Svaneti is the dream destination of many of our guests — and the one they ask the most questions about. The region is remote, the roads are mountain roads, and the weather changes quickly. With a little planning it is an unforgettable drive.
How to get there
All routes go through Zugdidi. From there the road follows the Enguri river past the huge Enguri Dam and climbs for about three hours to Mestia. It is asphalt all the way, with many bends and occasional rockfall after rain.
From Tbilisi the drive is too long for one comfortable day. Most travellers spend a night in Kutaisi (and visit the canyons around it) and continue to Mestia the next morning.
Mestia
- Svan towers — the medieval defensive towers that make the skyline of every Svan village.
- Svaneti Museum of History and Ethnography — icons and manuscripts that were hidden in the mountains for centuries.
- Hatsvali cable car — a quick ride for views of Mount Ushba.
Ushguli
A cluster of four villages at about 2,100 m under Mount Shkhara (5,193 m), Georgia's highest peak, and one of the highest permanently inhabited places in Europe. Much of the road from Mestia is now paved, but some stretches remain narrow and rough, and conditions change after rain or snow. Give it two hours each way and leave Ushguli in daylight.
Svaneti option — one-time fee of $30. Travel to Mestia, Ushguli and along the Mestia – Ushguli – Lentekhi route needs this option. The roads are remote and harder on the car, which is why we charge it once per rental, not per day.
The easiest way is to tick "Travel along the Mestia – Ushguli – Lentekhi route" when you book. Forgot? Write to us and we will add it to your reservation.
Zagari Pass: Ushguli → Lentekhi
East of Ushguli, an unpaved high mountain pass leads down to Lentekhi and Kutaisi. It is usually open only in summer and early autumn, and only after a few dry days. Please write to us before you plan this way back — we will tell you if it is passable. If in doubt, return via Mestia and Zugdidi.
Side valleys and trailheads
The lakes and glaciers around Mestia — Koruldi Lakes, Chalaadi Glacier, the Mazeri and Becho valleys — are reached by side roads that quickly turn into gravel or jeep tracks. Our cars stay on the asphalt; for Koruldi and similar tracks, local 4×4 taxis wait in the centre of Mestia.
The right car for Svaneti
An all-wheel-drive SUV with good ground clearance is the right choice here: long climbs, broken patches between Mestia and Ushguli and a lot of luggage for a multi-day trip.
Practical tips
- Fill the tank in Zugdidi and again in Mestia before Ushguli.
- Cash: there are ATMs in Mestia, but not in Ushguli.
- From October to May, check the weather and the road before driving to Ushguli; in winter the road can be closed.
- Do not trust the shortest route your navigation app suggests in the mountains — stick to the main road.
Svaneti fits perfectly into a bigger loop: Kutaisi → Mestia → Ushguli → Mestia → Batumi. Tell us your plan when you book and we will make sure the Svaneti option is on your reservation.