Swanetien-Hochlandexpedition

Set high in the Caucasus, Mestia is the heart of Svaneti, where stone defensive towers built between the 9th and 12th centuries still rise above the rooftops. The isolation that once protected the fiercely independent Svans also preserved a living culture you can still hear in their polyphonic singing and taste at a hearty feast. Spend your days exploring the Ethnographic and Margiani House museums, trekking to the Chalaadi Glacier, or skiing at Hatsvali, with the ancient village of Ushguli within easy reach.

Among the highest permanently inhabited villages in Europe, UNESCO-listed Ushguli sits deep in the Caucasus, where centuries-old Svan defensive towers still rise above the stone houses. The Svan people keep their own language, customs and polyphonic singing alive here, and the village opens onto treks toward the Shkhara Glacier. Reached by 4x4 from Mestia and best in summer, it pairs medieval atmosphere with hearty Svan fare like kubdari.