Mestia and the Trails of Svaneti

Mestia and the Trails of Svaneti

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tourhub | The Natural Adventure | Mestia and the Trails of Svaneti | 110
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7 Days From

$1737

Mestia and the Trails of Svaneti

7 Days Starting and ending in Tbilisi, Georgia

Visiting: Tbilisi, Mestia, Zhabeshi Niguriani, Adishi, Khalde Glacier, Ushguli, Zugdidi

Tour operator:

The Natural Adventure

Tour code:

110

Guide Type:

Self Guided

Group size:

1 - 12

Physical rating:

Medium, Fit

Special diets catered:

Vegetarians

Tour operated in:

English

Activities:

Sightseeing

From: $1737

NB: Prices correct on 30-Jun-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

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

  • Walk past the village of Adishi and up along the Adishchala River

  • Ushguli- It is one of the highest continuously inhabited settlements in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site

  • Situated on the southern slopes of the central Caucasus Mountains and surrounded by 3,000–5,000m peaks, Svaneti is the highest inhabited area in the Caucasus

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1 : Tbilisi – Mestia

Location: Tbilisi, Mestia

Accommodation Name: Overnight in a family-run guesthouse

Meals Included: No Meals

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: Mestia, Zhabeshi Niguriani

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, Khalde Glacier, Ushguli

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

  • Detailed holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions, road notes and maps

  • Tbilisi to Svaneti arrival and departure transfers

  • Accommodation and breakfast in Mestia (2 nights)

  • Accommodation, breakfast and dinners in Svaneti (3 nights)

  • Accommodation and breakfast in Zugdidi (1 night)

  • All luggage transfers

  • 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative

What's Not Included

  • Insurance

  • Airfare and connecting land transfers

  • Lunches, dinners not mentioned in the itinerary, drinks and snacks

  • Personal expenses such as snacks, drinks, phone calls, extra transfers, tips, etc.

  • Any items not specifically mentioned as ‘included’ in the program

Check out our Q&As

  • 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.

  • Are all entrance fees included in the price?

    No they aren't

  • Are children permitted to take part in the tour?

    No they aren't

  • 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.

  • Are flights included in this tour?

    No they aren't

  • Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?

    As detailed in the itinerary

  • Are airport transfers included in this tour?

    No they aren't

  • Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?

    Yes

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    We are part of the 'Safe Travels' initiative.

  • Can I join the tour once it has departed?

    Yes, as long as you can reach the next location.

  • 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)

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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

Reviews of this operator

Kicki Neely  

Walking Fishermens trail in western…

19-Sep-2022

Walking Fishermens trail in western Portugal will be a memory for life. We loved every minute of our week. All arrangements worked perfectly, from accommodation to luggage transport to questions we had before setting off. Our local agent met with us before we started the walk and we felt very reassured by his local knowledge and support. All accommodation was different, local, clean, friendly and easy to find. Very good value for money. I can really recommend Natural Adventure company and we will be back for more adventures. Many thanks Kicki Neely and friends

Marian Wilkins (Google Reviewer)  

A friend and I did...

25-Jan-2024

A friend and I did the Alps to the Riviera walk in France at the end of 2021 and it was the best holiday experience either of us has ever had. It’s an amazing way of immersing oneself in the countryside and getting the full flavour of the country away from the tourist attractions. The Natural Adventure Company made perfect arrangements for us, gave us clear directions and was just a call away, to sort out any issues. The walk gave us incredible memories that will enrich us for a lifetime. I am in the process of booking my next wonderful adventure and I can’t wait to get started!

Cynthia Shinn (Google Reviewer)  

I have been working with...

26-Feb-2024

I have been working with The Natural Adventure for a few years now and it's been a flawless experience. I have now booked 4 different trips (4th to happen in April 2023). Accomodations have been great and local operators (bikes, hiking guides and boats) have all been great. The rates are very fair and trip selections are great. Hoping to see some boat bike options in Greece and Turkey!

Ellen Taylor-Powell  

Great communications, customized trip

20-Aug-2022

This is our first time using Natural Adventure to plan a hiking trip in Europe. I wanted an 8-day hike to start on a certain date to explore a northern region of Portugal. They were so accommodating - customized our trip to meet our needs with responsive communications and full itinerary; everything has been taken care of. We look forward to the trip!!

Linda Giovine (Google Reviewer)  

We hiked the Kerry Way...

02-Jun-2022

We hiked the Kerry Way with Natural Adventure and it was terrific. Outstanding views and good Irish weather. Some days were longer than expected due to placement of Bed and Breakfasts. Hosts were warm and helpful even dried our gear and shared local secrets. Irish hospitality in high gear.

Tim Fuhs (Google Reviewer)  

My wife and I booked...

14-Sep-2023

My wife and I booked the Lechweg short break hike with the natural adventure company this Fall and we’re very happy with our experience. I noticed one of the reviews questioning what they (natural adventure co) provide. That’s a fair question and from my perspective as a USA citizen, they provided a very important liaison/conduit role into the EU that would be prohibitive or downright impossible for a non EU citizen hiking/biking in Europe. In addition, I have found that in dealing directly with a few European companies directly, information does not always flow as smoothly as we like. The natural adventure company’s communication style fit our liking perfectly in that we receive a fast and thorough response with every question. They are prompt and helpful. They did subcontract with another company for boots on the ground support but the hotel reservations and itinerary were in house. We would definitely use the natural adventure company again no question.

Beverley Young  

Highly Recommended

03-Aug-2022

All the way through from booking, correspondence afterwards and now a wonderful holiday. The Natural Adventure have been helpful and have provided a brilliant holiday. The hikes each day are cracking, maps & routes are detailed and easy to follow. The hotels are great too. Completely love our holiday! Would definitely use The Natural Adventure again and recommend.

Jeroen van kesteren  

This was our first ever cycle holiday…

17-Nov-2022

This was our first ever cycle holiday so expectations where high. And Natural Adventure delivered with a vengeance. Everything was so well organised and friendly. Our contact at HQ Dalila was friendly, concerned and lightning fast in her responses. The trip itself was well designed to show you a lot in a short timespan but dayly distances where very doable leaving lots of time to divert or spent in the lovely overnight towns. The hotels ranged from cosy and homey to lavish and extravagant which was a real nice surprise at every end of the day. We will defintely be back for more! TNX SO MUCH GUYS!

Li W (Google Reviewer)  

Promised clean yet simple accommodation...

24-Jun-2024

Promised clean yet simple accommodation turned out to be noisy and dirty. Some of the walks were borderline dangerous. The trip was ok but way overpriced for the quality offered. I was unable to provide and feedback directly to the company as I never received feedback form. Apparently it's broken and it's been broken for the last month. I do not recommend.

James Bailey (Google Reviewer)  

AVOID OR BOOK DIRECT Whilst I’d...

02-May-2024

AVOID OR BOOK DIRECT Whilst I’d 100% recommend hiking the Camino, unfortunately I couldn’t recommend The Natural Adventure Company to anyone. We signed up for the Relaxed Portuguese Camino - however, the organisation was woeful. None of the private transfers showed up, the welcome pack wasn’t delivered on time, and many of the hotels were well-below standard - including one where the manager was extremely aggressive to both us and other customers. During the trip, there was no proactive support from the Natural Adventure, and their customer service was appalling. Even after the tour, I tried to contact the company to draw their attention to the myriad of other 1 star reviews for the hotel in question - which includes reviewers stating the hotel owner physically assaulted them - but unfortunately they weren’t interested. As other reviews have pointed out below, you should also beware that The Natural Adventure simply subcontract the entirety of their tours to other providers. So if you still want to sign up for this tour, you could cut out the middle man and book the EXACT same tour directly with Portugal Green Walks - for less money!

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Book with Confidence

  • 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.

  • 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.

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