So if you want to take the cable car, its better to take an alternative route up from Chvabiani/Zhabeshi which will take you right to the station. After waking up in Ushguli on the fourth or sixth day, ask around and arrange for a taxi to take you back to Mestia. Of course, its best to check in advance that the cable car is actually operating. Thankfully, you dont have to walk on it for too long. The standard cost is 80 GEL per person (excluding Adishi where some guesthouses charge 100 GEL) including bed in a double room (communal bathrooms), dinner and breakfast. Here it is! Our latest Outer Hebrides film is out, Mingulay // The day trip to this uninhabited islan, Making a beeline for the beer, barbecue, fire, and, Loch Eynort wasnt on our radar, but a tip from, Vallay // One of the best walks in Uist is to the, There are streams and mountain springs situated along the trail. We followed the path along the ski lift, running into yellow signs every 10-15 minutes or so. It cost 20-30 GEL per person for the 1 hour and 30 minutes ride. Autumn was in full blast, and with the snow-capped peaks in the distance, it made for an unforgettable view. If you are in between sizes, buy the larger one as your feet will expand when they are warm. Secondly, electricity is only turned on in the afternoon. Guesthouses provide bedding and towels. Having dealt with the river and the pass we felt like we had done everything we had read about that was going to make this a challenging day. Search and book tickets via matarabeli.ge, tickets.railway.ge, or tkt.ge. It can be very rainy in June, meaning lush green hillsides but cloudy skies and swollen rivers. Mestia makes a comfortable home-base to start your trek with many nice guest houses and hotels, restaurants, and convenience stores. If you still need to organise your travel insurance, wed suggest getting a quote from each to see which suits you best. However, it will also challenge you with inclement weather, difficult terrain, and a limited selection of guesthouses and other tourist offerings in the villages. Jun 11, 2021 - How to hike from Mestia to Ushguli - a complete, annually updated trekking guide for hikers who would like to tackle this most popular Georgian trek on their own. (possibly mid-June mid-October), River Crossings Firstly, there was a lot of confusion with the hosts around the price of the food and the rooms, which detracted from the enjoyment of our stay. I decided to follow his route across similar to the horses. We paid 25 Lari each for a minibus for 3 people. We have found their policies to be comprehensive, and their online claims and extension processes straightforward. This leads straight up to Davberi village. You can download our KML/GPX tracks to use with these apps. The elevation profile of the trek, starting at Mestia and finishing at Ushguli. If you plan on staying in Mestia on the way back, you might be able to bypass this fee by booking that night in advance. Covers not only classic trails but also alternative routes which are even more difficult and scenic. This makes a lot of sense if you are older, have a harder time going long distances, arent in the best shape, are going to attempt to do the river crossing (more on this later), or just want to save your knees. Expect the sound of construction to carry through the valleys on both sides of the viewpoint, from industrial enterprises near Mestia and Cholashi. The usual stops are in Chvabiani or Zhabeshi, Adishi, Khalde or Iprali, and finally in Ushguli. I cannot see why you would need more than 4 days to hike Mestia to Ushguli. It's not overly difficult, and you'll get to enjoy some of the best scenery in the country (largely . , Guesthouse Ucha (+995595557470), and Iprari Family Hotel (+995599250578). If you have time, consider staying overnight in Ushguli. Speaking to hikers who crossed on foot we were told that the currents were not as strong as they had expected and it was only a foot deep (this will depend on the time of year, we were there in early September). Day 2 is the shortest in terms of distance, but involves the biggest climb of the Mestia to Ushguli trek. To find the correct minibus, ask around. If you need more time to do the trails, the villages around here also have guesthouses (Lakhiri, Zhamushi, and Cholashi). It is quite easy to find a trekking buddy when you arrive in Mestia as most people are heading out on the trail. You can navigate easily or plan routes in advance by tapping your start point and selecting route from, then tapping your end point and selecting route to. ACCOMMODATION If youre keen to take the more scenic high route to Adishi, you can skip the 330 metre climb on gravel road by taking the lowest line of the Tetnuldi Cable Car. You can see a picture of our cabin under the section on how to get from Zugdidi to Tbilisi below. Please see my. If in doubt about crossing the Adishchala, go with the safest option and hire a horse. Follow the sign, turning left and continuing up and out of Mestia. Its a good idea to bring a raincoat in case you have to trek through the rain. We had Snickers bar breakfasts two mornings in a row. Not only will you get your important documents wet (passport, CDC card, phone, etc)., but hypothermia can set in very quickly. In late September, we found the springs marked on Maps.me to be dry, with no water source until we reached the stream on the high route. When I saw the horse struggle in the water, which went past its knees, I knew there was no way I was crossing on my own. The benefits of the app include being able to plot routes in advance and save them as GPX tracks, and to view detailed elevation and terrain information, including surface types. Like Gaia, we recommend checking out the, written and video tutorials on the OsmAnd website, to learn how to fully use the app. Tickets are 25 GEL. This trail is great for backpacking, camping, and hiking. We also provide a map and our GPX track download to help you find your way. Length 34.7 miElevation gain 9,875 ftRoute type Point to point I could send you a screenshot of the map location if you like. Flights are pretty affordable, but since its a small plane, they have very limited luggage allowance. If youre a fast hiker it may take you less time, and conversely, if youre a slow hiker it may take you longer. Guesthouse meals generally consist of potatoes, soup, chistvari (fried corn bread stuffed with cheese), Khachapuri, cheese, salad, and bread. After about 1.8 km, youll reach another trekking signpost. Day 3 is the undoubted highlight of the Mestia to Ushguli trek. Maps.me shows the distance and travel time, plus elevation profiles for hiking trails. Youll pass through a couple of gates*, then over a bridge to Chazhashi, the lower of the three villages making up the main part of Ushguli. The best season to do this trek is the middle of June to late October. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. Were people going to do it on their own? A great option for connecting Upper and Lower Svaneti is the 1 2 day hike from Ushguli to Chvelpi, via Latpari Pass. Leg One is complete! They also help you check for obstacles before each step. After a short, steep climb through this gully, the trail turns to the right and heads east. Walking around Adishi and Ushguli, looking at the stone defense towers (some with cracks so big that trees are growing in them), is one of the best memories I have from our two weeks in Georgia. After an hour or more of this, youll reach the top. However, in most villages and at many places on the trail you will be able to get a signal with a Magticom SIM. The only problem was that there was a deep and fast flowing river, 15 meters wide, flowing across the road. It was not pleasant to limp on after all of that walking, but it doesnt last too long. You can also do a small part of the first leg of the trek and return to Mestia. The last stretch towards the pass is nice and flat. It was already deep into October, so every day mattered, and we were glad we just finished the journey out in one day. It has frequently been described as stunning and remote, but in our opinion, much of the route is quite ordinary. The mountain views get increasingly more impressive as you climb higher. A group of us, trekkers who had united on the trail, then enjoyed a wonderfully restorative yoga session on the bridge. I am travelling solo but guess I can team up with someone from hostels for a short trek. Just remember to, The main villages offering guesthouse accommodation along the Mestia to Ushguli trail are. It was also before the first snow. Carry on walking along the dirt road to Cholashi and down to the car bridge below. They usually charge around 70 80 GEL per person for dinner, bed & breakfast. Is There Anywhere to Leave My Luggage in Mestia? The route then descends to the valley floor, passing through villages and ending up at Chvabiani or Zhabeshi. Entdecke diese 34,7-Meilen lange Strecke in der Nhe von Mestia, Mingrelien und Oberswanetien. The actual point to cross wasnt as obvious as we were expecting (the usual telltale cluster of horses and trekkers by the crossing was absent), and there were steep embankments on the opposite side. Difficulty Moderate. tap the star symbol at the top. You do not have to be in the best shape of your life for this trek. It was hot and sticky so we were pouring with sweat by the time we reached the top. Clouds roll in mid-morning, so get up early! Would the horses be there? If you have a Garmin InReach like us, you can get weather reports at any location. You have made it past the highest point of the days stretch. They dont work offline, but are very useful for checking the weather in advance. June & July 2023 Group Expeditions. My print outs said that the first day would see us walking for 3-4 hours, when it is more like 6 or 7. Cows and horses in this region are used to people and are generally fine, just dont get too close. About 70 families, approximately 250 people live in the village, which dates back more than 2000 years. Dinner, bed, and breakfast is normally 70 80 GEL per person. A little bit about Ushguli Ushguli - UNESCO world heritage site is the highest permanently inhabited village in Europe, located in Svaneti, at the feet of Shkhara, one of the highest Caucasian summits. We took the night train which is clean and safe. You can also change some of your preferences. It only shows very basic contour lines. We watched others cross on foot first to assess the situation. In our Adishi guesthouse everyone was talking about the river crossing during dinner wondering what will it be like to cross and whether the horses will be there. Sarpi border crossing Georgia to Turkey, Our website is closing down after 2nd April 2021, How to travel the Trans Siberian on a budget, Visiting Auschwitz when all museums are closed, Watch others cross first and only cross if you are confident, If the water lever is knee high or below it is safe to cross, Roll up your shorts as you will be splashed to waist high, Use a driftwood branch to help others across, Put your electronics in a dry bag just in case. No public transport goes this way though, so you will need to hire a private car and driver for approx 400 GEL. Meeting Location Mestia, Georgia. To use Maps.me, first download the app (iOS/Android). Having got lost the day before we decided to take the well-defined lower path. For the rest of the hike follow the standard itinerary in the opposite direction. If you use any of these, I would recommend using either a steriPEN or water purification tablets. There is a spring marked on Maps.me here, but we found it to be dry in late September. Its a workout, but its worth it, and you can make it easier by customizing how quickly you finish it. Luckily there were a lot of freezing streams to clean off in. If you do choose to book through these links, it will help us to continue our travels. If starting from your current location (i.e. Youll get beautiful views of the valley below before eventually delving deeper into the forest. A hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen are also highly recommended. The bank on the other side was too steep to climb up. It did not rain any of the days we were in the Svaneti region until the morning we left, where it down-poured. Only a short walk on, and we crossed the metal bridge that took us to our destination, Chvabiani village. However, as the trail is becoming more popular, starting in Ushguli is getting more attractive as you will meet fewer people. Most places will be within a 10-minute walk of the main street where the supermarkets, ATMs, and cafes are. Adishchala river on Day 3. I took an early stumble into a small stream about 20 minutes in and had wet boots for the rest of the day, which was not ideal considering that the worst was yet to come. The first day would be getting there. It has frequently been described as stunning and remote, but in our opinion, much of the route is quite ordinary. Taking a marshrutka from Mestia to Ushguli is more straightforward. You dont need any special kind of hiking boot. Read reviews, discover additonal experiences or contact Highlander Travel on Tripadvisor. Nine of us sitting round the table couldnt even come close to finishing this amount of food. Our GPX/KML track follows the High Route outlined above. Branch off to the right when you reach the fork (at the Right Way sign). Look back on the climb for mountain views: the twin peaks of Ushba on the left, Chatyn-Tau on the right, Look back on the climb for mountain views: the twin For most of the year Ushguli is cut off from the rest of the world. A good place to ford the Adishchala river on foot, a little further upstream from where the horses usually cross, A good place to ford the Adishchala river Maizer is very proud of his Svan heritage and happy to share Svan culture with you. There are people whose jobs seem to be helping the drivers fill their vans up. Dont drink from streams near where animals frequent. We were very lucky and got a lift from some friendly locals for the last part along the road. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. This is an amazingly dramatic entrance into the village. Another great spot is the hill where the church stands to the north of the village. This route is marked on Maps.me, leaving the main route approx. Upper Svaneti the prettiest and most traditional villages you will see in Georgia, except for Sighnaghi. As mentioned above, its scenic and culturally interesting, but not overly challenging, making it suitable for people with wide ranging experience and fitness levels. We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. The yellow sign posts are few and far between, but always a relieving sign to know that youre on the right path. Today can be misleading. At the Didube Bus Station in Tbilisi, you will be solicited by taxi drivers who want to take you to Mestia. As we were balancing on rocks trying to find our way over the river we heard a car horn. By walking in this direction, there will be 30 minutes to an hour every day when you meet everyone walking in the opposite direction. face-to-face view of Adishi Glacier. After carefully assessing it we decided to backtrack and try to cross further up. You may be up for it if you decline doing the much longer trek. There are some shops and small markets in the villages, but in the offseason, they are poorly stocked and often only open up when someone comes knocking. Therefore, if you walk fast you either end up waiting a long time or have a cold shower. The owners really know how to treat you and we were fed copious portions of great Georgian food. A few things to do in Ushguli are walk through the old town of Khadashi, where you can stop for food and coffee at Old House. The classic itinerary is divided in four hiking days, spending the nights in guesthouses. You also wont have an opportunity to arrange for a horse, so youre on your own, though you can still rely on getting lucky and horses will already be there (which is less likely later in the day).

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