1. Ushguli – Europe’s Highest Inhabited Village

Ushguli is the crown jewel of Svaneti and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This cluster of four villages sits at 2,100–2,200 metres beneath the towering Shkhara Glacier (5,201 m), Georgia’s highest peak. With its authentic medieval towers, cobbled streets, and stunning alpine setting, Ushguli feels frozen in time — a living museum of Svan culture.

Location: 47 km east of Mestia, at the head of the Enguri Valley.

History: Ushguli has been continuously inhabited for over 2,000 years. The village was a key stop on the historic trans-Caucasus trade route. Its 12th-century Lamaria Church houses precious icons and manuscripts that survived centuries of foreign invasion thanks to the village’s remote location. During the Soviet era, the government tried to resettle Ushguli’s residents to the valley, but many families refused to leave their ancestral home.

Highlights:

• Over 70 medieval Svan defensive towers still in daily use
• Lamaria Church (12th century) — beautifully preserved, with ancient frescoes and icons
• Incredible sunrises and sunsets over the Shkhara Glacier
• Authentic Svan guesthouses — stay with a local family to experience true Svan hospitality
• Trekking to the Shkhara Glacier base — a challenging but rewarding day hike

2. Mestia – The Gateway to Svaneti

Mestia is Svaneti’s main town and the natural starting point for any exploration of the region. Set at 1,500 metres in the Enguri Valley, Mestia has grown from a remote mountain village into a well-equipped tourist hub while retaining its distinctive Svan character. Its stone towers rise among modern guesthouses, museums, and restaurants.

Location: 128 km northeast of Zugdidi, the last major town before the mountains.

History: Mestia was historically the administrative centre of Upper Svaneti. It was relatively isolated until the 20th century — the road from Zugdidi was only paved in the 1970s, and regular flights from Tbilisi began in the 2010s. This late arrival of modern infrastructure helped preserve Mestia’s unique character.

Highlights:

• Mestia’s own cluster of Svan towers — including the impressive nine-storey tower at the Ethnographic Museum
• Svaneti Museum of History and Ethnography — one of Georgia’s best regional museums, featuring priceless manuscripts, icons, and goldwork
• Hatsvali Ski Resort — a small but excellent ski area with runs up to 2,850 metres
• Mestia to Ushguli trek — the most famous multi-day hike in Georgia (4–5 days)
• Excellent guesthouse culture with hot meals, saunas, and mountain views

3. Shkhara Glacier Trekking

The hike to the base of the Shkhara Glacier is one of the most spectacular day treks in Georgia. Starting from Ushguli, the trail climbs through alpine meadows, past moraine fields, and ends at the foot of the vast Shkhara icefall — one of the most powerful glacial systems in the Caucasus.

Location: Starting from Ushguli, 47 km east of Mestia.

History: Shkhara (5,201 m) is Georgia’s highest peak and the third-highest in the Caucasus. It was first climbed in 1888 by an English–Swiss team led by John Garford Cockin. The glacier has been retreating steadily over the past century due to climate change, but it remains one of the most impressive glacial systems in the Caucasus.

Highlights:

• Close-up views of the massive Shkhara icefall and crevasses
• Stunning alpine meadows covered in wildflowers (June–August)
• Chance to see the entire Shkhara massif — a true Himalayan-scale wall of ice and rock
• Picnic spots with unbeatable mountain panorama views
• Photographic contrasts between green valleys, grey moraine, and white ice

4. Svan Defensive Towers – The Iconic Stone Sentinels

The Svan tower is the defining symbol of the region — a tall, narrow stone structure, typically 20–25 metres high, built as both a dwelling and a fortress. Over 200 of these towers survive across Svaneti, most still attached to family homes. They are unique in world architecture — built by the Svans themselves without any external influence.

Location: Throughout Upper Svaneti — Mestia, Ushguli, Latali, Ipari, and Mulakhi.

History: Svan towers were constructed between the 9th and 13th centuries during the “Golden Age” of Georgia. They served multiple purposes: defensive fortress against invaders, shelter during blood feuds, storage for valuables, and status symbols for wealthy families. The base of a tower typically had a fireplace and living space, while upper floors had arrow slits and storage.

Highlights:

• Climb a tower — some in Mestia are open to visitors for a small fee
• Understand the construction: uncut stone, no mortar above the base, up to 9 storeys
• Learn about tower etiquette: they faced each other in case of inter-family conflicts
• Photograph them at golden hour when the stone glows amber
• Visit the tower at the Ethnographic Museum in Mestia for the full experience

5. Koruldi Lakes – Alpine Paradise Above Mestia

The Koruldi Lakes are a chain of small, crystal-clear alpine lakes set at 2,850 metres in a dramatic cirque above Mestia. The hike is one of the best day walks in the region, offering jaw-dropping views of the entire Svaneti range, including Mount Ushba — the “Matterhorn of the Caucasus.”

Location: 7–8 km from Mestia, accessible by steep hiking trail.

History: The lakes were formed by glacial retreat and have been revered by Svans as sacred places. Local legends speak of spirits inhabiting the lakes, and it’s considered bad luck to throw stones into the water. The area is also used by shepherds for summer grazing pastures (jailagi).

Highlights:

• Intense turquoise and emerald colours of the lakes against dark rock
• Panoramic views of Mount Ushba, Tetnuldi, and the entire Svaneti crest
• Wildflowers (June–August) carpeting the approach meadows
• Opportunity to camp overnight at the lakes for sunrise photography
• Chance to see Svan shepherds with their flocks and sheepdogs

6. Hatsvali & Tetnuldi – Skiing in Svaneti

Svaneti is emerging as one of Georgia’s most exciting winter sports destinations. Two ski areas — Hatsvali (above Mestia) and Tetnuldi (near the Tetnuldi Glacier) — offer uncrowded slopes, deep powder, and some of the most dramatic mountain scenery imaginable for skiers and snowboarders.

Location: Hatsvali: 7 km from Mestia. Tetnuldi: 15 km from Mestia.

Highlights:

• Hatsvali — modern cable car accessing terrain from 1,880 m to 2,850 m, excellent for intermediates
• Tetnuldi — Georgia’s highest ski lift at 3,165 m, with vast off-piste potential
• Incredible views of Ushba and the main Caucasus ridge while skiing
• Far cheaper than European resorts — lift pass €12–25 per day
• Fresh powder long after other resorts have melted — season runs December to April

7. Becho Valley & Ushba Views

The Becho Valley, a short drive from Mestia, offers some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in Svaneti and the closest views of Mount Ushba (4,710 m) — a twin-peaked giant often called the “Matterhorn of the Caucasus” for its dramatic pyramidal shape.

Location: 8 km northwest of Mestia, accessible by rough road or hiking trail.

History: Mount Ushba was long considered one of the most difficult and dangerous climbs in the Soviet Union. Its first ascent in 1888 sparked renewed mountaineering interest in the Caucasus. The valley itself has been inhabited for centuries, with several well-preserved Svan villages and defensive towers.

Highlights:

• The closest and most dramatic views of Mount Ushba’s twin peaks
• Quiet, uncrowded hiking trails through meadows and forests
• The village of Mazeri with its charming Svan towers and guesthouses
• The Shdugra Waterfall — one of the highest in Georgia, plunging over 100 metres
• Excellent wild camping spots with Ushba as your backdrop

8. Svan Cuisine – Mountain Flavours

Svan cuisine is distinctive within Georgia, shaped by the high-altitude environment and the region’s isolation. Hearty, warming, and deeply flavourful, Svan dishes are built around local dairy, honey, wild herbs, and mountain meats.

Where to eat: Guesthouses in Mestia and Ushguli serve the best Svan food — always made with local ingredients.

Highlights:

• Svanetian salt (svanuri marili): A legendary spice blend of salt, garlic, coriander, blue fenugreek, and local herbs — it elevates everything it touches
• Kubdari: Svanetian meat pie — a special-occasion dish of spiced beef or pork baked in bread dough
• Tashmijabi: Rich mashed potatoes and melted Svan cheese — comfort food at its finest
• Sulguni cheese: The tangy, slightly salty Georgian cheese, often served roasted or grilled
• Mountain honey: Dark, aromatic, and intensely floral — produced by bees foraging on high-altitude wildflowers
• Chvishtari: Cornbread stuffed with cheese — a simple, delicious Svan staple