Hiking in Georgia Svaneti: Road to the Glaciers
Hiking in Georgia: Svaneti
4/8 days
camping/guest house
15 km
We'll go with you to travel to Svaneti with a focus on cold and high glaciers.
During our tour of Svaneti We'll visit about eight glaciers in the region and hike the most breathtaking trails. The trip takes between four and eight days, with four days being the minimum worth the trip. Eight days will give us even more excitement.
Difficulty level : medium
Svaneti Tour Program
1 day
Tour to Svaneti from Tbilisi The event starts early in the morning. We pick up participants from other cities along the way.
Arrival in the evening in the village of Mazeri, setting up camping. Dinner, group acquaintance, briefing. Overnight tent/guest house. If we arrive early, we may walk a couple of hours towards the glacier
2 day
Breakfast. Transfer to the routeWe'll set off on the Gulba Glacier route. The hike to the glacier is about 12 km, with an elevation gain of about 1000 m. We'll get as close to the glacier as possible. We'll climb the pass to Mount Gul (3326 m). We'll return to the village in the evening. Dinner.
3 day
Breakfast. Transfer to the Ushba Glacier route. Let's go to the Shdugra waterfall. Afterwards we will climb the path to the Ushba glacier. Let's walk along the glacier. We will reach 2900 m. The plan is about 15 km per day with a gain of 1300 m. By evening we will return to the village. Dinner. Transfer
4 day
Breakfast. Transfer to the village of Adishi. Setting up camp. Start of the route to the Adishi Glacier. We'll walk about 7 km along the river. Then we'll ascend to the 3100 m pass and find ourselves right at the foot of the Adishi Glacier. Mount Tentuldi will be visible if the weather is good. Late in the evening, we'll return to the village and cook. The trek is about 12 km long, with an elevation gain of 1000 m. Dinner.
Please note that we have a tour to Svaneti to the mountain lake Okrotskali.
5 day
Breakfast. Transfer to the village of Khalde. Start of the route to the Zaresho-Khalde glacier. Let's look at the peak of Mount Shota Rustaveli. We will walk about 13 km with an altitude gain of up to 1000 m. Transfer to the village of Ushguli. Dinner
6 day
Breakfast in Ushguli. Transfer to the Shkara glacier. Start of the route. We will reach the Shkara glacier and cross over towards the Namkuami glacier. On this day we will see 2 glaciers at once. Later return to the village. 15 km and altitude gain up to 800 m. Dinner.
7 day
Breakfast, transfer to the village of Mestia. Start of the route to the Chaladi glacier. We will walk about 4 hours to the glacier and along the glacier.
Day 8
Holidays
We'll leave at 17:00 pm Svaneti.
Frequently asked questions about hiking to the glaciers of Svaneti
How many glaciers can you visit in 4 days in Svaneti?
In 4 days—the minimum itinerary—you'll visit 3–4 glaciers: Gulba (pass at 3326 m), Ushba with an ascent to 2900 m, and Adishi Glacier with a pass at 3100 m. Plus, the Shdugra waterfall on the way to Ushba. This is a rich itinerary with complete immersion in the Svaneti mountains. In 8 days, you'll visit up to 8 glaciers.
Do you need experience in glacier hiking?
No prior mountaineering experience is required. Glacier access is guided and takes place in safe areas. Trekking boots with good tread and basic physical fitness are required. The tour difficulty level is moderate: aim for days with elevation gains of up to 1300 m and hikes of up to 15 km.
Where do participants spend the night – in tents or guesthouses?
The format is flexible: base camp in Mazeri can be set up either at a campsite or in a guesthouse. Some nights are spent in villages along the route (Adishi, Ushguli, Mestia). The tour offers a mixed format. If you prefer exclusively guesthouses with showers and hot meals, consider a backpackless trek in Svaneti.
What time of year is best to hike to the glaciers of Svaneti?
The optimal season is June to September. In June, the glaciers are at their peak, and the trails are open. July and August are warm and the weather is stable. September marks the golden autumn, and the trails are empty. Early May is possible, but some passes may be covered by snow. The route is inaccessible in winter.
What is Ushguli and why is it a special place in Svaneti?
Ushguli is a group of four villages at an altitude of approximately 2200 meters, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the highest permanently inhabited settlements in Europe. Medieval Svan towers have been preserved here in their original form. Ushguli is included in the 5-8-day program as a base before reaching the Shkara Glacier, the highest peak in Georgia.
ACCOMMODATION IN CAMPING/GUESTHOUSE
Watch videos from the latest hikes
Svaneti - glaciers
cost
4 days - $240 tents / $350 guest houses
7 days 520$ tents / 720$ guest houses
INCLUDED
- Transfer from Tbilisi and back
- Transfers around Svaneti
- Throwing things in an SUV to the start site
- Guide services
- Food
- Photos from the route
- Tent, sleeping bag, mat
- Food
SEPARATELY
- Equipment rental
- Insurance
IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW
To register for a tour, a mandatory prepayment of 50% of the tour cost is required.
Refund of prepayment is carried out upon cancellation of the tour no less than 5 days.
If you cancel the tour less than 5 days in advance, prepayment does not return
We offer equipment rental , and you can also read about where to buy equipment in Tbilisi.
