Warm Svaneti
Eight days of mountains, guesthouses and local life in Georgia's Caucasus, at an easy small-group pace.
The tripReal Caucasus, without the crowds
Warm Svaneti is Justvia's flagship journey: a week in the most dramatic corner of Georgia, where medieval stone towers rise straight from the meadows and the high Caucasus fills the skyline. You travel in a small group of no more than eight, with a local guide who knows the routes, the guesthouses and the families who keep them.
The pace is unhurried. There is time to walk, to sit at a long Svan table, and to let the mountains do what mountains do. This is travel built from lived experience, not a brochure.
Who it's forMade for travellers who choose carefully
- UK travellers who value real places over crowds and want a trip that feels personal.
- Walkers of a wide range of abilities: from gentle village strolls to full mountain days.
- Solo travellers, couples and small groups of friends. You are never alone on the route.
- Anyone who would rather understand a country slowly than tick off a list.
Choose your paceThree ways to experience Svaneti
The same beautiful route, shaped around how you like to travel. Tell us which suits you, or ask and we'll help you decide.
Hiking
Mountain trails, village-to-viewpoint walks, and active days in the Caucasus for travellers who want to earn the view.
Hiking & Horse Riding
The hiking route with one or more guided horse-riding moments added where the terrain suits it, on request.
Scenic Svaneti by Car
The towers, villages, viewpoints, food and culture with less walking and more private transport.
Day by dayYour eight days in Georgia
Arrival in Georgia
Fly into Kutaisi, where you're met and transferred to your hotel. An easy first evening to rest after travel.
Into the mountains
The scenic transfer from Kutaisi up into Svaneti, around six hours through changing landscapes, arriving in Mestia for dinner.
Etseri to Mazeri
Your first walk into Svaneti: wide alpine meadows, scattered Svan towers, and a panoramic viewpoint near 2,880 metres. Night in a family guesthouse with home-cooked Svan food.
Ushguli
A full day to Ushguli, one of the highest permanently inhabited villages in Europe, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Medieval towers, the Lamaria church, and views of Mount Shkhara.
Ushba Glacier & Shdugra Waterfalls
A longer mountain day starting from Mazeri, following the river toward the glacier and waterfalls, with close views of Ushba's twin peaks. Ushba is often called the most beautiful peak in the Caucasus. Trout and kubdari at a hikers' café.
Mestia culture & panorama
A gentler half-day: the Svaneti Museum of History and Ethnography, old towers between the houses, and free time to wander Mestia.
Return to Kutaisi
A morning transfer back down out of the mountains, with a relaxed evening and a final dinner in Kutaisi.
Departure
Transfer to the airport for your flight home, with Georgia and the Caucasus still in your head.
This is the shape of the trip. Exact guesthouses, walking distances and the balance of hiking and driving are confirmed when you enquire, and can be adjusted to your pace.
Good to knowDifficulty & fitness
Svaneti has trails for a wide range of fitness levels, from easy village walks to full mountain days of five to eight hours. The ground is natural and uneven rather than manicured. You don't need to be an experienced hiker, but a reasonable level of fitness makes the bigger days more enjoyable. Every itinerary is tailored to your ability, and gentler or vehicle-based options are available on most days.
Where you stayAccommodation & food
You stay in comfortable hotels and warm family guesthouses, including five nights in and around Mestia. Food is a real part of the experience: Svan home cooking such as kubdari (wood-fired bread filled with spiced meat), fresh mountain cheeses, trout, and the long, generous Georgian table.
Pack smartWhat to bring
A full kit list comes with your pre-trip information pack. As a starting point, for the mountain days we suggest:
✓ Mountain essentials
- Broken-in walking boots with ankle support
- Layered clothing for warm days and cold heights
- Waterproof jacket and trousers
- Warm hat and gloves, plus a sun hat
- Daypack (20-30L) for hiking days
- Refillable water bottle
✓ Useful extras
- Strong sun cream and sunglasses
- Personal medication and small first-aid items
- Walking poles (optional, but useful)
- Swimwear, if you fancy a mountain river
- UK/EU travel adapter and power bank
- A camera, and room for photographs
Don't worry about getting every item perfect. Once you book, we send a complete kit list and are happy to advise on anything specific to your departure and the season.
The detailWhat's included
✓ Included
- All accommodation during the tour
- Breakfast every day
- Dinners as listed in the itinerary
- Packed lunches on selected hiking days
- All ground transport within Georgia during the tour
- Professional local guide during guided activities
- Justvia and founder support before and during the trip
- Entrance fees for listed itinerary visits
- Pre-trip information pack and kit list
Not included
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Personal spending and drinks
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Optional activities not listed
- Extra nights before or after the tour
- Single room supplement, if requested
- Visa fees, if applicable
Getting thereFlights & arrival
This is a land-only tour, which means international flights are not included in the price. We send recommended flight guidance and arrival and departure windows before your booking is confirmed, so you know which flights work best with the group transfers. If you'd like to arrive earlier or stay longer, we can advise on extra nights and onward arrangements.
Peace of mindInsurance & support
Travel insurance is required for this trip. Your policy should cover medical treatment, cancellation, baggage, repatriation, and mountain walking or hiking at the altitudes in the itinerary. We recommend arranging it as soon as your booking is confirmed. During the trip you travel with a local guide and have Justvia support contacts for anything urgent.
Travelling solo?You're very welcome
Many guests join small-group tours without a travel partner. The standard price is based on shared accommodation where applicable. If you'd like your own room throughout, a single room supplement is available on request and subject to availability. If you're open to sharing with another guest of the same gender, we may be able to arrange this.
Built around a route we know
This Svaneti journey is built around a route we know personally, not one copied from a brochure. The guesthouses, the pace, the guide, the long transfer days and the mountain walks all matter, because they shape how the trip feels once you're actually there. Svaneti is not a place to rush.
QuestionsBefore you book
How do I reserve a place?
Send an enquiry or book a short planning call. We confirm availability, dates and room options, then a £300 deposit per person reserves your place. The balance is due eight weeks before departure.
What's the cancellation policy?
Your £300 deposit secures your place and is non-refundable. More than 12 weeks before departure, only the deposit is lost. 8-12 weeks: 50% of the tour price. 4-8 weeks: 75%. Under 4 weeks: 100%. We strongly recommend travel insurance with cancellation cover.
How do I pay?
At launch, payment is by PayPal or bank transfer. Card payments may be available once our card processor is configured.
Do I need to be very fit?
No. Trails range from easy village walks to longer mountain days, and we tailor each itinerary to your ability. Gentler and vehicle-based options are available on most days.
Is Georgia safe?
Georgia is generally considered safe for tourists, and Tbilisi ranks among the safer capitals in the region. Standard precautions apply, and we share practical guidance with every itinerary.
Get the full Warm Svaneti itinerary
We'll send the complete day-by-day, exact dates and price, and answer any questions, with no pressure to book. Prefer to talk? Call or WhatsApp +44 7845 082084.
