Georgia: Svaneti, Mestia

Date: 17th to 23rd Aug, 2025

Originally, I intended to spend 3 days in Mestia to embark on day hikes and experience the local attractions. However, my plans changed when I discovered that many hikers begin a 4-day, 46 km trek to Ushguli from Mestia. I decided to join the hike and ultimately spent 7 days in Svaneti.

Mestia is a charming small town with a diverse range of attractions. It is conveniently located near numerous hiking destinations, allowing you to visit Usbha, trek to the Koruldi Lakes, explore the Chalaadi Glacier, and travel to Ushguli. You can enjoy plenty of BBQ, savor local cuisine, and particularly indulge in their cheese, bread, and kachapuri.

Following the initial day of rest and a local tour, I visited the Koruldi Lakes on the second day. More details of the hike can be found here. Unfortunately, I injured my knee, so the next day I mainly relaxed, savoring the local cuisine and spending time at the local park. The park is fantastic, with people of all ages coming to play, exercise, and socialize. You can even watch some arm wrestling there. :)

On the third day, I hiked to Chalaadi Glacier to see if I was capable of a 4-day hike. Learn more about the Chalaadi hike here.

Following that, I embarked on the 4-day solo hike to Ushguli, which was a great experience as I formed good friendships along the journey.

Here are all the items I cooked and ate in Mestia:

On the last day I met this georgian who was riding Harley Davidson so thought i would take a photo of his bike, gosh i should ride my bike too. He maintained it very well.