Epic Trekking Holidays in Svaneti — 10 Days

Day 1: Arrival in Etseri Village

The tour begins in Etseri, a traditional village around 30 km west of Mestia. This is a quieter and less visited part of Svaneti, which makes it a good starting point for a longer trekking route. After arrival, you settle into the guesthouse, meet the local team, and prepare for the first hiking day.

Etseri gives a softer introduction to the region: village houses, gardens, mountain views and everyday rural life before the trail becomes more demanding.

Accommodation: Guesthouse in Etseri

Day 2: Etseri to Mazeri via Meziri Mountain

After breakfast, the trekking route starts from Etseri and climbs toward Meziri Mountain. This first hiking day already gives strong views of Svaneti’s western mountains, including the Becho area and, in clear weather, Mount Ushba.

The route continues toward Mazeri and the Becho community. The day includes elevation gain and open mountain terrain, but it is also a good transition into the rhythm of the tour.

Approximate difficulty: Moderate
Walking time: Around 6 hours
Elevation gain: Around 800 m
Accommodation: Guesthouse in Becho / Mazeri area

Day 3: Ushba Waterfall or Ushba Glacier Trek

This day is dedicated to the dramatic landscape below Mount Ushba. Depending on weather, group fitness and guide recommendation, the route can focus on the Ushba Waterfall or continue higher toward the Ushba Glacier area.

The hike follows one of the most scenic valleys in Svaneti, with forest, river sections, alpine slopes and high mountain views. The glacier option is harder and requires stronger fitness, but the scenery becomes more rugged and impressive as you gain altitude.

Horse riding may be possible for part of the route by local arrangement, depending on availability and trail conditions.

Distance: Around 14 km
Elevation: Approximately 1,400–2,200 m for the waterfall route, up to around 2,700 m for the glacier option
Approximate difficulty: Moderate to hard
Accommodation: Guesthouse in Becho / Mazeri area

Day 4: Guli Pass Trek to Mestia

This is one of the most challenging days of the tour. The route crosses the Guli Pass area, connecting the Becho/Mazeri side with Mestia through high mountain terrain.

The day requires endurance, stable footing and good weather conditions. The trail is demanding, but it also offers some of the strongest mountain views of the entire route. After several hours of trekking, you descend toward Mestia, where you spend the night in a guesthouse.

Approximate difficulty: Very hard
Accommodation: Guesthouse in Mestia

Day 5: Rest Day in Mestia

After the demanding Guli Pass section, the itinerary includes a rest day in Mestia. This day is important for recovery and also gives time to understand Svaneti’s cultural side.

You can visit the Mestia Museum of History and Ethnography, walk through old districts with Svan towers, visit the Mikheil Khergiani Museum, or take the Hatsvali cable car for panoramic views if weather allows. It is also a practical day for laundry, supplies and preparing for the second trekking section toward Ushguli.

Accommodation: Guesthouse in Mestia

Day 6: Mestia to Jabeshi

The trek resumes with the classic route from Mestia toward Jabeshi. The trail gradually leaves the town behind and passes through village landscapes, open slopes and mountain views.

This day is less extreme than Guli Pass, but it still involves several hours of walking and elevation changes. Jabeshi is a traditional village in the Mulakhi area and a common overnight stop on the route toward Adishi.

Distance: Around 12 km
Walking time: Around 6–7 hours
Elevation: Approximately 1,500–1,900 m
Approximate difficulty: Moderate
Accommodation: Guesthouse or camping in Jabeshi

Day 7: Jabeshi to Adishi

From Jabeshi, the route continues through the Mulakhura Valley toward Adishi. The trail climbs above the valley and reaches higher terrain before descending toward the village.

Adishi is one of the most atmospheric villages in Svaneti. It feels remote, with old towers, stone houses, and high mountain scenery around the settlement. This day includes significant elevation gain and is physically more demanding than the previous stage.

Walking time: Around 6 hours
Elevation: Approximately 1,656–2,540 m, with overnight around 2,100 m
Approximate difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Guesthouse or camping in Adishi

Day 8: Adishi to Iprali via Chkhutnier Pass

This is one of the classic high mountain days of the route. From Adishi, the trail continues toward the Adishichala River and then climbs toward Chkhutnier Pass, around 2,700 m.

The scenery is dramatic: glacier views, wide valleys, river crossings, open slopes and high mountain terrain. Horses are usually used for the Adishichala river crossing when needed. After the pass, the trail descends toward Iprali in the Kala community.

Maximum elevation: Around 2,700 m
Approximate difficulty: Hard
Accommodation: Guesthouse or camping in Iprali

Day 9: Iprali to Ushguli and Shkhara Glacier Area

The final major day brings you to Ushguli, one of the highest continuously inhabited settlements in Europe and a UNESCO-listed cultural landscape. Depending on the arrangement, part of this section may be done by vehicle.

After arriving in Ushguli, you explore the village and continue toward the Shkhara Glacier area below Georgia’s highest peak. The landscape here is wide and open, with the Enguri Valley, medieval towers, grazing animals and the white wall of Shkhara ahead.

After the hike, you return to Mestia by vehicle for the final overnight.

Approximate difficulty: Moderate, depending on walking distance and vehicle support
Accommodation: Guesthouse in Mestia

Day 10: Departure from Svaneti

The tour ends after breakfast. You depart from Mestia with a full experience of Svaneti’s mountain landscapes, villages and trekking routes, from the quieter western valleys to the classic trail toward Ushguli.