3-day expedition - jeep tour to Ushguli (2100 m), the highest village in Europe and Georgia's highest glacier Shkhara 5203 m above sea level 

3-day expedition to Ushguli (2100 m)

Europe's highest village and Georgia's highest glacier Shkhara 5203 m.  

Welcome to Ushguli, a mountain village in the Svaneti region of the High Caucasus. It is an absolute classic among expeditions and one of the most picturesque places in all of Georgia.

DAY 1: We start the trip from Kutaisi at 9 a.m. We will reach Ushguli via a scenic road. We will stop at the impressive cascading Rakhcha waterfall. We will see the mythological mountain Khvamli, where Prometheus was imprisoned! On its slopes we will see glades of the most expensive grapes in Georgia called Usakhelauri. We will pass through the Lechkhumi region with its capital Tsageri, the Lower Svaneti region and the last inhabited village on our route, Tsana (where only 12 families live, only for the summer).

The road to Ushguli is one of the most difficult in Georgia. Its renovation in recent years has improved its condition and made it possible to reach Ushguli from July to October. Ultimately, what kind of car we will take is decided by the organiser depending on the weather conditions and the condition of the road.

At your leisure you can visit Ushguli with its 8th - 10th century towers, interesting museums and the Lamaria monastery. The village is a unique place with a great history, preserved traditions. It is the highest situated (at 2,100 m) village in Europe inhabited all year round. It has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It lies at the foot of Georgia's highest peak Shkhara 5203 m!

In the evening, we recommend going to the local cinema created in a 12th century tower. In the cinema you will see the film Dede. It was filmed in Ushguli and the actors were villagers! It tells the story of local customs, traditions and the story of a certain love.

The last section (about 2 hours in 2 directions) becomes a little more rocky. The path narrows and leads through rocky debris. Here the road for cars and horses ends and the real mountain atmosphere begins. We will cross small streams - it is advisable to have shoes with a good grip. Keeping a safe distance, we will reach the very head of the glacier, from where the Enguri River flows out from under the ice. After a rest, picnic we will return to Ushguli.

We cover the entire route from Ushguli to the glacier on foot. The first stage of the trail to the last section, can also be driven by off-road vehicle with driver or on horseback which we organise with the fantastic Ushguli Horse Trails team. These activities are at an additional cost.

DAY 3: We will spend the third day in Ushguli until noon you have time to walk around these beautiful areas once again. Visit the towers of Queen Tamar. The winter residence, located in the village, and the summer residence (called the black tower), which is reached by a trail towards Latpari Pass. From it, a view of the whole of Ushguli opens up. You can use your time as you wish. You can also relax in nature amidst unearthly views! After lunch, a picnic, we return to Kutaisi at 14.00 at the latest. 

The return journey takes about 4 hours. Along the way we have scheduled stops with beautiful views. In Kutaisi we will host you at our family guest house Hostel Kutaisi by Kote. We will invite you to a Georgian supra, a farewell party where the table will be overflowing with the number and variety of dishes. We will celebrate and reminisce about our mountain trip, savour the flavours of Georgian cuisine and wine! There will be toasts, there will be tamada! We will host you in a Georgian atmosphere. You will also spend the night in our guest house. 

Informations:

• Start at 9.00 a.m. from Kutaisi 
• The season for the expedition runs from 1 July to 20 October 
• The tour is organised only INDIVIDUAL, We set the date with you. Or you can join a date from our calendar:
  • 07 - 09.09.2026
• The tour begins and ends in Kutaisi.
• If you haven't already booked your accommodation in Kutaisi before your trip, we warmly invite you to our legendary guest house at Hostel Kutaisi by Kote. We will host you with a delicious dinner with regional dishes, natural bio wine. We will organise additional excursions, transfers to and from the airport.

Additional attractions:

•  Cross-country vehicle ride from Ushguli towards the glacier and back: 200 gel for 4 people

• Horseback excursion from Ushguli to the glacier and back organized by the Ushguli Horse Trails. Cost 200 gel per person