Hiking in Svaneti is one of our most beautiful and adventurous destinations. We started to organize it in 2013. Every year we improve this program, and invite you to join the trip of 2021, which will be held on August 21-26. The journey will start from Yerevan, and then continue to Tbilisi, Kutaisi, and the final point will be Mestia. You can join us at the airport of Tbilisi or Kutaisi, if it is more convenient for you.
Hiking route is chosen for healthy people with average physical training. It will be interesting both for experienced hikers and for beginners. No special training is required for participation. While hiking in Svaneti we will only carry small backpacks, with all the necessary things for the day. We will sleep in comfortable and clean guest houses.
If you’re interested, check out the details below.
Svaneti / Hiking in Georgia
Svaneti is a historical region in the north-west of Georgia. It extends along the upper stream of high Inguri River valley. Upper Svaneti, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, is known for its architectural treasures (especially tower fortresses built in 9-12 centuries, that are still inhabited) and indescribable natural wonders (mountains, gorges, glaciers, mountain passes and so on).
Duration of the trip: 6 days, 5 nights.
Day 1: City of towers
Early in the morning we will leave Yerevan and start our journey to the center of Upper Svaneti – Mestia. We will arrive there late in the evening. If we have time, we will walk around Mestia, get acquainted with this unique city, with its towers, and try Svan dishes. By the way, towers look especially beautiful at night.
Mestia
Day 2: Svaneti from a bird’s-eye view
In the morning we will visit house-museum of the world-famous mountaineer Mikhail Khergiani, where we will learn more about Soviet mountaineering, about Khergiani’s biography, see the conditions in which Svans lived and for what purpose they built these residential tower-fortresses.
By the way, in the house-museum of Khergiani we’ve created a small corner, where some examples of Soviet Armenian mountaineering are presented.
Ou first official visit to M. Khergiani house-museum
Then we will hike to the famous “Cross” of Mestia. It is located on a hill, from which you can enjoy an indescribably beautiful view to Caucasus Mountains, and below you can see the villages of Svaneti.
Route length: 12 km
Relative height: 850 m
Bird’s-eye view to Svaneti
Day 3: Ushguli
In the morning we will drive to the highest settlement of Svaneti – Ushguli on 4×4 cars. From here we will hike to the glacier of the highest mountain of Georgia – Shkhara.
Route length: 18 km
Relative height: 700 m
Ushguli
Day 4: Chalaadi Glacier
In the morning we will visit the Svan History and Ethnography museum, learn more about the local lifestyle and find out for what purpose their famous towers were built. Then we will hike to the Chalaadi glacier.
Route length: 15 km
Relative height: 450 m
Chalaadi Glacier
Day 5: Shdugra Waterfall and Ushba Glacier
In the morning we will go to Becho. Here, from a small village we will start our hike to the Shdugra waterfall, which falls from a height of about 150 meters. It is located on the northwestern slopes of Mount Ushba, which borders the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria of Russian Federation.
We will admire the beauty of this waterfall from afar.
Shdugra Waterfall
After the waterfall, we will continue our hike and go to the Ushba glacier. Here we will also see one of the most famous mountains of the Caucasus Mountains – Ushba, from a new angle.
On the slopes of Mount Ushba
Day 6: Return
In the morning, after breakfast we will go back to Yerevan.
The price includes:
- transportation
- service of the English-speaking guide
- 5 nights in guest house (Mestia)
- 5 breakfasts
- museum entrance tickets
Attention
The price doesn’t include only lunches and dinners. In the guest house we can use the kitchen and cook whatever we want (there are many affordable grocery shops and fast food places there, so the issue of food can be easily solved).
For more information and registration, contact us.
To get a better idea of Svaneti, you can check out photos from our previous trips.
Hiking and trekking in Armenia
