Kazbegi

The Gergeti Trinity Church (Tsminda Sameba), from the 14th century, stands alone on a hill at 2,170 metres facing Mount Kazbek. The climb up is done on foot with a leashed dog; the church interior remains off limits to animals and modest dress is required.

The Dariali Gorge, a dramatic defile carved by the Terek river at the Russian border, marks the northern end of the Georgian Military Highway. You can wander here on a leash along the river and near the modern monastery, amid soaring rock walls.

The Truso Valley, a long hike along the upper Terek, blends coloured mineral springs, travertine deposits and abandoned villages beneath medieval towers. The flat, wild trail suits a leashed dog well, provided you carry water and keep your distance from the flocks.

The Gveleti waterfalls, reached by a short walk from the Dariali Gorge, offer a fine cascade in a wooded side valley. The easy trail suits a leashed dog and the cool water is welcome in warm weather.

The hamlet of Juta, one of the highest inhabited villages in Georgia, opens onto the Chaukhi peaks and hikes toward the pass to Roshka. The pastures are walked on a leash, but you will meet shepherd dogs here: keep yours close and give the flocks space.

The Georgian Military Highway, the historic road climbing from Tbilisi to the Cross Pass at 2,379 metres, offers striking views over the valleys and the Friendship Monument. You stop at the viewpoints to stretch a leashed dog's legs, watching for traffic and the vertigo of the drop-offs.