TREK THRU SVANETI
Trek Thru Svaneti
Majestic Mountains & Defensive Towers
11 days / 10 nights :: For Private Groups
Be captivated by unimaginable views of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range as you traverse river valleys over multiple mountain passes from village to village in one of the most well-known yet lesser-travelled mountain regions of Georgia! This is an authentic hut-to-hut trek with no tent camping.
DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN GEORGIA
Welcome to Georgia! Whether you arrive in Tbilisi or Kutaisi, an English-speaking guide will meet you at the airport and get you settled safely into your hotel. It will likely be middle-of-the-night when you arrive, but we hope you’re able to start working through jet-lag and regain your energy before your trekking tour begins.
DAY 2: TBILISI/KUTAISI TOURING
It’s your first full day in Georgia! Whether you’re in Tbilisi or Kutaisi, you’ll get to learn more of the culture and history of the country as well as the city as you visit various historical sites with a guided city tour. Both cities are easy to navigate on your own, which you’ll be free to do in the free afternoon time before finishing the day with a tasty traditional Georgian meal and we hope you get another solid night’s rest before your mountain adventure starts tomorrow!
DAY 3: TRANSFER TO SVANETI
After breakfast, your English-speaking guide & local driver will meet you to load your belongings and begin the full day drive to Svaneti, the region of high mountains, glaciers & historic towers. On the way, you’ll stop to visit Enguri Dam, the world’s second-highest arch dam. You’ll also have beautiful mountain and forest views surrounding you as you drive to Etseri, a small village in Svaneti, where you’ll stay this first night & have a delicious dinner of various Georgian specialties.
DAY 4: BAKI PASS TO BECHO
Today your trekking journey begins! Over the next 6 days your feet will carry you approximately 78 kilometers through some of the most beautiful high mountain, glacier, & local village sites Georgia has to offer. After breakfast you’ll grab your day pack & start from Etseri, passing over the Baki Pass (2430m) continuing to Lake Mezeri, concluding the day’s trek in the beautiful village of Becho, which sits at the foot of the famous Mount Ushba (4710m).
DAY 5: GULI PASS TO MESTIA
Be sure to eat a hearty breakfast as today will be a long, arduous trek over Guli Pass into the regional capital of Svaneti: Mestia. But it will also be one of the most beautiful days for trekking as you will have multiple views of Mount Ushba, the most dangerous technical mountain for alpinists in Svaneti, but majestic as it towers over this land. You’ll certainly be ready for a hot shower and tasty meal of mountain cuisine tonight when you arrive to the guesthouse in Mestia!
DAY 6: MESTIA TO MULAKHI
In the morning you’ll have a small city walking tour through Mestia, visiting a house museum with its own defense tower. After this you’ll start the easy route to Mulakhi, with several beautiful vistas along the way. Mulakhi is a unique small village in Svaneti, home to only ~40 families, with almost every house having its own defensive tower. By now you’re probably starting to understand better the significance of these towers to Svan history as they protected themselves from enemy invaders.
DAY 7: MULAKHI TO ADISHI
After breakfast you’ll start towards the next village, Zhabeshi, from where you’ll start the upward slopes of Tetnuldi Mountain (4858m). You’ll pass the popular winter ski slopes, stopping at a high point for panoramic views of surrounding glaciers and some of the highest mountains of the Greater Caucasus range. You’ll continue on, descending into the forests of birch tress and rhododendron bushes. The trail continues along small mountain rivers and through colorful meadows filled with wildflowers to Adishi, a small village hidden well between several mountains. Adishi has several stone towers & houses built several centuries ago.
DAY 8: ADISHI TO USHGULI
Today, your Svaneti trekking tour will bring you to the most spectacular village of the region, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ushguli. After a couple hours of trekking upward to the river, you’ll get on horseback to cross the Adishis-Tskali river, then continue ascending to the Chkunderi pass (2750m). From here you will enjoy majestic panoramic vies of the Adishi Glacier & several snow-covered peaks towering over 5,000 meters. You begin your descent into the valley of the Khalde-chala river to the village Khalde, destroyed in the 19th century by the Russian empire. In Khalde your drivers will meet you to carry you the remaining 15 kilometers to Ushguli, located beneath the highest mountain of Georgia, Mount Shkhara (5220m).
DAY 9: USHGULI & SURROUNDINGS
There are so many beautiful hiking destinations in Svaneti, many of which you’ve already experienced, but today will be one of the most memorable days of your trekking tour. You’ll depart Ushguli, hiking past the fortress of Queen Tamara through a field of rhododendrons up to Latipari Pass (2830m). From this pass, if the day is clear, you will have unique views of the entire Greater Caucasus mountain range, including the peaks of Tetnuldi, Ushba, Shkhara, as well as Europe’s highest mountain, Elbrus (5642m). You’ll descend back to Ushguli for a short tour of the town, visiting the 12th century La Maria Church. It’s your last night in this majestic mountain region, so be sure to get your final fill of delicious Svanetian mountain cuisine and soak up the final views of the Svan defending towers nestled beneath the majestic Greater Caucasus Mountains.
DAY 10: TRANSFER TO TBILISI/KUTAISI
Your trekking adventure has come to an end. After breakfast you’ll be transferred back to Tbilisi or Kutaisi, where you’ll have the evening to explore on your own before your departure.
DAY 11: DEPARTURE
You’ll be transferred to the airport this morning for your flight home. Thanks for visiting and experiencing just a drop of what Georgia has to offer! We hope to see you again for a cultural tour or to explore more of the natural beauty of the South Caucasus in Armenia and Azerbaijan. Nakhvamdis! (Goodbye in Georgian)
- All transportation: Airport transfers; Transport in 4×4 vehicles from Tbilisi/Kutaisi to Svaneti and return
- All breakfasts
- Dinners on Days 2-10
- Lunches on Days 4-9
- Lodging – 10 nights in guesthouse/hotel
- Half-day cultural tour with English-speaking guide in Tbilisi/Kutaisi
- Visits to other historical/cultural sites in Mestia & Ushguli
- Professional and experienced English-speaking trekking guide
- Vehicle transportation of personal luggage between guesthouses
- Extensive pre-trip planning, customization, & customer service
- International airfare
- Tourist visa on a per-country basis
- Personal trekking gear (see required gear list)
- Additional services requested at hotels (spa/banya, etc.)
- All meals on Day 1
- Lunches on Days 2-3,10,11
- Any change to the program that requires extra expense (any departure from the itinerary will be booked by you at your own expense)
- Additional beverages at meals (non-alcoholic and alcoholic)
- Personal Insurance (not required)
- Tips for guides, drivers & meals
Trekking Gear:
- Waterproof Pack/Backpack (50-80 liters) for transport by vehicle
- Day Pack (10-30 liters)
- Trekking poles – Optional, but advisable
- Liter sized water bottle
- Seat pad – Optional
Upper Body:
- Light/Mid-weight insulated “puffy” jacket
- Rain Jacket (Gore-tex or equivalent; wind & waterproof)
- Fleece hoodie/pullover
- Synthetic base layer – Optional
- Synthetic t-shirts or sleeveless
Lower Body:
- Synthetic trekking pants
- Synthetic/wool underwear
- Synthetic/wool thermal long underwear – Optional
Hands and Feet:
- Synthetic/wool hiking socks
- Hiking boots/shoes (Goretex or equivalent)
- Mid/lightweight gloves (optional)
- Spare shoes (sneakers or sandals–helpful for stream crossing)
Headwear:
- Balaclava/buff and/or beanie
- Hat
- Sunglasses
Other:
- Personal first-aid kit & basic medications (against diarrhea, fever, indigestion, etc)
- Prescription meds (inhaler, EpiPen, etc.)
- Personal toiletries & sunscreen
- Battery pack & cords for device charging
- Head lamp (with extra batteries)
- Thermos – Optional
Talk to a Trekking expert today:
- +1 704-810-4296
Your safety & success are our priority. Our guides:
- Are locals with years of trekking experience
- Are English-speaking with local expertise
What you’ll experience on “Trek Thru Svaneti”
Trek Thru Svaneti Pricing
| Tour Level | 2 People | 3-4 People | 5-6 People |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Economic |
$3,295 |
$2,835 |
$2,345 |
|
Classic/Mid-Range |
$3,625 |
$3,125 |
$2,595 |
|
Affordable Luxury |
$3,935 |
$3,425 |
$2,895 |
*As a US based company, all prices are in US Dollars, per person. We accept payment in US dollars at the exchange rate in affect at the time of payment. Refer to our Payment Options document for further details on various methods of payment.
*Accommodation levels apply to hotels in Tbilisi/Kutaisi ONLY. During the trekking days accommodations in Svaneti are 3-star guest houses.
*For requesting single rooms, a single supplement fee will be applied.
*Contact us for larger group pricing.