4 Day Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Small Group Rural Tour

Total drive: 5 hr 33 min (366 km)  Pick up from Tbilisi hotel at 08:00 and drive to Senaki Caffe Apetito, making short breaks on the way (4 hr 3 min (286 km).  13:00-14:00 Join the group members from Kutaisi and Batumi at Senaki Kafe Apetito near Senaki State Drama Theater and start your journey in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti!  First, stop at Nokalakevi archaeological museum-reserve. The guided excursion lasts about one hour. During this time you wander through renovated museum halls, churches, citadel, and an escape tunnel.  Discover the natural wonders of Georgia in the next one hour: admire the green scenery of unique Colchian forests surrounding Martvili Canyon. Next take a 20 minutes boat trip in the Abasha river, 300 meters (one way) section of Abasha, and enjoy the breathtaking views of the canyon. In the evening arrival in Martvili, a small town, where tourists usually pass by. Unique place! Have a dinner at Oda’s family winery. The small family guesthouse is good opportunity for an overnight, you have the best chance to explore the real local lifestyle. Overnight in Martvili.

Total drive: 4 hr 13 min (180 km)  08:30 Breakfast at the guesthouse. Head to Mestia, driving upwards to Caucasus mountain serpentines.  20-30 minutes photo stop at Enguri hydroelectric Dam-an impressive Soviet construction  (1 h 32 min from Martvili – 76 km). It requires a nonstop drive to Upper Svaneti, but we do as many stops as necessary on the way.  Arrive in Mestia, an administrative center of Svaneti region, surrounded by three major ancient villages Latali, Lenjeri and Mulakhi and visit defensive towers decorated with medieval frescos.  See Svaneti's housing estate tower-museum of Margiani (12th c.),  Seti square and the Svaneti Museum of History and Ethnography, displaying old Georgian manuscripts, ethnographic and archaeological materials, Georgian Orthodox icons painted in the Svan style etc. Dinner and overnight in Mestia.

Trek grade: Easy to Moderate, distance 6 km, duration 5-6 h, elevation - 1920 m, trail trek, sleigh track Today we cover the popular and easy Chalaadi Trail exploring Mestiachala river valley. Cross a small hanging bridge on the river of Mestiachala, follow the path through the pine forest, followed by the stony gorge. After finishing the trail you see Mount Chatini and snowy peaks of Chalaadi glacier at 1920m above sea level.  At the end of the day return back to Mestia for dinner and overnight.  Optional* Jeep tour: Mestia – Ushguli – Mestia Driving distance: 93.7 km For those who prefer  off-road adventures over trekking, we organize a jeep tour to Ushguli- one of the highest continually inhabited places in Europe and an authentic community of four villages, located 45 km away from Mestia. Because of its historical and cultural values Ushguli is included in World Heritage Sites list by the UNESCO. Visit the church of the Mother of God-Lamaria church. Afterwards walk to Shkhara-the highest mountain in Georgia (5068 m),  located in the very east of Svaneti, near village Ushguli.   After a full adventurous day drive back to Mestia. Dinner and overnight in Mestia. NOTE: this route is doable from May to October.