Like accomodation there are lots of places to eat in Mestia. Most Unique Place to Visit in Svaneti: Ushguli. After several visits to Mestia, my best experience is still with Nino Ratiani guesthouse. In the morning or in the evening? Contact: (+995) 598 477180 (Nana speaks also English ). #georgia #mestia #ushguli #svaneti #hiking #trek #caucasus #mountain. Begin this path, which starts 1/4 of a mile from where the first cable car exits. . The church is on a hill looking out over the valley below. The cost is around 40 Lari and the journey takes about 2 hours. I am in mestia for two full days (not including travel) where I plan to do a few hikes (koruldi lake, ushba mountain etc) On the third day morning, I. However, it's quite dusty because of passing jeeps so I prefer to spend on it as little time as possible. I have personally done each of these hikes, but it does not make me an expert by any means. Before the main road is a tiny building used as church. becouse of they have contact.only with local people and for them this what you make surprised for them.is normal. Marshrutkas to Mestia leave from Zugdidi train station every day. Or staying in Mestia on. Together with some other caucasus mountain villages like Juta and Xinaliq who claim the same. If you can, try to spend at least one night in Mestia so you can rest, slow down a bit and see some local attractions. Highways in Georgia are in relatively good shape (certainly better conditions than many Balkan countries). Ten minutes later, you will reach a spot where a small trail branches off to the left, little uphill and into some bushes, while a large track keeps going down. I already visited the Chalaadi glacier from Mestia. It is not too long, takes only three to four days to finish. Spend a day or two relaxing in Ushguli and maybe add on the gentle day hike to the scenic Shkhara Glacier. Continue through Murkmeli and take the foot bridge out with river on your left. This is an excellent place to take a break and climb around the viewpoints of the nearby ridges. Trek from Mestia to Ushguli is certainly not the one to choose if you are looking for a silence or . Although the facilities improve year by year, most hotels are still relatively basic and small scale. Can I do the hike even if I dont have hiking shoes? Detour through Murkmeli to finally reach Ushguli. To go from Tbilisi to Mestia you have following options: - Go to Zugdidi (for example by night train or bus) and take in the morning a marshrutka or shared cab to Mestia. Your email address will not be published. Elisabeth Kaldani's guesthouse - large, blue-painted wooden guesthouse situated at the bottom part of the village. For those who didn't opt for the upper trail to Adishi, this will be the max elevation point of the Mestia to Ushguli trek. Buses leave at 15:00 from the Zugdidi Bus Station and the ticket price is 35 GEL (11.50 Euros). This map is solely a planning tool. Rather than just bread with cheese, they also add millet flour in the cheese filling. There are a few options for how to get to Mestia. There are signs of rebound for 2021 season, but its pretty obvious that the numbers of tourists will be only a fraction of pre-covid period. The trail is well-trodden and not that difficult. The Svaneti region in the north of Georgia near the Russian border is set along a spectacular mountain range. Once, there was a small trail following its northern bank to the bridge further to the east so hikers approached Zhabeshi village from the north. More than likely, the ski lift won't be running. Adishi to Iprari (17 km) - Day 3. Four photos were provided by Jordan Atkins. But don't take any unnecessary risk and use a horse if you don't feel confident. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-96977491', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Tbilisi to Mestia you have following options: - Go to Zugdidi (for example by night train or bus) and take in the morning a marshrutka or shared cab to Mestia. After gaining some 50 elevation meters, the dirt track becomes more pleasant again - it goes through the light forest and over pastures from which you will have a nice view of Mt. You would see Caucasus from a completely different perspective and for 90 GEL its quite a bargain. Also, this trekking itinerary begins at the last stop of the Zuruldi cable car, from Mestia Georgia. There are 2 ways to get from Mestia to Ushguli by taxi or car Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. The shoulder months of June and September can offer pleasant weather and fewer people. After several days hiking relaxing might be the perfect activity. The water is freezing so you won't be able to spend too much time in the river. There is good cellphone signal along the Mestia to Ushguli trek so if you have a Georgian SIM card you should have no trouble connecting in most of the villages. The Mestia to Ushguli trek is a beautiful multi-day hike through Georgia's incredible Upper Svaneti region. About Mestia - Ushguli Best time to visit: Summer, September The route is one of the most well-known trails in Svaneti. The place is not too large so it keeps a "local feeling". However, it was cancelled in 2020 due to covid and there are no signs that it's going to be restored anytime soon. Safety first. There are often optional extras at the guesthouses such as alcohol and any additional transport. Follow trailhead to Tsvirmi, Sleep in Tsvirmi or the campsites before the village. The trail turns south-east and climbs over a series of pastures and through a light forest. Moreover, she is a great cook. During the main season, when many hikers leave Adishi to Iprali, There is only one junction in the forest where the trail forks - take the left branch, the right one soon disappears. These earnings help me to keep Backpack Adventures alive! The first time in Ushguli I stayed in a small hotel with no name that still doesnt have an online presence. About 70 families (about 200 people) live in the area, enough to support a small school. the walk to the Shkhara glacier. Also thanks to Betislav for his cool photo of Adishi glacier. Je souhaite faire part de mon exprience car les rcits que j'ai pu. If downloading the Mestia to Ushguli trek map, please verify that the map is correct and follows the waypoints. Drivers on the other hand Includes places to stay, what to pack and details about the route for hiking from Mestia to Ushguli in 3 or 4 days. The place would not be my first choice since it kinda lacks character but saved loads of people - the owners are good at finding that one extra spot for some hapless guy who trekked without prearranged accommodation. In summer 2022, I saw a Mestia van collecting passengers and waiting to depart at around 9am. . You can also choose to take transport straight to Ushguli and hike back. El trekking de Mestia a Ushguli en la regin de Svaneti ,Georgia , conecta las distintas poblaciones comprendidas entre las localidades de Mestia y Ushguli ,situadas a 58 km de distancia.entre s. Then you will pass a huge construction site on your right (supposedly a new hydrocentral). If you want to prolong your trek, you can cross into Lower Svaneti on foot via Latpari pass or Zagar pass. Marshrutka to Mestia are waiting at Zugdidi train station for the arrival of the train. If it is not running all the way to the top, hike under the tram cables. In the first case, your best options is the direct minibus (the price is 25 GEL) departing from the station behind McDonalds. I just want to share a terrible experience I had yesterday. Things to do in Mestia: the gateway to Svaneti, The Shkhara glacier hike in Svaneti Georgia. In June, one can enjoy green scenery with blooming flowers, Departure - 06:30 Arrival - 15:00 Stops - Lunch break at 13:00 Frequency - Every day (May-October) Starting point - Pick up guests from hotels Finish point - Credo Bank - #38 Tamar Mefe st., Mestia Price - 80 GEL per person There are other small villages nearby each of these where some people prefer to stay instead. Marshrutka vans depart for Mestia from various points around Tbilisi, including from the car park outside Central Railway Station (Station Square). Sleep only at official guesthouses with other hikers around. Most of the time, you will have cell coverage. The facilities are a bit dates, but the beds are comfortable, blankets warm and the guesthouse is overall clean. If you need to return to Mestia, your best bet used to be minivans making day trips from Mestia to Ushguli. From Mestia to Ushguli it was either a 4 day hike or a long and bumpy journey by jeep or horse. since it's quite popular among tourists. Right behind it branches a track to the left which is a nice shortcut to the Davberi village but as of 2021, it was blocked by a fence with barbed wire - I think that sooner or later, we can expect 2 GEL "entry fee" sign here. . The trail often seen as "the classic one" follows the large track downhill. I try to keep all trek descriptions up to date but, as sings our latest Nobel Prize owner, "times they are a changing". But we have heard that if you head down to the main road you can get a ride for as little as 5GEL per person. There is certainly no lack of choice in Ushguli - every other house got already got converted into a guesthouse, not counting those newly built. Earliest marshrutka from Zugdidi reaches Mestia around 10-10:30 am and since the day 1 section is not that long, you should comfortable reach Zhabeshi without the fear of missing the dinner. This is a basic hiking guide and overview of a 4 day Mestia to Ushguli Trek Map without a tour. Because of its remoteness the region has kept its beauty and preserved a unique mountain culture which can be seen in the day to day lives as well as the centuries old houses that dot the mountain sides. Pass by shepherds huts and continue to walk through the village of Khalde. The route takes hikers from Mestia to Zhabeshi to Adishi to Iprali to Ushguli. Follow the path until it meets up with the road with a signpost that welcomes you to the small villages that make up Ushguli. On Day 3, leave Adishi and trek pass the beautiful Asdishi Glacier to sleep in the village of Iprali. Still worthwhile if you can find other people to share the costs. I am not sure if travel questions are welcome on this subreddit, please let me know if they are not. Iprari to Ushguli (12 km) - Day 4. During the season, there are dozens of people each day so if something happens, help is not far away. Before you reach them, turn right uphill. 2700 metres Hiking Season July - September (possibly mid-June - mid-October) Accommodation The bakery has traditional Khachapuri (bread with cheese). Marshutka took us to Ushguli and the departure back was planned to 5PM, from bridge where all marshutkas are parked. Very friendly owners, food providing, overall good value for money. The trail goes through Mulakhi commune, Tsaneri gorge, village Adishi, Adishi gorge, Khaldechala gorge, glacier Khalde, Chkhunder pass and descends to Ushguli along the river Enguri. The last one usually departs at 14:30. From Zugdidi (4 hours) there are multiple marshrutka per day that leave once full. Being neither too easy nor too hard, it poses a challenge but you dont have to be a hardcore trekker to finish it. It is still very easy to arrange a horse riding tour in Ushguli. Here, it turns east again and follows the large track through Murshkeli villahe to Zhamushi, where is reconnects the upper trail. Guesthouse Gamarjoba - one of the oldest guesthouses in Ushguli, located at the northern end of the Zhibiani community, right by the church. lire avant mon dpart m . All the information you need for the Mestia to Ushguli Trek in the stunning mountains of Svaneti, Georgia. We stayed at Caucasus Guesthouse which had clean and comfortable rooms and good showers (very important after a trek). These towers were still used up until the not so distant past. My favourite place to eat is Sunseti cafe. Down in the valley, you will find a couple of huts which can provide shelter in case of rain. Find out all the logistics on this 4 day multi day trek, including what to pack, details on the cable car, tips on where to sleep, and the total cost of this epic adventure. From Batumi to Mestia: After the river crossing, take the steep elevation gain to reach the Chkhunderi Pass. A good walker with a tent could comfortably finish this trek in three days, but if you want to sleep in guesthouses, you probably need to split it into four days. Cafe Shumeri is the winner if it comes to its location with beautiful views all around you. 1) Is it possible to get from Kutaisi to Mestia, leave spare bag in a guesthouse and get to Zhabeshi all in one day? After some 20 minutes, roughly at 2500m altitude, a marked trail (Hadiish) branches off to the south-east. You can either take a taxi from locals (costs as much as 40 GEL per person) or walk on the road towards Iprali and once the village is out out sight, try to stop some minivan with daytrippers, that should be a bit cheaper. We arrived in Iprali on day 3 of the Mestia to Ushguli hike and decided we had seen the best parts of the hike and to take a taxi further to Ushguli, allowing us an extra day to explore. I've been traveling slow over 10+ years and have experienced over 70 countries. As a result Ushguli is now one of the most popular day trips from Mestia. A compromise might be to ask your landlord in Mestia to make the booking for you, they have the necessary contacts and might be able to arrange you a room at some smaller places which have no online presence. Most minivans leave in the early morning. The downside is that they seem not to operate outside of the summer season and will get you only as far as to Zugdidi. The place was opened only in 2018 and it shows, it looks new and clean. They served as a home and as a defence post against invaders. Coming to the bridge at 4:30, we saw our marshutka go. From impressive attractions to delicious food and quirky local experiences. So what to do? The usual price is 20 GEL per person. HI how can you go to Mestia I mean from Tbilsi to Mestia.. To go from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Being neither too easy nor too hard, it poses a challenge but you dont have to be a hardcore trekker to finish it. Map of Northwestern Georgia. Head to Davberi village and from there the way to Ushguli is signposted. Answer 1 of 10: Hello, Does anyone know if there are any companies which organise day trips from Mestia to Ushguli at all please? Copyright 2022 Ellis Veen in collaboration with. In Ushguli, most people catch a Marshrutka back to Mestia, which offers frequent connections to Tbilisi; Mestia to Ushguli Trek Map Milage: 33.75 miles; Difficulty: Moderate; 4 Day Mestia to Ushguli Multi-Day Trek Logistics. Trek can be certainly finished even in sneakers but its not the optimal solution since some parts of trail are slippery and muddy. The ancient Svan towers of Chazhazi are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Ushgulis location couldnt be more scenic. The top is popular lunch spot and a great place to rest and take in the views before a steady downwards walk followed by a valley leading to the town of Iprali. . Find out why Georgia is the next big thing! Tetnuldi peak. Still, it is certainly one of the top guesthouses in the village, if not the best one. Make sure you do it with at least one other person and find a shallow place to cross as the current is very strong. Our first hike however was straight from the village up to the Koruldi Lakes. So, nothing special, just a common sense - simply do not put yourself in a position where you would be vulnerable. Follow the downhill for around 1 mile and make a right turn towards Tsvirmi hamlet. Visiting Mestia and Ushguli in November. Eventually, you'll have to cross the river. With more than 200 traditional Svan tower houses the village has a medieval look. If you slept at Chvabiani, you can reach this junction by a short walk southeast from the village, no need to make a detour through Zhabeshi. You can read all the details about transport from Tbilisi to Mestia here. Pass by shepherds' huts and continue to walk through the village of Khalde. The plan is to take the overnight train Tbilisi-Zugdidi and then a Marshrutka from Zugdidi-Mestia. Day 1 - Hiking Mazeri via Guli Pass to Koruldi Lakes The first day is the toughest one. Please see my full disclosure for more information here. 1 Mestia - The "capital" of Svaneti. Just about every second house in Mestia is a guesthouse these days and you will find plenty of options in varying prices ranges and standards. Leave Iprali village and cross Khaldechala river by a bridge. There is a fixed depoarture at 10:00 am but if you want to secure your spot, get there between 9:00 - 9:30 am. So the only other option available to us was some local lads and their horse business. Ours overheated at one point and we ended up taking about 4.5 hours. You can also catch Marshrutka from Batumi Cable Car Station. 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. So don't rely on these buses too much. It will divert you from the dirt road onto a short, but very steep trail through the forest. The Shkhara glacier hike is about 16 kilometers (roundtrip) and it takes about 6 7 hours to walk from Ushguli to the foot of the glacier and back. The lady running it doesnt speak English but is very welcoming and works hard to make her guests feel comfortable. hi mu friend. Georgia. Photos (302) Directions. So you might have to stick to the day train. Ushguli is actually a cluster of 4 isolated and ancient communities at the foot of mount Skhara in the Svaneti region of Georgia. The first and last day are quite easy, but on both days between you will have to overcome considerable elevation. The trip takes about 3-4 hours (1-hour break included) and the price is 20 GEL per person. It's like cab mafia there, we managed to get in a bus for 20 GEL but the cab guys saw it, followed by car, stopped the bus and made us leave it. 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. 2.3 3. I find it very hard to answer. Not yet on booking.com. Its located right in the middle of the village and the price (50 GEL per person) included an amazing dinner and breakfast, although you could pay just 20 GEL for the night. And when do they usually come back? It's the regional capital. On the downside, if you are visiting outside of the summer season, rooms can get a bit cold cos supplied electric heater is not strong enough (unless they upgraded since 2019). Private taxis are of course more expensive. July and August are the busiest months as they are the warmest. But to give at least some answer, first hikers who manage to finish Mestia - Ushguli trek usually do it between 20th and 30th May. There are many locals with horses, so it's obvious on where to cross. It is always busy with both tourists and locals and the food is great. Only a few marshrutkas were awaiting the ones arriving from Mestia. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . Some Svan specialities are Kubdari, Chvishtari and Tashmijabi. Together with neighbouring Chvibiani village, Zhabeshi offers numerous guesthouses - maybe this competition is the reason why they mostly manage to maintain the high level of service. The ride to Mestia costs 20 GEL and . . Distance 45 km. We recommend downloading Maps.me which has offline maps of the area and hiking trails. It starts from Mestia and ends in Ushguli. The traditional villages can be visited by car, as suggested in our itinerary to Svaneti without hiking. You can fill your bottle very often from springs. Just one important thing - tickets are released for the online sale only some 15 days in advance. After a hearty breakfast youll start your second day from Zhabeshi to Adishi. If you buy any service through any of my links, I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you. I already mentioned you can easily visit Ushguli as a day trip from Mestia. The area is snow-covered for 6 months of the year, and often the road to Mestia is impassable. Past travelers have spent, on average, GEL19 ($5.99) on meals for one day and GEL12 ($3.96) on . This is a 4 day trekking itinerary, but it's best to spend the night before departure in the village of Mestia After 2 hours of climbing through the fields of rhododendrons, you should make it to the Chkhunderi pass (2655m) - The path crosses open areas with nice views and wildflowers and then slowly descends into the forest. At the Tetnuldi Ski Lift, either take the lift to the top (first exit station), or follow along the gravel road. They usually had a few empty seats on the return trip which occured around 3 pm. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 19 h 7 min to complete. In past years, the trek was pretty popular, with 100-150 trekkers starting from Mestia each day during the summer season (Jul-Aug). The direct marshrutka costs 25GEL so there isn't much difference between the two options and taking the connecting bus allows you to leave Kutaisi a bit later in the day. I would advise to buy snacks in advance though. If you would like to, you will have enough time. Either ford the river by foot, or take a horse. From Zhamushi, the trail continues further east to Cholashi village - this village is not too interesting, but one can find here a moderately popular beer bar. Mestia is now firmly on the tourist trail. Whether you have one week in Georgia or longer you can choose the places that interest you and read about transport in Georgia and places to stay in Georgia. Thank you. So you will have to ask taxi drivers loitering at the arrivals hall, they may be willing to give you even a better price. Instead, spend the night in the untouched hamlet of Tsvirmi. 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 . But then COVID turned things upside down. Only a couple of families live here, running two guesthouses - older and smaller Guesthouse Khalde and newly opened, but also more expensive Qaldea Resort. Its also a great place to try Svan specialities such as Kubdari (flatbread stuffed with minced lamb meat) and Chvistari (cornbread with cheese). Enjoy the views at the lodge and restaurant and continue towards the Mentashi Antenna. Vodos guesthouse - a pleasant homestay located in Chvabiani village. Eventually, youll have to cross the river. There are companies that offer guides but this isnt necessary and the trail is mostly easy to follow.
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