Upper Svaneti (Georgia)

Group meeting at 10 am in Kutaisi near McDonald's. The instructor checks the equipment and distributes food among the participants. If you need equipment rental, order it in advance. After solving organizational issues, we leave for Svaneti on a customized minibus (approximately 30 GEL per person). The journey is quite long and tiring (5 hours); on the serpentine road you can get motion sickness. There will be several stops along the way, including to inspect the titanic dam on the Inguri Reservoir.

We arrive in Mestia (altitude 1500 m) - the capital of Svaneti and put up tents in a paid campsite (5-10 GEL per day). Free evening, we continue our acquaintance with Georgian cuisine.

In the morning we take a lunch snack and raincoats with us and for the whole day we go on a radial hike to the beautiful lakes of Koruldi (2400 m). We travel lightly - the tents remain at the campsite. We have lunch near the lakes and, if the weather permits, we go even further - to an observation point overlooking the eastern Ushba glacier.

On the way back from the lakes we go on an excursion to one of the famous Svan towers.
Distance: 9-12 km, altitude gain: 1000m.

We are breaking up the tent camp. Before leaving Mestia, you can go on an excursion to one of the famous Svan towers.

We go along the valley of the Mulkhura River to the village of Zhabeshi (1617 m). If we’re in the mood, then at the end we’ll gain another 300-400 meters to cut down on our work for tomorrow. We climb a small hill and set up tents near a mineral spring.
Distance: 12 km, elevation gain: 500m.

We rise even higher to the slope of the mighty Mount Tetnuld. From the pass there is a magnificent view of the Main Caucasus Range. We traverse the slope of Tetnulda and smoothly descend into the valley of the Adishichala River. We pass the picturesque but almost abandoned village of Adishi. We make a few more treks upstream and camp for the night in a clearing overlooking a massive glacier. The altitude of the overnight stay is 2200 meters, it will be cool at night.
Distance 12km, elevation gain: 400m.

We get up early to cross the cold and stormy Adishichala River through low water. Sometimes, after floods, we cross the river not on foot, but on horses hired from a neighboring village.
After a cold crossing, we will want to warm up and the climb to the Chkhutnieri Pass (2740m) will provide us with such an opportunity. At first the trail will be quite wet and slippery, but when you see the panorama of the glacier, you will forget about everything else, including wet shoes. At the Chkhuntieri Pass we make a photo stop to take a good look and photograph everything.
We descend relatively easily and quickly into the valley of the Haldeshala River. We continue our descent along the river and along the way we inspect the destroyed village of Khalde. We spend the night in tents near the village of Iprali (1890m).
Distance: 14km, elevation gain: 900m.

Along the Inguri River we go to the famous high-mountain community of Ushguli (2300 m) consisting of the villages of Chazhashi, Zhibiani, Murkmeli and Chvibiani. In Ushguli, Svan towers stand densely, like trees in a forest. Making your way through the dirty and winding streets you feel like you are in the real Middle Ages. And for contrast, the majestic Shkhara (5193m, Bezengi Wall) sparkles in the background with snow.
Distance 12km, elevation gain: 500m.

Probably the hardest day of the hike. We have to cross the Svan ridge (3000 m) separating Upper Svaneti from Lower Svaneti. There is a steep climb through low but dense thickets of rhododendron. Take plenty of water with you - there are no springs on the ridge. But there are beautiful mountain lakes and stunning views of almost the entire Caucasus at once. Even Elbrus sometimes peeks out from behind the clouds. In the evening we descend into the warm and wooded Lower Svaneti. We set up tents near the village of Chvelpi.
Distance: 18 km. Elevation gain 800m.

The road to Chvelpi is bad, so to get out into civilization you often have to hire a truck rather than a minibus. But ultimately we will get to Lentekhi, from where we will head along a normal road to the sea, to the resort village of Kobuleti. There we will set up tents at a campsite on the shore and finally relax.

If you need to fly away urgently, then you don’t have to go to the beach, but get off when we pass Kutaisi.

After breakfast and several swims, we pack up camp and head to Batumi. This is an excellent resort with spacious beaches, interesting architecture and delicious Adjarian cuisine. If time permits, it makes sense to stay here for a couple of days (finding accommodation is not a problem). Then you can fly home directly from Batumi. Well, or take a 3-hour minibus ride to Kutaisi (7-8 hours to Tbilisi).

Our trek across Georgia is completed. See you in the mountains!