Ready-made tour · 10 days

Heritage Trails: Ten Days of Easy Hikes to Mountain Fortresses

Medieval fortresses, abandoned mountain villages and the high valleys of Khevsureti and Kazbegi, on a journey designed and managed by Justvia Bespoke Travel.

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Tbilisi3 nights
Samshvilde
Shatili2 nights
Kazbegi3 nights
Uplistsikhe
Tbilisi1 night

Length10 days, 9 nights

BaseTbilisi 4 nights, Shatili 2, Stepantsminda 3

WalkingEasy hikes of 2 to 4 hours, one rocky climb

RoomsShatili is basic, with shared bathrooms

GroupConfirmed on enquiry

WhenDates on enquiry

Khevsureti is a remote mountain region of the Greater Caucasus, with villages that were built to be defended.

You walk between fortified villages, past stone towers and old graves, with the high peaks of the Greater Caucasus always in view. The hikes are easy, on wide paths, and the nights are in guesthouses and small hotels, so you can enjoy the views without being a trekker. The route adds Tbilisi's old town, Mtskheta, the cave town of Uplistsikhe and the valleys around Kazbegi.

We can also arrange this itinerary for your own company of friends, family or colleagues, on agreed dates. Tell us when you would like to travel, your group size and hotel preferences, and we will confirm availability and the price. If you have never been to Georgia, our honest guide for UK first-timers covers visas, money and what to expect before you go.

Day by dayWhat the 10 days look like

Click any day to see the full programme for that day.

Day 1Arrival in TbilisiFlight and transfer to the hotelSee the day

You arrive in Tbilisi on this day, or early in the morning of the next, and are taken to your hotel.

Day 2Tbilisi old townA city tour and an optional hill hikeSee the day

Narikala fortress above the old-town buildings and church of Tbilisi, Georgia — Narikala fortress above the old town of Tbilisi.

A tour of the old town with your guide. If you want some exercise, there is an optional two-hour hike in the hills above the city.

Day 3Samshvilde and AsuretiA fortress ruin and a former German villageSee the day

Autumn trees and archaeologists at work on the hillside of Samshvilde, Georgia — The hillside of Samshvilde.

A half-day excursion from Tbilisi. You hike to the ruins of the fortress of Samshvilde and walk through Asureti, a village founded by German settlers in 1818 under the name Elisabethtal. Back to Tbilisi.

Day 4Mtskheta and the road to ShatiliThe old capital, then KhevsuretiSee the day

A winding mountain road in a steep wooded gorge towards Mutso, Khevsureti, Georgia — The road towards Mutso.

You visit Mtskheta, the old capital, and then drive up into the mountains of Khevsureti. The night is in a guesthouse in the village of Shatili. Two nights here.

Day 5Anatori, Mutso and ShatiliStone tombs and fortified villagesSee the day

Slate-roofed stone burial houses on a hillside at Anatori near Shatili, Georgia — The stone tombs at Anatori.

You hike to Anatori, a village with a hillside of old stone tombs, and then explore the fortified villages of Mutso and Shatili. The climb to the fortress of Mutso takes about 25 minutes on a narrow, rocky trail and needs sure feet and a head for heights. It is the one harder section of the trip.

Medieval stone fortress houses and towers of Shatili above a river and meadow, Georgia — Shatili in the Argun valley.

Day 6Shatili to StepantsmindaAnanuri on the way, a family hotel at the endSee the day

Ananuri fortress with its stone churches and towers above the turquoise Zhinvali reservoir on the Georgian Military Road — Ananuri fortress on the way north.

A long drive from the mountains of Khevsureti to Stepantsminda, with a stop at the fortress church of Ananuri. You stay for three nights at a family hotel in Stepantsminda.

Day 7Juta and GergetiA valley hike and a church on a ridgeSee the day

The jagged Chaukhi peaks above a green valley and a small lake near Juta, Georgia — The Chaukhi peaks above Juta.

You drive through the Sno Valley to the village of Juta. A hike of about 3.5 hours, out and back, brings you to views of the Chaukhi massif. When you are back, you ride up to Gergeti Church and have some free time.

Day 8The Truso ValleyA wide valley and Zakagori fortressSee the day

A river winding through the green Truso Valley under high mountains, Georgia — The Truso Valley.

A transfer takes you to the Truso Valley for a hike with views of Zakagori fortress. When you return, there is an optional hike to the Gveleti waterfalls or to Elia's Church.

Day 9Uplistsikhe and TbilisiA cave town and a family lunchSee the day

Rock-cut chambers of the ancient cave town of Uplistsikhe under a blue sky, Georgia — The cave town of Uplistsikhe.

You drive south to the cave city of Uplistsikhe and have a homemade lunch with a local family, with traditional dishes and wine. The last night is in your hotel in Tbilisi.

Day 10DepartureTransfer to the airportSee the day

Transfer to the airport according to your flight.

Want this trip on your dates? Tell us when and how many of you, and Jurijs will come back with a confirmed price.

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IncludedWhat the price covers

An English-speaking local guide on days 2 to 9
Transfers by car, minivan or minibus depending on group size, with local 4x4 vehicles on days 4 to 8
9 nights in 3-star hotels and guesthouses
9 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 picnic lunches and 3 dinners
A wine tasting on day 9
All hikes in the programme
Entrance fees according to the programme

Not included: international flights, travel insurance (required), meals and drinks beyond those listed, tips.

PriceHow much it costs

The price depends on your dates, how many of you travel. Tell us when you would like to go and how many of you there are, and we will send you the price in writing.

Ask for the price

Who it suitsIs this the right trip for you?

Yes, if you like walking at an easy pace, history and remote places, and are happy with basic rooms in Shatili. It suits couples, friends and small groups.

Probably not, if you want comfort every night, or hard trekking. For a week of real mountain walking, look at Warm Svaneti, or tell us what you have in mind on our bespoke trip page.

How it worksWho runs the trip

Your journey is designed and managed by Justvia Bespoke Travel in London, working with carefully selected local guides, drivers and partners in Georgia. You deal with us from the first question to the last day, and on the ground you are with people who know these places well. You can read what travellers say on our reviews page and see real photographs from our trips in the gallery and on Instagram.

Getting thereFlights and airport transfers

You fly into Tbilisi (TBS). You can arrive on day 1, or early in the morning of day 2 after a night flight, and you are met and driven to your hotel. On day 10 a transfer takes you to the airport.

Flights are not included. The price is land only. Our guide to getting to Georgia covers airports, routes from the UK and entry rules, and we are happy to look at your flights with you.

Ask about this trip

Tell us roughly when, how many of you, and any questions about the programme. Jurijs will reply by email with a confirmed price.

QuestionsWhat travellers ask

Is Heritage Trails a group tour?

Enquire for available dates and group arrangements. We confirm those details and the price before you book. We can also arrange this itinerary just for your own company of friends, family or colleagues, on agreed dates.

Can you arrange this trip just for our own group?

Yes. We can arrange the itinerary for your own group on agreed dates, subject to availability. Tell us roughly when you would like to travel, how many of you there are and your hotel preferences. We will confirm the arrangements and price before you book.

How much walking is involved?

The hikes last from 2 to 4 hours, mostly on wide paths with no big climbs. The one harder section is the climb to the fortress of Mutso, about 25 minutes on a narrow, rocky trail that needs sure feet and no fear of heights. Sturdy hiking boots are important, and poles can help.

What are the rooms like?

In Tbilisi and Stepantsminda you stay in 3-star hotels and a family hotel. In Shatili the rooms are very basic, with bathrooms shared between several rooms. It is part of the experience of being in such a remote village.

What should I pack?

Sturdy hiking boots, a rain jacket for changeable mountain weather and warm clothes for the cool evenings. We send a full list when you book.

Are flights included?

No. The price is land only. International flights from the UK are booked separately, and we are happy to suggest routes to Tbilisi.

More tripsOther ways to see Georgia with Justvia

Warm SvanetiEight days of walking in the high Caucasus, small group, May 2027 Mountains and WineSeven days on foot in Tbilisi, Kazbegi and Kakheti Immersive GeorgiaSixteen days across Georgia, June to September 2027

Photo credits

Images adapted for this page. Licensed images retain the licences listed below.

Cover: Shatili in the Khevsureti mountains. Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Narikala fortress above the old town of Tbilisi. lumoplank, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The hillside of Samshvilde. Davit 83, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The road towards Mutso. Jelger Groeneveld, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The stone tombs at Anatori. Jelger Groeneveld, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Shatili in the Argun valley. Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Ananuri fortress on the way north. Arian Zwegers, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The Chaukhi peaks above Juta. Boris Kuznetsov, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The Truso Valley. Alexkom000, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The cave town of Uplistsikhe. shankar s., CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

About Justvia

Justvia Bespoke Travel is a UK travel agency specialising in bespoke and small-group journeys to Georgia, designed and managed from London with carefully selected local guides, drivers and partners.

Editorial strategy and digital production by MariCleo Studio.