4 Day Samegrelo- Zemo Svaneti Rural Tour
Starts from: Tbilisi every second Friday
Type: Small Group Rural Tour
Available: May-September
Distance: 1080 km
Duration: 4 Days
Guaranteed small group rural tour to Samegrelo- Zemo Svaneti starts from Tbilisi. Explore the unique, untapped mixture of local cultural heritage; visit Nokalakevi archaeological site, natural wonders of Martvili Canyon, small remote towns of Mestia, Senaki, Chkhorotsku and Zugdidi, take optional jeep tour to Ushguli or easy trekking to Chalaadi Glacier. Escape from the city life to the rural areas of the Greater Caucasus mountains, enjoy landscapes and nature, meet local people, and taste local food. All of these will happen in four days!
13:00-14:00 Arrivals from Batumi and Kutaisi are very welcome! Join us in central area of Senaki.
The group is Guaranteed to Run after two people book the tour.
Driving distance: 366 km (5 h 33 min)
We pick you up from Tbilisi hotel at 08:00 and transfer you to Senaki Caffe Apetito (4 hr 3 min (286 km)). On the way, we do several stops to stretch the legs.
13:00-14:00 Meet with other members joining from Kutaisi and Batumi at Senaki Kafe Apetito near Senaki State Drama Theater.
The tour starts from Nokalakevi archaeological museum-reserve, located about 17 minutes’ drive from Senaki (16.5 km). Guided Excursion will take about one hour. Visit renovated museum halls, archaeological fragments of thermal baths, churches, citadel, and escape tunnel leading to the beautiful riverside.
The next site to visit today is Martvili Canyon. Enjoy the scenery of Samegrelo waterfalls and take a 20 minutes boat trip in the Abasha green color river. Tour continues for approximately an hour.
In the evening arrival in Chkhorotsku, a small town, where tourists usually pass by. Unique experience!
The small family guesthouse is the only opportunity for an overnight stay here, but on the other hand, family experience is the best chance to explore the real rural lifestyle. Dinner and overnight in Chkhorotsku guesthouse.
Total drive: 154 km (3 hr 20 min)
08:30 After breakfast at the guest house, check out and drive to Zemo Svaneti, Mestia and its surroundings. Move up the mountain serpentine of the Caucasus, the height of the rise is from 180 m above sea level in Chkhorotsku to 1500 m in Mestia and 2200 m in Ushguli.
The first must-stop site on the way is Enguri Dam –a very impressive, picturesque gorge and the biggies construction of Soviet times (1 h from Chkhorotsku – 50 km). Doing 20-30 minutes photo stop here and continue to Upper Svaneti. 103 km left from here to Mestia, but non-stop time generally takes about 2 h, 20 min. Make as many stops as you like and feel the spirit of the roaring waterfalls, the Inguri River, mountains and unspoiled wildlife.
14:00 Arrival to Mestia, an administrative center of Svaneti region, surrounded by the three major summits: Ushba North (4690 m), Ushba South (4710 m) and the bride Tetnuldi (4858 m). Villages around Mestia – Latali, Lenjeri and Mulakhi, keep traditional lifestyle. There are 78 medieval churches and defensive towers decorated with medieval frescoes in Mestia and its surrounding villages.
This is the reason, why we head to the tower-museum of Margiani (12th c.) immediately after our arrival.
Pay a visit to mineral sparkling spring, Seti square, and the Svaneti Museum of History and Ethnography of Mestia. The museum’s collection includes ethnographic and archaeological findings, old manuscripts, Orthodox icons painted in the local Svaneti style.
In Mestia stay at the local family guesthouse and enjoy homemade dinner.
Dinner and overnight in Mestia.
Trek grade: Easy to Moderate, distance 6 km, duration 5-6 h, elevation - 1920 m, trail trek, sleigh track
Chalaadi trail begins after crossing a small hanging bridge on the river of Mestiachala. After reaching the ruins of an old hut, the trail continues through various types of landscapes – the birch forest and rocky valley covered with stones of different shapes. Mount Chatini is clearly visible from this valley, while on its south face the Chalaadi glacier takes shape.
Continue towards the Chatini mountain and finally at 1920m above sea level, reach Chalaadi glacier.
In a few words, the trail is quite an easy walk with many views of the high mountains and Snowy peaks of the Greater Caucasus range.
From Chalaadi walk back to Mestia.
Dinner and overnight in Mestia.
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Optional* Jeep tour: Mestia – Ushguli – Mestia
Driving distance: 93.7 km
If you would like to book Ushguli trip instead of trekking, guide will help to arrange a local 4x4WD vehicle.
The road to the village of Ushguli is located only 45 km from Mestia, most of it is paved with concrete, but narrow and steep. The last 16 km is a gravel road, and frequent avalanches make it impossible even in the summer season. The area is made up of medieval settlements with an authentic local community. Ushguli is one of the highest permanently inhabited places in Europe. For the historical, cultural and geographical reasons listed above, Ushguli was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Walk around the village, visit the Lamaria Church and hike to the foot of the Shkhara Glacier (5068 m), the highest peak in Georgia.T
In the evening drive back to Mestia. Dinner and overnight in Mestia.
NOTE: This route is doable from May to October.
Total drive: 7 hr 37 min (467 km)
After breakfast in Mestia guesthouse, check out and drive to Zugdidi – administrative center of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Region, Zugdidi Municipality. Visit Dadiani Palace Historical Museum and Botanical garden. The excursion will take about one hour.
Optional visit of Zugdidi farmer’s market, buy local spices, homemade sauce Tkemali and Satsebeli, homemade cheese Sulguni, and Honey.
Drive back to Tbilisi. Evening arrival in Tbilisi. Drop off to your overnight place is included.
Optional Gala dinner in Tbilisi restaurant should be arranged in advance.
This is the End of our 4-day tour. We are looking forward to greet you again on optional tours from Tbilisi next morning.
See you soon!
Staff:
Transport:
Accommodation: 3 x overnights in family guesthouses:
Meals:
Entertainment and other:
| Start Date | End Date | Seats Left | Price From | Availability | Reserve |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-05-05 | 2023-05-08 | 15 | 793 $ | ||
| 2023-05-19 | 2023-05-22 | 15 | 793 $ | ||
| 2023-06-02 | 2023-06-05 | 15 | 793 $ | ||
| 2023-06-16 | 2023-06-19 | 15 | 793 $ | ||
| 2023-06-30 | 2023-07-03 | 15 | 793 $ | ||
| 2023-07-14 | 2023-07-17 | 15 | 793 $ | ||
| 2023-07-28 | 2023-07-31 | 15 | 793 $ | ||
| 2023-08-11 | 2023-08-14 | 15 | 793 $ | ||
| 2023-08-25 | 2023-08-28 | 15 | 793 $ | ||
| 2023-09-08 | 2023-09-11 | 15 | 793 $ | ||
| 2023-09-22 | 2023-09-25 | 15 | 793 $ | ||
| 2024-05-03 | 2024-05-06 | 15 | 793 $ | ||
| 2024-05-17 | 2024-05-20 | 15 | 793 $ | ||
| 2024-05-31 | 2024-06-03 | 15 | 793 $ | ||
| 2024-06-14 | 2024-06-17 | 15 | 793 $ | ||
| 2024-06-28 | 2024-07-01 | 15 | 793 $ | ||
| 2024-07-12 | 2024-07-15 | 15 | 793 $ | ||
| 2024-07-26 | 2024-07-29 | 15 | 793 $ | ||
| 2024-08-09 | 2024-08-12 | 15 | 793 $ | ||
| 2024-08-23 | 2024-08-26 | 15 | 793 $ | ||
| 2024-09-06 | 2024-09-09 | 15 | 793 $ | ||
| 2024-09-20 | 2024-09-23 | 15 | 793 $ |
The deposit for this trip is: 300$
If you book early (6 months before your landing) you will receive a 10% discount.
Flights should be booked individually.
Flights should not be booked until you have received your booking confirmation and "Guaranteed" is displayed on the trip.
Optional services:
Private transfers are available to book if you join the tour from Batumi and Kutaisi:
To arrange transfers and additional hotel overnights, contact us at trips[at]georgianholidays.com
CHILD POLICY:
Cancellation is free of charge prior 14 days of the starting day.
If the Tourist cancels the booked tour for some reasons not depending on Tour Operator, the following sums are kept back as a fine:
