Epic Hikes of the World ( PDFDrive )

- E P I C H I K E S O F T H E W O R L D -
MORE LIKE THIS
CAUCASIAN CLASSICS
SVANETI TRAIL, GEORGIA
Yes. Those hills really are alive… Svaneti is true Sound of Music country, with
blissful meadowlands and soaring Alpine peaks. Yet with its distinctive koshkebi
tower houses, it trumps Swiss landscapes, offering two particular tower
concentrations in the rapidly developing capital of Mestia, and the Unesco-listed
gem village of Ushguli. The whole area was virtually inaccessible in the 1990s, but
over the last 15 years new roads have turned Svaneti into one of Georgia’s prime
visitor attractions. Most tourists zip along the Mestia-Ushguli road as a day trip,
but walking is far more interesting. A well-trodden four-day trail allows you to sleep
each night en route in a village homestay, though consider pre-booking during the
peak July–August period especially for Iprali (third night). Also consider leaving
spare days to wait it out in case of rain: you won’t want to miss those glorious
vistas.
Start // Mestia
End // Ushguli
Distance // 36 miles (58km)
More info // www.caucasus-trekking.comi; svanetitrekking.ge.