Georgia is a unique country with its own traditions and cultural values. When we hear the name of this country, thoughts about aromatic khachapuri, national Georgian dance, incredible mountain landscapes and, of course, shashlik – a juicy piece of meat on a skewer, sprinkled with a few pomegranate berries – fly through our heads.
For $285, you will be offered a fascinating hike in Upper Svaneti. It is included in the list of UNESCO attractions, thanks to its nature and architecture. In 10 days, you will cover a distance of 110 kilometers and take a break from the bustle of the city among the mountains. Read below about the tour.
On the first day we gather in the town of Zugdidi, which is located at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains. This place has been hidden from civilization for a long time, so it has its own unique architecture. The first stop will be near the hydroelectric power station. The station is located on the Inguri River and generates electricity for many regions of Georgia. Heavy loads are not expected today, only a smooth climb along the mountain river.
Waking up on the second day in the mountains, we pack up camp and head to the main base on Mount Ushba. It is called the pearl of the Caucasus ridge. We will climb all day along the river, and then turn into the gorge. We have already moved far from civilization, so you will not see obvious signs of human presence.
Well, now we are ready for a serious hike to the first pass in Svaneti. The path will not be easy - we climb up the serpentine and enjoy the unprecedented beauty. Now our mountain peak Ushba props up the sky on our right side. At the pass we rest and take out our cameras to capture the fantastic picture. A short break with a snack, we prepare our legs for the descent and move down, where we will spend the night.
Day 4. After an early rise and a hearty breakfast, we head to the observation deck. Here, a panoramic view of our next destination opens up – the town of Mestia. On the way down, we pass by a lake with breathtaking beauty. We compensate for the very long and difficult descent with a warm shower and a hot dinner at a local cafe. And after relaxing a bit, you can visit the museum.
A delicious hot breakfast at the hotel will give us new strength to achieve our goal. And today this is the Lardaad glacier. We are just starting our long journey to it. On the way we will see old Svan villages, which in winter are cut off from civilization due to the huge snow cover. This leaves its mark on the local way of life and way of life.
Next we have to cross. At night the glacier freezes, so the water in the river drops by 60 centimeters. This is the best time to cross to the other bank. However, all this will have to be done before dawn.
Today we are heading to the highest point of Svaneti – the Karetta ferry. It is located at an altitude of over 3000 meters. To avoid oxygen starvation, we will stay here for no more than 30 minutes.
On the eighth day we finish the mountain part of our hike. After visiting the Shkhara glacier, we will go down to the local village of Ushguli and again enjoy the local color. We will definitely visit the ancient temple, which looks very impressive against the backdrop of the glaciers.
From mountainous Svaneti we go to the sunny resort of Adjara. We set up camp near the sea and enjoy the sun. The Georgian cuisine is very tasty here. On the way you can buy fruits traditional for this country.
On the tenth day, everyone chooses their own path - some need to go to Batumi, some go to Tbilisi, and some even stay for a couple more days to live in a campsite on the seashore.
