Svaneti 4-Day Mountain Tour
Trip highlights
- Sleep beneath the medieval stone towers of Mestia and Ushguli
- Hike to the Chalaadi Glacier and the Koruldi Lakes
- Reach Ushguli (2,100m), one of Europe's highest year-round villages
- Views of Ushba and Shkhara, Georgia's highest peak
- Stay in family guesthouses with home-cooked Svan cuisine
- Small group with a licensed mountain guide
Svaneti is Georgia at its most legendary — a region so remote in the High Caucasus that it kept its own language, its defensive stone towers, and a fierce independence through centuries when empires washed over everyone else. Over four days you trade the lowlands for a world of glacier-fed rivers, tower-villages and 5,000-metre peaks, based in the mountain town of Mestia and the UNESCO-listed hamlet of Ushguli.
This is an active but achievable trip. You'll hike to the tongue of the Chalaadi Glacier through birch forest, climb toward the Koruldi Lakes for a panorama of the twin-horned Ushba, and drive the rough, spectacular road to Ushguli beneath Shkhara, Georgia's highest summit. Nights are spent in warm family guesthouses where the host pours the wine and the kitchen serves kubdari and khachapuri you'll still be thinking about weeks later. You come for the mountains; you leave talking about the people.
Day-by-day itinerary
1Tbilisi → Mestia
A long, scenic transfer west through Zugdidi and up the Enguri gorge into Svaneti, with stops at the Enguri dam and viewpoints. Evening arrival in Mestia, welcome dinner and an early night.
2Chalaadi Glacier hike
A half-day hike (about 8 km round trip, gentle) through birch forest to the snout of the Chalaadi Glacier. Afternoon cable car up to the Zuruldi ridge for lunch with a panorama, or a visit to the Svaneti Museum of History and Ethnography.
3Mestia → Ushguli → Mestia
The unforgettable drive to Ushguli (2,100m), a cluster of tower-hamlets beneath Mount Shkhara. Walk up toward the Shkhara glacier viewpoint, explore the Lamaria church, and lunch with a local family before returning to Mestia.
4Mestia → Tbilisi
An optional short morning walk to the Mestia cross viewpoint, then the return transfer to Tbilisi, arriving in the evening.
What's included
- All transport from Tbilisi (round trip) and within Svaneti
- 3 nights in family guesthouses (twin/double share)
- Breakfasts daily plus 2 dinners and 1 lunch
- Licensed English-speaking mountain guide
- Chalaadi Glacier and Ushguli excursions
Not included
- Meals not listed above
- Mestia–Zuruldi cable car ticket (optional)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Single-room supplement
Dates & availability
Meeting point
Central Tbilisi departure point (hotel pickup available)
Departures leave early (around 07:00) for the long transfer — we confirm the exact time and pickup by WhatsApp the day before.
Frequently asked
How hard are the hikes?
Moderate. The Chalaadi hike is long but flat; the optional Koruldi climb is steeper. You should be comfortable walking 3–5 hours on uneven ground. Non-hikers can enjoy the villages and viewpoints instead.
What are the guesthouses like?
Simple, warm and family-run — clean private or twin rooms, shared or private bathrooms, and generous home cooking. This is authentic mountain hospitality, not a hotel.
Is the road to Svaneti safe?
Yes. It's a long drive on mostly good roads with some rough mountain sections handled by experienced local drivers in appropriate vehicles.
What should I pack?
Layers for changeable mountain weather, a waterproof jacket, broken-in hiking shoes, sun protection and a small daypack. A full packing list is in your pre-trip pack.
Reviews for this trip
“As a solo female traveller I felt completely safe and looked after the whole time. The scenery in Svaneti is unreal and the group was lovely. Traverse thought of everything.”
“Svaneti exceeded every expectation. The guesthouses were simple but the food and the families were incredible. Our guide adapted the hikes to our pace perfectly. This is real Georgia, organised by people who clearly love it.”
Request to book
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