Georgia: Walking In The Svaneti Mountains
Georgia: Walking In The Svaneti Mountains
10 Days
Visiting: Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Ushguli, Shkhara Glacier, Iprari Family Hotel, Adishi, Mestia, Zugdidi, Batumi
Tour operator:
Tour code:
WWS
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
4 - 12
Physical rating:
High, Moderate / High
Age range:
1-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Please contact Wild Frontiers with any specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Private Available:
Request A Private Tour
Tour Overview
Svaneti, Georgia's most mysterious mountain region is like a fairy tale come to life.The fabled region is renowned for its enchanting stone villages, punctuated by the famous defensive towers, and populated by a fiercely independent race, known as the Svans. On this trip we will hike sections of the new Transcaucasian Trail - this is a trip for the travel connoisseur who likes to see things real and wild. And of course, this tour is not only about Svaneti.Georgia in general is one of our favourite countries: its excellent cuisine, delicious wine, stunning mountains, exquisite churches, hospitable locals and rich and varied history make it a perfect adventure travel location. Come and see for yourself.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Tour Starts In Tbilisi
Location: Tbilisi
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Sharden or similar
Meals Included: No Meals
Rooms will be available in Tbilisi from this afternoon. Those arriving on the group flights will arrive early the following morning.
Day 2 : Tbilisi
Location: Tbilisi
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Sharden or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner,
The pre-departure meeting will take place this morning at the hotel, after which we will have a city tour including all of Old Tbilisi. From the Metekhi Church (13th century) overlooking the river Mtkvari to the Narikala Fortress (4th century), one of the oldest fortifications in the city, we’ll also pay a visit to the Sulphur Baths, the synagogue, the Anchiskhati Church (6th century) and Sioni Cathedral (6/7th century). In this cathedral the cross of St. Nino – the woman who brought Christianity to Georgia – is preserved. All these sights are in close proximity and it’s a pleasant walk. Afterwards we visit the stunning treasures of the National Museum and have the rest of the day to soak up the café culture of Tbilisi, relax and shop.
Day 3 : Tbilisi – Kutaisi
Location: Tbilisi, Kutaisi
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner,
We drive to the ancient capital and religious centre of Georgia – Mtskheta - and visit its historic 6th century Jvari Monastery and 11th century Svetitskhoveli Cathedral – both UNESCO World Heritage sites. We then head to West Georgia – the famous Land of the Golden Fleece, where Jason and the Argonauts sailed. We arrive in Kutaisi – the second largest city in Georgia and visit Gelati Church.
Day 4 : Kutaisi - Ushguli
Location: Kutaisi, Ushguli
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner,
Today, we’ll leave early as we have a long drive, but it’s worth it as we’ll have magnificent views as we cross the Zagaro Pass. Late afternoon we’ll reach Ushguli, the highest permanently inhabited village in Europe (2200m) and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Day 5 : Ushguli - Shkhara Glacier - Ushguli
Location: Ushguli, Shkhara Glacier, Ushguli
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner,
We start our morning walk to the foot of Mt. Shkhara, walking alongside the wonderful Enguri River which will eventually lead us to its origin – the Shkhara Glacier. Afterwards we return to Ushguli. En route we also plan to visit the Lamaria church with its 12th century stone defence tower. Approximate walking time 6-7 hours Ascent 300m/descent 300m
Day 6 : Ushguli - Iprari
Location: Ushguli, Iprari Family Hotel
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner,
Today we’ll walk to the village of Iprari, a remote village in Upper Svaneti. Along te way we will have breathtaking views across the Svaneti region. After lunch en route, we’ll walk up through the forest to Kvirike and Ivlita Church before heading to our guesthouse. Approximate walking time 7-8 hours Approximate ascent 500m/descent 450m
Day 7 : Iprari – Adishi
Location: Iprari Family Hotel, Adishi
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner,
Today we’ll pass the village of Kalde and walk over the Chkhutnieri Pass (2700m). There will be a river crossing, the water may be high so we might need to jump on a horse to cross the river, in the hope that we can keep our feet dry! We will continue our journey to the remote village of Adishi, which is 2000m above sea level. This evening we will be staying with the families in their homes and will truly experience traditional Svanetian hospitality.
Approximate walking time 8-9 hours
Ascent 800m/descent 850m
Day 8 : Adishi – Mestia
Location: Adishi, Mestia
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Mountain Mestia or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner,
Today we’ll start our journey to Mestia on foot, reaching 2300m we’ll have beautiful views across to the Chaneri glacier, Mt. Ushba (4700m) and to Mt. Laila, the highest peak (4010m) in the Svaneti range. We’ll cross the slopes of Mt. Tetnuldi and finish our walk in the village of Mulakhi. Here we’ll be met by our vehicle and will finish the final bit of the journey to Mestia by road.
Approximate walking time 5-6 hours
Ascent 600m/descent 900m
Day 9 : Mestia – Zugdidi – Batumi
Location: Mestia, Zugdidi, Batumi
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Aisi or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner,
In the morning we’ll drive through Zugdidi where we will have lunch and continue towards the Black Sea coast. Before reaching Batumi there will be an optional stop off at the Botanical Gardens, which are over one hundred years old. For those who would prefer to go for a swim, we will continue our journey onto Batumi. This evening we’ll enjoy a stroll through the old town and along the boulevard beside the sea front.
Day 10 : Tour Ends In Batumi
Location: Batumi
Meals Included: Breakfast
The tour ends this morning after breakfast.
What's Included
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MEALS
9 x Breakfasts, 8 x Lunches, 8 x Dinners
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TRANSPORT
On this tour we will use minibuses, 4WD vehicle if needed and by foot.
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GROUP SIZE
Maximum: 12
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CARBON CONTRIBUTIONS
Contributions to carbon offset & tree planting projects for all bookings
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EXPERT TEAM
The full services of a Wild Frontiers Tour Leader with local guides where appropriate
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ENTRANCE FEES
All entrance fees for sights mentioned in the itinerary
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ACCOMMODATION
All accommodation as outlined in the itinerary
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FITNESS RATING
Moderate / High
What's Not Included
We believe in a completely transparent approach to pricing with no hidden extras. As such, please note that the following are not included in the cost of the tour.Visas & Travel Insurance: Visas will always be tour/nationality dependent but travel insurance is mandatoryTips: Always optional but some guidance will be given in the pre-departure information documentsInternational .Flights: Please ask us for an obligation-free quote for flights which originate in the UKAirport .Transfers: We include complimentary transfers if arriving/departing on the suggested group flights.Beverages & any costs of a personal nature: This will include items such as laundry and souvenirs
Visas
Visas are necessary for many of the destinations we travel to and while we aim to provide you with the most up-to-date information, requirements frequently change and as such for the latest advice we advise that you check with the relevant embassies or contact our recommended visa agency, Travcour www.travcour.com For this tour UK passport holders currently do not require a visa for Georgia. Non-UK passport holders or non-UK residents should contact the relevant embassies for individual requirements. Further details will be sent out to you on booking, however ensuring that correct and valid visas are obtained remains the sole responsibility of the client.
Key Aspects to Consider
You will need to be in a decent state of health and have a good level of fitness to be suitable to join this tour. The trek is graded as moderate with average daily walking time of 5-7hrs. The maximum trekking altitude reached will be 2700m.
Check out our Q&As
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Do you require a visa for this holiday?
For this tour UK passport holders currently do not require a visa for Georgia. Non-UK passport holders or non-UK residents should contact the relevant embassies for individual requirements.
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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What is the maximum group size?
12
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
We include complimentary transfers if arriving/departing on the suggested group flights
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
We have a complete Covid-19 hub here: https://www.wildfrontierstravel.com/en_GB/covid-hub
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 70% of passengers on our group tours are solo adventurers. Unlike many tour operators, we don’t believe in charging solo travellers a premium, so if you are happy to share a room with a fellow traveller of the same sex, you will pay exactly the same as a couple..Occasionally you may even end up with your own room. You can travel as a single traveller on any of our holidays, from our escorte
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 2002
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Do I need to be double-vaccinated against Covid-19 to travel with you?
In most cases, yes. Not only are many destinations making double-vaccination a requirement of entry to the country and/or access to restaurants, museums etc., but additionally on all our group tours for the foreseeable future, for everyone’s peace of mind, we are asking that all clients be double vaccinated.
Reviews from Travellers on this Tour
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Book with Confidence
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Free Date Changes
Wild Frontiers allows you to make 2 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 90 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
Wild Frontiers requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of wild frontiers charges.
Up to 71 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 51 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Wild Frontiers' COVID Promise
You will have the right to transfer without any transfer fee, from any of our trips at ANY time if your trip is not Covid Viable (see below).*
We will not ask you to pay your final balance if your trip is not yet Covid Viable.
If your trip is not Covid Viable, by 30 days prior to departure at the latest, we will cancel your holiday and you can either transfer your funds to another departure or have a refund.**
We will only consider a trip Covid Viable*** if pre-departure it meets all of the following criteria:
There is no national lockdown or ban on foreign travel for the period when your trip is due to depart.
Destinations on the tour must not be on the UK’s Red List. ****
No destinations visited on the tour have in place any significant COVID-19 restrictions for travellers.
Tourist visas (if required) are available.
There is reliable airline access to/from the start/end of the trip.
Following an assessment by both Wild Frontiers and our local partners we are confident that your trip is able to run in both a safe and enjoyable manner.*****
** If you were originally booked to travel before 30 April 2020 and transferred to a later date, or if you have a tailor-made booking, there may be some irrecoverable costs which we cannot refund. Please speak to us and we will be able to advise you if this is the case for your booking.
***Since our HQ is in London, Covid Viable status for our Group Tours will be assessed on UK-based travellers. However we are fully aware that many of our clients live in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and beyond. As such, when we deem a trip to now be Covid Viable, everyone booked will have a chance to review their own personal situation before deciding whether or not to remain booked on the trip. Anyone wishing to, will have the option to transfer without fees to another trip at this time. For tailor made bookings, we may also able to consider additional countries’ travel advice when deciding if a trip is Viable. Please discuss this with us at the time of booking.
**** This relates to bookings from UK clients only. We may operate trips to destinations which the British FCDO advise against travel for Covid reasons. If this is the case, anyone wishing to will have the option to cancel with a refund or transfer to another trip. In some cases we may choose to offer a tour to a Red destination but these will be at both clients’ and Wild Frontiers’ discretion and will be subject to alternative conditions to be discussed on an ad hoc basis.
*****If a destination, that we have deemed to be Covid Viable, subsequently fails any aspect of the criteria for two consecutive weeks, you will have the right under our Covid Promise to transfer without any fees.