7 Day Hiking Tour In Svaneti

Itinerary

Day 1: Kutaisi-Svaneti

Stop At: Prometheus Cave, Kumistavi Georgia
Meeting point is Kutaisi Airport or Hotel in Kutaisi. Where is starting our adventure. First interesting attraction after Kutaisi is Kumistavi (Prometeus) cave, it is the biggest cave in Georgia, explored in 1984 year, inside the Cave are underground rivers and lakes, The length is 1, 8 km and it is located 40 meters below sea level. Promete cave 1 hour tourist route passes through Argonauts Hall, Kolkheti Hall, Medea Hall, Love Hall, Prometheus Hall and Iberia Hall. The trail finishes by pedestrian or boating tour on an underground flow of river Kumi, after the cave
Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes

Stop At: Zugdidi, Zugdidi, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Region
Stop in Zugdidi for the lunch and taste Megrelian cousine
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Mazeri, Mazeri, Upper Svaneti, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Region
Mazeri is ono of the most beautiful village i Svaneti, Huge views of mountain Ushba, wide meadows for walking around the village and nice hiking trails
Dinner and overnight in Mazeri
Duration: 10 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch: Taste Megrelian dishes in Zugdidi
• Dinner: Dinner in village Mazeri taste traditional Svanetian dishes
Accommodation included: Overnight at clean and cozy Guesthouse in village Mazeri

Day 2: Mazeri-Shdugra waterfall-Ushba Glacier Hike

Stop At: Ushba Glacier, Georgia
Eat the breakfast in the guesthouse in Mazeri hosts provide also lunch, than start hiking to Shdugra waterfalls and Ushba Glacier. Shdugra is the tallest waterfall in Georgia, located i western part of Mt. Ushba (4700 m) first cross the river Dolra 3-4 km continue pine forest, this part of the path is so flat, than cross the river with wooden bridge and start slope, from the way you can see waterfall and fragments of Mt. Ushba. Second part of the road is more difficult 1-2 km is slope than reach to the waterfall. Distance to the waterfall from the village is 5 km and 2-3 hour need one way. From waterfall to Glacier distance is 2.5 km but path is more difficult than first part, if you have enough experience of hiking you can reach to the glacier in 1.5-2 hour. In 1 km you need to cross the river Dolra again it is a top of the waterfall, views from the top is fantastic you can see Dolra valley, Svaneti Ridge and mountain Laila (4009 m), after the next 1 km you can reach to the huge glacier where is starting river Dolra. the highest point is 2500 m from sea level, the lowest point 1640 m

Total distance to waterfall is 12 km to the glacier 15 km

Trail difficulty: to waterfall moderate and to the Glacier hard
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Guesthouse in Mazeri

Day 3: Mazeri-Etseri(Iskari) Hike

Stop At: Meziri Mountain, Georgia
Etseri is community located in 22 km from center of Svaneti. On the Google map you can not find Etseri community as another community of Svaneti, if you search “Etseri” you will find another village in 160 km far from Svaneti, but it is not a village which we are talking about. In Etseri community include several villages one of the biggest is Iskari where finishing hiking path. It is very nice path with a great views of Coucasus and Svanetian mountains, e.g Mt. Ushba 4700 m, Glaciers, Svanetian Ridge, Enguri Valley and small nice villages. On the Mountain Meziri (2279 m)situated small church of Archangel and also small lake. Lake is so small and not possible swimming but create so nice landscape for photography like a mirror from mountains. On the top of the mountain are great viewpoint and panorama views of Svaneti. The path connecting two valleys and two community of Upper Svaneti. First part of the path cross the forests than start the alpine meadows. In summer season there are lots of mountain flowers, in a Autumn lots of blueberries. After the Alpine meadows starts again forests and it continues until village Iskari. The highest point is Baki Pass 2460 m and lowest point 1440.
Distance 17 Km

Difficulty: Moderate

Time 6-7 hour
In the evening transfer to village Lakhushdi and stay at Ecohouse Svaneti
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Ecohouse Svaneti in village Lakhushdi

Day 4: Lakhushdi-Mkheri Hike

Stop At: Mkheri church in Latali, 42°58'02. 42°37'16., 9 GA-1, Roopville, Georgia
Mkheri mountain is one of the best one day hike in Svaneti, but it is not started from center of Mestia and this is a reason why this rout isn’t as popular and well known as some places around the center. I read several reviews of Mkheri and old path had some weakness by hiker’s opinion, first was a muddy part of the train and second was views from the path. After the rain some part of the road is really muddy and by my opinion one more weakness is that there was just ion path and wasn’t possibility to do round trip. Old and signed path started from Center of Latali community
Last year me and young people village Lakhushdi decided to recover and clean old path from Lakhushdi to Mkheri. I had several requests to tourism department to clean path and make signs, but they promised us to clean of the path after the several years. So one day we decided to did that work as volunteers and it was big adventure as well. We collected working tools in each family what we needed: chainsaw, petrol, oil, hatchets, and etc. Old path was afforested and this is why we needed more work than imagined. We spend 2 night outside without the tents under the tree at the end of the September near to 2000 meters from the sea level, Work was continued for several days, it was absolutely wild nature, and we were first humans the during the last several years. And we were so proud when finally reached to the top of Mkheri with path. Sunrise on the morning was the most beautiful thing what I ever seen.
Description of the rout:
As you remember old path from another village hade 3 major weaknesses: Muddy parts, views from the road and no possibilities for round trip. I think we solved all these weaknesses. Whole part of the path from Lakhushdi to Mkheri is Dry. Hikers have chance to see Caucasus and Svanetian mountains, Several villages and etc. New path gives you chance to decide back to home by same way or do round trip. New hiking path is beginning at village Lakhushdi where you can stay at Ecohouse Svaneti and there are several small guesthouses as well, village is unspoiled from tourism and bet view of Mountain Ushba. Path crossing the river Enguri, after the 1,5 km crossing old village Sgobuli, where are several towers and wooden huts , beautiful meadows, view of the mountains Tetnuldi, Ushba and etc. After the meadows begging wild forest for several kilometers than again start meadows and ridge where is starting the best panorama views by 360 degree, Final destination is Church on 2500 Meter, where you can decide come back to Lakhushdi by same way or do round trip via old path. Difficulty of the path is Medium and takes 7-8 Hours, Elevation is 1200 meters, you can rent local guide in Lakhushdi and possible to rent horses as well
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: overnight at Ecohouse Svaneti

Day 5: Jabeshi-Adishi

Stop At: Tetnuldi Mountain, Georgia
After the breakfats transfer to village Jabeshi where is starting hiking path to Adishi direction, which crossing Tetnuldi ski resort and mountain meadows, where are several shortcuts, views are amazing. Adishi is small but very beautiful village on 2000 meter from the sea level
Hiking distance is 11 km
Difficulty -Medium
Elevation 900 Meter
Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Guesthouse in Adishi

Day 6: Adishi-Ifrali Hike

Stop At: Adishi, Adishi, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Region
Adishi Ifrali hike is best and most tiring day from Mestia Ushguli classic hiking trail. Hiking path cross river where is not bridge and local horse owners waiting for hiker every day and most of the people crossing river by horse, especially in summer season. From the path is beautiful view of Adishi Glacier and its popular place for photography . The Highest point is Chkutnieri pass 2660 m, than trail descend to historic village Khalde, where several villagers had a war against Russian army in XIX century
hiking distance 19km
time 7 hours/
difficulty -Medium-
Overnight in Ifrali
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 7: Ifrali-Ushguli-Mestia

Stop At: Ushguli, Ushguli, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Region
Hike from Ifrali to Ushguli is short and only takes 3-4 hours, Ushguli is The Highest populated area in Europe, where are approximately 50 Svan towers in one village, view of The Highest mountain of Georgia -Shkara 5201 m is amazing
after the hike we will come back to Mestia my car and have a time for walking around the center of Svaneti
Overnight in Mestia
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight in Mestia

Day 8: Mestia-Kutaisi Transfer

Stop At: Kutaisi, Kutaisi, Imereti Region
Transfer from Mestia to Kutaisi
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.