SVANETI TREKKING HOLIDAY | 9 DAYS
Svaneti Trekking Holiday Highlights
- A bucket-list hike for all adventurers!
- Located in the northwestern part of Georgia on the southern slopes of the Caucasus mountains, Svaneti is one of the most stunning regions in Georgia.
- Remote and unspoilt, the Green pearl of Caucasus has kept its wild and authentic character.
- Svaneti, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is famous for its fortified towers. Svaneti will make you feel like you’ve taken a step back into medieval times.
- Discover Ushguli, the highest permanently inhabited village in Europe.
- Sleep in local guesthouses and experience first-hand the Svan hospitality.
- Svaneti is a true hiking paradise with beautiful ancient villages. The hiking trails offer breathtaking views with spectacular mountain vistas.
- In the Greek mythology, the quest of the Golden Fleece brought Jason and the Argonauts to the ancient Kingdom of Colchis in the Svaneti region of Modern Georgia.
- Enjoy the unique and amazing ancient
polyphonic songs of the Svans.
Day 01. WELCOME TO GEORGIA
Upon arrival in Tbilisi, our friendly
representative will be waiting for you at the airport with a sign displaying
your name. He will then drive you to your hotel.
Depending on your time of arrival, you are free to relax or explore the city.
Overnight in Tbilisi.
Day 02. TBILISI - MESTIA
After breakfast, we will drive to Mestia (approx. 7-8 hours' drive). Mestia, the capital of the Upper Svaneti Region, is surrounded by the mountains. Relax and soak up the peaceful atmosphere in Mestia.
Overnight in Mestia.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner.
Day 03. MESTIA – ETSERI –
TVEBISHI – MAZERI (6-7 HOURS’ HIKE)
In the morning, we will drive from Mestia to the Etseri village. We will begin our trek from Etseri through the alpine meadows and head towards the mountains ahead. We will follow the trail, climb steeply and cross the Baki pass. Enjoy the stunning views of Mt. Ushba and Mt. Mazeri. Then, we will hike down through the coniferous forest and head towards the Church of Archangels. We will descend to the Tvebishi village and join the larger road to finally reach the Mazeri village.
Overnight in Mazeri.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch box & Dinner.
Day 04. MAZERI – GULI –
MESTIA (9-10 HOURS’ HIKE)
Today is going to be a challenging day! We will leave the Mazeri village, head to the Bagvdanari village and enter the Gulichala valley. We will climb up and cross the Guli pass. Enjoy the breathtaking views of Mt. Ushba. We will hike down to the sources of Pushkveri and continue our hike towards the Lamaaja Ridge. Then, we will walk to Mestia.
Overnight in Mestia.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch box & Dinner.
Day 05. MESTIA – CHALAADI
– MESTIA (5-6 HOURS’ HIKE)
Today, we will trek into the valley of Mestiachala. We will hike through the beautiful pine forest up to the Chalaadi Glacier.
Then, we will walk back to Mestia.
Overnight in Mestia.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch box & Dinner.
Day 06. MESTIA – ZHABESHI
– ADISHI (6-7 HOURS’ HIKE)
After breakfast, we will drive to the Zhabeshi
village. We will trek through a forest of birch trees. Enjoy the views of the
Mulkhara valley, Mt. Banguriani and Tetnuldi. We will continue to walk through
beautiful alpine meadows until we reach the medieval town of Adishi, one of the
highest villages in Europe.
Overnight in Adishi.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch box & Dinner.
Day 07. ADISHI – USHGULI
– MESTIA
After breakfast, we will drive to Ushguli, the highest permanently inhabited
settlement in Europe. Ushguli is a community of 4
villages (Zhibiani,
Chvibiani, Chazhashi and Murqmeli). We
will spend our day in Ushguli, where we will have plenty of time to marvel.
Then, we will drive back to Mestia.
Overnight in Mestia.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch box & Dinner.
Day 08. MESTIA – TBILISI
After breakfast, we will drive back to Tbilisi (7-8
hours' drive).
In the evening, in Tbilisi, we will have our farewell dinner at a local restaurant, where you will also enjoy a Georgian folk dance show.
Overnight in Tbilisi.
Meals: Breakfast & Farewell Dinner.
Day 09. DEPARTURE
After a fun-filled trekking holiday, our journey ends. We hope you thoroughly enjoyed your trip. We will take you to the Tbilisi International Airport.
Meals: Breakfast.
Please
note: This itinerary is intended to be a guideline; local conditions and
weather may necessitate slight itinerary variations.
- Daypack.
- Outdoor clothing: Outdoor clothing should be tough and comfortable. Wearing several thin layers is better than a few thick layers.
- Hiking boots & sports sandals. Lightweight socks & med-heavy wool socks.
- Water Bottle.
- Trekking pants & Shorts.
- 1 Hardshell jacket.
- 1 Waterproof jacket.
- Sun hat.
- Sunscreen.
- Sunglasses.
- Copies of important documents (passport, travel insurance & air tickets) & extra passport photos.
- Power adapters.
- Padlocks.
- Insect repellent.
- Camera with extra cards and extra batteries.
*THIS LIST IS NOT EXHAUSTIVE.
What’s included
- Pre-departure support.
- Airport Pick-up & Drop-off.
- Experienced English speaking trekking guide.
- All ground transportation during the tour: car, mini-bus or bus (depending on group size) on days 1, 2, 3, 8 and 9 / jeep on days 6 and 7.
- Accommodation (8 nights): 3-Star hotel on twin sharing basis in Tbilisi (2 Nights) & Guest houses in Mestia (4 Nights), Mazeri (1 Night) and Adishi (1 Night).
- Meals (refer to itinerary for meal plan).
- Sightseeing tours and activities as mentioned in the itinerary.
- Entrance fees.
- First Aid kits.
- Farewell dinner with Georgian Folk Show in Tbilisi.
- All government taxes, VAT and service charges.
What’s NOT included
- International airfare and domestic flights.
- Single room supplement.
- Porters.
- Personal gear.
- Tips for guide, driver & others.
- Personal expenditures, all bar bills, laundry, telephone calls, etc.
- Visa fees if applicable.
- Travel insurance.
- Anything else not specified in the ‘what’s included’ section above.
Health:
Good level of fitness.
Good walker in good health.
Experience:
You should be able to walk for 5 to 10 hours in a day.
Please note:
Women should wear scarves and cover their heads in the Georgian orthodox
churches, sometimes women are also required to wear long skirts or dresses.
Scarves and skirts are available for women to borrow at the entrances of most
churches. Men should wear pants or suits. Short trousers, short skirts and
revealing clothes are forbidden inside the churches.
You are required as a condition of booking to have an adequate
travel insurance.
