Trekking in Svaneti – Georgia | Greater Caucasus — Aventures Anatoliennes

13-day trek in Svaneti, in the heart of the Georgian Greater Caucasus: medieval villages, Ushguli towers, glaciers and 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.

13 days · Level 3/5

Day-by-day itinerary

  1. 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 contempora…
  2. 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 dis…
  3. 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. Din…
  4. 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…
  5. 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…
  6. 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 villa…
  7. 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…
  8. 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 s…
  9. 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 t…
  10. 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 valley…
  11. 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 B…
  12. 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…
  13. Day 13: Batumi – Return — Transfer to the airport for the return flight.

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