Mestia Ushguli Trek

IN SVANETI, GEORGIA

Adventure awaits 11.08-17.08.2025

The ultimate hiking paradise where nature and history come alive

Svaneti, Where the mountains meet the sky

We’d like to invite you to see more of Georgia than just Batumi and Tbilisi. Welcome to the Svaneti region in the Caucasus Mountains! Trek with us from Mestia to the remote UNESCO World Heritage town of Ushguli, also known as the highest settlement in Europe. This trip will take you past glaciers, waterfalls, farms, remote villages, and cow fields on a scenic mountain adventure. No wonder Georgia is sometimes called the “Switzerland of Eastern Europe!”

Join us for a 7-day trip from August 11 to 17, 2025, where you will explore the beautiful landscapes and culture of Georgia. You will be part of a small group of 8 to 10 people, with a difficulty level of easy to medium. The meeting point for the group is at the 4-star hotel in Kutaisi, where you will enjoy comfortable accommodation and delicious cuisine. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience an unforgettable adventure!

Agenda

August 11 – Day 1 – Kutaisi:

We will meet with the group at the Kutaisi hotel between 7-8 PM (local time will be shared with the travelers). We will have a meet and greet session to get to know each other and go through the program. The day and evening are free to discover Kutaisi and rest before the mountain adventure. Spend the night at the 4-star comfortable hotel in Kutaisi (twin rooms).

August 12 – Day 2 – From Kutaisi to Mestia:

We will start in the morning and travel to Mestia by minibus. The distance between Kutaisi and Mestia is 221.4 km. It will take about 4-5 hours to reach Mestia. We will arrive at beautiful Mestia around 3 PM. You can enjoy the afternoon and rest. We will have a group dinner in the evening. Spend the night at the guesthouse.

August 13 – Day 3 – From Mestia to Zhabeshi:

On August 9th, we will embark on Day 3 of our journey from Mestia to Zhabeshi. The distance we will cover is 16.1 kilometers, with an ascent of 763 meters and a descent of 523 meters. We will leave Mestia through the gate by the new Queen Tamar statue and start our hiking journey. Our track will go through the light forest and over pastures, from which we will have a nice view of Mt. Ushba. The peak of today’s hike is a viewpoint with a beautiful view of Svaneti valley, dominated by Mt. Tetnuldi. This is the highest point of today’s walk. We will have dinner and spend the night at the guesthouse.

August, 14 – Day 4 – From Zhabeshi to Adishi:

Before noon, we will embark on a steep climb towards the Tetnuldi skiing resort. The distance we will cover on this day is 10.6 kilometers, with an ascent of 909 meters and a descent of 527 meters. At some point, before crossing a stream, there is a small bar where you can buy some refreshments. Then, a walk through the alpine pastures will take us to the Adishi village, hidden at the bottom of Adischala valley. We will have dinner and spend the night at the guesthouse.

August, 15 – Day 5 – From Adishi to Iprali:

The distance we will cover on this day is 18.7 kilometers, with an ascent of 860 meters and a descent of 1069 meters. It will be another beautiful day, but with a tricky part in the morning – fording the Adishi river. During the season, several locals from Adishi with horses offer transport for crossing the river. Our guide will organize this for our group. Behind the river, the path appears again. After 2 hours of climbing through the fields of rhododendrons, we will make it to the Chkhunderi pass (2655m), which offers great views of surrounding mountains and the Adishi glacier. We will have dinner and spend the night at the guesthouse.

August, 16 – Day 6 – From Iprali to Ushguli:

The distance we will cover on this day is 12.4 kilometers, with an ascent of 677 meters and a descent of 436 meters. This will be an easy day hike through a beautiful forest. After lunch, we will make our way to Ushguli, which is one of the highest alpine communities in Europe, located at a height of 2200 meters above sea level. The architectural complex of Ushguli is a unique cultural-historical ensemble and has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will have dinner and spend the night at the guesthouse in Ushguli.

August, 17 – Day 7 – Shkhara glacier and trip back to Kutaisi:

Early in the morning, we will take a trip to the Shkhara glacier with a minibus. From here, you can enjoy the wonderful mountain panorama of the Greater Caucasus. After this trip, we will transfer to Mestia and then back to Kutaisi. Our Svaneti adventure will end in Kutaisi, and the bus driver will take you to the hotel or the airport.

August 11 – Day 1 – Kutaisi

We will meet with the group at the Kutaisi hotel between 7-8 PM (local time will be shared with the travelers). We will have a meet and greet session to get to know each other and go through the program. The day and evening are free to discover Kutaisi and rest before the mountain adventure. Spend the night at the 4-star comfortable hotel in Kutaisi (twin rooms).

August 12 – Day 2 – From Kutaisi to Mestia

We will start in the morning and travel to Mestia by minibus. The distance between Kutaisi and Mestia is 221.4 km. It will take about 4-5 hours to reach Mestia. We will arrive at beautiful Mestia around 3 PM. You can enjoy the afternoon and rest. We will have a group dinner in the evening. Spend the night at the guesthouse.

August 13 – Day 3 – From Mestia to Zhabeshi

On August 9th, we will embark on Day 3 of our journey from Mestia to Zhabeshi. The distance we will cover is 16.1 kilometers, with an ascent of 763 meters and a descent of 523 meters. We will leave Mestia through the gate by the new Queen Tamar statue and start our hiking journey. Our track will go through the light forest and over pastures, from which we will have a nice view of Mt. Ushba. The peak of today’s hike is a viewpoint with a beautiful view of Svaneti valley, dominated by Mt. Tetnuldi. This is the highest point of today’s walk. We will have dinner and spend the night at the guesthouse.

August, 14 – Day 4 – From Zhabeshi to Adishi:

Before noon, we will embark on a steep climb towards the Tetnuldi skiing resort. The distance we will cover on this day is 10.6 kilometers, with an ascent of 909 meters and a descent of 527 meters. At some point, before crossing a stream, there is a small bar where you can buy some refreshments. Then, a walk through the alpine pastures will take us to the Adishi village, hidden at the bottom of Adischala valley. We will have dinner and spend the night at the guesthouse.

August, 15 – Day 5 – From Adishi to Iprali

The distance we will cover on this day is 18.7 kilometers, with an ascent of 860 meters and a descent of 1069 meters. It will be another beautiful day, but with a tricky part in the morning – fording the Adishi river. During the season, several locals from Adishi with horses offer transport for crossing the river. Our guide will organize this for our group. Behind the river, the path appears again. After 2 hours of climbing through the fields of rhododendrons, we will make it to the Chkhunderi pass (2655m), which offers great views of surrounding mountains and the Adishi glacier. We will have dinner and spend the night at the guesthouse.

August, 16 – Day 6 – From Iprali to Ushguli

The distance we will cover on this day is 12.4 kilometers, with an ascent of 677 meters and a descent of 436 meters. This will be an easy day hike through a beautiful forest. After lunch, we will make our way to Ushguli, which is one of the highest alpine communities in Europe, located at a height of 2200 meters above sea level. The architectural complex of Ushguli is a unique cultural-historical ensemble and has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will have dinner and spend the night at the guesthouse in Ushguli.

August, 17 – Day 7 – Shkhara glacier and trip back to Kutaisi

Early in the morning, we will take a trip to the Shkhara glacier with a minibus. From here, you can enjoy the wonderful mountain panorama of the Greater Caucasus. After this trip, we will transfer to Mestia and then back to Kutaisi. Our Svaneti adventure will end in Kutaisi, and the bus driver will take you to the hotel or the airport.

Explore the Ancient Stone Towers of Georgia’s UNESCO Heritage Site

The Svaneti region is a breathtakingly beautiful place that many consider to be their favorite part of Georgia. Although it is far away and takes time to get there, it is worth the effort. You will be rewarded with stunning scenery and picturesque views that are somewhat similar to what you would see in the Alps. When it rains, you will see waterfalls flowing down the mountainside. The Svaneti people have their own culture with unique outfits, food, and customs that are different from the rest of Georgia. You will enter a world where cows roam the streets, and friendly dogs come running up to greet you. The food in this region is one of the best because it is pretty much guaranteed to be farm-to-table.

The trek itself is not that difficult and is intended for hikers of all levels.

“Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in an office or mowing your lawn. Climb that damn mountain.”– Jack Kerouac

The price includes

Two guides will accompany you on your trek: a professional guide who speaks English, Finnish, Russian, and Estonian, and a local Svaneti trek guide who speaks English and Georgian.
Accommodation will be provided in a 4-star hotel with double rooms on the first day, and in guest houses in the mountains with shared bedrooms for days 2-6.
Breakfast will be provided on days 2-7, and lunch boxes will be provided on days 3-7.
Dinner will be provided on days 2-6.
You will also get to experience a horseback river crossing in Adishi.
You will be transferred from Kutaisi to Mestia and back with a minibus, and from Ushguli to Mestia and back by minibus.
Luggage transportation will be provided, so you only need to carry your daily bag with you.

The price does not include

The tour price does not include flights, travel insurance, dinner on the first day in Kutaisi, alcoholic beverages during dinners, or accommodation on the seventh day in Kutaisi. We will be back late in the evening.