Svaneti isn’t just another mountain destination — it’s the Georgia that most tourists never reach. While Kazbegi gets the Instagram crowds, Svaneti remains raw: thousand-year-old towers still standing, villages where Svan is spoken before Georgian, and trails where you won’t see another group all day.

This 5-day itinerary takes you from Mestia’s medieval districts to Ushguli, Europe’s highest continuously inhabited village. You’ll hike to glaciers, wash for gold in the Enguri River, and eat kubdari fresh from a Svan grandmother’s kitchen. No rushed day-trips. No tourist theater.

Day 1: Mestia — Towers, Museums, and First Impressions

Drive time: 4–5 hours from Kutaisi / 8–9 hours from Tbilisi
Walking: 3–4 km, easy terrain
Overnight: Mestia guesthouse

You arrive in Mestia by early afternoon. After checking into your guesthouse, we start with a walking tour through the historic districts of Lanchvali, Lekhtagi, and Lagami — the densest concentration of Svan towers anywhere in the region.

What you’ll see:

• Margiani Tower House — A preserved medieval dwelling where multiple generations lived with their livestock on the ground floor and family quarters above. The architecture tells you everything about how Svans survived centuries of isolation and conflict.
• Khergiani Museum — Dedicated to Mikheil Khergiani, the Soviet-era climber locals still call “Tiger of the Rocks.” Worth 30 minutes even if you’re not into mountaineering history.
• Mestia History and Ethnography Museum — The region’s best collection of medieval icons, manuscripts, and artifacts. The gold and silver work here rivals anything in Tbilisi’s museums.

Dinner at the guesthouse introduces you to Svan cuisine — expect tastes you won’t find elsewhere in Georgia.

Day 2: Becho Valley — Ushba Views and the Shdugra Waterfall Hike

Drive time: 30 minutes to the trailhead
Hiking: 8–12 km depending on route (4–6 hours)
Elevation gain: 400–800m
Overnight: Becho village guesthouse

Today is about Mount Ushba — the twin-peaked giant that dominates western Svaneti. We drive into Becho Valley for the best vantage points, then hike into the Shkhara Valley toward Shdugra Waterfall.

Trail options:

• Standard route: 8 km round-trip to Shdugra Waterfall. Moderate difficulty, suitable for most fitness levels. The waterfall itself is impressive, but the real draw is the unobstructed Ushba panorama along the trail.
• Extended route: Continue 4 km further toward the Ushba Glacier viewpoint. Adds 2–3 hours and 400m elevation. For experienced hikers only — the final section is steep and exposed.
• Horse option: Available for those who prefer not to hike. Arranged on request.

We return to Becho village for a proper Svan supra (feast). This isn’t restaurant food — you’ll likely help prepare kubdari (the meat-stuffed bread that’s Svaneti’s signature dish) alongside your hosts. Local chacha and apple vodka included.

Day 3: Latali — Gold Panning, Ancient Frescoes, and Tangil Church

Drive time: 45 minutes from Mestia
Hiking: 4–5 km, easy to moderate
Overnight: Mestia guesthouse

Latali is where Svaneti’s folklore runs deepest. The Enguri River here has carried gold dust for centuries, and we spend the morning trying traditional panning techniques. You probably won’t get rich, but the activity connects you to a tradition that predates the Greek myths about Colchis and the Golden Fleece.

Afternoon visits:

• Church of the Savior (Matskhvarishi) — Contains some of the best-preserved Svan frescoes anywhere. The painting style is distinct from Byzantine traditions — rougher, more expressive, uniquely local.
• Tangil Church — A short uphill hike (1.5 km) to a small church with the best Ushba viewpoint of the entire trip. Clear days reveal the full Svaneti range stretching east toward Tetnuldi.

Evening return to Mestia. Free time for exploring the town or visiting local craft shops.

Day 4: Ushguli — Europe’s Highest Village and Mount Shkhara

Drive time: 2.5–3 hours each way (rough road)
Walking: 3–4 km in the village complex
Overnight: Mestia guesthouse

The drive to Ushguli is an adventure itself — 45 km of unpaved mountain road that requires a 4×4 and a driver who knows every pothole. We leave early to maximize time in the village.

Ushguli sits at 2,200 meters, directly beneath Mount Shkhara (5,068m) — Georgia’s highest peak. The village complex (actually four tiny settlements: Zhibiani, Chvibiani, Chazhashi, and Murkmeli) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it looks exactly like it did 500 years ago.

What you’ll experience:

• Lamaria Church (12th century) — The iconic view of Ushguli with Shkhara behind it. Every photo you’ve seen of Svaneti was probably taken here.
• Chazhashi towers — The most photogenic cluster of defensive towers. Wander the narrow lanes between them.
• Local museum — Small but worthwhile collection of icons and household items in a preserved tower house.
• Lunch in a family home — Simple food, authentic setting, views you won’t forget.

We return to Mestia by evening for a final dinner.

Day 5: Departure

Breakfast at the guesthouse, then transfer back to Tbilisi, Kutaisi, or Batumi, depending on your onward plans.

Transfer times:

• Mestia → Kutaisi: 4–5 hours
• Mestia → Tbilisi: 8–9 hours
• Mestia → Batumi: 5–6 hours

Flight option: Vanilla Sky operates small aircraft from Mestia to Tbilisi (45 minutes, weather-dependent, seasonal). We can arrange tickets on request.