Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti
North-western Georgia, from Zugdidi and Martvili Canyon up to Mestia and Ushguli: Svan towers, glaciers and mountain lakes.
9 destinations
Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, in north-western Georgia, joins two historical areas: Samegrelo, centred on Zugdidi, and Zemo (Upper) Svaneti, centred on Mestia. Samegrelo has a humid subtropical climate, while Zemo Svaneti is high-mountain country.
In Zugdidi, the Dadiani Palace is now a museum. At Martvili Canyon, covered in Colchic forest, boats run along the Abasha River.
The road follows the Enguri valley up to Mestia, where 45 stone Svan towers still stand. Ushguli, at 2,200 metres, is one of Europe's highest villages, and its village of Chazhashi is part of the Upper Svaneti World Heritage site. From Mestia it is a short drive to the Koruldi Lakes, and a fairly easy hike to the Chalaadi Glacier.
On the map
Places to visit
Mestia
Mestia is the main town of Upper Svaneti, at about 1,500 m in the Greater Caucasus, some 130 km (about 3 h) above Zugdidi.
Ushguli
Ushguli is a community of four small Svan villages at about 2,060–2,200 m at the head of the Enguri valley in Upper Svaneti…
Martvili Canyon
Martvili Canyon is a narrow limestone gorge of the Abasha river near the village of Inchkhuri in Samegrelo, about 45 km (1 h) north-west of…
Zugdidi
Zugdidi is the main town of Samegrelo in western Georgia, about 330 km (5 h) from Tbilisi and the gateway to Svaneti: the mountain road to…
Adishi
Adishi is a small Svan village at about 2,040 m in Upper Svaneti, with a cluster of medieval defensive towers and a view up the valley to…
Chalaadi Glacier
Chalaadi is a glacier at the head of the Mestiachala valley, about 10 km north of Mestia in Upper Svaneti, and the easiest glacier walk in…
Iprali
Iprali is a small Svan village in the Kala community of Upper Svaneti, on the Mestia–Ushguli road about 12 km before Ushguli.
Koruldi Lakes
The Koruldi Lakes are a cluster of small alpine lakes at about 2,740 m on the ridge north of Mestia in Upper Svaneti.
Zhabeshi
Zhabeshi is a small Svan village in the Mulakhi valley of Upper Svaneti, about 15 km east of Mestia by road.
Tours that stop here
Private tours with a stop in this region, with a car and a driver-guide.
- Svaneti by Train: Mestia & Ushguli — 3-Day Private Tour$390 pp for 4
- Svaneti Trekking Tour: Mestia–Ushguli — 7-Day Supported Private Hike$685 pp for 4
- Svaneti Tour: Mestia & Ushguli — 5-Day Private Trip$630 pp for 4
- Western Georgia in 6 Days — Canyons, Svaneti & Batumi, Private$875 pp for 4
- Prometheus Cave & Martvili Canyon — Private Day Trip from Kutaisi$129 pp for 4
- Georgia in 14 Days — Private Tour incl. Svaneti & Batumi$2,025 pp for 4
Good to know
Best time to visit
In winter, Mestia, Hatsvali and Tetnuldi are ski resorts; the short summers are the time for hiking. The Ushguli-Lentekhi road is open only in the warm months, mostly late spring to early autumn. Boats at Martvili Canyon are busiest from April to November and do not run in rain.
Getting there
Mestia is 128 km from Zugdidi, about a 3-hour drive, and 456 km from Tbilisi; from Kutaisi the drive takes about 4 to 5 hours. Small planes fly to Mestia's Queen Tamar Airport, opened in 2010, from Natakhtari and Kutaisi; flights are few and depend on the weather, so check the current schedule. Martvili Canyon is 45 km from Kutaisi.
Food and wine
In Samegrelo, try elarji, gebzhalia, kuchmachi, ajika and Megrelian khachapuri. In Svaneti, kubdari and kupati are seasoned with Svan salt, and chvishtari is a cheese-filled mchadi. Ojaleshi is a local Megrelian grape variety.
Travel tips
Plan at least 3 to 4 days in Mestia. Hatsvali ski resort is 8 km from Mestia and Tetnuldi 15 km.
Plan your trip
Tell us the places you want to see and we'll build a private tour around them, with a car and a driver-guide.
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