Svaneti

Svaneti

The most extraordinary landscape in the Caucasus — and one of the most remarkable in the world.
Svaneti is a high-mountain region in northwestern Georgia where medieval tower-houses rise from villages
untouched for centuries, glaciers descend from peaks above 5,000 metres, and the air carries a stillness
found almost nowhere else in Europe.

Ushguli

At 2,200 metres, Ushguli is the highest continuously inhabited settlement in Europe.
Its cluster of medieval Svan towers — some dating to the 9th century — is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The village sits beneath the permanent glacier of Mount Shkhara (5,193m), the highest peak in Georgia.
Standing there, with the towers behind you and the mountain ahead, is one of those experiences that
becomes a permanent part of how you see the world.

Mestia

The regional capital and gateway to Svaneti. Well-connected by road and a small domestic airport,
Mestia offers comfortable guesthouses, local restaurants serving traditional Svan cuisine —
kubdari (meat-filled bread), chvishtari (cheese cornbread) — and direct access to hiking routes,
ski slopes at Hatsvali, and day trips to the surrounding villages.

When to Visit

Getting There

Tbilisi to Mestia takes approximately 6–7 hours by road through the Caucasus foothills —
a drive of considerable scenic beauty in its own right. A small domestic airport in Mestia
operates weather-permitting flights from Tbilisi (45 minutes). GTour arranges private transfers
on request, with stops at the Enguri Dam and Jvari Monastery en route.