Mestia and the Trails of Svaneti
Mestia and the Trails of Svaneti
Mestia and the Trails of Svaneti
7 Days Starting and ending in Tbilisi, Georgia
Visiting: Tbilisi, Mestia, Zhabeshi Niguriani, Adishi, Ushguli, Khalde Glacier, Zugdidi
Tour operator:
Tour code:
110
Guide Type:
Self Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
The Transcaucasian Trail (TCT) is becoming a world-class, long-distance hiking trail, following the Greater and Lesser Caucasus Mountains and connecting roughly two dozen national parks and protected areas in the region. Svaneti is a remote region of northwest Georgia. The walks are first-class and the views are always spectacular in Svaneti, where the landscape is dominated by snow-capped mountains and wide valleys dotted with ancient villages
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Tbilisi – Mestia
Location: Tbilisi, Mestia
Accommodation Name: Overnight in a family-run guesthouse
A transfer will pick you early in the morning from your hotel in Tbilisi (not included in the package, an extra night in Tbilisi bookable as an option), and much of the day is spent driving. Mestia is a central and the biggest town in Upper Svaneti at an elevation of 1500m. Historically and ethnographically, Mestia has always been regarded as a chief community of Zemo, or Upper Svaneti province. The population is mostly Svans, a cultural and linguistic subgroup of the Georgians. Despite its small size, the hamlet was an important centre of Georgian culture for centuries and contains a number of medieval monuments, such as churches and forts, included in a list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Because driving will take most of the day, no activity is planned for today. Mestia offers many restaurants with great local cuisine.
Transfer time: around 9h
Day 2 : Mestia
Location: Mestia
Accommodation Name: Overnight in a family-run guesthouse
Meals Included: Breakfast
You have two options on how to spend the day in Mestia. You can either have a cultural day, visit museums and walk around the town (option 1) or hike to the cross above Mestia (option 2).
Option 1: Walk along the paths running between the fences of different family yards, pass by the famous Svanetian towers and observe village life. Visit the Mestia Historical-Ethnographic Museum, where unique manuscripts and icons are kept. Also visit Mikheil Khergiani House-Museum. He was a very famous Georgian alpinist. In his House-Museum, you can learn about his career and also see a room which shows an old traditional Svanetian way of living and layout of the room.
Option 2: From Mestia you can hike to the cross which is located above Mestia and is visible from the town. It offers great views of Mestia and the surrounding area. The hike will take about 2 hours uphill (one way) and starts from the Seti square.
Walking for the day: 4h (optional)
Day 3 : Mestia – Zhabeshi | 15Km
Location: Zhabeshi Niguriani, Mestia
Accommodation Name: Overnight in a guesthouse
Meals Included: Breakfast
From the park in Mestia town centre, head down the road southeast which leads towards the museum. Cross the bridge just past the restaurant Dror, immediately turning left after the river. Walk to the village of Lahkiri, cross the valley and reach Cholashi and its beer bar where you have a refreshment, and continue north of the Mulkhura to Zhabeshi at the end of the valley. This was the normal route before the summer of 2017, when a major storm washed out the bridges. Until autumn of 2017, the only way to cross the river in Zhabeshi was via a zip-line (Tyrolean traverse) set up and operated by a local mountain guide (ticket not included). An easier and more comfortable way to get to Zhabeshi is to cross the car bridge after Cholashi.
Walking for the day: 15km, 5-6h ↑730m ↓500m
Day 4 : Zhabeshi – Adishi | 10Km
Location: Zhabeshi Niguriani, Adishi
Accommodation Name: Overnight in a guesthouse
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
From Zhabeshi, the trail is marked with red and white signs following the road south from Zhabeshi. Walk past the Tetnuldi ski resort. Then follow the path to the village of Adishi.
Walking for the day: 10km, 4h ↑930m ↓430m
Day 5 : Adishi – Khalde – Transfer To Ushguli | 15Km
Location: Adishi, Ushguli, Khalde Glacier
Accommodation Name: Overnight in a guesthouse
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Walk past the village of Adishi and up along the Adishchala River. Cross the river and follow the trail that leads up to the Chkhunderi Pass. It is a relatively steep ascent, and It should take around two hours to reach the pass. Descend to the valley below, where you will reach a 4×4 track that follows Khaldeschala River, following the north side as it flows down toward the village of Khalde. In Khalde, a driver will meet you and transfer you to Ushguli, located at the foot of Mt. Shkara (the highest mountain in Georgia, 5,201m).
Walking for the day: 15km, 7h ↑640m ↓660m
Day 6 : Ushguli; Transfer To
Location: Ushguli, Zugdidi
Accommodation Name: Overnight in a guesthouse or hotel in Zugdidi
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Ushguli is one of the highest continuously inhabited settlements in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the morning take a walk around Ushguli community which consists of five villages: Murkmeli, Chazhageshi, Chvibiani, Zhibiani and Lamjurishi, and feel the local life. Ushguli is located at an altitude of 2,100m. About 70 families (about 200 people) live in the area, enough to support a small school. Typical Svaneti defensive tower houses are found throughout the village. The Ushguli Chapel located on a hilltop near the village dates back to the 12th century.
Walking for the day: optional walks in the Ushguli area. Afternoon transfer to Zugdidi (5h, part of them on a bumpy dirt road)
Day 7 : Zugdidi – Tbilisi / Departure, Extra Night Or Onward Travel
Location: Zugdidi, Tbilisi
Meals Included: Breakfast
Zugdidi is the capital of the Samegrelo region and a busy town. Before departing to Tbilisi you can visit Dadiani Palace (an aristocrat family residence) which hosts multiple exhibitions including the natural cultural heritage of Georgia, manuscripts from 13th -14th centuries, miniatures, memorial relics of Dadiani dynasty, etc.
Driving time: 5h
It is possible to split the transfer and stay in Kutaisi on the way to Tbilisi, where you could visit Prometheus cave and Bagrati Cathedral in Kutaisi. Optional extra nights in Kutaisi and/or Tbilisi bookable on request.
What's Included
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Detailed holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions, road notes and maps
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Tbilisi to Svaneti arrival and departure transfers
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Accommodation and breakfast in Mestia (2 nights)
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Accommodation, breakfast and dinners in Svaneti (3 nights)
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Accommodation and breakfast in Zugdidi (1 night)
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All luggage transfers
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24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
What's Not Included
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Insurance
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Airfare and connecting land transfers
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Lunches, dinners not mentioned in the itinerary, drinks and snacks
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Personal expenses such as snacks, drinks, phone calls, extra transfers, tips, etc.
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Any items not specifically mentioned as ‘included’ in the program
Check out our Q&As
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
No they aren't
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Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?
Yes
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What is the fitness level required to do this tour?
This holiday is appropriate for walkers with a good level of fitness (read more about difficulty grades). We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never try to shorten the path through the unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
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Are all entrance fees included in the price?
No they aren't
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When to go?
This trip is available from early June until mid-September. The flexibility of self guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates and you can start your trip on any date in the season. The climate in the region is continental, cold and temperate. Svaneti has alpine weather with long, cold and snowy winters. In June and September snowfall is also possible. And even in summer, it can become cold, especially during the night.
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Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
As detailed in the itinerary
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
No they aren't
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Are flights included in this tour?
No they aren't
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
The Natural Adventure was founded by people who love hiking and cycling in wild and wonderful places. Places that we want to keep that way. Responsible tourism has, therefore, been at the heart of what we do since the get go.
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Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?
In April 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 crisis, we launched the Support Local Communities Initiative. We have enabled an option when booking a tour for customers to make a donation to support our local partners. 100% of the donations go directly to our local suppliers.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
Whether you’re travelling on your own, as a couple, a group of friends, or a family, our self-guided holidays allow you the freedom to choose your own holiday companions.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Our self guided walking and cycling holidays typically include: Accommodation, Breakfasts, Luggage transfers, Detailed holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions, road notes and maps, 24/7 phone assistance by our local representative and/or our central office
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
We are part of the 'Safe Travels' initiative.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
Yes, as long as you can reach the next location.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Accommodations in double or twin rooms (solo travellers are usually accommodated in single rooms at an extra cost; we never mix and match)
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If possible, and entirely at the discretion of the Tour Operator, a change of the dates may be possible without charging an amendment fee, provided that it is requested at least 30 days before the departure date. In some cases, we will still have to pass to you any non-refundable charges imposed by our suppliers. In all other cases, change of dates will normally be treated as a cancellation.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
All places have been carefully checked by us and their quality is regularly monitored. We have selected accommodations that offer friendly service, clean and comfortable rooms and local flavour.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
The Natural Adventure was founded in the UK in 2009, by Peter Duncan, former UK Chief Scout and BBC Blue Peter presenter, and Alex Pazderski, an avid hiker and acclaimed expedition kayaker. Both natural adventurers and keen explorers of wild places and trails, remote communities and responsible tourism partners, Peter and Alex founded our company inspired by the responsible travel values t
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Low Deposit
The Natural Adventure requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 42 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of the natural adventure charges.
Up to 42 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.