12 days / 11 nights
Daily Tour
Unlimited
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Join a 12-Day Hiking Tour to Svaneti and experience one of Georgia’s most complete combinations of mountain trekking, UNESCO heritage, ancient cities, medieval towers, glaciers, and cultural landmarks.
This guided journey starts in Tbilisi and takes you through Mtskheta, Kutaisi, Zugdidi, Becho, Mestia, Ushguli, and the dramatic landscapes of Upper Svaneti
During the tour, you will hike to Ushba Waterfalls, Koruldi Lakes, Chalaadi Glacier, Guro Mountain, and Shkhara Glacier, while also visiting major cultural sites such as Jvari Monastery, Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, Gelati Monastery, Dadiani Palace, Prometheus Cave, Bagrati Cathedral, Ubisa Temple, Uplistsikhe Cave Town, and the Georgian National Museum.
Designed as a guided Georgia group hiking tour, this itinerary is ideal for active travelers who want both serious mountain experiences and a deeper cultural understanding of Georgia.
This 12-Day Hiking Tour to Svaneti is one of the most complete hiking and cultural itineraries in Georgia. It combines the country’s historic cities, UNESCO monuments, high mountain villages, glaciers, waterfalls, medieval towers, and traditional Svan communities.
The journey begins in Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital, with a walking tour of the Old Town. You will explore historic streets, churches, viewpoints, the sulfur baths district, Narikala Fortress, the Bridge of Peace, Sioni Cathedral, Shardeni Street, and other important city landmarks.
The cultural route continues to Mtskheta, one of Georgia’s oldest and most important religious centers. Here, you will visit Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and Jvari Monastery, both key monuments of Georgian spiritual and architectural heritage.
From Mtskheta, the tour continues through central and western Georgia toward Kutaisi, with visits to the Stalin Museum, Gelati Monastery, Dadiani Palace, Prometheus Cave, Bagrati Cathedral, Ubisa Temple, Uplistsikhe Cave Town, and the Georgian National Museum.
The mountain part of the journey takes you deep into Upper Svaneti, one of Georgia’s most iconic highland regions. Svaneti is known for medieval defensive towers, dramatic Caucasus peaks, traditional villages, glaciers, alpine trails, and a strong local identity.
During the trekking days, you will hike to Ushba Waterfalls, Koruldi Lakes, Chalaadi Glacier, the Mulakhi Trail, Guro Mountain, and Shkhara Glacier, located near Georgia’s highest peak, Mount Shkhara.
You will also visit Mestia, the main cultural and hiking hub of Svaneti, and Ushguli, a UNESCO-listed high mountain settlement often described as one of the highest inhabited communities in Europe.
This tour is a strong choice for travelers searching for a Georgia hiking and culture tour, a Svaneti trekking tour, or a guided small group hiking tour in Georgia with deep cultural context and complete logistics.
This itinerary gives travelers more than a mountain route. It is a full Georgia experience, combining Svaneti’s wild landscapes with the country’s most important historical and cultural landmarks.
You will experience:
This tour is especially suitable for travelers who do not want to choose between hiking and culture. It combines both in one carefully structured 12-day itinerary.
This 12-Day Hiking Tour to Svaneti is rated moderate to challenging. It is suitable for active travelers with good fitness who are comfortable with several hiking days in high mountain terrain.
The hiking section includes Ushba Waterfalls, Koruldi Lakes, Chalaadi Glacier, the Mulakhi Trail, Guro Mountain, and Shkhara Glacier.
The most demanding hiking day is usually the Koruldi Lakes hike, because of the significant elevation gain. The Shkhara Glacier trek is also long, but the elevation gain is more moderate.
Comfortable hiking shoes are essential. Travelers should bring layered clothing, waterproof outerwear, sun protection, a small backpack, and personal hiking essentials.
Since this itinerary also includes city and cultural sightseeing, comfortable walking clothes are useful for Tbilisi, Mtskheta, Kutaisi, Uplistsikhe, and museum visits.
Svaneti is a high mountain region, and weather can change quickly. The itinerary may be adjusted depending on road conditions, weather, trail safety, and group pace.
This tour is ideal for:
Route: Tbilisi International Airport → Tbilisi Old Town
Overnight: Tbilisi
Experience type: arrival, airport transfer, cultural walking tour
Your 12-Day Hiking Tour to Svaneti begins with airport pick-up and transfer to Tbilisi.
After arrival, you will start with a guided walking tour of Old Tbilisi, exploring the city’s historic and cultural landmarks. The route includes Metekhi Church, Narikala Fortress, the Bridge of Peace, the Clock Tower, the sulfur baths district, Sioni Cathedral, Shardeni Street, the Mother of Georgia statue, and other important parts of the Old Town.
This day gives you a strong introduction to Georgia’s capital before the journey continues toward the cultural and mountain regions.
Overnight in Tbilisi.
Route: Tbilisi → Mtskheta → Gori → Kutaisi
Overnight: Kutaisi
Experience type: cultural and historical sightseeing
After breakfast, you will travel to Mtskheta, one of Georgia’s oldest cities and a major religious center.
Here, you will visit Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and Jvari Monastery, two of the most important cultural and spiritual landmarks in Georgia.
The journey then continues to Gori, where you will visit the Stalin Museum. After the museum visit, you will drive west toward Kutaisi, one of Georgia’s oldest cities.
Overnight in Kutaisi.
Route: Kutaisi → Gelati → Zugdidi → Becho
Overnight: Becho
Experience type: market visit, cultural stop, scenic transfer
The day begins with a visit to Kutaisi Farmers Market, where you can experience local food culture, seasonal produce, spices, cheese, fruit, and everyday Georgian market life.
Next, you will visit Gelati Monastery, one of Georgia’s major medieval religious and educational centers.
The route continues through Zugdidi, with time around the Dadiani Palace area, before entering the highland landscapes of Svaneti.
By the end of the day, you will reach Becho, a beautiful Svan village surrounded by dramatic mountain scenery.
Overnight in Becho.
Hiking distance: approximately 9–11 km
Elevation gain/loss: ↑↓ 450 m
Hiking duration: 3–4 hours
Route: Becho area → Ushba Waterfalls → Mestia
Overnight: Mestia
The trekking part of the tour begins with a hike to Ushba Waterfalls, one of the most impressive natural attractions in the Becho area.
The route offers forest paths, mountain streams, powerful waterfall scenery, and dramatic landscapes connected with the legendary Mount Ushba area.
After the hike, you will transfer to Mestia, the main trekking and cultural hub of Upper Svaneti.
Overnight in Mestia.
Hiking distance: approximately 13 km
Elevation gain/loss: ↑↓ 1,340 m
Hiking duration: 7–8 hours
Overnight: Mestia
This day is dedicated to one of Svaneti’s most iconic and demanding hiking routes: Koruldi Lakes.
As you ascend above Mestia, the landscape opens into panoramic views of the Caucasus Mountains, Svan towers, glaciers, and alpine terrain.
The lakes are known for their mountain reflections and dramatic setting, making this one of the strongest visual highlights of the entire tour.
After the hike, you will return to Mestia.
Overnight in Mestia.
Hiking distance: approximately 6 km
Elevation gain/loss: ↑↓ 435 m
Hiking duration: 2–3 hours
Overnight: Mestia
After breakfast, you will take a shorter but rewarding hike to Chalaadi Glacier, one of the most accessible glacier routes near Mestia.
The trail passes through forest, river landscapes, and rocky glacier terrain before reaching the glacier viewpoint.
After the hike, you will visit Margiani Tower Museum, where you can learn about traditional Svan defensive architecture, household life, and local heritage.
You will also have free time in Mestia to rest or explore independently.
Overnight in Mestia.
Hiking distance: approximately 14 km
Elevation gain/loss: ↑ 650 m / ↓ 520 m
Hiking duration: 4–5 hours
Overnight: Mestia
The Mulakhi Trail is a beautiful village-to-village hiking route through traditional Svan communities.
This day gives you a closer look at Svaneti’s cultural landscape: medieval towers, stone houses, mountain fields, small villages, and wide alpine views.
The trail is especially valuable because it connects the natural beauty of Svaneti with the living heritage of local communities.
Overnight in Mestia.
Hiking distance: approximately 7 km
Elevation gain/loss: ↑↓ 700 m
Hiking duration: 4–5 hours
Route: Mestia → Tower of Love → Ushguli → Guro Mountain
Overnight: Ushguli
After breakfast, you will travel toward Ushguli, one of the most iconic high mountain settlements in Georgia.
On the way, you will visit the Tower of Love, a historical landmark connected with local legend.
After arriving in Ushguli, you will hike toward Guro Mountain, where panoramic views open over the surrounding valleys, towers, villages, and high Caucasus landscapes.
Overnight in Ushguli.
Hiking distance: approximately 19 km
Elevation gain/loss: ↑↓ 550 m
Hiking duration: 5–6 hours
Route: Ushguli → Shkhara Glacier area → Mestia
Overnight: Mestia
This is one of the most important mountain days of the tour.
You will hike toward Shkhara Glacier, located near Mount Shkhara, the highest peak in Georgia. The route follows open valley landscapes with views of rivers, glaciers, towers, and the surrounding Caucasus peaks.
This hike is one of the strongest reasons travelers choose Svaneti, as it combines high mountain scenery, UNESCO village landscapes, and the scale of Georgia’s highest peak.
After the hike, you will return to Mestia.
Overnight in Mestia.
Route: Mestia → Enguri Dam → Zugdidi → Prometheus Cave → Kutaisi
Overnight: Kutaisi
Experience type: scenic transfer and cultural sightseeing
After breakfast, you will leave Svaneti and travel back toward western Georgia.
The first major stop is Enguri Dam, one of the most impressive engineering landmarks in Georgia, surrounded by dramatic mountain and river scenery.
The route continues to Zugdidi, where you will visit Dadiani Palace, an important historical site connected with the noble Dadiani family of Samegrelo.
Later, you will visit Prometheus Cave, known for underground halls, stalactites, stalagmites, and illuminated cave landscapes.
After the sightseeing stops, you will continue to Kutaisi.
Overnight in Kutaisi.
Route: Kutaisi → Bagrati Cathedral → Ubisa Temple → Uplistsikhe → Georgian National Museum → Tbilisi
Overnight: Tbilisi
Experience type: full cultural day
After breakfast, you will begin a full cultural day across western, central, and eastern Georgia.
The first stop is Bagrati Cathedral, one of Kutaisi’s most recognizable historical monuments.
Then you will continue toward Ubisa Temple, known for its medieval religious heritage and historical importance.
The route continues to Uplistsikhe Cave Town, an ancient rock-hewn settlement and one of Georgia’s earliest urban centers. Here, you will explore cave halls, tunnels, old streets, chambers, and viewpoints.
After returning to Tbilisi, you will visit the Georgian National Museum, where you can better understand Georgia’s archaeology, history, art, and cultural development.
Overnight in Tbilisi.
Route: Tbilisi → Airport
Experience type: airport transfer
On the final day, you will be transferred to the airport for departure.
The tour ends after 12 days of hiking, cultural discovery, UNESCO monuments, mountain villages, glaciers, waterfalls, ancient towns, and guided travel across Georgia.
The tour is moderate to challenging. It is suitable for hikers with good fitness. Some routes are shorter, while Koruldi Lakes and Shkhara Glacier require more endurance.
Yes. This itinerary works well as a Georgia group hiking tour or a small group hiking tour in Georgia. It combines shared logistics, professional guiding, cultural sightseeing, accommodation, transport, and mountain support.
Yes. Guesthouse and hotel accommodation is included for the whole tour.
Lunches and dinners are not included. Breakfast availability may depend on the specific guesthouse or hotel arrangements, so it should be confirmed when booking.
Yes. 4WD cars are provided where needed, especially for mountain routes and areas where standard vehicles are not suitable.
Yes. A local mountain guide is included during trekking sections.
The tour includes Tbilisi Old Town, Jvari Monastery, Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, Stalin Museum, Gelati Monastery, Dadiani Palace, Bagrati Cathedral, Ubisa Temple, Uplistsikhe Cave Town, Georgian National Museum, and other cultural stops.
The tour includes Ushba Waterfalls, Koruldi Lakes, Chalaadi Glacier, Mulakhi Trail, Guro Mountain, and Shkhara Glacier.
Yes. Ushguli is included, with an overnight stay and a hike to Guro Mountain.
Yes. The Shkhara Glacier trek is included on Day 9 and is one of the main highlights of the tour.
Yes. Prometheus Cave / grotto entrance fees are included.
Yes. Small modifications or extra days can be arranged depending on traveler preferences, weather, road conditions, and group pace.
Bring comfortable hiking shoes, layered clothing, waterproof outerwear, sunscreen, sunglasses, refillable water bottle, small backpack, and personal medication if needed.
The best season is usually from late spring to early autumn, when Svaneti’s hiking routes are more accessible. Exact timing depends on snow conditions, road access, and local weather.
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