RACHA AND SVANETI TOUR
970 EUR
per personDuring Racha and Svaneti Tour you will get an opportunity to explore two of the most beautiful regions of Georgia – sleepy, remote Racha as well as Svaneti which belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage list. In these regions, we picked treks with the best scenery so there is much to look forward to. At the end of the tour, you will have an opportunity to relax by the Black Sea.
RACHA AND SVANETI TOUR
Date | No. of participants | Duration | Deposit |
---|---|---|---|
24. 07. – 02. 08. 2024 | 4 – 6 | 10 days | 200 EUR |
26. 08. – 04. 09. 2024 | 4 – 6 | 10 days | 200 EUR |
This tour can be organized also privately for any group of hikers outside of the dates listed above. In this case, the itinerary can be adjusted according to your wishes and group size limitation doesn’t apply. However, the price might be different as well.
This is a trek of a moderate difficulty. Therefore, you need to be fit and used to hiking – you should be able to walk 6-7 hours a day.
On some days, you will have to cover significant elevation difference, like 1000m up and down – nothing a fit tourist wouldn’t handle, but someone without training might struggle. If you are not sure if this trek is for you, please contact us and we will try to find out 🙂
As for the luggage, we will transport tents, sleeping bags and all other camping gear and food provided by us. You are expected to have a backpack (35L – 45L should be enough) where you will carry your clothes, snacks, water for the day and your other personal belongings.
NOT INCLUDED:
- Travel insurance. You will need to arrange your own travel insurance. On my trekking trips, I use SafetyWing travel insurance
- Snacks and alcoholic beverages
- Boredom
RACHA AND SVANETI TOUR DEPOSIT:
Since this is a small-group tour, we will need some deposit to be able to book your spot. The price is 150 EUR, money can be sent either as SEPA transfer or through PayPal or TransferWise. We collect these deposits only after the minimal threshhold of participants has been reached.
The deposit is fully refundable if you cancel your booking more than 45 days before the start of the trek. If you cancel later, we reserve the right not to refund the deposit if we can´t find the replacement for your spot.
Deposit is also returned fully in case of covid lockdown that prevents travel between Georgia and client’s country of origin or if client’s country of origin puts Georgia on quarantine list.
- DepartureTBILISI / KUTAISI
Travel to Racha, Kvanchkhara wine tasting
In the morning, we will leave Tbilisi and head west. After picking the remaining participants in Kutaisi, we will will head north, into the mountains and cross the 1200m high Nakerala pass into Racha. At Nikortsminda, we will make a short stop to visit the local cathedral. Close to Ambrolauri, we will stop for a meal and a tasting of the famous Kvanchkhara wine. Then we will drive the last section of our journey to Ghebi, where we will have a light dinner and spend a night at the local guesthouse.
Hike on the Notsara ridge
Today, we will hike on the Notsara ridge, running in the close proximity of the main mountain wall of the Greater Caucasus. The jeep will help us to cover the steepest route from the forest, so we will not have to climb too much while enjoying splendid 360° views of the surrounding mountains. We will hike all the way to the shepherds huts in the Notsaruli valley and back. The night will be spent again in the Ghebi guesthouse.
Trek to the Udziro lake
In the morning, we will make a short ride to the Shovi village to the starting point of our trek. From here, we will navigate the Chkhauri valley - once we climb above the treeline, we will get the opportunity to admire the "best mountains" surrounding the valley. The trail then turns to the Katsitsvera moountain an dcrosses the 3100m high Geske pass.
From here, we will descend to the beautiful Udziro ("bottomless") lake, from where we can admire the panorama of the Greater Caucasus. At the lake we will also meet our horseguides with packhorses who took the easier route from Glola village, break a camp and spend a night at the lake.
Return from Udziro lake, transfer to Lower Svaneti
In the morning, we will climb to the 2700m high Glola pass and if the weather is good, close the adjacent viewpoint with even better views. Then, we will descend through the meadows and pine forests to the Glola village, where we will meet our driver. From here, we will drive on a little-visited shortcut to Chvelpi, one of the last occupied villages in the Tskhenistskali valley. Night in the guesthouse in Chvelpi.
Crossing of Svaneti range
After the breakfast, our driver will ride us some 1000 elevation meters higher on the dirt road. From here, we will climb another 500 meters to the Latpari pass. Here, we will leave the dirt track and follow the top of the ridge, admiring the stunning panorama of the Greater Caucasus. Once we will reach the Gorvashi pass, we will descend to Ushguli, the highest inhabited village in Svaneti which boasts dozens of preserved defense towers Svaneti is famous for. Night in Ushguli.
Transfer to Mestia, Hatsvali cable car, ethnographic
After breakfast, we will have an opportunity to explore the village for a few more hours, before the daytrippers arrive. Then we will ride to Mestia, the regional center of Svaneti. Here, we will take the Hatsvali cablecar and make a hike on the Zuruldi ridge. If we will still have time and energy, we will also visit Svaneti Ethnographic museum. Night at the Mestia guesthouse.
Climb onto the Koruldi ridge
After breakfast, we will ride to Tshakazagari mountain above Mestia. From here, we will walk towards the Koruldi lakes (2600m). But, unline other tourists, the real challenge only starts here - we will clmb even further onto the Koruldi ridge, to the cross lying at the elevation of 3300m. From here, we will descend back to Koruldi lakes where we will break a camp and spend a night.
Crossing of Guli pass
Today, we will traverse the southern slopes of the Lamaaja ridge to the west, climb the small saddle and head to the Guli pass, from which we will get unbeatable views of Ushba mountain (we should have an opportunity to climb even a bit higher to get even better views). From here, we will descend to the Mazeri village, where we will spend a night at the local guesthouse.
Relax by Black Sea
After breakfast, we will meet our driver and head back to the lowlands. Along the way, we will stop at the Enguri dam, the second highest dam in the world. Then we will head to the Black Sea. Afternoon relax at the beach. Dinner at the local restaurant (not included in the price of tour since people prefer to order the meals themselves).
Return to Tbilisi
After breakfast, we will have one more chance to enjoy the sea. Then, before noon, we will rejoin the driver and depart for Tbilisi. We will make it back to the Georgian capital at about 5 or 6 pm.