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Traveling to Georgia in the near future? Chances are that you will want to take a trip into the Caucasus Mountains! One of the best places in Georgia from which to explore these mountains is Svaneti. It is recommended to stay at least a few days in Mestia, the main gateway to the Svaneti region, but, if you are short on time, there are various tours that you can book starting from Tbilisi and Kutaisi. In this post, I’ll let you in on the best tours to Svaneti that you can book online!
Ushguli, Svaneti, Georgia
Svaneti, located in the rugged peaks of the Greater Caucasus Mountains, is a remote and enchanting region in Georgia. It is known for its pristine natural beauty and centuries-old traditions and offers a glimpse into a world that seems to be untouched by time. The landscape is a mix of towering peaks, lush alpine meadows, and dense forests, making it a haven for hikers and adventure seekers.
Svaneti is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed region and is dotted with picturesque villages, each with its own distinctive Svan tower, a symbol of Svaneti’s rich history and the resilience of its people.
Svaneti is also a place where traditions still thrive. The Svan culture is deeply rooted in hospitality and folklore, and as a conscious traveler, you can immerse yourself in local customs, including traditional feasts and music.
While it is possible to get to Svaneti by public transport, many travelers book a tour to explore this utterly beautiful region in Georgia.
Tours to Svaneti are most generally booked starting from Tbilisi and Kutaisi. It is possible to also book tours starting from Batumi but I won’t be covering those here. If you are traveling through Georgia, you will certainly visit Tbilisi and Kutaisi anyway, so it doesn’t really make sense to make it all the way to Batumi and then start a tour of the Caucasus from the Turkish border.
I’ll first let you in on tours starting from Tbilisi and Kutaisi. If you are comfortable though to drive to Mestia yourself or take public transportation, I also included two tours in the end starting from Mestia. Enjoy!
Here are tours to Svaneti that start from Tbilisi. Getting to Svaneti from Tbilisi takes quite some time so tours tend to be on the longer side. It is impossible to find one-day tours from Tbisili to Sveneti because of the driving distance between the two locations.
Here are the best tours starting from Tbilisi!
This private tour to Svaneti from Travel Mates Georgia includes transport, accommodation with breakfast, and a guide starting with a pick-up from your hotel in Tbilisi. On the first day, you will explore two sights on the road from Tbilisi, the Martvili Canyon and Enguri Dam, before arriving in Mestia to spend the night. On day two you will explore Ushguli, one of the most picturesque towns in Svaneti.
This tour to Svaneti-Mestia-Ushguli is a must-do if you are visiting Georgia. The mountains are lush green with snow-capped peaks towering above the wooded green mountain slopes. Mestia is a quaint little laid-back town with a rustic country feel and can be viewed through the same lens as Jackson Hole, Wyoming, USA. Ushguli is a beautiful mountain village about 50 Km oh driving further up in the mountains from Mestia and is a wonder by itself to see the snow-capped peaks of the highest mountains in the caucus range. I traveled as a Solo tourist with Travel Mates Georgia and had by far one of my best tourist experiences. They are a promising start-up travel company. My guide and tour booking person was Mariam. She is an excellent planner, guide, and narrator. From the time I first texted Travelmates to making all my bookings in Georgia to showing me all the places I expressed interest in to drop me to my hotel on my last day in Georgia, she handled all tasks as a thorough professional with a pleasant personality and exceeded my expectations. Do ask for her as your tour guide on your travels to Georgia.
A TRIPADVISOR REVIEWER (Read more reviews)
On day three, you will drive to Zugdidi, making a stop on the way to take the Hatsvali Ski Lift which offers unparalleled views of the mountains. After spending the night in Zugdidi, you will drive back to Tbilisi making stops on the way at the Prometheus Cave and the Okatse Canyon.
This tour is a good choice if you don’t like to hike but want to explore the best of Svaneti in a comfortable way.
This private tour from Real Georgia Tours is more suitable for travelers who don’t mind hiking a bit and would love to have the freedom to pick their own accommodation. On the first day, this private tour will take you to the Okatse Canyon, the Kinchkha Waterfall and the Martvili Canyon before halting in Zugdidi to spend the night.
On day two after having breakfast, you will visit the Dadiani Palace before embarking on the journey to Mestia, including a stop at the Enguri Dam. In Mestia, you will be invited to a Georgian dinner that is included in the price.
We had an exceptional trip to Svaneti with Levan. From the moment he picked us up, every aspect of the tour was perfect (the weather even cooperated despite the forecast – just as Levan predicted). Thanks to Levan, we really felt like we got to know Georgia in addition to seeing breathtaking sights and eating some of the best food in the world. His professionalism, warm and bright personality, and personal touch made the trip truly memorable for us, and we’re already planning our return to Georgia!
A TRIPADVISOR REVIEWER (Read more reviews)
Day three involves a day trip to the picturesque town of Ushguli and a hike to the Shkhara Glacier. After spending a second night in Mestia, you will be taken back to Tbilisi making stops on the way by the Zuruldi Mountain and the Gelati Monastery near Kutaisi.
This 5-day tour from Travelist Georgia is suitable for intermediate active travelers who like to take a hike now and then that is not too hard. The first day and last day of the trip will solely go to transportation to Mestia, from which all your activities will be organized.
We’ve made the booking with Zviad and he was quick with an alternative itinerary – as the road to Chaaladi glacier was damaged by heavy rainfall a few days earlier. Meals and accommodation at Mestia were satisfactory, Old House was located in the midst of historical towers and within easy reach of the town center. Special tribute to Vaska, our guide and companion for the five-day trip, who offered a progressive and unique insight into life, wine, and music in Georgia!
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During your three days up in the mountains, you will explore various sights and locations like Ushguli, the Chalaadi Glacier, Hatsvali Mountain, the Shturga waterfall, and Becho Gorge.
This tour is perfect for adventurous travelers with an intermediate level of fitness. Aside from natural sights you will also be immersed in the Svan culture by having lunch at local restaurants which are included in the tour price.
This private 6-day tour by Trek Georgia is one of the best tours out there and caters to nature lovers who are keen on hiking the 4-day Mestia to Ushguli Trek but don’t feel comfortable navigating the wild mountains on their own.
Day one involves driving from Tbilisi, making a stop on the way at the Enguri Dam. Day two to five will be completely dedicated to hiking all the way from Mestia to Ushguli making stops to spend the night on the way in Zhabeshi, Adichi and Iprali.
We highly recommend signing up for this Svaneti trek with TrekGeorgia. It’s a really beautiful route to trek, with several glaciers, rolling mountain passes and valleys, and interesting ancient villages along the way. We had an amazing guide Nugo. He personally drove us all the way from Tbilisi to Mestia, which took pretty much the whole day. Along the way, we had several stops to ensure we were all fresh and had good food, plus a very educational tour of the Enguri dam. Along the way, Nugo shared with us about local history and culture. What we liked is that we felt very safe with him at the wheel, and he was always punctual. He drove us back to Tbilisi as well at the end of the trip. We also observed that he made the effort to carry extra things like a first aid kit, extra warm weather wear for us, etc. While we didn’t need any of those, it shows how well-prepared they are at TrekGeorgia. The actual trek was four days, from Mestia to Zhabeshi, Adishi, Iprali, then Ushguli. Nugo guided us all the way, helping us navigate and taking care of our welfare during the trek as well. In terms of organization, Dimitri did a fantastic job too. He was always very responsive to my inquiries by email, and he arranged for very good guesthouse accommodations and meals for our entire trip. This tour is very suitable for those who want a bit of adventure in the Caucasus mountains, are of reasonable fitness, but do not have experience navigating in the wild by themselves.
A TRIPADVISOR REVIEWER (Read more reviews)
During the trek, all the meals and accommodations are included in the tour price in addition to the first and last night in Mestia. This all-inclusive tour is one of the best options for an adventurous hiking trip in the Caucasus!
If you adore hiking in pristine nature, then this group tour from Trek Georgia is the best choice you can make! Not only will you hike the complete Mestia to Ushguli trek with sleepovers in Zhabeshi, Adichi, and Iprali but it includes also two additional days of trekking to the Koruldi Lakes and an off-the-beaten-path hike starting from the village of Mazeri.
We loved our trek with TrekGeorgia!! From initial email contact with the company through the completion of the trek, the experience was seamless. Our guide, Dito was the best! He was the perfect combination of professionalism and friendliness. A native Georgian, he was a wealth of knowledge of Georgian history, culture, flora and fauna. It is evident that he loves his work. Would definitely recommend TrekGeorgia to guide your Georgian experience.
A TRIPADVISOR REVIEWER (Read more reviews)
This tour is great if you are a solo traveler but don’t like to explore the mountains on your own. A small group tour is great to have as support when things get challenging in the mountains!
Furthermore, this tour is all-inclusive, which means you don’t have to worry about accommodation and meals during the whole week.
Starting a tour from Kutaisi is a good idea since it’s located closer to Svaneti than Tbilisi. There are one-day tours to Svaneti on offer from Kutaisi but I would not recommend taking one since you will be spending more time in the car than actually visiting sights.
This 2-day tour organized by Budget Georgia is one of the cheapest options out there to get a glimpse of the Svaneti region. It doesn’t offer a hotel pick-up but the tour starts at Budget Georgia’s local office near Kutaisi Park. Also, note that accommodation and meals are not included in the trip so you will have to make arrangements for a guesthouse or hotel in Mestia yourself.
Just perfect. On time. Clean and comfortable vehicle. Safe and reliable driver. Several stops for photo opportunities and a coffee break. Ushguli is totally worth the trip. The coordination is perfect and the communication with the company is constant and simple.
CHRISTINA (Read more reviews)
After leaving Kutaisi on day one, you will make a stop at the Enguri Dam to take in the magnificent lake views. The next stop of the day is the Margiani’s House Museum, a fighting tower and museum that was built in the 14th century.
On the second day, you will explore the village of Ushguli before the return trip to Kutaisi.
This is a private tour from Kutaisi by Megobari Tours and feels like going on an adventure with a good friend. This tour takes in a lot of sights but doesn’t cover the town of Ushguli, which a lot of travelers really like to visit. It does however cover some sights that don’t appear on a lot of tour itineraries.
We went on this trip with our guide Alex, a very nice and caring guy who accompanied us, just the two of us, on this journey. The company he works for organizes trips for private groups (without being mixed with other people), which we really appreciated because we were able to ask him lots of questions and discuss with him. The hike in the mountains was done under a magnificent sun and it was a great pleasure to discover the waterfall, and the landscapes of the region. The city, Mestia, where I slept proposed a large choice of guest houses and hotels to spend the night. The two days were very interesting, we saw beautiful landscapes and learned more about the history of the state. Really big thanks to Alex!
CHARLOTTE (Read more reviews)
On the first day, you will be picked up at your accommodation in Kutaisi. You will make a stop in the city of Zugdidi to buy snacks before visiting the Enguri Dam, the village of Mazeri, and the Shdugra Waterfall.
After spending the night in Mestia, you will visit the Hatsvali Ski Lift to see some amazing panoramic views of the mountains and make a stop at the 14th-century Margiani’s House Museum.
Note that meals and accommodation are not included in the price so you will have to arrange a one-night stay in Mestia yourself.
If you don’t mind taking public transportation to get around Georgia, then a tour starting from Mestia, the main town in the Svaneti Mountains, might be more suitable for you.
You can reach Mestia from Tbilisi, Kutaisi, and Batumi by Marshrutka, shared taxi, or train and it sometimes involves spending the night in Zugdidi if connections don’t fit.
This private tour by Highlander Travel covers the complete Mestia to Ushguli trek that requires 4 days of hiking through the mountains in Svaneti. Everything you need is included in the tour, from accommodation and meals to transportation and even your accommodation in Mestia on day one and day five!
We booked a four-day hiking tour from Mestia to Ushguli with Highlander Travel and did not know what to expect at first. We corresponded with Highlander Travel via email before we arrived in Georgia, and the agency answered all of our questions, and took care of all of our requests. It also arranged for a private car that took us from Tabilisi to Mestia (our driver Nick was great). Our hike from Mestia to Ushguli exceeded all of our expectations. Our guide Lasha was extremely knowledgeable and reliable. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide. Our hiking trip was well-organized and included some of the most beautiful views we have ever seen. We highly recommend both Highlander Travel and our amazing guide Lasha.
A TRIPADVISOR REVIEWER (Read more reviews)
Since this is a private tour, you will be able to cover the trek at your own pace. Highlander Travel is also known to bring guests to off-the-beaten-track spots only locals know about!
If you happen to fly into Mestia from Tbilisi, you can request for Highlander Travel to pick you up at the airport.
There you go! I hope you anjoyed this post about the best tours to Svaneti in Georgia.
Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions or drop me a message through my contact page.
Also, don’t forget to check out my resources page with my favorite booking platforms and tips to start planning your trip. Additionally, have a look at my favorite travel gear if you want to pack more consciously!
ENJOY!
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Hi! I am Annelies and this is Travelers & Dreamers, a blog about conscious travel which means traveling in a more mindful way, with a positive impact on the world and yourself!
On this website, I cover different topics like slow travel, plant-based food guides, responsible travel, sustainable packing, eco-travel, and more!
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