Ushguli from Mestia, full day: 4×4 up the Enguri to Europe's highest village (2,200 m) — UNESCO towers, Lamaria church, Shkhara views. From ₾650 per jeep.
Route: Mestia → Ipari → Ushguli
Ushguli is a community of four villages at 2,200 metres, at the very foot of Shkhara, the highest peak in Georgia (5,193 m). People have lived here year-round for over a thousand years, and the Chazhashi quarter with its Svan towers is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. It is not an open-air museum but a real mountain village, where 11th–12th-century towers stand right in the yards of lived-in houses.
It is only 45 kilometres from Mestia to Ushguli, but along the gravel road beside the Enguri river they take about two hours each way. An ordinary car won't make it, especially after rain, so we travel in a prepared 4×4 with an experienced driver. Along the way are the tower villages of Ipari and Kala, where we stop for photos. Because of the road, Ushguli can't be seen in a rush — it is a full day.
The highlights are the Chazhashi quarter with the densest cluster of towers, the 12th-century Lamaria church on the hill above the village with its postcard view of Shkhara's ice wall, and a small ethnographic museum. Lunch is arranged in a local guesthouse: Svan cuisine differs noticeably from the rest of Georgia — kubdari with meat and mountain herbs, tashmijabi of cheese and potato, and a mild barley chacha. If you want not just the village but a walk out to the big glacier, take the extended Shkhara route.
Because of the road. It is only 45 km from Mestia to Ushguli, but along the mountain gravel road beside the Enguri that is about 2 hours each way. Add time to see the village, the Lamaria church and lunch. Half a day simply isn't enough — you'd barely get there and back without seeing Ushguli itself.
Yes, definitely. The road from Mestia is 45 km of gravel that washes out after rain. We provide a prepared 4×4 with an experienced driver — an ordinary car cannot drive this section safely.
₾650 is for the 4×4 for up to 6 people with driver and an English-speaking guide for the whole day. Lunch in a guesthouse (₾25–35 per person) and museum tickets are extra; I'll send an exact estimate when you book.
From a distance, yes — the peak and ice wall of Shkhara are clearly visible from the Lamaria church. But if you want to walk up to the glacier itself, choose the extended 'Ushguli & Shkhara Glacier' full-day option with a trek to its foot.
Best from June to October, when the gravel is dry. In winter and early spring snow and avalanche risk often close the road for several days — we plan the trip around the forecast.
Set off for Ushguli early: by midday the gravel road gets busy, you have to give way to oncoming jeeps on the narrow stretches, and the drive drags out. At 2,200 metres the sun is deceptive — you burn quickly even in cloud, so bring cream and a hat. And be sure to climb up to the Lamaria church: it is from there, not the village centre, that the famous view of Shkhara opens up that people come here for.
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Saba is a licensed Svaneti guide (lic. #9332412411), a Mestia native with 10 years in the region. Jeep tours from Mestia, groups up to 6, a flexible schedule for your day in Svaneti.
More about guide Saba →Other tours from Mestia and Svaneti:
Coming to Svaneti from Tbilisi? See the multi-day Svaneti tour → — these day trips from Mestia are included as optional days.
We went to Kazbegi — Timur convinced us the special atmosphere was worth it. Snow by the church, silence. The most romantic day of the trip.
You have no idea how much I enjoyed it. Nice tiredness, nice people, delicious food. Thank you very much.
Wonderful excursion, thank you so much! Everything was top-notch.
Excellent guide. Showed and told us everything about sunny Georgia. Speaks great English and Russian.
Very good guide. We had a great time! The program was tailored to us, recommend!
Highly recommend if you want the best advice and travel services across Georgia.