Short Trip Svaneti 5 Days

Journey heads from Tbilisi north-west to Svaneti, a mountain region in the Greater Caucasus, inaccessible throughout centuries. The route runs across a versatile mountainous landscape of the Greater Caucasus to Mestia, centre of Svaneti, famous for its characteristic architecture, the striking residential- and defense towers, the most recognisable landmark of Svaneti.

The day begins with a visit of a traditional Svanian tower-house “Machubi”. In medieval times “Machubi” used to house an entire family, together with all its winter- and livestock. Adjacent to a tower-house you find its own defense tower, which was essential to provide protection to a whole family clan throughout centuries. Next we visit the National Museum of History and Ethnography of Svaneti, which houses a valuable collection of medieval icons and art treasures.

Trip to Ushguli, the highest village of Europe (2.200 m). En route, a short hike from the village Kala to the most important sanctuary of the Svans: the Lagura Church of Saint Kvirike with its characteristic frescos of the “Svanian School” from the 10^th century. The trip continues upstream the river Enguri to the highest permanently inhabited settlement in Europe, Ushguli. The picturesque fortress-tower-ensemble of Ushguli is an impressive example of the medieval Svanian architecture and belongs to the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. A leisurely walk through the village and an ascent to the Lamaria Church brings the day to a delightful conclusion.

Today with take a long but exciting hike from Ushguli across the wild Enguri Valley upstream along the torrential river to its origin at the foot of the Shkhara Glacier (5.200m). Shkhara is the highest mountain in Georgia and the third highest in the Greater Caucasus. It slightly towers above the Besingi-Wall, an imposing, over 12-kilometer-long glacier range with altitude mostly beyond the limit of 5.000m. Having enjoyed this natural paradise, we take the journey to Mestia.

After breakfast journey back down through the region Mengrelia and its historic capital Zugdidi where we visit the former residence of the Dadiani princes. The Mengrelian royal line Dadiani was regarded as the mightiest royal family of West Georgia in the 13^th c. already. The Dadiani Palace (19^th c.) was built by Achille Murat, the grandson of Napoleon’s sister Caroline Bonaparte, who married the daughter of the last Mengrelian ruler Salome Dadiani in 1868. After visiting the museum we continue our journey via Kutaisi back to Tbilisi.