The Svans <\/strong>\u2014 an ethnic group from Georgia that has always lived in isolation and far from civilization. But the people here are welcoming \u2014 the tourist boom that began in the 2010s made this region one of the most popular in Georgia. And indeed, tourists come here from all over the world \u2014 where else can you see such nature and the preserved, extraordinary culture of a remote mountainous region? <\/p>\n\n\n\n The season in Svaneti lasts all year round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Nowadays, a decent road leads to the high-altitude town of Mestia; only some sections of the concrete road are damaged, and an ordinary car can drive along it without difficulty. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can even fly here \u2014 an airport and runway have been built in Mestia at an altitude of 1,400 metres. In good weather, you can fly from Natakhtari (an airport near Tbilisi) on a small motor aircraft. Tickets and the schedule are available on the airline\u2019s website VanillaSky<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Flights operate during the high season \u2014 in summer and winter, as cloud cover is higher during the other seasons. Passenger numbers are also considerably lower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Minibuses run to Svaneti from Tbilisi and Zugdidi. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One way to save money is to take the Tbilisi\u2013Zugdidi train to Zugdidi, and then take a minibus to Mestia. If you plan to travel back the same way, keep in mind that you may get stuck on the road \u2014 these are mountains, after all \u2014 and miss the train. Daily train Tbilisi \u2014 Zugdidi<\/strong>: Departure time is 8:20; tickets can be purchased on the website of Georgian Railways<\/a><\/strong> in the \u201cbuy tickets online\u201d section. Minibuses from Zugdidi to Mestia depart from the railway station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ideal option is to travel to Svaneti by rental car. Find a suitable car on the aggregator DiscoverCars<\/a><\/strong>. You can rent a car in any city and head to Svaneti. Why is this the best option? First, there is an excellent road leading to Mestia: from Tbilisi to Kutaisi, there is a motorway; from there to the Inguri Reservoir and the Dog Waterfall, a decent two-lane road. Then there is a fairly good concrete road to Mestia. Besides, if you travel by car, you can visit several interesting places along the way. I have written about them below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep in mind that the section of the highway between Surami <\/strong>and Zestafoni <\/strong>\u2014 a dual carriageway. The motorway with overpasses and tunnels is still under construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oh, you could easily spend a week here\u2014and you won\u2019t get bored. You can hike through the surrounding mountains\u2014Svaneti has a huge number of hiking routes. Or sample Svan cuisine<\/strong>, washing it down with Kakhetian or Rachan wine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can simply sit on one of the hills and gaze at the surrounding peaks, cows, and horses grazing. Svaneti is stunningly beautiful, and the mountains are, of course, to blame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All the tourist action is located in Mestia <\/strong>\u2013 the municipal and tourist center of Svaneti. Here you\u2019ll find the largest number of hotels and restaurants<\/strong>, as well as several museums<\/strong>. From here, it is convenient to reach Svaneti\u2019s landmarks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is a charming Ethnography Museum<\/strong>, where the Svans have collected historical artifacts that reflect their history and distinctiveness (but also their connection) with the rest of Georgia. The roof of the museum is the best location for photographing Mestia\u2019s Svan towers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For those who are passionate about mountaineering or at least interested in it, I recommend visiting the Mikheil Chkhumliani House Museum<\/strong>) Khergiani<\/strong>. This legendary mountaineer from Svaneti was the first to climb Ushba<\/strong>. That is why he was called the “tiger of the rocks” for conquering the most dangerous peaks without safety equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is worth writing in detail about ski resorts after skiing at them in winter. I will just briefly mention that there are two of them in Svaneti: the town resort \u2014 Hatsvali<\/strong>, and the high-mountain resort \u2014 Tetnuldi<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Hatsvali lifts start practically from Mestia and take you up to an altitude of 1,800 meters. Skiing on several easy runs laid out among forested slopes. At the same time, the lift operates even in summer \u2014 you can go up to an observation deck. We were there during quarantine, so we encountered a forced interruption in the operation of the cable car \u2014 we traveled up by car. The cable car costs 15 lari ($5) per ascent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tetnuldi<\/strong> \u2014 three lifts are located in the ski area: 2260 m\u20133165 m. Vertical drop: 900 m. This is high-altitude skiing, and the snow remains through May inclusive. There are slopes for freeriding and groomed runs for skiers like me))).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Towering above Mestia is the mountain Ushba<\/strong>, 4,701 meters high. What can I say\u2014she is a beauty! You can\u2019t mistake her silhouette for any other\u2014the mountain resembles a huge molar. <\/p>\n\n\n To see Ushba as close as possible, it is worth climbing to the observation deck located above Mestia <\/strong>not far from the high-altitude lake Koruldi<\/strong>. A hiking trail leads there and takes about 3\u20134 hours. Alternatively, you can hire a taxi SUV that will take you all the way up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another way to see Ushba is to climb the opposite mountain slope using the cable car of the ski resort Hatsvali<\/strong>. The top station of the lift offers a breathtaking view of Ushba and the Caucasus Range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Svan towers<\/strong> \u2014 architectural structures that are nothing other than ancestral defensive towers, well preserved in the villages of Svaneti, including Mestia. They were used for prolonged defense against enemies. What enemies could there be high in the mountains? Bandits and neighbors, with whom conflicts often arose for various reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each clan had its own tower, where people could hide and defend themselves against hostile neighbors or blood enemies. Today, the towers either stand empty or serve as storage spaces for hay, corn, and provisions. The Svan towers have become a distinctive symbol of Svaneti\u2014beautifully illuminated in the evenings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Towers can be found in practically all the large villages of Upper Svaneti: Mestia, Latali, Zhamushi<\/strong>, a high-altitude village Adishi <\/strong>and, of course, in the legendary community of Ushguli<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hike up to the glacier Chalaadi<\/strong>, which is located 13 km from Mestia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To get to the starting point of the route, it is best to hire a taxi or come by rental car and leave it near the suspension bridge that leads across the Mestiachala River.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The hike to the glacier takes about three hours round trip. The trail initially leads through wooded terrain, then emerges onto the moraine floor\u2014you\u2019ll have to walk over rocks and along the river flowing out of the glacier. In the end, you\u2019ll find yourself face-to-face with the glacier, whose appearance changes every year due to global warming. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Caution! Approaching <\/strong>too closely is extremely dangerous: rocks, some of them quite large, are constantly falling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had long dreamed of riding mountain swings\u2014romantics will understand me, and they make for some great photos too. The feeling of flying over the mountains with snow-capped peaks glistening before your eyes is simply wow! It\u2019s great that there are swings like these in Svaneti\u2014we managed to ride them without having to queue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They are located not far from the Hatsvali cable car, next to a small caf\u00e9 with summer cabins\u2014 Heshkili huts<\/strong>. Here, you can enjoy a good coffee with a view of the Lechkhumi Range and ride the mountain swings for free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Take a trip to the village of Ushguli, located 45 km from Mestia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The only road there is an unpaved one that is constantly being cleared \u2014 mountain streams wash it out, and rocks block it. Two hours on the road in an off-road vehicle above a precipice, along crumbling cliffs, will give you a huge adrenaline rush. In winter, not every off-road vehicle will risk driving along this road, but in summer, in good weather, a passenger car may be able to make it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you decide to travel to Ushguli in a regular car, ask the locals about the condition of the road in advance. It is better to hire a driver with the legendary Georgian people\u2019s car, the Mitsubishi Delica \u2014 it will definitely get you to Ushguli and other hard-to-reach places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But it is worth it to see the highest-altitude village in Georgia (2,200 meters above sea level), where the authenticity of the past has been preserved. Svan towers still stand here, and many people still live in old houses; all around are snow-covered peaks and glaciers. The place made a great impression!<\/p>\n\n\n\n While Mestia already has many modern buildings, Ushguli\u2019s architecture has hardly changed. Everything looks just as it did centuries ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Be sure to visit the monastery Lamaria (Lamaria)<\/strong>. According to legend, this is where the Georgian Queen Tamar was buried, although no one has found the burial site. The monastery made a very strong impression on me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The only monk met us at the entrance, silently greeting us with a nod before going about his business. For a minute, I imagined how he lives here both in winter and summer, among the highest peaks. Georgia\u2019s highest mountain, Shkhara, looked down on us, with glaciers descending from it. The place makes a powerful impression! <\/p>\n\n\n\n We traveled to Svaneti from Racha \u2014 I have already written about this wonderful region of Georgia; I recommend reading it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Racha is paradise, or what to do and see in one of the least touristy regions of Georgia<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n We managed to see along the way Martvili Canyon<\/strong>. This place is amazingly beautiful and unusual at the same time \u2014 a river of an incredibly blue color flows between the canyon\u2019s winding, moss-covered green rocks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The cost of visiting the canyon is 17.25 lari ($6.2) per person. In fact, the canyon can be explored for free and without crowds. To do this, you need to drive a little farther to a small power plant, beyond which you can descend to the river along a small path. A Georgian grandmother also showed us another location, letting us pass through her yard to the canyon bank. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At the entrance to the mountainous region of Svaneti, we saw the dam of the Inguri Hydroelectric Power Plant \u2014 an impressive structure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And we stopped by one of the waterfalls located along the Zugdidi\u2013Mestia highway. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you wish, you can plan an overnight stay in Kutaisi. This will give you time to visit Prometheus Cave \u2014 Kumistavi. The entrance fee is 23 lari ($7), while a boat tour of the underground lake inside the cave costs an additional 17.25 lari ($6.2). <\/p>\n\n\n\n And get to the waterfall Kinchkha<\/strong>, which is located far from civilization\u2014in the upper part of Okatse Canyon<\/strong>, in the area of the village of Zeda Kinchkha at an altitude of 1,020 meters above sea level. The waterfall is simply enormous\u2014it is a three-tiered cascade. The second tier, 70 meters high, is the most picturesque and impressive. It is no coincidence that Kinchkha Waterfall is considered one of the highest and most powerful waterfalls in Georgia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mestia has many hotels, guesthouses, and hostels\u2014for every budget. Choose according to your preference; the hospitality is wonderful everywhere, and you will be welcomed as the most important guest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I recommend looking into the following hotels:<\/p>\n\n\n\n We stayed in Gera guesthouse<\/a><\/strong> \u2014 with the hospitable Beso and Natia. We were the only guests at the hotel\u2014the season had just begun, and there were hardly any tourists. Natia is an excellent cook\u2014breakfast and dinner were served every day and included in the accommodation price. The table was generous\u2014several hot dishes were prepared for dinner. This is how we tried various dishes of Svan cuisine\u2014meat pies kubdari<\/strong>, chvishtari <\/strong>(corn tortillas with cheese), matsoni soup \u2014 my hit after Tolik\u2019s birthday )))<\/p>\n\n\n\n This place will be remembered for its cleanliness and comfortable beds. The house is located 3 minutes from the center, and the mountains can be seen from the balcony. I will also remember the gatherings in the backyard, at a table made of a huge stone slab \u2014 Beso grilled shashlik for us and treated us to wine of his own production. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Insurance \u2013 you can find an affordable option on the HotlineFinance<\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" How to get to Svaneti, where to stay in Svaneti and what to do there, how not to lose your head from such beauties and fall in love with Georgia all over again.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":64062,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[249,142],"tags":[576,144],"class_list":["post-64061","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-advises","category-routes","tag-georgia","tag-routes"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhen to go to Svaneti<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Svaneti,](\"https:\/\/www.journeys6senses.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/\u0421\u0432\u0430\u043d\u0435\u0442\u0438\u044f-1024x746.jpg\")
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How to get to Svaneti<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Route from Tbilisi:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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What to do in Svaneti<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSki resorts of Svaneti<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Svaneti,](\"https:\/\/www.journeys6senses.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/IMG_2867-1024x705.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nUshba \u2014 the most beautiful mountain in Svaneti<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSvan towers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHiking route to the Chalaadi Glacier<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMountain Swings in Svaneti<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Svaneti,](\"https:\/\/www.journeys6senses.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/IMG_3113-1024x758.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nUshguli \u2014 the highest-altitude village in Georgia<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat to see on the way to Svaneti<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhere to stay in Svaneti<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Useful links for preparing for the trip:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Hotel, hotel, and apartment bookings \u2013 Booking.com<\/a><\/strong>
Car rental in Georgia \u2013 DiscoverCars<\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat else to read:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Keep up with my travels, subscribe on Facebook<\/a><\/strong>
Bright photos and travel impressions on Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n