
Georgia
Georgia - Ski touring excursion in unexplored Svaneti
Georgia - Ski touring excursion in unexplored Svaneti
Duration
7 days
Start/End
Kutaisi
Tour type
Group
Level
Demanding
Accommodation
guest House
Overview
Between rugged 4,000-metre peaks and remote villages a true ski touring adventure awaits in Georgia. You climb on the slopes of Ushba, in the shadow of the Shkhara wall near Ushguli and at the Gorvashi Pass at almost 3,000 m – with challenging descents and warm hospitality.
Looking for something special and out of the ordinary? Then come with us to Georgia! An authentic ski touring adventure awaits you in the Greater Caucasus, amidst craggy 4,000-meter peaks, remote villages, and endless snow-covered slopes. Georgia is wild, unspoiled, and full of contrasts: perfect for those who want to experience nature in its purest form while staying active. Our ski trips take you to regions where you can ski for hours without encountering another soul. In return, you'll enjoy abundant virgin snow, breathtaking scenery, and legendary Georgian hospitality. Your bases, Mestia and Ushguli, are Georgia's best-known mountain villages, and the Caucasus peaks of over 5,000 metres form an imposing backdrop.
Tour Code
Tour language
EnglishItinerary
Day 1
Arrival in Kutaisi
guest House
4-5 hours / 230 km
Upon arrival in Kutaisi, your ski touring guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel, where you can check in and relax. After a delicious breakfast, the exciting trek to Svaneti, via Zugdidi, will begin. During the journey, you will enjoy a longer lunch break, where you can sample the exquisite Georgian cuisine for the first time. Weather permitting, you will have the opportunity to admire the famous twin peaks of Ushba. In the evening, you will arrive at your accommodation in Mestia, the administrative capital of Svaneti, where you will spend the night.
Arrival in Kutaisi
Day 1
guest House
4-5 hours / 230 km
Upon arrival in Kutaisi, your ski touring guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel, where you can check in and relax. After a delicious breakfast, the exciting trek to Svaneti, via Zugdidi, will begin. During the journey, you will enjoy a longer lunch break, where you can sample the exquisite Georgian cuisine for the first time. Weather permitting, you will have the opportunity to admire the famous twin peaks of Ushba. In the evening, you will arrive at your accommodation in Mestia, the administrative capital of Svaneti, where you will spend the night.
Day 2
On the slopes of Ushba
guest House
5-6 hours / 1300 meters of positive/negative elevation gain
1-2 hours / 50 km
The excursion begins with a visit to the Ushba ski slopes. Depending on snow conditions and potential hazards, your ski touring guide will adjust the route for today and the following days. You will start at an altitude of approximately 1,500 meters and ascend to around 2,800 meters. Afterward, you will continue to Ushguli, where you will spend the night in a guesthouse.
On the slopes of Ushba
Day 2
guest House
5-6 hours / 1300 meters of positive/negative elevation gain
1-2 hours / 50 km
The excursion begins with a visit to the Ushba ski slopes. Depending on snow conditions and potential hazards, your ski touring guide will adjust the route for today and the following days. You will start at an altitude of approximately 1,500 meters and ascend to around 2,800 meters. Afterward, you will continue to Ushguli, where you will spend the night in a guesthouse.
Day 3
Ushguli – in the shadow of the Shkhara wall
guest House
4 hours / 1100 meters of positive/negative elevation gain
Ushguli is one of the highest permanently inhabited settlements in Europe. Even the journey there feels like being near the end of the world. Its impressive defensive towers are among the oldest in all of Svaneti. The village is the ideal starting point for other ski excursions. Today we head to Mount Kareta, where we will ascend from 2,100 meters to 3,200 meters.
Ushguli – in the shadow of the Shkhara wall
Day 3
guest House
4 hours / 1100 meters of positive/negative elevation gain
Ushguli is one of the highest permanently inhabited settlements in Europe. Even the journey there feels like being near the end of the world. Its impressive defensive towers are among the oldest in all of Svaneti. The village is the ideal starting point for other ski excursions. Today we head to Mount Kareta, where we will ascend from 2,100 meters to 3,200 meters.
Day 4
Summit parade of the great giants of the Caucasus
guest House
4 h / 850 m of positive/negative elevation gain
Today we head to the panoramic Laghnuari mountain (2950 m). We'll ascend 850 meters. At the summit, a breathtaking mountain landscape awaits us. Tednuldi, Shkhara, and Besingi reveal themselves in all their winter splendor. We'll be surrounded by the highest peaks of the Greater Caucasus: simply incredible! An exhilarating descent will take us back to the valley. We'll spend the night in the same conditions as the previous day.
Summit parade of the great giants of the Caucasus
Day 4
guest House
4 h / 850 m of positive/negative elevation gain
Today we head to the panoramic Laghnuari mountain (2950 m). We'll ascend 850 meters. At the summit, a breathtaking mountain landscape awaits us. Tednuldi, Shkhara, and Besingi reveal themselves in all their winter splendor. We'll be surrounded by the highest peaks of the Greater Caucasus: simply incredible! An exhilarating descent will take us back to the valley. We'll spend the night in the same conditions as the previous day.
Day 5
Ski touring on the Gorvashi Pass (3000 m)
guest House
4-6 hours / 1,000 meters of positive/negative elevation gain
By now you're a perfectly coordinated team and know the routines inside and out. The starting point for the ski excursions over the next few days is the Gorvashi Pass, at an altitude of 3,000 meters. From the summit, you have plenty of options. You'll be thrilled by the powder descents. In the evening, as usual, you'll enjoy the delicious local cuisine. Stay overnight as you did the previous day.
Ski touring on the Gorvashi Pass (3000 m)
Day 5
guest House
4-6 hours / 1,000 meters of positive/negative elevation gain
By now you're a perfectly coordinated team and know the routines inside and out. The starting point for the ski excursions over the next few days is the Gorvashi Pass, at an altitude of 3,000 meters. From the summit, you have plenty of options. You'll be thrilled by the powder descents. In the evening, as usual, you'll enjoy the delicious local cuisine. Stay overnight as you did the previous day.
Day 6
Ski excursions at the Gorvashi Pass (3000 m) – Mestia
guest House
1-2 hours / 50 km
Today another fantastic ski excursion awaits you, departing from Gorvashi Pass. This day also serves as a backup day in case of bad weather, allowing for flexible adjustments to the excursions. Afterwards, we will return to Mestia.
Ski excursions at the Gorvashi Pass (3000 m) – Mestia
Day 6
guest House
1-2 hours / 50 km
Today another fantastic ski excursion awaits you, departing from Gorvashi Pass. This day also serves as a backup day in case of bad weather, allowing for flexible adjustments to the excursions. Afterwards, we will return to Mestia.
Day 7
Returning from the mountains – Departure
4-5 hours / 230 km
You bid farewell to the breathtaking mountain scenery and descend the mountain road towards Kutaisi. Along the way, you'll stop at the impressive Inguri Dam, whose dam arch, the largest in the world, is the country's main source of energy. Two more cultural attractions await you: Bagrati Cathedral and Prometheus Cave. Spend the night in a hotel in Kutaisi, Georgia's third-largest city. At the end of the day, you'll arrive in Kutaisi and be transferred to the airport.
Returning from the mountains – Departure
Day 7
4-5 hours / 230 km
You bid farewell to the breathtaking mountain scenery and descend the mountain road towards Kutaisi. Along the way, you'll stop at the impressive Inguri Dam, whose dam arch, the largest in the world, is the country's main source of energy. Two more cultural attractions await you: Bagrati Cathedral and Prometheus Cave. Spend the night in a hotel in Kutaisi, Georgia's third-largest city. At the end of the day, you'll arrive in Kutaisi and be transferred to the airport.
Services
What's included
Overnight stay according to the program.
Meals according to the program (full board during the ski touring days).
All transfers and trips according to the program.
Local ski guide who speaks English
All admissions according to the program
What's not included
Individual travel to and from the destination (we are happy to put together a suitable offer)
Travel insurance (we are happy to put together an individual offer)
Personal equipment for ski touring
Visa and vaccinations, if required
Advice
Food and drinks not mentioned
Character of the trip
Fitness
Demanding
Altitude
Gentle
Culture / nature
Pure nature
For this ski touring trip you need good fitness and should be able to ski confidently off-piste. Day tours of about 4 to 6 hours await you, with 850 to 1,300 metres of ascent and descent, at altitudes of up to around 3,000 metres. The descents in untracked terrain are partly demanding. You stay in guesthouses in Mestia and Ushguli.
Dates and prices
Group dates
Optional
Single room
€320.00
per person
This trip is also available as a private tour from €1990. Daily departures in February and March for groups of 2 or more people with a local English-speaking ski touring guide.
Notes on the trip
Program adjustments based on weather conditions.
The safety of our participants is our top priority on our adventure trips. Since we often travel through alpine or remote regions, weather conditions such as strong winds, fog, rain, or persistent snow, as well as other unforeseen circumstances, may affect the planned route. In these cases, our experienced local guide will react flexibly and adjust the route or program as needed to ensure the safety of all participants. These decisions are always made with everyone's well-being in mind, so that the excursion is safe and as enjoyable as possible. In these cases, any claim for compensation is excluded.
