Khevsureti multi-day tour: medieval towers and mountain hiking

Hike between two medieval villages and see how the mountains shaped Georgian fortress architecture

A multi-day cultural and nature tour of Khevsureti, Georgia, combining visits to the Ananuri Fortress, the UNESCO-listed tower village of Shatili, and the abandoned hilltop settlement of Mutso, with private transportation, an English-speaking guide, and mountain hiking between stops. The tour runs nine to twelve hours depending on your chosen itinerary option—Shatili & Mutso, Shatili & Abudelauri Lakes, or day trips to either destination. Pickup is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Khevsureti's historic villages

• Visit Ananuri Fortress and reservoir
• Optional stop at Jomardi X-park adventure park
• Explore Lebaiskari Tower in Biso
• Tour medieval village of Shatili
• Hike to remote village of Mutso

The Experience

The day starts at Ananuri Fortress, a medieval stronghold overlooking the Zhinvali Reservoir in the foothills of the Caucasus. The stone walls and winding staircases belong to the era when Georgia's highland clans built defensive towers into every ridge, and the fortress sits where you can see both the water and the mountains that shaped the region. From there, your guide drives you deeper into Khevsureti—the remote region where those towers still stand in villages most travelers never reach.

Shatili is a UNESCO World Heritage Site built like a fortress itself: stone towers clustered on a mountainside, each one a family home and a defensive position at once. The Church of the Holy Trinity dates to the 14th century and sits among the towers, and the alpine landscape around the village is open enough that you can see for miles. Mutso, if your option includes it, requires hiking to reach—the village is perched on a hilltop overlooking the Ardoti Valley and was abandoned in the early 20th century, so walking through it now means moving through rooms and towers that have been empty for a century. The surrounding landscape is steep and green, with rushing water and peaks that make the isolation of the place clear.

Your private vehicle and English-speaking guide handle the logistics: transport between stops, water throughout the day, and the knowledge of which paths are passable and which towers have stories worth stopping for. The road into Khevsureti is rough—that is part of what keeps the region from feeling like everywhere else—and the guide knows it. Depending on your option, you may also visit Abudelauri Lakes, a high alpine basin, or stop at Lebaiskari Tower, a medieval stone structure in Biso that overlooks the surrounding landscape. Jomardi X-park, an adventure facility with zip-lining and rope courses, sits along the route and is optional if you want to break up the day with something different.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned transportation throughout the day.
• bottled water.
• an English-speaking guide.
• pickup from your location.
• access to Ananuri Fortress, Shatili village, and either Mutso or Abudelauri Lakes depending on your chosen option.
• optional stops at Lebaiskari Tower and Jomardi X-park adventure facility.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Wonderful Travel

Is this one for you?Choose Shatili & Mutso if you want to walk through two separate medieval villages and understand how tower architecture worked as both home and defense; choose a lake option if you prefer alpine scenery and a focus on mountain landscapes over village exploration. The private guide and vehicle mean you move at your own pace and stop when something catches your attention—the day is not locked to a group schedule.

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Top questions

What is Shatili and why is it a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

Shatili is a remote village in the Khevsureti mountains built entirely of medieval fortress-like towers clustered together on a mountainside, each one serving as both a family home and a defensive structure. The village has been preserved as a living museum of traditional Georgian highland architecture and culture, with the Church of the Holy Trinity—a 14th-century Georgian Orthodox church—standing among the towers. It is a UNESCO site because it represents an intact example of how mountain communities organized their settlements for both daily life and defense.

Can I actually walk through Mutso, or is it just viewing from a distance?

Mutso is accessible only on foot, and visitors explore the ancient towers and rooms directly. The village was abandoned in the early 20th century and has been preserved as a cultural monument, so you move through the structures themselves rather than observing them from outside. The hike to reach it adds to the sense of isolation—the village sits on a hilltop overlooking the Ardoti Valley, and the walk is part of the experience of understanding why it was built there.

How long is the hike between Shatili and Mutso?

The tour runs nine to twelve hours total depending on which option you choose and which stops you include. Your guide will pace the hiking and stops around your fitness level and the specific itinerary—the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, and your guide adjusts the day accordingly.

What is included in the price, and what do I need to bring?

The tour includes private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water throughout the day, and an English-speaking guide. Pickup is included. You should bring comfortable hiking boots, weather-appropriate clothing for mountain conditions, and a camera if you want one—the landscapes change as you climb, and the light on the towers and valleys shifts through the day.

Which option should I choose—Shatili & Mutso, or one of the lake options?

Shatili & Mutso is the choice if you want to spend time inside two medieval villages and understand how they were built and abandoned. The Abudelauri Lakes options are better if you prefer alpine scenery and water landscapes over architectural history, or if you want a shorter day focused on one destination. Your guide can help you decide based on how much hiking you want and whether you are more drawn to history or mountain scenery.

Is the road to Khevsureti difficult to drive on?

Yes—the road is rough and winding, and that is part of what keeps the region remote and undeveloped. Your private vehicle and experienced driver handle it, but the journey itself is part of the adventure. The road conditions are why Khevsureti feels isolated and why the villages have remained largely unchanged.