Svaneti Alpine Circuit
Mestia Mazeri Chalaadi Koruldi Adishi Ushguli and Shkhara in six days.
- days
- 6 / 5 nights
- Total distance
- 720 km
- Total driving
- 15:00
- Car needed
- Off-road 4x4
- Season
- July–September
- Difficulty
- Hard
Click a marker for details. Coloured lines are ready-made road trips.
An active highland route combining acclimatisation hikes and 4x4 transfers.
Day-by-day plan
Day 1: Mestia. Day 2: Mazeri. Day 3: Chalaadi. Day 4: Koruldi → Adishi. Day 5: Ushguli. Day 6: Shkhara.
Stops on this route
Mestia and the Svan Towers
Upper Svaneti's main town at 1,500 m — medieval stone defence towers, two strong museums and the trailhead for every route in the region.
4 h
Becho and Mazeri
The Dolra valley under Ushba, with the Shdugra waterfall and villages far quieter than Mestia.
6 h
Chalaadi Glacier
The most accessible glacier near Mestia — a short drive up the valley and a two-hour walk to the ice tongue.
4 h
Koruldi Lakes
Small alpine pools at 2,740 m above Mestia, facing Mount Ushba — reachable only by 4x4 or on foot.
3 h
Adishi
One of the highest permanently inhabited villages in Svaneti at 2,040 m, with towers, a glacier and very few residents.
3 h
Ushguli
One of Europe's highest permanently inhabited settlements at 2,100 m, under Mount Shkhara — UNESCO-listed as part of Upper Svaneti.
4 h
Shkhara Glacier and Lamaria
The source of the Enguri above Ushguli, below the ice wall of Shkhara, the highest summit in Georgia.
6 hTips
- A guide and 4x4 are essential.
- Travel only in stable weather.
Best car for this trip
Cars in this category
Guides
- Do You Need a 4x4 in Georgia? We rate the road surface and the minimum car class for all 267 places in our database. 227 of them need nothin
- The Best Time to Visit Georgia, Counted Month by Month Georgia does not have one season. It has two countries: a 60% country from November to April and a 99% country
Pickup locations
Car Rental in Kutaisi — 86 km (straight line)
Booking and enquiries
The easiest way to reach these places is by car — you pick the route and the stops.