from Tbilisi to Kazbegi its worth meeting in from of the metro station or something, otherwise you might have trouble finding him in Didube.
He is relatively careful in his driving and can also stop in a great Hinkali place on the way to Hazbegi, stop for you to drink "Narzan", which is natural carbonated water spring on the way as well as tell you a bit about what you see on the way.
To conclude - we liked the trip with Beja very much. Her is his cell phone number: 899773266
You can also ask him to drive you to Yamze's place at Kazbegi, with whom we stayed in Kazbegi and where very pleased, details in here http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/e6f24/1a3910/3/

The last hour on the road to Kazbegi leads through the what's left of the “Georgian military highway”, a bumpy and virtually unpaved path climbing up mountains in narrow U-turns. Considering the poor condition of the road and the traffic on this only route to Kazbegi, I would not recommend you drive. Rather take a marshrutka.

There are several Marshrutkas (minivans) per day from Tbilisi (Didube station) to Kazbegi in the summer time, from morning to early afternoon. The journey takes about 3-4 hours, with one stop.
From Kazbegi, marshrutkas for Tbilisi leave from the main square, in front of Stepan Tsminda Hotel.

At the time of my travel, a one way trip was 10 lari.

The collapse of the Soviet Union and the closure of the border with Russia to foreigners makes the “Georgian military highway” a dead end, at least for the time being. Although a few miles from the Russian border, no chance to reach Vladikavkaz, the capital of North Ossetia, unless you travel under a Georgian or Russian passport.

If you want to get to Tbilisi and are worrying about the choices dont sweat it. Minibuses leave the square near the new hotel every few hours and cost 10 lari despite what the hawks in the square may tell you. The last minibus to Tbilisi leaves at 5pm while the early bus leaves at 9am but prepared for a bumpy but gorgeous drive!

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The border between Georgia and Russia is most definitely open (look out for convoys of cars heading for sale in Tbilisi), although foreigners are not always allowed to cross. The Georgian Military highway extends a further 10 kilometres or so past Kazbegi, continuing over the border to Vladikavkaz in the republic of North Ossetia. If you can get a Russian visa which allows you to cross here, then there are shared taxis waiting to transport you from Tbilisi's Didube bus station to both Vladikavkaz and the famous spa of Mineralniy Voda.