Svaneti & Black Sea Coastline
Enjoy the magical beauty of Towers and Glaciers of Svaneti. Meet century old traditions of local people. Off-road, Hiking and domestic flight…this tour has it all!
Travel Itinerary
DAY 1
Arrival in Tiblisi
Arrival in Tbilisi. Transfer to your hotel in walking distance from the Old town. Check-in after 15:00h. Time at leisure.
DAY 2
Tiblisi
Meet your Guide at the hotel and start walking tour in Tbilisi: Metekhi Church, Sulphur bath district, Sioni Church, Anchiskhati Church. Take Funicular to the panoramic Mt. Mtatsminda and enjoy the view over the city. Walk down and take Metro or bus back to your hotel depending on location. In the afternoon time at leisure.
DAY 3
Tbilisi - Dashbashi - Tsalka - Vardzia
Check-out. Drive to discover south-west part of Georgia, Kvemo Kartli and Samtskhe-Jaakheti region, rich in Lakes. First stop in Tsalka visiting Dashbashi Canyon. Then continue to drive to Paravani Lake – the biggest Lake of Georgia. Have a photo-stop and picnic-lunch there (not included). Drive along the Lower Caucasus Mountains with its
volcanic formations to the Village Vardsia. Check-in hotel in Vardzia. Before dinner have a cooking class of Georgian dumplings Khinkali. 2 nights in Vardzia.
DAY 4
Tmogvi - Vardzia - Khertvisi - Vardzia
In the morning hiking to Tmogvi Fortess (400m, 4 hours). Have a picnic-lunch on the way. Then visit Khertvisi Fortress from 10th century. Back to Vardzia Village enjoy some free time at the hotel. In the late afternoon visit the Cave Town. The town was founded in the 12th century during Queen Tamar’s reign, which is known in history as the Golden Age of Georgia. The Cave Town has several floors connected with numerous tunnels. Dinner and night at the hotel.
DAY 5
Vardzia - Goderdzi Pass - Batumi
Continue your journey off-road via mountainous Adjara to the Black Sea coastline (approx. 8 hours drive). Adjara is
famous for its natural, ethnic and religious diversity. One can discover here Christian orthodox churches, mosques, synagogues, and Catholic and Armenian churches. The majority of mountainous Villages are inhabited by Moslems. Cross the Goderdzi pass (2505m), have a picnic-lunch at Green Lake or at local family. Then continue to drive to Batumi and have some stops on the way at medieval stone bridges. In the late
afternoon arrive in Batumi, the main port of Georgia. Check-in hotel in Batumi. 2 nights in Batumi.
DAY 6
Batumi - Mtirala National Park - Batumi
In the mountains around the city, you will have a walk in Mtirala National Park to one of the hidden waterfalls (100m,1.5 hours). The trail runs along the beautiful gorge of Chakvistskali River. At the end of the path there is a 15m high waterfall covered in ivy and Colchic box trees. Back to Batumi have a city tour leading to the popular sightseeing places like Piazza, Medea Statue and Batumi
Boulevard. Time at leisure.
DAY 7
Batumi - Mazeri/Betcho
Check-out and drive to the Botanical Gardens of Batumi which offer visitors a diverse array of plants divided into 9 geographical districts. With over 5000 foreign and endemic species, the gardens cover a hillside rising straight up out of the sea. In a 1.5 hour tranquil walk in this garden, one will not only get acquainted with its wide variety of flora but will also be rewarded with beautiful views of the sea. Continue to drive to Upper Svaneti Region, famous for its watch towers and glaciers (UNESCO World Heritage). Dinner and overnight in your guesthouse in the Village Mazeri/Betcho.
DAY 8
Mazeri/Betcho - Ushba waterfalls - Mestia
Start discovering the beaty of the mountainous region Svaneti. Hiking towards the waterfalls at the foot of Mt. Ushba (650m, 4-5 hours). Back in Mazeri transfer to Mestia, the capital city of Upper Svaneti region. Upon your wish visit local History Museum or take a cable car to the panoramic Mt. Zuruldi (not included). Dinner and night in a guesthouse or hotel in Mestia.
DAY 9
Mestia - Jabeshi
Today you start a 4-day trek in the high mountains, along Valleys and alpine meadows, staying with a local family overnight. Minimum comFort is compensated by the warm hospitality and delicious meals of your host family. After today’s trek you will come to the Village of Jabeshi, where
you will overnight (500 m, 400 m, 8 hours).
DAY 10
Jabeshi - Adishi
Hike along some mountainous Villages, through the forest and over the pass (2480m) towards Adishi Village (800m, 500m, 8h). On the way you can enjoy splendid views towards Chaneri Glacier, Mt. Ushba (4700m), Mt. Laila (4010m). Dinner in a very simple guesthouse in Adishi Village (toilets outside
the house).
DAY 11
Adishi - Iprali
Hike over the Chkhuntieri Pass (2720m) to Iprali Village. On the way, you will cross a river by horse (600m, 750m, 8 hours). Dinner and overnight in a guesthouse in Iprali (sharing facilities).
DAY 12
Iprali - Ushguli
Hike to Ushguli, one of the highest permanently inhabited settlement in Europe at the foot of the highest mountains
of Georgia, Shkhara (5202 m). (445m, 175m, 4 hours). Dinner and overnight in a guesthouse in Ushguli.
DAY 13
Ushguli - Latipari pass - Lentekhi
Hike up to Latipari Pass (630, 4-5 hours). From here, off-road drive to Sagaro Pass and to the town of Lentekhi in lower Svaneti region. Overnight in a hotel in Lentekhi.
DAY 14
Lentekhi - Ambrolauri - Natakhtari - Mtskheta - Tbilisi
Drive to the region Racha, famous for its forests. From there take a short domestic flight from Ambrolauri to Natakhtari close to Tbilisi (4:45 pm // 15 KG per Person). Visit the old capital Mtskheta with Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and enjoy the view from Jvari Monastery over the confluence of two rivers, Mtkvari and Aragvi. In the end of the tour
have a wine-tasting and dinner with local dishes at a local family in Mtskheta. Transfer to Tbilisi and 1 night at the hotel.
– If no flight operates on this day or its cancelled shortly because of bad weather), we drive the way back to Tbilisi.
– If no flight operates on this day or its cancelled shortly because of bad weather), we drive the way back to Tbilisi.
DAY 15
Departure
Transfer to Tbilisi Airport. Departure.
What´s included
- Accommodation according to the program above
- Transportation according to the program (on day 8 and 13 with local 4 WD car)
- Day 9-12 baggage car will be booked from 5 PAX. In case of 1-4 PAX guests will take only the most important staff for the trek
- English speaking Guide on Days 2-7 & 14 (in Mtskheta only); English speaking local mountain guide on Days 8-13
- Entrance fees according to the program
- Domestic flight Ambrolauri - Natakhtari
- Meals as indicated
Excluded
- Any Personal Expenses
- Tips and Gratitudes
- Any other meals than mentioned
Additional Information
- All pricing is reflected in British Pounds unless otherwise specifically denoted and is valid at time of publication but is subject to change.
- All prices are per person sharing a double room. Single and Triple room rates available upon request.
- ‘From’ prices represent land only and low season twin share prices (unless otherwise clearly stated).
- Unless otherwise stated, prices include all government levies and airport taxes as at the date of publication.
- Dates, itineraries and prices are indicative only and subject to change by time booking.
- Private Travel prices are valid for travel during low season and will vary depending on date of travel.
- Some Private Journeys do include group excursions. These excursions are not operated privately and guests join a scheduled departure tour.
- All Journeys are subject to availability. Some Journeys do not operate all year around and may not take place at desired date.
- All Hotel Names stated in the tour itinerary may change to one of a similar Standard without prior notice.
- Some countries charge additional destination tax which are either per Person or per Night. These taxes can vary and must be paid directly at the location or hotel.
- Items listed under Booking Exclusions are NOT included in the price and must be paid directly at the location.
- All Tours are escorted by English-Speaking Guides unless otherwise mentioned.
- All Excursions are based on Join-In Capacity unless “Private Tour” is explicit mentioned. Private Tours are available upon request and with surcharges.
- Self-Drive Tours may not always include a car rental. Please check carefully the included and excluded box. Driver must be in possession of a valid drivers license and for some countries an international license as well as a valid credit card.
- We will use our reasonable efforts to notify you of changes in prices.
- All our Insider Journeys itineraries as shown on our website and in our brochures will outline the relevant touring schedule and inclusions and will be priced accordingly to reflect this. Prices may vary based on the selected travel season and any individual amendments required.
- Even if the tours are requested as displayed, on occasion Insider Journeys may be required to impose surcharges depending on variables in the destinations outside of its control. Due to hotel availability in some destinations the accommodation stated in the itinerary may change to that of a similar standard. In light of recent worldwide events and due to the ever-changing current situation, there may also need to be more flexibility applied to the touring content and schedule in certain incidences and sometimes at short notice. Please note that we will always endeavour to keep the inclusions as close as possible to those shown and to notify you as best we can should such changes arise, although we appreciate your understanding in that this may not always be possible.
- All displayed tour maps are originated from Google Maps and are indicative only to show the overall routing of the tour. These are not actual travel routes and may differ to the actual itinerary.
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