The Mestia-Ushguli trek is the most popular budget-friendly hiking adventure in Georgia’s spectacular Svaneti region. This classic Svaneti hiking tour connects the mountain town of Mestia with the UNESCO-listed village of Ushguli, offering breathtaking Caucasus landscapes at an affordable price. The 4-day Mestia to Ushguli hike passes through traditional Svan villages, alpine meadows, glacier rivers, and panoramic mountain passes. Along the way, you’ll enjoy authentic local guesthouses, homemade meals, and stunning views of the Greater Caucasus range, including the towering Mount Shkhara. If you’re looking for a trekking tour in Georgia, the Mestia–Ushguli route offers unbeatable value, cultural immersion, and some of the most scenic hiking trails in the Caucasus Mountains. Join our affordable Svaneti trekking tour and discover why this is Georgia’s most iconic multi-day hike.
Tour details
- Season – July to October
- Type – Hiking
- Duration – 5 days
- Start/Finish – Kutaisi (This tour is available from Mestia and Batumi as well)
- Total hiking distance – 55 km
Availability
Scheduled group tours in 2026
- July 20-24th
- August 17-21th
- September 21-25th
Private tour is available for any dates from July till the end of October
Detailed itinerary
Day 1 — Kutaisi-Mestia
Day 1 — Kutaisi-Mestia
- 08:00 – Starting from Kutaisi
- Visiting Enguri water dam
- Visiting Margiani family house-museum
- Hiking to Chalaadi glacier
Overnight: guesthouse in Mestia
Day 2 — Mestia (1,500 m) → Zhabeshi (1,850 m)
- Distance: ~12 km
- Typical walking time: 4–6 hours (moderate pace, breaks)
- Elevation gain: +400 m
- Elevation loss: ~0–50 m
- Difficulty: easy–moderate
Overnight: guesthouse in Zhabeshi
Day 3 — Zhabeshi (1,850 m) → Adishi (2,040 m)
- Distance: 12 km
- Typical walking time: 4–6 hours
- Elevation gain: +150–250 m
- Elevation loss: ~0–150 m
- Difficulty: easy–moderate
Overnight: guesthouse in Adishi
Day 4 — Adishi (2,040 m) → Iprali (1900 m)
- Distance: ~16 km
- Typical walking time: 7-8 hours
- Elevation gain: +300 m
- Elevation loss: ~440 m
- Difficulty: moderate (longer day, some uneven ground)
Overnight: guesthouse in Iprali
Day 5 — Iprali (1900 m) → Ushguli (2,200 m)
- Distance: ~11 km
- Typical walking time: 4-5 hours
- Elevation gain: +300 m
- Elevation loss: ~0–200 m
- Difficulty: easy–moderate
Once the hike is over in Ushguli we drive back to Kutaisi.
