Five days timed for dawn and dusk light on Svan towers, Ushguli's UNESCO villages, and the glaciers of Tetnuldi and Shkhara.
- —A photographer-guide plans each stop around sunrise and sunset, not a fixed sightseeing clock
- —Private 4×4 handles the unpaved Mestia–Ushguli road and the Koruldi lakes track
- —Ushguli, a UNESCO-listed cluster of four villages, sits directly below Mount Shkhara at 2,200 metres
- —Koruldi lakes above Mestia give a wide view over Ushba and Tetnuldi without a long trek
- —Adishi village adds a quieter, less-photographed Svan settlement to the route
- —Flexible scheduling built in for weather, since mountain light changes fast in Svaneti
Map: OpenStreetMap · Road route and driving times: OSRM · Times exclude stops.
- ✓ Private 4×4 transport throughout, suited to Svaneti's unpaved sections
- ✓ Photographer-guide with local route knowledge for dawn and dusk shoots
- ✓ 4 nights accommodation in guesthouses in Mestia and Ushguli
- ✓ Daily breakfast
- ✓ All transfers between Kutaisi, Mestia and Ushguli
- ✓ Flexible scheduling around weather and light conditions
- ✓ Entrance fees where applicable, checked at booking
- — Flights and airport transfers (quoted separately, see our services page)
- — Lunches and dinners
- — Travel insurance
- — Personal photography equipment or rental gear
- — Gratuities
- · Kutaisi to Mestia is a paved but mountainous drive of 4 to 5 hours; Mestia to Ushguli is about 2.5 hours on an unpaved road, 4×4 only, and can close after heavy snow
- · Best timed for May-June and September-October; July-August brings hazier light, and winter often closes the Mestia–Ushguli road, checked at booking
- · Walking is limited to short approaches to viewpoints, except Koruldi lakes, which needs about 45 minutes uphill from the 4×4 drop-off
- · Pack layers and a windproof jacket; nights in Svaneti are cold even in summer
- · Bring spare batteries and memory cards; charging in guesthouses is limited, voltage is 220V
- · A tripod is useful for dawn and dusk long exposures at Ushguli and Koruldi
What camera gear do I need?
A wide lens and a mid-range zoom cover most scenes; a tripod helps for low-light shots at dawn and dusk.
Is the tour physically demanding?
Most stops involve short walks, but Koruldi lakes requires about 45 minutes uphill from the vehicle, depending on snow conditions, checked at booking.
What happens if the weather closes in?
The itinerary has flexible days built in, and the guide reorders locations and shoot times around the forecast; the Mestia–Ushguli road is checked before departure.
Can this run outside May-June or September-October?
It can, but winter snow often closes the Mestia–Ushguli road and summer haze reduces mountain clarity, checked at booking.
Prices are per person for two travelling together, in euros; solo travellers and larger groups are quoted on request. Every departure is private and adjusted to you. Hotels, wineries and restaurants on our routes are verified by GTour.
Ushguli's stone Svan towers nestled in a lush green Caucasus valley under dramatic clouds. · Photo: Dito1993 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
| Group | Per person | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 traveller | €2,544 ≈ $2,836 · 7,363 GEL | €2,544 ≈ $2,836 · 7,363 GEL |
| 2 travellers | €1,590 ≈ $1,773 · 4,602 GEL | €3,180 ≈ $3,545 · 9,204 GEL |
| 3 travellers | €1,511 ≈ $1,685 · 4,373 GEL | €4,533 ≈ $5,054 · 13,120 GEL |
| 4–6 travellers | €1,352 ≈ $1,507 · 3,913 GEL | €5,408 ≈ $6,029 · 15,652 GEL for four |
Private tour: your own car and driver, guide and hotels as described. Conversions at today's National Bank of Georgia rate.
Free cancellation up to 7 days before the tour. Between 7 days and 48 hours: 50 % of the price. Less than 48 hours or no-show: no refund. If a mountain road closes and the tour cannot run, you choose a new date or a full refund.
20 % deposit confirms the booking. Deposit by card or bank transfer when the date is confirmed; the balance in cash or by card at the start of the tour. No hidden fees — fuel, parking, driver and guide are included; entrance tickets, meals and hotels are listed per tour.
Since 1 January 2026 every foreign visitor to Georgia must hold health and accident insurance with cover of at least 30,000 GEL — see our guide to the rule. Our vehicles carry passenger liability insurance; your travel policy covers you.
Full booking conditions · Terms of use · What "Verified by GTour" means
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DepartureYour hotel — we collect you
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Departure TimeThe time you prefer — every departure is private
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Return TimeAt your hotel
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