Following a traditional path used by traders and invaders, the Georgian Military Road has been a passageway for people and ideas since antiquity.

As my car winds through the twists and turns of the Georgian Military Road, a historic 210-kilometer route cutting through Georgia’s stunning Caucasus Mountains, I’m greeted by verdant valleys, flowing rivers, and the occasional Georgian Orthodox church with its distinct barrel dome silhouetted against the sky. Alongside the road, abandoned Soviet-era mosaics decorate deserted bus stops, while local vendors offer plates of dumplings and tales of the region’s beauty.

“It’s surprising that more tourists don’t visit this part of Georgia—it’s the most beautiful place on Earth,” says Mirian Takvarelia, a driver with GoTrip Georgia, who has navigated this route for over 15 years. Known for its natural beauty and historical significance, the Georgian Military Road has served as a crucial passageway since antiquity, linking Tbilisi to Russia and bearing witness to centuries of cultural exchange and military campaigns.

Historically, this path, once called Porta Caucasia, was a strategic route for empires, including the Romans, Persians, and Russians. It connected East and West, carrying trade caravans and playing a key role in the Great Silk Road. Today, the road continues to connect, ferrying visitors to sites like Mtskheta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with early Christian churches dating back to the 4th Century.