ProSvanetiSvaneti Itinerary — 5 Days
Five days is the sweet spot — enough for the highlights plus a proper hike, without a rushed pace.
Short answer: 5 days lets you do the two big-ticket experiences — Ushguli and Koruldi Lakes — plus a third stop like Mazeri and the Shdugra waterfall, with at least one genuinely easier day in between. This is the length we usually recommend for a first trip to Svaneti.
Day 1 — Arrive, settle in
Transfer in from Kutaisi (~4.5h) or Zugdidi (~2.5h) — see how to get to Svaneti. Walk Mestia's old quarter and towers in the afternoon. Keep the evening easy.
Day 2 — Ushguli
Full day: the Ushguli day tour, 8–10 hours by 4x4 along the Enguri valley to the UNESCO tower villages under Mount Shkhara. This is the day everything else is built around — don't compress it.
Day 3 — Easy day: Chalaadi Glacier
After a full day yesterday, keep it light. The Chalaadi Glacier hike is an easy half-day forest walk to a real glacier snout — low effort, still a genuine highlight. Afternoon free to rest, shop, or wander Mestia.
Day 4 — Koruldi Lakes
Half to full day, moderate effort: the Koruldi Lakes tour for the payoff view of Mount Ushba. Go by 4x4 with a short walk, or hike the whole way if you want more of a workout.
Day 5 — Mazeri & Shdugra waterfall, then departure
A full day to the Mazeri valley and Shdugra waterfall under Ushba's north face — a quieter alternative to the busier Mestia-adjacent trails. If your departure transfer is early, swap this for a shorter morning activity instead and save Mazeri for a return trip.
Making it yours
If skiing (winter) or a sunset viewpoint matters more to you than Mazeri, swap Day 5 for the Tetnuldi sunset tour or a Tetnuldi ski day instead — the structure still works, just change what fills the slot.
Want this built around your actual dates?
Tell us your arrival/departure times and what you care about most — hiking, photography, an easier pace — and we'll confirm a realistic version, including current road and weather conditions.
Need help with this route?
Ushguli Day Tour from Mestia
One of Europe's highest permanently inhabited villages, a UNESCO site under Mount Shkhara — a full day of Svan towers and mountain road.
Koruldi Lakes Tour from Mestia
High alpine lakes above Mestia with a front-row panorama of Mount Ushba — reachable by 4x4 to the ridge, then a short walk, or as a full-day hike.
Mazeri & Shdugra Waterfall Tour
A green valley under the north face of Ushba, with a walk to the Shdugra waterfall — a quieter alternative to the busier Mestia trails.
FAQ
Why 5 days instead of 3?+
Five days lets you do Ushguli and Koruldi Lakes and Mazeri without back-to-back full-day tours every day. You get at least one lighter day, which matters more than it sounds — mountain days are tiring.
Can I fit in skiing or Tetnuldi on a 5-day trip?+
If you swap out one of the hiking days, yes — Tetnuldi (winter skiing or summer sunset run) is a reasonable substitute for Mazeri if that's more your interest.
Keep reading
Not sure which route is right for you?
Tell us your dates and we’ll suggest a realistic Svaneti plan — roads, weather and timing included.