ProSvaneti
Becho Travel Guide
A traditional Svan community in the Shikhri valley at the foot of Mount Ushba, about 30 minutes from Mestia and the gateway to Mazeri and the trails beyond.
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Why visit
- ✓ Traditional Svan village life away from the Mestia tourist center
- ✓ The starting area for routes toward Mazeri and the Ushba trails
- ✓ Khulishoba, a genuine local community festival
How to get there
About 30 minutes from Mestia by car — Becho is on the way to Mazeri, so most visitors pass through it as part of that trip rather than as a separate destination.
Best time to visit
June to September for the best road and trail conditions. Early June specifically if you want to catch the Khulishoba festival.
Becho is the traditional Svan community that fills the valley on the way from Mestia toward Mazeri, at the foot of Mount Ushba. For most travelers it's the gateway you pass through on the way to the Shdugra waterfall hike rather than a stop in its own right — but it's worth knowing about, especially if your dates line up with Khulishoba, the community's traditional early-June festival centered on St. George's Church in the Shikhri valley.
If you're not here for the festival, Becho is still a good reminder that Svaneti isn't only Mestia — this is a working village, not a tourist set piece, and it's part of what makes the drive out to Mazeri worthwhile on its own.
Things to do
- Walk through a working Svan community with St. George's church in Shikhri
- Continue on to Mazeri and the Shdugra waterfall
- Time a visit for Khulishoba in early June — prayer at St. George's, followed by traditional rituals, sports competitions and a cultural program
Tours here
FAQ
Is Becho worth a stop on its own?+
It's more of a waypoint than a destination — most travelers pass through Becho on the way to Mazeri rather than stopping specifically for it, except during the Khulishoba festival in early June.
What is Khulishoba?+
A traditional festival of the Becho community held in the Shikhri valley in early June. It begins with a service at St. George's Church in Shikhri, followed by traditional rituals, sports competitions and a cultural program.
Planning a trip to Becho?
Tell us your dates — we'll suggest the realistic way to fit it into your Svaneti plan.