Georgia Holidays

Svaneti Trek Itinerary:

Day 1 From Mestia to Zhabeshi
distance 16.1km, 763m and 523m

First day of the trek mostly follows the dirt track which snakes through the pastures and slowly climbs onto forested Chkhuti ridge. Then it descends into Mulkhura valley, passes several beautiful villages, crosses the river and ends in Zhabeshi. Night at the Zhabeshi guesthouse.

Day 2 From Zhabeshi to Adishi
distance 10.6km, 909m and 527m

Before noon, steep climb towards the Tetnuldi resort. Then, a walk through the alpine pastures will take you to the Adishi village, hidden at the bottom of Adischala valley.

Day 3 From Adishi to Khalde
distance 16km, 860m and 900m

Trek deeper into the valley, towards Adishi glacier. Crossing of Adischala river with the assisance of a horse and climb towards Chkhunderi pass (2600m). Descent to Khaldechala valley. Night at the Khalde guesthouse.

Day 4 From Khalde to Ushguli
distance 14.5km, 1070m and 1118m

Today, we will be joined one more guide and our group splits into two – it will be up to you which route you would like to take. If you are up for a serious challenge, you will cross Khaldechala river and climb Lagem pass. From here, you will enjoy great views of Mt. Shkhara, the highest Georgian mountain. Then you will descend to the Inguri valley and reach Ushguli. However, this is a difficult route and not just because of the altitude. The trail is rarely used, so often it’s ‘almost non-existent or overgrown. Also, due to the altitude and lingering snow, this route becomes passable only around 15th July, earlier, everyone takes the classic route.

If you don’t want any complications, you can take the classic route which follows the Enguri river valley. Both groups will rejoin in the afternoon at Ushguli, where you will explore the village and then have dinner at cozy local guesthouse.

Day 5 Trip to Svaneti range
distance 9km, 810m and 810m

In the morning, you will get an opportunity to climb one of viewpoints around the village – usually Lamaria ridge northeast to the village, so you can enjoy views of Khalde wall before the clouds set in. After a short hike on the ridge, return to Ushguli.
This walk is not mandatory, so you can also make your own program. For example, if you are interested in horse trip to Shkhara glacier or Zagar pass, our guide will help you to find providers of the service and negotiate it. Or you can just stay chilling in the village if you are really tired after previous four days. Either way, you will meet all again shortly after noon and be transported back to Mestia. In the evening, it is also common that the group meets once again for a farewell beer in once of Mestia restaurants (but it’s not part of the tour).

Racha & Svaneti Trek Itinerary:

Day 1 Travel to Racha, Kvanchkhara wine tasting

In the morning, we will leave Tbilisi and head west. By with cross into Racha by a scenic, newly built road Sachkhere. In the vicinity of Oni, we will hike to the top of Queen Tamar’s rocks towering above the city to enjoy some nice views. Then, finally, we will reach Oni, where we will have a wine tasting program at the local guesthouse. Night at Oni.

Day 2 Hike on the Notsara ridge
distance 14km, 460m and 460m

Morning drive to the Chiora village. Today, we will hike on the Notsara ridge, running in the close proximity of the main mountain wall of the Greater Caucasus. The jeep will help us to cover the steepest route from the forest, so we will not have to climb too much while enjoying splendid 360° views of the surrounding mountains. We will hike all the way to the shepherds huts in the Notsaruli valley and back. Then we will return to Oni.

Day 3 Trek to the Udziro lake
distance 12km, 1740m and 523m

In the morning, we will make a short ride to the Shovi village to the starting point of our trek. From here, we will navigate the Chkhauri valley – once we climb above the treeline, we will get the opportunity to admire the “best mountains” surrounding the valley. The trail then turns to the Katsitsvera moountain an dcrosses the 3100m high Geske pass. From here, we will descend to the beautiful Udziro (“bottomless”) lake, from where we can admire the panorama of the Greater Caucasus. At the lake we will also meet our horseguides with packhorses who took the easier route from Glola village, break a camp and spend a night at the lake.

Day 4 Return from Udziro lake, transfer to Lower Svaneti
distance 9km, 330m and 1480m

In the morning, we will climb to the 2700m high Glola pass and if the weather is good, close the adjacent viewpoint with even better views. Then, we will descend through the meadows and pine forests to the Glola village, where we will meet our driver. From here, we will drive on a little-visited shortcut to Chvelpi, one of the last occupied villages in the Tskhenistskali valley. Night in the guesthouse in Chvelpi.

Day 5 Crossing of Svaneti range
distance 14.5km, 1070m and 1118m

There are two possible scenarios. In the ideal one, our driver will take us to the Latpari pass. Here, we will leave the dirt track and follow the top of the ridge, admiring the stunning panorama of the Greater Caucasus. Once we will reach the Gorvashi pass, we will descend to Ushguli, the highest inhabited village in Svaneti which boasts dozens of preserved defense towers Svaneti is famous for. Night
If the dirt track to Latpari pass is not passable, as was often the case during past years, we will take a new road to Ushguli crossing the Zagar pass. Here, we will hike to the 3000m high viewpoint above the village, from where we can admire the panorama of Greater Caucasus.
Either way, we will spend a night at Ushguli.

Day 6 Transfer to Mestia, Hatsvali cable car, ethnographic museum
distance 9km, 520m and 520m

After breakfast, we will have an opportunity to explore the village for a few more hours, before the daytrippers arrive. Then we will ride to Mestia, the regional center of Svaneti. Here, we will take the Hatsvali cablecar and make a hike on the Zuruldi ridge. If we will still have time and energy, we will also visit Svaneti Ethnographic museum. Night at the Mestia guesthouse.

Day 7 Climb onto the Koruldi ridge
distance 11km, 1150m and 480m

After breakfast, we will ride to Tshakazagari mountain above Mestia. From here, we will walk towards the Koruldi lakes (2600m). But, unline other tourists, the real challenge only starts here – we will clmb even further onto the Koruldi ridge, to the cross lying at the elevation of 3300m. From here, we will descend back to Koruldi lakes where we will break a camp and spend a night.

Day 8 Crossing of Guli pass
distance 14km, 800m and 1480m

Today, we will traverse the southern slopes of the Lamaaja ridge to the west, climb the small saddle and head to the Guli pass, from which we will get unbeatable views of Ushba mountain (we should have an opportunity to climb even a bit higher to get even better views). From here, we will descend to the Mazeri village, where we will spend a night at the local guesthouse.

Day 9 Travel to Kutaisi, buffer day

After breakfast, we will meet our driver and head back to the lowlands. Along the way, we will stop at the Enguri dam, the second highest dam in the world. Then we will drive to Kutaisi. Afternoon sightseeing around the city, finished with a dinner at the local restaurant (not included in the price of tour since people prefer to order the meals themselves).

Day 10 Return to Tbilisi

After breakfast, we departs towards the Chiatura, mining town known for its system of cable cars serving as a public transport. We will explore the city and its surroundings including Katskhi Pillar and Mgvimebi monastery (if time allows). Then we will continue to Tbilisi – will make it back to the Georgian capital at about 5 or 6 pm.