Trekking in Svaneti – Georgia
A 13-day trek in the heart of the Georgian Greater Caucasus: from the medieval villages of Svaneti and the stone towers of Ushguli to the Black Sea at Batumi.
Svaneti is a landscape of high snow-capped peaks, forested hills and spectacular valleys. Its roads lead to hidden medieval villages where time seems to have stopped. The Svans are a people apart: a different pace of life, their own language and traditions, a unique architecture where ancient customs are still part of daily life.
CODE AA-SVA-01
13 days · Level 3/5
Price depends on group size and season: a detailed, no-obligation quote on request.
- The medieval villages of Svaneti and the UNESCO-listed stone towers of Ushguli
- Several days of hiking at the foot of the Greater Caucasus glaciers
- Homestay accommodation in mountain villages
- The Prometheus Cave and the Gori museum
- Tbilisi and Batumi, from old lanes to the Black Sea shore
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Flight to Tbilisi
Flight to Tbilisi. Arrival in Tbilisi (3:00 am). After some rest, discovery of the capital of Georgia, known for its narrow lanes, colourful houses with carved balconies and a historic centre where modern and contemporary architecture blend. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2: Tbilisi
Discovery of the capital. Visit of the Metekhi Church of the Assumption, offering superb views over the old town. Stroll through the small lanes, past the Narikala fortress overlooking the city and the sulphur baths district. Lunch during the day and a museum visit depending on time. Dinner in a traditional restaurant, overnight at the hotel.
Day 3: Tbilisi – Gori – Kutaisi
Drive to Gori and visit of the museum dedicated to Joseph Stalin, with his personal railway carriage, his birthplace and various personal items; the site became a State museum in 1937. After lunch, drive to Kutaisi. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. Drive: 250 km, 4h30.
Day 4: Kutaisi – Prometheus Cave – Mele village
After breakfast, visit of the Prometheus Cave (also known as Kumistavi or Tsqaltubo Cave), a karstic cave in the Imereti region. It is about 11 km long, of which 1,060 metres are open to visitors, with 22 chambers, six of them accessible. Dinner and overnight in a homestay.
Day 5: Mele village – Zagari Pass – Ushguli
After breakfast, drive to the Zagari Pass. We leave the vehicle and start walking towards the village of Ushguli, admiring the view from this pass, one of the highest of the Caucasus range, surrounded by snowy peaks and glaciers. Dinner and overnight in a guesthouse. Elevation: +600/1000 m. 4 to 5 hours of walking. Transfer: 15 km.
Day 6: Ushguli – Khalde
After breakfast and farewells to our hosts, departure for a beautiful day of hiking. Leaving the village, we take the balcony trail towards the Kala valley. Lunch in a small restaurant, then the trail leads to the village of Khalde. Dinner and overnight in a homestay. Elevation: -670 / +640 m. 5 to 6 hours of walking.
Day 7: Khalde – Adishi
After breakfast, hike to the village of Iprari, then climb to the Chkhutnieri Pass (2,720 m). On the way down, we follow the Adishi glacier river, crossed on horseback. The hike ends in the magnificent village of Adishi with its towers, remote and largely deserted. Dinner and overnight in a homestay. Elevation: +800 / -800 m. 5 to 6 hours of walking.
Day 8: Adishi – Jabeshi
Leaving the village, the forest trail leads to the Ughviri Pass (2,480 m), from where the spectacular peaks of the Greater Caucasus are clearly visible. The trail then dips back into a dense forest full of springs and streams. After crossing vast fields, the village of Jabeshi appears at 1,650 m. Dinner and overnight in a homestay. Elevation: +930 / -380 m. 5 to 6 hours of walking.
Day 9: Jabeshi – Mestia
After breakfast, walk to Mestia, the hiking capital. The town is spread out but its historic centre is just a few streets, with many well-preserved medieval towers, restaurants and guesthouses. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. Elevation: +480 / -700 m. 5 to 6 hours of walking.
Day 10: Mestia – Guli Pass – Becho – Mestia
4x4 transfer up to the Koruldi Lakes, a group of small lakes nestled in the mountains north of Mestia. We then take a beautiful trail to the Guli Pass (2,950 m), with a sublime view of Mount Ushba and the glacial valleys. Descent to the village of Becho. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Mestia. Elevation: +450 / -1000 m. 6 to 7 hours of walking.
Day 11: Becho – Batumi
After enjoying the wide landscapes of Svaneti, descent to Zugdidi, whose gentleness contrasts with the ruggedness of the mountains. Transfer day to Batumi, a Black Sea seaside town. Lunch en route. Visit of the Batumi Botanical Garden, known for its varied flora and fauna. Check-in at the hotel, dinner in a local home.
Day 12: Batumi
In the morning, walking discovery of the old town and modern districts of Batumi, the largest seaside city on the Black Sea and the main port of Adjara. Visit of the Piazza, Europe Square and its astronomical clock, the Neptune Fountain, the Alphabet Tower and the statue of Ali and Nino. Lunch and dinner in town. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 13: Batumi – Return
Transfer to the airport for the return flight.
Included / Not included
What’s included
- Accommodation as set out in the itinerary
- Full board (picnic lunch, dinner), except meals on the first and last days
- All luggage transfers throughout the trip
- Transfers as set out in the itinerary
- Entrance fees for the sites listed in the itinerary
- A local hiking guide who speaks your group's language
- A group of 4 to 15 people
- Homestay accommodation in the villages (shared shower and toilets, shared rooms) and three-star hotels in the cities
What’s not included
- International and domestic flights
- Meals on the first and last days
- Drinks and personal expenses
- Comprehensive travel insurance (cancellation, assistance and repatriation, trip interruption)
- Tips
- Single room supplement
Frequently asked questions
Who guides the Svaneti trek? In Georgia the group is led by a local Georgian hiking guide who speaks your group's language. He walks with you on the six trekking days, from the Zagari pass to Ushguli and then from village to village to Mestia and the Guli pass. The trip opens and closes with more cultural stages: Tbilisi, Gori…
Where do we stay during the trek? In towns, 3-star hotels: Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Mestia (two nights) and Batumi. In the mountain villages you stay with local families in Mele, Khalde, Adishi and Jabeshi, plus one night in a guesthouse in Ushguli. In homestays, showers and toilets are shared and rooms are shared too. It is simple, but i…
How fit do I need to be, and how long are the walking days? The trek is rated 3/5. The six walking days in Svaneti last 4 to 7 hours, with 450 to 1000 m of ascent and descent, over several passes: Chkhutnieri (2720 m), Ughviri (2480 m) and Guli (2950 m). You need to be used to consecutive days in the mountains. The rest of the trip, in Tbilisi, Gori, Kutais…
Which day is the most demanding? Day 10, starting from Mestia. After a 4x4 transfer to the Koruldi lakes, you climb to the Guli pass at 2950 m, the highest point of the trip, facing Mount Ushba and its glacial valleys. Then comes a long descent to Becho: 6 to 7 hours of walking, +450 m / −1000 m. Day 7 also calls for stamina, with…
How do we get to Ushguli and Mestia, and who carries the luggage? You enter Svaneti by road: on day 5 the vehicle climbs from Mele towards the Zagari pass, from where you walk down to Ushguli. From there you cross on foot from village to village, Khalde, Adishi and Jabeshi, to Mestia, where you spend two nights. Your luggage is moved from one lodging to the next,…
When is the best time to go? From 15 June to 15 September. Before mid-June, snow may still lie on the Chkhutnieri and Guli passes; after mid-September the weather at altitude becomes more unsettled and nights in the villages get colder. Even in midsummer, pack warm layers for the passes and a rain jacket. As for formalities, m…