. Ive also included a typical budget for hiking Mestia to Ushguli. 10 Comments. But don't take any unnecessary risk and use a horse if you don't feel confident. Even the first week of June can be iffy. And, of course, both owners speak fluent English and do their best so their guests feel like at home. However, Tsvirmi can be a full day hike from Mestia on its own and done as a full day hike or with an overnight in Tsvirmi. But because I was hiking with my husband, Garan, I knew there was zero chance we were taking that cable car. On top of the inconsistencies with the lift, it doesnt start running until 10:00! We spotted the Iprali Family Hotel Ucha, which was a very nice looking building with central courtyard. That was a good read , thank you so much for detailed information . The path crosses open areas with nice views and wildflowers and then slowly descends into the forest. Mestia to Ushguli is a four-day hike in the Caucasus Mountains in NW Georgia, near the Russian border. If you want to save time, you could also consider a flight - there are 4 flights a week from Natakhtari airport near Tbilisi, operated by VanillaSky company . Elisabeth Kaldani's guesthouse - large, blue-painted wooden guesthouse situated at the bottom part of the village. The last option is the direct marshrutka - two minibuses depart at 7:00 from the area in front of Main Railway Station, come at least 30 minutes earlier to catch a spot. By the afternoon, the rain had disappeared. A Weekend in The Sahara Desert, Part 1: How to Get There via Plane. Reaching Ushguli is only possible by road from Mestia and involves a bumpy, 2 hour 44 journey. Tke first section is OK, but further stages are in a poor condition so I don't recommend it. The route is one of the most well-known trails in Svaneti. These towers were still used up until the not so distant past. We chose to have dinner at Bapsha that evening, and it was a feast (you dont order food, you just pay about $10/pp and get all the dishes theyve prepared for the night)! How to find it? The views of the Caucasus Mountains are stunning on the hike from Mestia to Tsvirmi. Theres even more Tsvirmi guesthouses that dont have online booking options. Follow the road and skiing track uphill. After climbing up the hill and going on a bit the way splits. Mestia To Ushguli Trek The most Popular trek in Georgia among foreigners. The only viable replacement is a long-distance night bus, which could also save you a lots of time, but won't be as comfortable as that cencelled sleeper train. Marshrutka is the only option, it departs from the main bus station. Follow the grassy path between trees - on your left will be a dense forest, on the slope below you a small group of trees. Coming down off of Chkunderi Pass, the entire trail is surrounded by wildflowers. Good information for people looking to go hiking in that area. Before you pay, I recommend to walk some 50 meters upstream where the river branches a bit more and check if you can cross on your own - that doesnt mean its always possible, but its worth checking out. We will rise early to prepare for the long climb over the Lagem Pass, the highest point on our route. There are several reasons for that: It is a village to village route, you can stay in very authentic villages overnight, no need to camp, there are guesthouses in each village and there is no need transportation either. Alternative of the most popular Georgian trek, which is by mine opinion even better than standard hike via Zhabeshi. I am not sure Ive ever been so close to a glacier. Sampling the food helps you understand these hearty people who have survived the test of time in these remote villages. Even the co-pilot was taking pictures. Youll see many men waiting with their horses, but the price seems absolutely absurd. After making the crossing, we will climb up to a high pass, and enjoy spectacular panoramas of the river valley and the glistening glacier which feeds it. Having a jeep was really nice because the first hour of the drive was very bumpy and there was a lot of construction. There are two hiking routes that lead to Adishi, the low or high trail. This is definitely going on my list for a future trip. They also have gardens, patio tables, hammocks- it really is a backpackers paradise. However, that also meant that the offer of accommodation was very limited. . Required fields are marked *. Plan on a little over one hour to reach the Mentashi antenna. They don't speak English, but their son does. We shared a jeep with another couple for 35 GEL/per person. I felt miserable and was wondering why we were spending our vacation torturing ourselves. This one is tricky :) But if you are trekking in July or August and have no camping gear, you should - and I am saying it as a person who loathes booking more than 2-3 days ahead. After showering and reconnecting with the internet, we headed into the main part of town to Lailas, which is a popular restaurant/bar with a huge patio. A Four Day Trek in the Caucasus Mountains: Mestia to Ushguli via Tsvirmi. 4-6 days in the Svaneti region, 4 of which are spent trekking. On a clear day, catch those epic views of Tetnuldi Mountain. Organize the trails you like in lists and share them with your friends. Here are some of the better guesthouses where stayed either me or my friends. Definitely worth visiting Tsvirmi. The main reason to do it the 'right way' around, i.e. Browse the best Mestia Guesthouses and places to sleep in Mestia. Hopefully you didnt stray too far. During the peak season it is almost essential to book in-advance. In the morning, we will have some time to explore the ancient towers and wonderful surroundings of Ushguli. Make sure to negotiate prices with the drivers before entering the car. Mestia to Ushguli hard (70) Mestia, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Georgia Photos (302) Directions Print/PDF Map Check out this 34.7-mile point-to-point trail near Mestia, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti. Gone are the days of complete isolation. Some people prefer to circumvent whole Mentashi hill from the right side, especially in bad weather. Booking: guesthouse@gamarjoba-ushguli.com or send them a message via their fb page. *This is the total amount of uphill hiking you will do over all four days. From Mestia there are daily minivans that run to Ushguli. You would see Caucasus from a completely different perspective and for 90 GEL its quite a bargain. At some point, before crossing a stream, there is a small bar where you can buy some refreshments. For the first few days, we will also have fruit such as apples, bananas and tangerines. Pass the new station and enter the forest - then follow the new road through until you reach a concrete road. The path from Chkhunderi Pass to Khalde is about 4 miles. Will you add the Mestia to Ushguli trek to your bucket-list? The trail markers are red and white. Very friendly owners, food providing, overall good value for money. I would love to know what you thought about it or if there are any route or trail update please let me know in the comments below! Again, some people may choose to take a car into Ushguli, as the path follows along the road. Mestia to Ushguli, Day 1 via Tsvirmi Hiking trail in Mest'ia, Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti (Georgia). The other four includeChazhashi, Chvibiani, and Zhibiani, and Lamjrishi. We put down our stuff and the woman brought in fresh towels and showed us the bathroom where we could shower. We would like to carry as little as possible so we would like to have a. Shortly after cresting of the first hill, there is a hardly noticeable junction. The best way to cross the river is to put on hiking sandals, roll up your pants, and walk through a shallower section of the river. Another day and another tricky part in the morning - fording of the Adishi river. This depends on whether you want to get to Mestia from the city or from the Kutaisi airport. Only take essentials to help keep the pack weight down. Best time to visit: Summer, September. Length: 51 km Difficulty: medium Season : June - October Overnights : Tsvirmi, Adishi, Iprali Start from: Mestia Drop-off: Latphari (morning Day 4) Pick-up: Kala (morning Day 4); Ushguli (evening Day 4) A panoramic version of the previous hike. The view was so incredible over the mountains on the way to Mestia that I forgot Im scared of small planes. During my visit, their beds were somewhat saggy but I heard that this was also fixed in the meantine so now can be this guesthouse strongly recommended. (Surprisingly, this was actually not one of the times I cried on the hike). Either relax at the outside tables with a view, or warm up in the cozy interior. Still, it is certainly one of the top guesthouses in the village, if not the best one. Its actually a little scary because as it warms up each day, you can hear these huge, thunderous cracks in the glacier happening. First 5k just follow a road, always with great views of Mestia Valley. At the pass, there are signboards for Iprali that lead into the next valley. Ruta From Mestia to Ushguli through Tsvirmi village de Senderismo en Mest'ia, Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti (Georgia). Make sure to check-in at the Adishi guesthouses to get the most current status of the river levels. After walking along the road for about a mile, you will spot the highest town in Europe, Ushguli! We have done some research and we are quite excited to be coming. Theres also a prop plane run by Vanilla Sky that flies 4-5 times a week into the tiny Mestia airport from the outskirts of Tbilisi. Hhe + 1214m. After descending the pass, our guesthouse awaits us in the magical village of Ushguli. Bapsha Guesthouseis a beautiful, newly built guesthouse that looks like a Swiss skiing lodge (Mestia does get skiing tourism in the winters). We will descend a little from the pass to set up our campsite. Think of it more like a warm up to the Mestia to Ushguli trek. This makes the Ushguli trek the perfect opportunity to delve deep into the Upper Svaneti cuisine and offers a bonus cultural experience. Breakfast was only offered starting at 8am which was mildly frustrating as we wanted to get hiking early. Each period has its pros and cons. Here comes the tricky part. There are a few more Iprali guest houses, but Betegi Guest house was such a unique experience, try not to miss it. Once in Ushguli there are plenty of cafes, guesthouses, and even some day hikes options. Good places along the trail tend to fill up fast, especially since many of them got registered on booking portals. Hello, Although Ushguli is beautiful, it doesnt have as much to offer as Mestia. This Mestia to Ushguli trekking guide includes: a free and downloadable Mestia to Ushguli trek map, hiking tips, general Mestia Ushguli packing list, and basic information that comes in handy to complete this top-rated Georgia trek in 4 days. I also love to check and plan my routes with useful tools likegraphhopper. Use the Mentashi transmitter antenna as a point of reference, which can be seenfarther along the trail. How you use this info is up to you. From the Chkhunderi pass, the trail heads straight down into the opposite valley. Pass by a few makeshift cafes. There are portions where the trail disappears, so this is where an offline map will come in handy. Guesthouse Gamarjoba - one of the oldest guesthouses in Ushguli, located at the northern end of the Zhibiani community, right by the church. It starts from Mestia and ends in Ushguli. However, as the Mestia to Ushguli trek is gaining popularity, many of the communities are starting to charge entrance fees. A classic trail crossing the beautiful region of Svaneti. Here we . Receive the latest content, tips, updates & more! The views were really great and its a nice place to stop and have a light lunch. The water is freezing so you won't be able to spend too much time in the river. Really nice and detailed post! This is probably the most luxurious lodging option in Mestia and will only cost you 160 GEL ($60 USD) for a deluxe double room with balcony, breakfast included. The meals are also pretty good. Tsvirmi was one of the best experiences of the trekking. Disclosure: This is part of my Hikes & Adventures series, which means these treks can be strenuous and challenging. Theres no extra cost to you, and I only promote things that I use and love.. It's a pity because that road is quite busy and lined by electricity poles. You do a considerable amount of walking on roads this day (although there was very little traffic). All rights reserved -- If you miss them and there is none other direct bus available, look for a marshrutka to Zugdidi (price 7 GEL) - it's the same way and you can find there transport to Mestia more easily (especially if you notify your driver in Kutaisi that you need to continue to Mestia). May 5, 2019 - Looking for a more difficult and scenic alternative to the Mestia to Ushguli trail, the most popular Georgian trek? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. For those looking to take the high alpine route to Adishi, continue pass the cafe on the dirt the road up until where the first Tetnuldi ski lift ends. All of the food is made with love and usually from scratch. Follow the trail until you see the signpost for Ushguli. But it got cancelled when covid hit and not yet reinstated. nearMestia, Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti (Georgia), You can add a comment or review this trail, Wikiloc. Its a beautiful hike filled with delicious food and kind people. Have you visited the Upper Svaneti region in Georgia? The Ushguli villages contain old Svan towers and buildings that are part of the UNESCO Heritage site of Upper Svaneti. She actually had three sons all in their 20s, who mostly ignored us. So, if you prefer the bus, it's better to take comfortable long-distance buses operated by the Turkish company Metro bus. After about an hour, a truck with two trekkers in the back stopped and asked if we wanted a ride, we declined (thanks, Garan!) It's around a 3 hour round trip and the climb is challenging but it rewards you with some incredible ridge walking and stunning views. Turns out, September nights are freezing and my sleeping bag wasnt warm enough. There are two sections of the cable car. Disclaimer: Theres a chance this post contains affiliate links, and I receive a small (but grateful) portion of the sale. We will drive to Kutaisi via Mestia. We had read that it is sometimes hard to get a taxi out of Ushguli, but there were several drivers (private cars, small vans) waiting to take people back to Mestia. It really wasnt that bad and felt good to stretch the legs and get a little sweaty. Several of my friends stayed here and while they weren't particularly impressed, it was "good enough". I was pretty much alone during the full hike with incredible views. The earliest breakfast time offered was 8am, so we packed before breakfast and were on the trail by 830am. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Route From Mestia to Ushguli through Tsvirmi village - Mest'ia, Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti (Georgia) Alternative of the most popular Georgian trek, which is by mine opinion even better than standard hike via Zhabeshi. The answer is - if you are trekking in July or August and have no camping gear, you should. Alternative of the most popular Georgian trek, which is by mine opinion even better than standard hike via Zhabeshi. Another claim to fame is that Ushguli is one of highest continuously inhabited village in Europe at 6,900 ft (2,100 m). There will be a range of options to provide variety on a long tour. Thank you for the suggestion, I will look up the places on booking.com. Its also easy to purchase a la carte menu items and snacks if you choose to camp the Mestia Ushguli trek. Lade den GPS-Track herunter und folge der Route auf einer Karte. Always put your safety first. Most guesthouse owners in Mestia are willing to help arrange accommodation on the Mestia Ushguli trek. You need to take the path to the right which is not so steep; the other way leads up the mountain. There is assistance to cross the river if you need it. All rights reserved. I had to move a little off of the main trail to cross, but it was fairly easy to find the trail to Chkhunderi Pass. Prices on the table are rounded to the nearest 25, My average daily cost of the Mestia to Ushguli trek was around $21 US. Descending into Tsvirmi There are a few reasons to do Mestia to Ushguli through Tsvirmi 1) Increase the difficulty of the hike 2) Get the view from Mentashi hill 3) Stay in a village untouched by tourism 4) Have the trail mostly to yourself for two days If you opt to ride the ski lift up to the lodge, an early start on the first day isnt essential. Though, given the popularity of Ushguli, it seems possible the road will be improved soon. Duration of the Mestia to Ushguli Trek. Howver, this changes once you join the classic trail above Adishi. The little cafe is cute and is a nice spot to enjoy a beverage. Alternative zum beliebten Mestia - Ushguli-Trek, der durch das Dorf Tsvirmi anstelle von Zhabeshi fhrt. An offline map does come in handy. So, to sum it up, the second half of this trek certainly not the one to choose if you are looking for a silence or solitude. Follow it. It was pretty miserable. I loved trekking Georgia and really getting off the beaten path. Enjoy! Keep in mind, those who plan on hiking Mestia to Ushguli without staying in guest houses will have more gear to carry. This map was created by a user. This trail is great for backpacking, camping, and hiking. This is where you will find the best views of the day. 5 hours. Nature is unpredictable, so its best to take all the necessary precautions. Only one of them can be booked online but even if its full, there are enough alternatives. From Mestia to Ushguli through Tsvirmi village Wandern Trail in Mest'ia, Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti (Georgia). As of 2021, a 2 GEL entrance fee may be asked to pass through Murkmeli. I found a section where the water only came midway to my shin. We approached them and they offered us one of the few rooms that were not already reserved for 55 GEL/per person.

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