Hiking in Upper Svaneti

Day 1: Arrival to Tbilisi

Arrival at Tbilisi international airport, meet with you guide and transfer to your hotel.

Overnight in Tbilisi

 

Day 2: Tbilisi City Tour

Today we explore the Georgian Capital - Tbilisi. We will have walking tour in old Tbilisi visiting the highlights and our trip leads us to the historical district of Metekhi, where we visit the Assumption Church located on the picturesque hill. We reach Narikala fortress by a cable car and go down by foot to the waterfall. After the excursion to the sulfuric baths square, we reach Mtatsminda mount by funicular to enjoy the breathtaking view.

Overnight in Tbilisi

 

Day 3: Uplistsikhe - Gelati - Kutaisi

After breakfast we drive to Kutaisi. Our first stop will be Uplistsikhe cave town. an ancient cave town dating from the first half of the 1st millennium BC. The entire town is a complex of rock-cut streets, residences, churches, secret tunnels, water passages, markets and the oldest theater in Georgia.  Though there are about 700 caves the visitor have access to only 150 of them. Continue to Gelati  monastery (UNESCO), where you will see one  of  the  most  well-preserved  frescoes  of  Georgian iconography.

Overnight in Kutaisi

 

Day 4: Zugdidi - Enguri - Mestia

Take off to Svaneti, our first stop is the museum of Dadiani in Zugdidi. The Palace’s museum keeps exhibits of the cultural heritage of Georgia – treasure materials, Mother of God holy vesture, manuscripts from XIII-XIV centuries, miniatures, memorial relics of Dadiani dynasty, and objects connected to the emperor of Napoleon Bonaparte – brought to the palace by the husband of David Dadiani’s daughter. Later we continue to Enguri Reservoir and stop for enjoying the scenery. Continue us to Mestia - the administrative center of Upper Svaneti.  Mestia is a little town in the center of Svaneti well known as “the country of thousand towers”. Dozens of rectangular towers on the slopes of the Caucasian mountains once served as defense constructions.The whole region is known for its unique architecture, fascinating nature and wild landscapes.

Overnight in Mestia

 

Day 5: Khergiani - Margiani - Svaneti - Hatsvali - Mestia

We start our tour with the visit to Khergiani house-museum dedicated to the most famous Georgian mountain-climber Mikhail Khergiani also known as “a tiger of rock”. This alias was given by the Britain Queen Elizabeth the II, because of his braveness and flexible techniques used while climbing the rocks. Our next stop is Margiani house-museum. Here we get acquainted with the customs and traditions of Svanetian families. Continue to Svaneti Ethnography museum founded in 1936, here we explore the most important and precious treasures of the region. Most of the museum icons were made in the 11th century by Svanetian masters in a unique and distinguished style. The museum keeps also the numismatics collection from the Old World. We continue to Hatsvali ski resort, where we take an airway tramway and go up the top hill to enjoy breathtaking views.

Overnight in Mestia

 

Day 6: Love Tower - Lamaria - Ushguli - Mestia

After breakfast drive to Ushguli – the highest eternal settlement in Europe. On the way we stop at Love Tower standing on Enguri River shore. According to an interesting legend, the place represents the symbol of lovers. Next we visit to the church of the Virgin Lamaria. Later we will visit Ushguli ethnography museum, where is represented the interior of Svanetian house invariably.

Overnight in Mestia

 

Day 7: Koruldi - Chalaadi - Mestia

Our first stop today is the Koruldi lakes (2850 m.).  The lakes surround the Caucasus glaciers and peaks with stunning landscapes. Later we visit to Chalaadi glacier, where we enjoy the views. Drive back to Mestia.

Overnight in Mestia

 

Day 8: Becho - Shdugra - Mazeri - Mestia

Drive to Becho village. Our hike will lead us to one of the largest and charming waterfalls in Georgi - Shdugra waterfalls.

Continue walking from the village Mazeri, the route leads us to adorable meadows firstly and then to needles forests and the river. 

Overnight in Mestia

Meals: Breakfast

Walking distance: 2-3 km

 

Day 9: Martvili – Okatse - Kinchkha - Kutaisi

Our tour for today will start with the Martvili canyons, adorable wild nature and practically untouched by humans places. Martvili canyons used to be a bathing place for Dadiani family. Now people visit this area to enjoy the scenery, its waterfalls and take a boat trip along the river of deep green color. Later we will visit Okatse Canyon and Kinchkha waterfall..Drive back to Kutaisi.

Overnight in Kutaisi

 

Day 10: Sataplia - Guramishvili – Tbilisi

Today we will visit Sataplia – a national reserve located in amazing mountains range. Continue to Guramishvili winery, here we explore the oldest attraction of the Georgian cultural heritage – Thaddeus Guramishvili’s wine cellar. After tasting some delicious Georgian wines, we drive back to Tbilisi.

Overnight in Tbilisi

 

Day 11: Departure

Transfer to the airport, departure.