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Adventures / Epic Treks

Trek The Republic of Georgia

Hike through some of Europe’s highest peaks, past medieval towers and visit ancient Svaneti villages

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Trip Ref #9002

Adventures / Epic Treks

Trek The Republic of Georgia

Hike through some of Europe’s highest peaks, past medieval towers and visit ancient Svaneti villages

DURATION
7 nights
LOCATION
Georgia
ANNUAL LEAVE
5 days off work
SEASON
May-Sep
GROUP SIZE
Up to 12 people
MEETING POINT
Kutaisi Airport, Georgia
ACCOMMODATION
Hotel · Guesthouse
DIFFICULTY
Moderate

Great for both beginners and experienced trekkers but a good fitness level will help you make the most of it.

Explore a historical region of Georgia where the locals have successfully retained their culture and heritage for generations

Cross through mountainous terrain and past breath-taking glaciers on your way to ancient villages with iconic Svan towers

Explore an incredible landscape that hasn’t seen many travellers – yet

Included

Guides

Certified English-speaking guide and driver

Accommodation

7 nights in local guesthouses

Meals

Munch on tasty food throughout

Transfers

To and from the airport and everything in-between

Porterage

4x4 vehicle support throughout

Not Included

Flights to and from the meeting point

Personal expenses

Travel insurance

The Area

Logistics

Starts

Kutaisi International Airport

Arrive any time on Day 1

Ends

Kutaisi International Airport

Depart any time on Day 8

Transfers

Transfers between the airport and your Guesthouse are included for any time you choose to arrive or depart. If you choose to arrive before Day 1, or depart after Day 8 - private transfers can also be arranged.

Travel options

There are flights to Kutaisi International Airport (KUT) from all over Europe (though not all are direct). Alternatively, you can fly to Tblisi International Airport instead and your host can arrange a transfer to Kutaisi which takes around 4 hours.

What about all the carbon?

We mitigate 4x the carbon generated by all our customer flights annually through our partnership with Cool Earth.

Day 1

Hotel · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 2 – Day 6

Guesthouse · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 7

Hotel · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 8

Departure day

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

What is the food like?

Food will be a delicious mix of local Svan and Georgian national cuisine, cooked using produce grown or reared by the guesthouse owners themselves. Georgian cuisine is world-renowned for its mix of eastern and western flavours, aromas and colours and is slightly spicy and usually based on meat, vegetables, cheese and fruit. There are also plenty of traditional dishes without meat, so vegetarians will be well catered for. Lunches will be picnic style out in the wilderness.

What is the accommodation like?

Kutaisi City

You'll stay at the Four Seasons Riverside in the centre of Kutaisi. This is located in the best part of Kutaisi, with the Colchis Fountain, Bagrati Cathedral and Kutaisi State Historical Museum all within walking distance. There is free WiFi throughout, and continental and buffet breakfast options are available each morning.

The Mountains

You'll stay in well-regarded guesthouses in Mestia, Adishi, Ushguli and the small village of Becho. Accommodation will be in clean and comfortable twin-share rooms, with friendly and welcoming hosts and usually a magnificent breakfast in the morning that you'll want to write home about.

Upgrades

For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room and tent can be booked for an extra charge, see Optional Extras for the price. Please request this at the time of booking (this is subject to availability).

Day 1

Kutaisi

You'll arrive at Kutaisi International Airport after dark where your host will be waiting to take you straight to a nearby guesthouse. Get settled and then rest up in preparation for the challenge ahead.

Day 2

Svaneti

After breakfast, drive through this little-visited and unspoiled land, stopping for a traditional lunch of Khachapuri (delicious cheese bread) in a local market. You can indulge in the calories as it will be good fuel for the days ahead. Visit the second highest arch dam in the world – The Enguri Dam - and then drive on to Mestia where you’ll have time to explore before spending the evening at a local guesthouse.

Day 3

Trek to Adishi

Hiking

6-7hrs · 10km · 850m up

After a short drive to Jabeshi, trek through the meadows and forests beneath beautiful Mount Tetnuldi (4858m). Make the most of the picturesque backdrop by stopping for a picnic lunch and then continue on to the ancient village of Adishi. You’ll know you’ve arrived when the trail descends offering magnificent views over its medieval monuments and iconic Svan towers.

Day 4

Iprali

Hiking

6-8hrs · 14km · 650m up

Fuel up on a homemade breakfast and trek towards the magnificent Adishi Glacier. From there, you'll cross the spectacular Chkhutnieri pass and stop for a picnic lunch surrounded by idyllic views of the Caucasus. When you reach the village of Iprali (1950m) you’ll realise why it’s famous, thanks to the tiny churches boasting thousand-year-old frescos, including the biggest and most decorated of them all - Nakipari. Arrive at your guesthouse mid-afternoon, with plenty of time to relax and recover from a spectacular journey.

Day 5

Ushguli

Hiking

5-6hrs · 20km · 300m up · 300m down

Sit back and relax for a while as you take a scenic drive to the historic settlement of Ushguli (2000m). Explore the ancient sites and after lunch hike through the valley to the Shkhara Glacier and look down on the green slopes climbing up to a snow-covered peak. Head back to Ushguli and spend another night in a local guesthouse.

Day 6

Ushba Waterfalls

Hiking

9hrs · 28km · 1050m up

Start the day with another traditional, homemade breakfast (khachapuri, anyone?) and then drive to the little village of Becho and the start of today’s trek. Take a tranquil stroll through the woodland, then, when the trees break open at the foot of Mt. Ushba (4700m), prepare for a challenge. This more complex route will be worth every grimace when you reach the stunning Ushba Waterfalls. Suitably in awe, head back to your guesthouse in Becho for the night.

Day 7

Kutaisi

Enjoy a more relaxed start to the day before driving back to Kutaisi, arriving at around 1:00 pm. Explore the city at leisure - walk the cobbled streets to the Bagrati Cathedral, get lost in the largest, liveliest and most colourful indoor produce market in Georgia, or just stroll around the city, taking in the culture and architecture. When you're ready, return to your hotel and indulge in a last Georgian meal to bring your trip to a suitable end.

Day 8

Travel home

Enjoy a final Georgian breakfast and then head back to Kutaisi Airport in time for your journey home.

Please Note

All our adventures take place in wild places. Things can go wrong in wild places. Your perfectly planned itinerary may change a bit (or a lot) if the weather turns, someone gets hurt, or a volcano erupts. Usually though, changes make it all the better.

15% Off Outdoor Gear

In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 15% discount on us to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock, Runner's Need, and Cycle Surgery.

What's available to hire?

  • Backpack
  • Trekking poles

What do I need to bring?

  • Backpack with rain cover
  • Day bag
  • Down/fleece jacket (especially important during later departures in September)
  • Hiking gear
  • Waterproof wear inc. boots
  • Warm hat and a peaked cap
  • Gloves
  • Warm socks
  • Water bottle
  • Headlamp
  • Sunscreen
  • Sunglasses
  • Quick-dry towel
  • Camera
  • Trekking poles
  • Shorts
  • Energy/protein bars

This trek is great for beginners and experienced trekkers alike. It’s classed as moderate, so we'd recommend a good fitness level to make the most of it. Some days are long with steep sections so being used to walking back to back days is essential. You only need to carry a day-pack each day, with the rest of your luggage transferred by vehicle.

The terrain on the trail is mixed and ranges from easy paths to rough, rock-strewn climbs as you get closer to the glaciers. Good trekking boots are recommended.

There will be a short transfer to the start of the hike almost every day to ensure stunning new scenery.

Brief overview of transfers

Day 1: Transfer from the airport to your accommodation in Kutaisi.

Day 2: Your longest transfer day (Kutaisi to Mestia), however, it will be broken down into smaller sections with several interesting stops in-between.

Day 3: A short transfer before hiking to the next guesthouse.

Day 4: You'll trek straight from guesthouse to guesthouse.

Day 5: You'll transfer to Ushguli in the morning as the road in-between is fairly long and not hugely interesting. In the afternoon, the trek is out and back from the guesthouse.

Day 6: You'll transfer from Ushguli to Becho where the day's trek will begin. The return trek also has a short transfer at the end.

Sure can! Over 50% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

There will be 4x4 vehicle support throughout, so you can leave your main luggage/rucksack in the vehicle and just carry a daypack while trekking.

We recommend checking out the country specific information here and also talking to a travel nurse.

We’ve teamed up with the guys at World Nomads to offer insurance designed for adventurous travellers across 140 countries that includes overseas medical, evacuation, baggage and a range of adventure sports and activities. To get yours sorted, click here.

We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book the trip, just to cover you for any last minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!

For current advice about travelling in Georgia, have a read of the UK Foreign Office pages here.

All of our group adventures are especially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded.

"I cannot recommend this highly enough! The people on the trip were amazing. Easily the best trip I've ever been on!" Charlotte, 2019, Trustpilot.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

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Transferrable Deposits

Cancel up to 31 days before departure and we'll transfer your deposit into credit for a future booking.

Free Date Changes

Free date changes up to 31 days before departure.

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