Trek the Caucasus Mountains in Georgia
Hike among the craggy snow-capped peaks and deep gorges of the Greater Caucasus, through ancient hamlets to dazzling glaciers
What's Included?
Activities & Certified Guides
All itinerary activities with expert, local, English-speaking guidesHotel & Guesthouse
2 nights in a hotel and 6 nights in local guesthousesMeals
8 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 7 dinnersTransfers
Kutaisi Airport Transfers and everything in betweenLuggage transfer
4x4 vehicle support throughout the trekSmall Like-minded Groups
Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 12 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people…
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What's it like?
Take on sections of the pioneering Transcaucasian Trail, all the way to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ushguli
Explore the majestic alpine scenery of ancient Upper Svaneti, one of the wildest and most remote regions of Georgia
Tuck into hearty mountain food to fuel your hikes through the Caucasus and sample natural wines, Georgian-style
Key Information
Day 1
Welcome to Kutaisi
Touch down at Kutaisi International Airport where your host will be waiting to take you straight to your nearby hotel. Get settled in and then rest up in preparation for the challenge ahead.
Day 2
Into the mountains
Driving
Time for a road trip through this little-visited land, stopping for a traditional lunch of khachapuri (delicious cheese bread) in a local market. The winding mountain road will pass by the second-highest arch dam in the world, the Enguri Dam, where you can pause for a leg stretch. Continue your journey up into the Svaneti Region, on to the small town of Becho where you’ll overnight in a local guesthouse.
Day 3
Hike up to Ushba Waterfalls
Hiking
Driving
After a hearty breakfast, you'll set out from your guesthouse for your first hike of the trip. Rising up though woodland, the trail will take around 5hrs to ascend to foot of the mighty Mount Ushba (4700m), starting out as a gradual climb but then steepening as you get further up. This beautiful route will bring you to the Ushba (Shdugvra) Waterfalls where you can enjoy spectacular views of the Laila mountain range. On the way down, the group will stop near a bridge to meet the local transport and drive back down to the guesthouse to collect your luggage. You'll then transfer onwards to the town of Mestia for your overnight stop.
Day 4
Trek from Mestia to Zhabeshi (Jabeshi)
Hiking
Fuel up on a giant homemade breakfast ready for another magnificent day of trekking. Today you'll set out on foot from Mestia, the principal town of the Svaneti, past stone defensive towers called "Svan Towers". Head up the valley on rugged jeep trails up through forest and alpine meadows to a pass at the foot of Mount Khakiani (3702m). From there you'll have expansive views of the Mulkhra Valley to the east, with the towering peaks of Tetnuldi (4858m) and Gistola (4860m) in the distance. Descend down the pass and along the valley to village of Zhabeshi for your overnight
Day 5
Zhabeshi to Adishi
Hiking
Today you'll hike out of the Mulkhra Valley over the Tetnuldi Pass (2500m) and down to the ancient village of Adishi, famed for four deeply historic churches dating as far as the 9th-14th centuries. It's another big day of hiking in spectacular mountain surroundings with glaciers and snowcapped 4,000m peaks on show. You’ll know you’ve arrived in Adishi when the trail descends and its medieval monuments and iconic Svan towers come into view. Enjoy the warm Georgian hospitality for another evening at your local guesthouse.
Day 6
Adishi to Iparali
Hiking
Following the trail towards the Adishi Glacier, you'll cross the Adishichala River with horses and then begin the uphill journey to the Chkhutnieri Pass (2722m). From the top of the pass you can enjoy stunning views of the Caucasus mountains and glaciers. Descend down to the historical village of Khalde, and then continuing on to Iparli, arriving at your guesthouse late afternoon for some downtime before dinner.
Day 7
Iprali to Ushguli
Driving
Hiking
Today begins with a (short) scenic drive to the settlement of Ushguli (2000m), located in the very east of the Svaneti region. Ushguli’s medieval constructions are under the protection of UNESCO World Heritage because of their historical importance. It was part of the so-called “Free Svaneti” as for centuries the people here defended the region against numerous attacks. The Church of Saint Mary is located on one of the highest points in Ushguli and it is also the home to the remnants of one of the most ancient fortresses of the Svaneti, with 37 Svan towers, dating back to the reign of Queen Tamar. The views and surrounding landscape are stunning. In the afternoon, you'll hike up to the edge of the Shkhara Glacier and the source of the Enguri River, before returning to Ushguli for your last night up in the mountains.
Day 8
Return to Kutaisi
Driving
Enjoy a more relaxed start to the day before driving back to Kutaisi, arriving at around 16:00. 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 of dumplings and natural wines to bring your trip to a suitable end.
Day 9
All good things must come to an end
Time to say your goodbyes! Head back to Kutaisi Airport in time for your journey home.
The Area
Logistics
Starts
Kutaisi International Airport
Arrive any time on Day 1
Ends
Kutaisi International Airport
Depart any time on Day 8
Transfers
You can arrive into Kutaisi any time you like on Day 1 and depart at any time on Day 8.
Provided you have supplied your arrival and departure details in advance, your host will provide arrival and departure transfers to coincide with your flights. However, it is also very easy to get a taxi from the airport to your hotel. It costs around £5/$8USD and it takes 25 minutes. If you are arriving in Kutaisi in the early hours of the morning on Day 1, there is an early check-in option at the hotel which you can request via your booking (subject to availability).
Travel options
There are flights to Kutaisi International Airport (KUT) from all over Europe. Wizz Air has frequent flights connecting from Brussels, Frankfurt, Prague, Budapest, Vienna and Athens. Alternatively, you can fly to Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) instead (both British Airways and EasyJet offer direct flights from London to Tbilisi) and your host can arrange a transfer to Kutaisi, which takes around 4 hours. Please ask your host for more information and cost via your booking.
Day 1
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 2 – Day 7
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 8
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 9
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 and vegans will be well catered for. Lunches will be picnic-style, out in the wilderness.
What is the accommodation like?
Kutaisi City
You'll stay in a 3-star hotel in the centre of Kutaisi located in the best part of the city, with the Colchis Fountain, Bagrati Cathedral and Kutaisi State Historical Museum all within walking distance. There is free WiFi, plus continental and buffet breakfast options are available each morning.
In the mountains
You'll stay in well-regarded guesthouses in Becho, Mestia, Zhabeshi, Adishi, Iprali and Ushguli. 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
If you are arriving in Kutaisi in the early hours of the morning on Day 1, there is an early check-in option at the hotel which you can request via your booking (subject to availability).
For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room can be booked on request for an extra charge, see Optional Extras for the price. Please include this request at the time of booking, as it's subject to availability. Although availability is typically not an issue at the hotel in Kutaisi, private rooms are more limited in the guesthouses.
This trip has been rated as Moderate
This five day trek in the wild Svaneti Mountains of Georgia is a great choice for those who love to hike on quiet mountain trails with daily views of high summits and glaciers. The terrain on the trail is mixed and ranges from easy paths to rough, rock-strewn climbs as you get closer to the glaciers. The amount of ascent and descent provided in the itinerary should not be underestimated. On several days you will hike above 2500m as you cross high mountain passes from one valley to another along the Transcaucasian Trail. Doing some practice hikes before the trip with your pack and boots is strongly recommended to help you prepare for this adventure!
What will I need to carry?
You only need to carry a daypack each day, including your waterproofs and at least 2L of water, as the rest of your luggage will be transferred by vehicle from one accommodation to the next. Please check our Kit List section for recommendations on what to pack for this trip.
The average temperature during summer in Georgia typically ranges from 25-35°C in the lower valleys. However, up on the plateaus and high in the mountains it will be colder, especially when exposed to the wind. For every 1000m of ascent, the temperature can be expected to drop by approximately 6.5°C. Mountain climates are notoriously unpredictable so it is essential to bring wet weather gear and layers to adjust your temperature as required. At night temperatures can drop down to 5°C. Dry sunny days are common (sunscreen/sun-protection is important) and rain at this time of year is rare but can happen.
Incredible trip!
The Caucasus were magical but what was more remarkable was the heart of the Georgian people - warm, loving, and endlessly thoughtful, they made our short stay in their beautiful country so memorable.
Levani and Nata were great hosts with so much to share about Georgian culture and life. And they took great care of the whole group despite our setbacks with the weather and not-so-friendly dogs.
My only wish was that we’d have more time in the mountains rather than in transit. But I hear that the new itinerary for 2025 will address that.
Fantastic week trekking in Georgia
This was my third MBA trip and it didn’t disappoint.
Beautiful country, an excellent group of fun people, fantastic scenery on the hikes, unique places to stay, all the Georgian food you could ask for.
I think the trip will be improved next year with slightly less driving and an extra day of walking. The hikes were challenging but definitely do-able with a decent level of fitness.
If you’re keen to go off the beaten track and don’t mind roughing it a little bit, this is a trip for you.
A beautiful time exploring Georgia
This was my first trip to Georgia and first time booking with MBA and it was easy and stress-free the whole time. The communication with the company and with our guides was excellent from booking to the end of the trip. Our guides Levani and Nata were friendly, kind and taught us lots about Georgian culture. The hikes were challenging but with amazing scenery that made it worthwhile. The guesthouses are comfortable and rustic, the food is amazing, even the weather couldn't ruin the trip. Though autumn is a little cold, I'm glad I got to see the beautiful colours in the Caucasus mountains.
Great hike
Beautiful scenery Great hike
Fabulous experience ! Our guides
Fabulous experience ! Our guides were so helpful and friendly . The areas we hiked were spectacular !
Highly recommend!
It was my first time on a week-long hiking trip, and it did not disappoint! The Svaneti region is absolutely beautiful; and our guides Nata and Sandro were brilliant - passionate about their country, amazing attention to detail, and took great care of us. The food was also fab (there is a lot of it!), and accommodation though basic, completely fit for purpose, clean and comfortable. This was such a unique experience - highly recommend this amazing trip, even if you have not done much hiking before.