Where is the Jvari Pass?

Okay, buckle up for Jvari Pass (aka Cross Pass), a total stunner perched way up high in the Stepantsminda District of Georgia. We're talking 2,395 meters (that's 7,857 feet!) above sea level.

You'll find this beauty nestled in the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region, northeast of the country, smack between the Gudauri and Kobi ski resorts. Fun fact: it's named for a stone cross erected way back when.

This route is ancient, a key link between Tbilisi and Vladikavkaz, pounded by everyone from invaders to traders over centuries. The "Georgian Military Road," as it's known (part of the E117), started taking its modern form back in 1799.

Get ready for 39.2 km (about 24.35 miles) of winding road from Kvemo Mleta to Arsha. Pavement is the name of the game for the most part, but be warned: you'll hit some rough patches of gravel thanks to weather and wear. It's a busy road, too, with plenty of trucks, and some sections get pretty steep (think 9% inclines).

This is the highest point on the Georgian Military Road, so brace yourself for insane mountain vistas! Avalanches can be a problem in winter, but they've built galleries to keep it open as much as possible. Altitude sickness isn't usually an issue unless you go hiking, and closures are rare, mainly due to heavy snow or blizzards.

Seriously, the views are mind-blowing. The air is crisp and clean, and you'll catch glimpses of majestic Mt Kazbek. Keep an eye out for the orange waterfall, stained by a mineral spring. Plus, you'll roll past the Russia–Georgia Friendship Monument, a relic from 1983. It's a road packed with history, legends, and views that will leave you breathless!