4-Day Svaneti Hiking Tour from Batumi: Glaciers & Ancient Towers

Hike from Chalaadi Glacier to Ushguli's Ancient Towers Over Four Days

A 4-day hiking tour through Svaneti in the Great Caucasus, departing from Batumi with an English-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport and three nights in guesthouses. You hike to Chalaadi glacier on day one, climb to Ushba waterfalls on day two, trek to Shkhara glacier on day three, and walk the UNESCO-listed village of Ushguli on day four, with trails ranging from easy to moderate difficulty.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: First Impression - Mestia

• Drive 3 hours from Batumi or Kutaisi
• Visit Enguri Dam
• Drive through Svaneti mountains with photo stops
• Arrive in Mestia
• Hike to Chalaadi glacier
• Overnight at guesthouse in Mestia
• Enjoy traditional Georgian dinner

Day 2: Ushba Waterfalls

• Hike to Ushba waterfalls
• Visit Mikheil Khergiani museum and old tower
• Overnight at guesthouse in Mestia
• Dinner with Georgian folk show

Day 3: Shkhara Glacier

• Off-road drive from Mestia to Ushguli
• Hike to Shkhara glacier
• Overnight at guesthouse in Ushguli
• Enjoy traditional Georgian dinner

Day 4: Ushguli - UNESCO World Heritage Site

• Walk around ancient Ushguli village
• Visit Lamaria church
• Travel back to Batumi or Kutaisi

The experience

The tour starts with a three-hour drive from Batumi through the Svaneti region, stopping at Enguri Dam before arriving in Mestia, the main base for the first two nights. On day one you hike six kilometers to Chalaadi glacier (an easy three-hour walk with 200 meters of elevation gain), and return to the guesthouse for dinner. Day two takes you eight kilometers to Ushba waterfalls, a moderate four-hour hike with 400 meters of climbing. Afterward you visit the museum of Mikheil Khergiani, a legendary Georgian climber, and climb inside an old tower in Mestia.

Day three moves you off-road from Mestia to Ushguli, then onto a longer hike: fifteen kilometers to Shkhara glacier, still rated easy despite the distance, with five hours and 300 meters of altitude gain. You spend the night in Ushguli, a village of ancient stone towers that sits on the UNESCO World Heritage list. On the final day you walk around Ushguli itself, visit Lamaria church, and drive back to Batumi or Kutaisi. The guesthouses provide three nights with Georgian meals. Lunch is not included on any day, so you'll want to bring snacks or arrange food in the villages.

An English-speaking guide leads the whole tour and handles all logistics. The air-conditioned vehicle picks you up from your hotel in Batumi and carries your bags between stops, so you hike with only a day pack. Minimum age is 16, and the operator asks that you have at least moderate fitness. The trails themselves are not technical, but the distances and altitude add up over four days.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle with driver for the full four days.
• pickup from your hotel in Batumi.
• three nights in guesthouses with Georgian meals at breakfast and dinner.
• English-speaking guide throughout the tour.
• entrance to Mikheil Khergiani's museum and access to the old tower in Mestia.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

AgesAdult (16 to 90 years) · Under 16: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 8 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Pin Georgia

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you're comfortable hiking five to eight kilometers a day over four consecutive days and want to see both glaciers and ancient mountain villages. The moderate fitness level and mix of easy trails with longer distances means you'll need steady legs but not technical climbing skills.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How far is the drive from Batumi to Mestia on the first day?

The drive takes about three hours from Batumi, passing through the Svaneti region and stopping at Enguri Dam before you reach Mestia.

What is the Chalaadi glacier hike like on day one?

Chalaadi glacier is a six-kilometer hike rated easy, lasting three hours with 200 meters of elevation gain. It's the gentlest walk of the tour and a good introduction to the mountains.

Do I need climbing experience for the Shkhara glacier hike?

No climbing experience is needed. The Shkhara glacier hike is rated easy despite covering fifteen kilometers over five hours, with 300 meters of altitude gain.

What is Ushguli and why is it worth visiting?

Ushguli is an ancient village in the high Caucasus, famous for its stone defensive towers and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You walk around it on day four and visit Lamaria church before heading back to Batumi.

Are meals included in the tour price?

Breakfast and dinner are included at the guesthouses each night. Lunch is not included, so you'll need to bring snacks or purchase food in the villages along the way.

What is the minimum age for this tour?

The minimum age is 16 years old. The operator also asks that participants have at least moderate physical fitness to handle the daily hiking distances and altitude.