Svaneti fairy tale!
- May 31, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: May 15, 2023
This amazing corner of Georgia excites the soul - the splendor of the pristine mountains, snow-white slopes, lush forests and the restless noise of rivers immerses you in childhood, makes you forget about your daily worries.
Svaneti fairy tale - stunning with its magical landscapes. Only here you can see the unusually "fluffy" mountains, where lush forests are spread, mixed with flower fields, and feel how the soul rejoices and rejoices in freedom!
Amazing towers reminiscent of the guardians of the rugged mountains.
And to touch the sky - just stretch your hands up and white clouds and azure will swallow you, reminding you that miracles are possible!
Mestia is the soul of Svaneti!
Unusually attractive is the location of Mestia, spread out at an altitude of 1500 m above sea level, at the confluence of the full-flowing Mulakhara River and the most picturesque Mestiachala.
From the south it is "embraced" by the Zuruludi ridge, in the eastern side by the huge Banguriani massif, from the north by the huge Tskhakvzagari peak, and from the West you can admire the snowy Laila ridge.
The center of the settlement is Seti Square, they say that it was here that there used to be a sacred temple for worshiping the Gods. There are three villages around Mestia - Lekhtagi, Lanchvali, Lagami.
It is here that the amazing Svan towers are located everywhere - the symbol of Svaneti. Nowhere else in the world is there even an analogue of these unique defensive structures.
Rich neighborhood
Having admired and enjoyed its flavor, it's time to start a real adventure in Ushguli - the highest eastern point of Svaneti, at an altitude of 2200 m. And the highest mountain settlement in all of Europe! The village is located near the Inguri River at the very foot of the magnificent Shkhara Mountain (5068 m).
Ushguli is a medieval fairy tale, only here you can see very ancient houses and structures made of natural slate, amazing ancient temples, towers, the Chazha castle (the residence of Queen Tamara), the Museum of Ushguli icons and many other structures that have frozen over the centuries.
It is this village that is recognized as a UNESCO heritage and is protected by the state as an invaluable heritage of the Georgian people.
You can also walk here - there are several trekking routes from Mestia to Ushguli.
Between Revenge and Ushguli there is the "Tower of Love" - a lonely tower built right in the river and overgrown with various romantic legends.
And in Svaneti, as well as in Georgia as a whole, ski tourism is actively developing. And not far from Mestia, there are just two cable cars - in Hatzvali and Zuruldi.
Roads also function in summer, so you should definitely come here, as simply stunning pictures open up from the tops of the mountains. Mountains, meadows, snow caps, sharp changes in heights - you can admire endlessly.
Mount Ushba is the majestic "star" of Svaneti.
This is the most famous mountain in the region, and, perhaps, in the entire Caucasus. Although it does not hold the palm in height (4690m), it boasts an unusual shape, with sharp towering peaks along its entire height. By the way, her conquest is considered a real feat.
The mountain has two peaks - South and North, and it is composed of weighty garnits, which are famous for their steep slopes.
Another attraction of the mountain is the "mirror of Ushba". This is almost a vertical plane on the slope, which is actively conquered by the most courageous lovers of heights, however, only professionals can do it. Although there are many paved routes, they are all marked with categories of difficulty!
An exciting trekking to the Ushba glacier takes about 8 hours, you need to walk 10 or more km, but the path will be very interesting, and the excursion will generously "reward" you with emotions.
Overcoming the height difference up to 1600 m, you will see mineral springs, beautiful waterfalls with crystal clear water, endless meadows and wonderful flowers. If you don't want to go on foot, you can rent horses in Becho or Latali.
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