Heaven gave us Svaneti – for hiking 😉
The hiking trip of 9 hiking days to Svaneti leads directly into the heart of the Greater Caucasus along the classic route from Lower to Upper Svaneti to Ushguli, Kala and Mestia
10.07.-20.07.2023
07.08.-17.08.2023
11.09.-21.09.2023
Travel information
Travel duration: 11 days, arrival and departure to Svaneti to/from Tbilisi
Hiking days: 8 (+ 1 day in Mestia for culture and relaxation)
Suitable for: Well-trained hikers who can also take on a demanding daily stage and have no problems with altitudes of 2000 – 3000 meters.
Route lengths: 12-20 km per day
Difficulty (1-5): 3+ medium+
Overnight stays are in local small family hotels and inns at maximum altitudes of 1600-2200 meters (Ushguli)
Number of participants: 6-10
Accommodations: Simple and warm local Svanetian family hotels. Usually for the couples in the double room. We cannot guarantee single rooms everywhere, but we try to do so where possible. If this is not possible, sleep separately for men and women.
Luggage: You only take a small daypack with you on the go, the luggage is transported with a support vehicle
Please find a packing list here
Highlights
- Ushguli
- Mestia
- Amazing views to Mt.Ushba and Mt.Schkhara
Itinerary
09.00 Departure from Tbilisi towards Western Georgia to Kutaisi. Snack on the go. From Kutaisi drive north to Lower Svaneti region to Tsageri and on to Lentechi. Overnight stay with a nice host family in a village near Lentechi.
Hiking tour 1
Beautiful hiking tour for acclimatization of 2 x 8 km to Mount Nalishi with exotic views of shepherd huts, the pass to Upper Svaneti and the Greater Caucasus. Picnic at a shepherd’s hut. Overnight stay with our host family at Lentechi. Altitude 900 m up, 900 m down. Hiking time 6-7 hours.
Hiking tour 2
Mami – Chvelpi – Latpari Pass – Ushguli
Transfer to Chvelpi. Hiking stage from Chvelpi to Ushguli. First it goes up to an altitude of 2200 meters through forests and then various smaller streams have to be waded through. We take a break at a shepherd’s hut. We continue through an incomparably beautiful mountain world with a view to the north of all the peaks of the Greater Caucasus. In a stony mountain landscape we pass three small mountain lakes and reach the Latpari Pass at 2910 meters. A signpost points in four different directions to Ushguli, Mami, Iprali and Chvelpi. From the pass it takes 3.5 hours to Ushguli down to 2200 meters. Overnight at our homestay in Ushguli. Altitude 830 m up, 900 m down. Hiking time 7-8 hours.
Hiking tour 3 – to the foot of the Mount Shchkhara
Today it goes from Ushguli in a beautiful wide valley to the highest mountain in Georgia to the foot of the Shkhara. The altitude information for the summit of Shkharas varies between 5068 and 5201 meters, more information here
Overnight at our homestay in Ushguli. Altitude 470 m up, 470 m down. Hiking time 5-6 hours.
Hiking tour 4 Ushguli – Kala
Trek about 15 km from Ushguli to Chalde, a historically important village below the main chain of the Greater Caucasus. The whole village with men, women and children offered heroic resistance to Russian conquerors in the 19th century and was completely destroyed as punishment. Dinner and overnight at a recently opened inn in Kala. Elevation 430 m up, 500 m down. Hiking time 4-5 hours.
Hiking tour 5 Kala – Khalde – Adishi
From the famous Chalde it goes uphill over blooming flower meadows towards the pass of 2800 meters. We reach Adishi after about 15 kilometers – a village with a large number of Svanetian defense towers. On the way there is a river crossing on horseback. Our hosts await us with excellent local dishes. Overnight stay with our host family in Adishi. Altitude 980 m up, 700 m down. Hiking time 7-8 hours.
Hiking tour 6 Adishi – Mulakhi -Mestia
Over lush meadows, along rhododendron bushes and birch groves, we reach a high plateau of 2700 meters and have views of Tetnuldi (4860 meters) to the east and Banguriani, Komsomolskaya and the famous Ushba (4700 meters) to the north.
Along the Adishikhala River there are wonderful views of the Svaneti Pass.
Distance Adishi – Jabeshi-Mestia 14 km. Overnight in Mestia. Elevation 730 m up, 800 m down. Hiking time 7-8 hours.
Mestia – Day of culture, photography and recreation
Mestia at 1690 meters is the regional center of Upper Svaneti. Today you can explore Mestia. The city has a nice museum on the history of Svaneti and, in addition to great views of the many massive defense towers and in the upper part of the municipality, an interesting museum on the life of the mountaineer Mikheil Khergiani.
Overnight stay with our nice host family in Mestia.
Hiking tour 7 Mestia – Guli Pass – Mazeri – Becho
On this hiking route you have very nice views of Mestia and get to Becho via the Guli Pass (2955 meters). Distance 19km. Overnight in Becho.
Altitude 1400 m up, 1400 m down. Hiking time 8-9 hours. Distance: 19 km
Our last hiking tour leads along the Dolra River to the waterfalls of the Ushbas at an altitude of about 1800 meters. The mountainous region of Ushba-Shkhelda-Mazeri is one of the most beautiful in the Caucasus. Distance 14 km, about 8 hours. Overnight in Becho. Elevation 600 m up, 600 m down. hiking time 5-6 hours,
Transfer from Becho to Tbilisi.
Departure from 9.30 a.m. via Dzhvari and Zugdidi towards Tbilisi. Arrive in Tbilisi around 8:00 p.m.
If you wish, you can travel individually from Zugdidi to Batumi on the Black Sea, for example by minibus, marshrutka or taxi. Our guide will help you with this.
Our services
Included services
- Travel organization
- All transfers from/to meeting point in Tbilisi
- (The airport transfer is not included.)
- Hiking trip according to the program with English and German-speaking tour guide
- All overnight stays in small local inns and with host families
- Full board
- Luggage transport
Not included services
- Airport transfers
- Overnight stays in Tbilisi
- Tip
Travel route
What our customers say
Well it’s really true, the Caucasus can be addictive. The nature is spectacular and undeveloped up to the heights – deciduous forests, wide views, untouched valleys. It may sound cheesy, but if you experience it yourself, unforgettable. The hospitality in the simple, well-kept accommodation almost shamefully warm, great samples of the wonderful Georgian cuisine in the morning and in the evening, a good level of exertion during the day in the small group, good conversation. But also insights into the world outside the EU bubble, which is much tougher than we can really imagine. Encounters with people full of humor and warmth, with an awareness of the essential things. So when do I have time again? And when is the family ready to come along?
