How do you travel to Svaneti

Below you will find key information about the Svaneti region. It may help you plan an independent trip to this unique corner of Georgia.

The material was originally prepared in 2021 and updated in 2025.

A one- or two-day trip is not the best option. If you love nature and have enough time, it is worth planning at least 3–4 days in Svaneti, and ideally a full week. There will be more than enough activities and experiences to suit any length of stay.

Contents:

Short information

General information

Season duration

How to arrive in Svaneti

Variants of accommodation

Key Points

General Information about Svaneti

A high-mountain region in northern Georgia.
Most settlements are located at 1500 m and higher.
Divided into Lower Svaneti (center: Lentekhi) and Upper Svaneti (center: Mestia).
Popular communities: Mestia, Ushguli, Becho (Mazeri).
Less touristy: Latali, Jabeshi, Etseri, Adishi, Kala, Mulakhi.

Mestia

Regional center with developed infrastructure.
Stores, cafés, restaurants, banks, ATMs, police, rescue service, hospital.
Wide range of hotels for any budget.

Other communities

Less developed.
Guesthouses and small village shops are available.
Cafés only in Ushguli and Mazeri.

Season Duration

Year-round destination.
Summer — hiking, horse riding, off-road.
Winter — skiing.

Shoulder Seasons

High passes (~3000 m) open mid-to-late June.
April–May: trails at 2000–2500 m available.

Autumn

All routes are open until late October.
From mid-September: possible snow.
November–December: night frosts, but daytime walks are possible up to 2500 m.

Winter

Best ski time: mid-January – early March.
Earlier or later: snow issues possible.

How to Get to Svaneti

Best option: private car.
Main roads:
- Zugdidi – Mestia: good concrete road, the last 100 km winding. Passable for any car in summer.
- Kutaisi – Lentekhi – Ushguli – Mestia: restored in 2024, minor damaged sections; Zagari Pass closed in winter.
- Latpari Pass: summer only, 4×4 required.
Winter: Zugdidi – Mestia is optimal; 4×4 or chains recommended.

Travel time:

Zugdidi – 3 h
Batumi – 5.5 h
Kutaisi – 5 h
Tbilisi – 8.5–9 h (winter +1 h)

Alternatives:

Minibuses: from Zugdidi, Kutaisi, Tbilisi, and in summer from Batumi (from 15 USD).
Vanilla Sky flights: from Tbilisi and Kutaisi (from 35 USD, weather dependent).

Accommodation

Mestia: best and most diverse choice (from 15 USD).
Ushguli & Becho: fewer options, but new places opening.
Iprali, Adishi, Jabeshi: simple guesthouses.
Winter: Confirm heating in advance.

Food

Mestia: prices comparable to Tbilisi/Batumi, quality reasonable.
Guesthouse dinners are often as good as café meals.
Ushguli & Mazeri: lower quality, higher prices.
Small communities: meals only at guesthouses.

Day Hikes

Chaaladi Glacier: easy, 5 km, 2–3 h, Apr–Nov.
Mulakhi (part of Mestia–Ushguli): easy, 6 km, 3–4 h, May–Nov.
Shdugra Waterfalls (Mazeri): moderate, 8–10 km, 3–4 h, extendable to Ushba Glacier, May–Nov.
Koruldi Lakes: difficult, 16 km, +1400 m, 7–8 h, Jun–Oct.
Guli Pass: difficult, 22 km, +1000 m, 7–8 h, Jun–Oct.
Meziri Lake: moderate, 10 km, +700 m, 4–6 h, May–Oct.
Shkhara Glacier (Ushguli): moderate, 18 km, +400 m, 4–5.5 h, May–Nov.

Activities & Services

In Mestia: museums, churches, bars, and cinema.
Summer: off-road, ATVs, horse tours, paragliding, zipline.
Jeep tours: 20–120 USD, depending on route.
Horses: 25–60 USD + guide.
Winter: 2 ski resorts, freeride zones, international-level guides.

How to Organize a Trip

Car rental: 50–70 USD/day; crossover sufficient for 95% of locations.
Public transport: minibuses from Kutaisi/Zugdidi (12–15 USD); train Tbilisi–Zugdidi (from 5 USD), then minibus.
Private transfer: 150–180 USD (sedan), 200–260 USD (minivan).
Group tours in summer: 140–180 USD for 2–3 days + food & tickets.
Driver with a car (from Batumi/Kutaisi): 150–200 USD/day for standard routes.
Guide with a car (specialized in the region): from 200 USD/day per car, with a quality program.

General Information about the Svaneti Region

Svaneti is a high-mountain region located in northern Georgia. Most settlements are situated at an altitude of 1,500 meters and above. The region is conventionally divided into Lower Svaneti (center — Lentekhi) and Upper Svaneti (center — Mestia). This article focuses on Upper Svaneti.

Main Communities

Most popular: Mestia, Ushguli, Becho (Mazeri).
Less visited by tourists and quieter: Latali, Jabeshi, Etseri, Adishi, Kala, Mulakhi.

Mestia
Mestia is the capital of the region and its main tourist hub. It has well-developed infrastructure: chain supermarkets, cafés, restaurants, currency exchange points, banks, ATMs, police, rescue services, and a hospital. There is a huge choice of hotels for every taste and budget.

Other Communities
Less developed in terms of modern infrastructure. Guesthouses and small village shops can be found everywhere, but cafés are available only in Ushguli and Mazeri. Other “comforts of civilization” are generally absent.

Season Duration

The season lasts all year round.

In summer, there are available: hiking, horseback tours, and off-road trips.

In winter — skiing.

There are some nuances in the shoulder seasons: the mountain passes (around 3,000 m) usually become completely free of snow by mid to late June, but already in April–May, it is possible to walk along the trails located at 2,000–2,500 meters.

In autumn, most routes are usually accessible until the end of October, but starting from mid-September, you need to keep an eye on the weather forecast to avoid snow on the trail. In November–December, although night frosts are almost constant, there are still excellent days for hiking during daytime, with routes available up to 2,500 meters.

For skiing, the optimal time is from mid-January to early March. Earlier or later, snow conditions may cause problems.

How to arrive in Svaneti

The ideal option is private transport.

There are three roads leading into the region, marked on the map.

The main road Zugdidi–Mestia, is a concrete road of good quality. In summer, any car can pass, but the last 100 km is a serpentine with many climbs, descents, and sharp turns. Occasional landslides happen, but they are usually cleared quickly.

The second road, Kutaisi–Tskaltubo–Tsageri–Lentekhi–Ushguli, is an asphalt-concrete road, restored in 2024. Due to frequent landslides, there are short sections (20–200 m) with damaged pavement, but most of the time, it is passable for all types of vehicles. The distance from Kutaisi to Ushguli is about 170 km, and from Kutaisi to Mestia via this road is about 220 km. In winter, as of early 2025, the road over the Zagari Pass between Lentekhi and Ushguli is closed.

The third road, shorter, goes over the Latpari Pass from the village of Mami (just above Lentekhi) to the Iprali community between Ushguli and Mestia. It is passable only in summer and only with a proper 4x4 vehicle.

In winter, the most reasonable option is the road from Zugdidi to Mestia. However, in snowy winters, some parts of the road may be covered with snow, and many sections become icy. Traveling in a two-wheel drive car is strongly discouraged — 4x4 transport here is practically a necessity. If you still decide to drive without four-wheel drive, you must carry snow chains.

In late autumn and early spring, the road may be free of snow, but icy patches occur regularly.

Approximate driving times: Zugdidi – 3 hours, Batumi – 5.5 hours, Kutaisi – 5 hours, Tbilisi – 8.5–9 hours. In winter, add at least one extra hour.

Inside the region, some places are reachable with a regular high-clearance vehicle, while others require a 4x4, especially in bad weather. Local residents mostly use off-road vehicles, and arranging a transfer is fairly easy and not very expensive. More details about this will be provided below.

If you choose public transport, minibuses run from Zugdidi, Tbilisi, and Kutaisi. In summer, an additional route from Batumi is available. The fare in 2025 starts from 15 USD.

Mestia also has an airport, where Vanilla Sky operates several flights per week from Natakhtari (Tbilisi) and Kopitnari (Kutaisi) airports. Ticket prices start from 35 USD. An important detail: flights depend on weather conditions. If the weather fails, the flight may be canceled. The money will be refunded, but you will need to reach Mestia by another means.

Variants of accommodation

The Booking.com service works very well almost everywhere. There are a few hotels not listed on this platform, but they are relatively rare.

The most comfortable and convenient option in terms of logistics and value for money is staying in Mestia, where you will find a huge variety of accommodations starting from 15 USD per room. We won’t give specific examples here, but for a small group it’s easy to rent a place using popular booking platforms, relying on reviews that help to form a good overall impression.

In Ushguli, accommodation options are more limited, but new guesthouses and hotels appear every year.

A similar situation exists in Becho, Latali, and Mazeri.

In the communities of Iprali, Adishi, and Jabeshi, you can find a small number of simple guesthouses.

In winter, when choosing a hotel, it is essential to check how the heating is arranged. Many accommodations only provide minimal heating, which can significantly reduce your comfort during the stay.

Meals in Svaneti

The cost of lunches and dinners in the restaurants and cafés of Mestia is not much different from prices in Tbilisi or Batumi. The quality in most establishments is acceptable.

In addition, you can order dinner at your hotel, and in most cases, it will be just as good as what is offered in local cafés.

In Ushguli and Mazeri, there are also cafés, but the quality of food and service is often lower than in Mestia, while the prices tend to be higher. Still, relying on Google reviews will help you find a suitable option.

In other communities of the region, meals are provided mainly in guesthouses. Prices are generally higher than in Mestia, with less variety and lower quality.

Day Hikes in Svaneti

Almost all treks and trails are marked on Maps.Me, which mainly shows general directions. Many of these directions follow well-trodden paths, so it is quite difficult to get lost.

Chaaladi Glacier

Easy trek to Chaaladi Glacier, ~5 km round trip, elevation gain ~300 m.
Duration: 2–3 hours.
Season: April–November.
Starting point: 8 km from Mestia.
Suitable even for children.
Can be hiked in bad weather, but caution is needed near the glacier due to falling rocks.

Circular Hike in Mulakhi

Easy trek starting in Mulakhi, part of the popular Mestia–Ushguli route.
Distance: ~6 km, elevation gain: 400–600 m depending on starting point.
Duration: 3–4 hours.
Best in good weather (partly muddy trail).
Scenic views of Tetnuldi and Ushba mountains.
Season: May–November.

Mazeri Waterfalls (Shdugra)

More challenging and very scenic trek starting near Mazeri.
Distance: 8–10 km round trip, elevation gain ~600 m.
Season: May–November.
Option to extend to the foot of Ushba Glacier: additional 8 km, +500 m elevation.
Duration: 3–4 hours (to waterfalls), 7–8 hours (to glacier).

Koruldi Lakes Trek

Difficult trek with +1400 m elevation gain.
Starting point: Mestia.
Distance: 16 km round trip.
Season: June–October.
Main interest: scenic views along the way and from the lakes.
Duration: 7–8 hours.

Guli Pass Trek

Difficult but beautiful trek starting in Mazeri.
Distance: ~22 km round trip, elevation gain >1000 m.
Duration: 7–8 hours (up to pass), up to 10 hours if continuing to Koruldi Lakes and descending to Mestia.
Season: June–October.

Meziri Lake Trek

Moderate trek to Meziri Lake, starting from Mazeri on the right bank of the Dolra River, 400 m from the mineral springs.
Elevation gain: ~700 m, distance: 10 km round trip.
Duration: 4–6 hours (can extend to Etsjeri village for a transfer).
Season: May–October.

Shkhara Glacier Trek

Trek from Ushguli towards the base of Shkhara along the Inguri River.
Elevation gain: ~400 m, distance: 18 km round trip.
Duration: 4–5.5 hours.
Season: May–November.

Additional services and activities in Svaneti

In Mestia and some other settlements in the region, there are various museums, many churches and chapels, bars, and small home cinemas showing local films.

Additionally:

Summer activities: off-road tours by jeep or ATV, horseback riding tours, trekking, paragliding, zip-lining.
Many scenic points can be reached by jeep or horse; organizing a trip is easy—just ask your hotel host. Prices depend on the route and distance, ranging from $20–$100 per vehicle.

As of 2025:

Trips to Ushguli, Tetnuldi, Adishi: ~$80–$90 per vehicle.
Koruldi Lakes: $100–$120 per vehicle.
Transfers between main villages: $15–$30 per vehicle.
Horse rentals: $25–$60 per horse, plus guide services $60–$100 per group.

In Ushguli during summer, and at Tetnuldi cable stations in winter, shared 4WD taxis for 6–7 people operate, costing from $12 per person.

Winter season:

Two ski resorts and extensive freeride zones.
International-level guides are available in Svaneti for skiing and freeride activities.

How to organize a trip to Svaneti

Option 1 – Rent a car and travel independently

Currently, there are many rental options, and renting a modern crossover capable of reaching 95% of locations costs around $50–$70 per day. Add fuel expenses of about 10–12 liters per 100 km. The roads are not simple, but basic knowledge of driving on mountain serpentine roads and careful attention are enough for a successful trip.

As a guide who travels to the region periodically, I can say that for a 3–4 day trip, you should plan for a distance of 650–900 km (if counting from Batumi or Kutaisi).

Regarding car theft – if you follow basic safety rules (lock the car, remove valuables from visible places), the risk at popular locations is close to zero.

All locations can easily be found online. Hotels can be booked through Booking.com, and meals can be organized using Google Maps reviews.

In Svaneti, most tourist areas have locals with basic knowledge of English and Russian.

Option 2 – Use public transport independently

Take a minibus to Kutaisi or Zugdidi and travel to your destination. From there, local drivers can take you to popular sites.

If traveling from Tbilisi, it’s practical to take a train to Zugdidi (tickets from $5) and then a minibus, which is more comfortable than a direct minibus from Tbilisi. Tickets are available 14 days in advance on the official Georgian Railways website.

Alternatively, you can book a private transfer: a car from Kutaisi (or Batumi) to Mestia (or Ushguli) costs on average $150–$180, a minivan $200–$260.

Local guides in the region can organize sightseeing tours by car, lead hikes, arrange horseback tours, or create custom itineraries. There are few such guides, and during the high season they are usually fully booked, so advance arrangements are necessary.

Option 3 – Group tour

Popular in summer, especially from Batumi. A reputable company can take you to main points with a competent guide who explains the region. Accommodation is simple but decent, usually with breakfast included. The average budget is $140–$180 per person for a 2–3 day tour, plus an extra $50–$70 for meals and entrance fees.

Option 4 – Hire a driver for transfers throughout the trip

Most drivers working in Western Georgia (Kutaisi, Batumi) know the main routes well and can drive you around. Don’t expect detailed sightseeing or visits to the best cafes, but it’s a convenient way to see the region.

The average cost is $150–$200 per day for a car and driver, plus your own expenses for accommodation, meals, and entrance fees.

Option 5 – Hire a specialized regional guide

This option provides the same service as option 4 but at a higher quality, with more attention to detail. Some guides also lead you on main hikes. The starting price for a guide is usually $200 per day.