Georgia Svaneti Trek: Mestia to Ushguli on Foot, 6 Nights

You are collected in Kutaisi for the drive of about 230 kilometres into the mountains, climbing the Enguri valley past the great Enguri dam to Mestia, the main town of Upper Svaneti, at about 1,450 metres. Its stone defensive towers rise above the houses, built by Svan families centuries ago. Dinner is at your guesthouse, with a briefing on the days ahead.

The first walking day, about 17 kilometres and six to seven hours. From Mestia at about 1,450 metres the trail climbs to around 1,900 metres along a ridge with views of Tetnuldi and the twin peaks of Ushba, then drops to about 1,600 metres through the tower villages of the Mulakhi community to Zhabeshi. Your main bag goes ahead to the guesthouse.

Shorter in distance but not in effort: about 10 kilometres in six to seven hours, climbing to a high point of around 2,450 metres beneath the Tetnuldi ski area before descending to Adishi. There are streams to cross on stepping stones along the way. Adishi is a small, remote village of towers and stone houses with only a handful of year-round residents.

The hardest day, about 17 kilometres and seven to eight hours. Local horses carry you across the unbridged Adishi river, then the trail climbs steadily to the Chkhunderi pass at 2,722 metres, with the Adishi glacier tumbling from Tetnuldi opposite. A long descent leads down past the village of Khalde to the Kala community and Iprali for the night.

An easier day of about 12 kilometres and four to five hours, with a high point of about 2,200 metres, passing through Davberi and up the Enguri valley to Ushguli. This cluster of four tower villages beneath Shkhara, Georgia’s highest peak, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You have time to visit the small Lamaria church on the hill above the village.

The last walk is your choice. A 4x4 takes you about 7 kilometres to the trailhead for either the Shkhara glacier, about 5 kilometres return in four to five hours, or Namkvami lake, about 6 kilometres return in five to six hours. In the afternoon a 4x4 drives you the 45 kilometres back to Mestia, about two hours on a mountain road.

After breakfast you leave Svaneti by the same road down the Enguri valley to Kutaisi, arriving in the afternoon, so an evening flight or an onward night in Kutaisi works best. If you would rather continue to Batumi, about six hours from Mestia, or to Tbilisi, we can quote that transfer instead.