Rural Tour to Caucasus, Samegrelo-Svaneti

08:30 After breakfast at the guest house, check out and drive to Zemo Svaneti, Mestia and its surroundings. Move up the mountain serpentine of the Caucasus. The first must-stop site on the way is Enguri Dam –a very impressive, picturesque gorge and the biggies construction of Soviet times (50 min from Mukhuri – 40 km). Doing 20-30 minutes photo stop here and continue to Upper Svaneti. 103 km left from here to Mestia, but non-stop time generally takes about 2 h, 20 min. Make as many stops as you like and feel the spirit of the roaring waterfalls, the Inguri River, mountains and unspoiled wildlife. Arrival to Mestia, an administrative centre of Svaneti region, surrounded by the three major summits: Ushba North (4690 m), Ushba South (4710 m) and the bride Tetnuldi (4858 m). Villages around Mestia – Latali, Lenjeri and Mulakhi, keep traditional lifestyle. There are 78 medieval churches and defensive towers decorated with medieval frescoes in Mestia and its surrounding villages. This is the reason, why we head to the tower-museum of Margiani (12th c.) immediately after our arrival. Pay a visit to mineral sparkling spring, Seti square, and the Svaneti Museum of History and Ethnography of Mestia. The museum’s collection includes ethnographic and archaeological findings, old manuscripts, Orthodox icons painted in the local Svaneti style. In Mestia stay at the local family guesthouse and enjoy homemade dinner. Dinner and overnight in Mestia.

If you would like to book Ushguli trip instead of trekking, guide will help to arrange a local 4x4WD vehicle. The road to the village of Ushguli is located only 45 km from Mestia, most of it is paved with concrete, but narrow and steep. The last 16 km is a gravel road, and frequent avalanches make it impossible even in the summer season. The area is made up of medieval settlements with an authentic local community. Ushguli is one of the highest permanently inhabited places in Europe. For the historical, cultural and geographical reasons listed above, Ushguli was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Walk around the village, visit the Lamaria Church and hike to the foot of the Shkhara Glacier (5068 m), the highest peak in Georgia. In the evening drive back to Mestia. Dinner and overnight in Mestia.

After breakfast in Mestia guesthouse, check out and drive to Zugdidi –administrative center of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Region, Zugdidi Municipality. Visit Dadiani Palace Historical Museum. Excursion will take about one hour. Optional visit to Zugdidi farmer’s market, buy local spices, homemade sauce Tkemali and Satsebeli, homemade cheese Sulguni and Honey. Drive back to Tbilisi. Evening arrival in Tbilisi. Drop off to your overnight place is included. Optional Gala dinner in Tbilisi restaurant should be arranged in advance. This is the End of our 4-day tour. We are looking forward to greet you again on optional tours from Tbilisi. See you soon!