Overview
What to expect
Svaneti is the Georgia of the photographs — medieval stone towers set against 5,000-meter peaks, and villages that stayed beyond the reach of empires for centuries. This private 3-day tour takes you there and back from Tbilisi, with the logistics, mountain driving, and route planning handled for you.
The journey crosses the country from east to west, climbing through the Enguri Gorge to Mestia — the heart of Upper Svaneti and a UNESCO-listed cultural landscape. From there, the road continues to Ushguli, a cluster of tower villages beneath Mount Shkhara, Georgia's highest peak, and one of the highest permanently inhabited settlements in Europe.
Because the tour is private, the pace is yours: linger at viewpoints on the long scenic drives, add hikes around Mestia, or spend extra time among the towers of Chazhashi. Your driver-guide adjusts the route with you on the day.
Accommodation in Mestia is arranged separately so you can choose the style and budget that suits you — from family guesthouses with home-cooked Svan food to modern hotels. We're happy to help you book.
Why travelers choose it
Highlights
Journey into Upper Svaneti, Georgia's most dramatic mountain region
Explore UNESCO-listed Ushguli, one of Europe's highest inhabited settlements, beneath Mount Shkhara
Walk among the medieval Svan defensive towers of Mestia and Chazhashi
Visit the Svaneti Museum of History and Ethnography and taste Svan specialties like kubdari
Private air-conditioned vehicle with a driver-guide and flexible photo stops throughout
Pricing
Clear private tour pricing
Price from
$189
From $189 per person, depending on group size. Exact price may vary based on the number of travelers, travel dates, route adjustments, and direct booking preferences. Accommodation is arranged separately.
Adults 2–3 travelers
Price per adult for private groups of 2–3 travelers. Accommodation arranged separately.
$299
Adults 4–7 travelers
Price per adult for private groups of 4–7 travelers. Accommodation arranged separately.
$239
Adults 8–15 travelers
Price per adult for private groups of 8–15 travelers. Accommodation arranged separately.
$189
Prices can depend on private group size, traveler age group, selected pickup, and route adjustments before confirmation.
Route plan
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Tbilisi / Imereti / Svaneti
Tbilisi to Mestia via Western Georgia
Morning pickup from your Tbilisi hotel, then the scenic cross-country drive west. Depending on your preferences, stop at Prometheus Cave or Martvili Canyon in Imereti before continuing through Zugdidi and up the dramatic Enguri Gorge to Mestia. Evening arrival with time for a first walk among the Svan towers and a traditional dinner of kubdari and Svan specialties.
- Rikoti Pass
- Prometheus Cave or Martvili Canyon (optional)
- Zugdidi
- Enguri Gorge
- Mestia
Day 2
Svaneti / Ushguli
Ushguli: The Land of a Thousand Towers
After breakfast, drive the mountain road from Mestia to Ushguli, a UNESCO World Heritage settlement beneath Mount Shkhara. Walk the narrow lanes of Chazhashi among medieval defensive towers, visit the 12th-century Lamaria Church, and take in the views toward Georgia's highest peak. Optional jeep ride or walk toward the Shkhara Glacier viewpoint before returning to Mestia for the evening.
- Mestia-Ushguli mountain road
- Chazhashi towers
- Lamaria Church
- Shkhara viewpoints
- Mestia
Day 3
Svaneti / Zugdidi / Tbilisi
Mestia Morning & Return to Tbilisi
A free morning in Mestia — visit the Svaneti Museum of History and Ethnography, climb a Svan tower, or take the Hatsvali cable car for panoramic mountain views. Early afternoon departure down the Enguri Gorge with an optional stop at the Dadiani Palace in Zugdidi, then the drive back east, arriving in Tbilisi in the evening.
- Svaneti Museum (optional)
- Hatsvali viewpoint (optional)
- Enguri Gorge
- Dadiani Palace, Zugdidi (optional)
- Tbilisi
What is covered
Included / Not included
Included
- All fees and taxes
- WiFi on board
- Private transportation
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Bottled water
- Driver-guide service
- Route planning support
- Flexible private itinerary
- Pickup from custom traveler location
Not included
- Accommodation in Mestia (2 nights) — we can help arrange guesthouses or hotels to suit your budget
- Food and drinks
- Entrance tickets, if applicable (e.g. Svaneti Museum, tower visits)
- Local 4WD transfer in Ushguli area, if required by road conditions
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance
Booking details
Pickup, confirmation, and traveler info
Pickup and transfer
Airport: Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport, Tbilisi, Georgia
Pickup is available from Tbilisi hotels, apartments, and custom pickup locations provided by travelers. We pick up all travelers. Travelers can enter their own pickup location during booking. Pickup usually starts 15 minutes before the selected departure time.
Please share your Tbilisi hotel or apartment address when booking so the driver can confirm pickup details, and let us know if you'd like help arranging Mestia accommodation.
Schedule and confirmation
Booking cutoff: Stop selling 24 hours before start time
Confirmation: Direct booking requests are confirmed after communication with the traveler.
Departure times
Operating days
Travelers
Max travelers: 15 travelers
Required traveler info
Adults · 18–65
Adult traveler pricing applies to guests aged 18–65.
Youth · 13–17
Youth pricing applies to travelers aged 13–17.
Children · 4–12
Child pricing applies to travelers aged 4–12.
Infants · 0–3
Infants must sit on laps. Infant seats are available on request.
Guide, access, and difficulty
Guide language: English
Audio guide: None
Written guide: None
Difficulty: Most travelers can participate
The in-person guide is also the driver.
Cancellation and operator rights
Standard cancellation policy. Travelers may cancel up to 24 hours before the experience start time in the local timezone to receive a full refund. No refunds are given after that time period.
The operator may cancel or reschedule the booking for a full refund in case of bad weather, road closures, or unsafe travel conditions on the Svaneti mountain routes, especially outside the June-October season.
Operator
Listing: Must See Georgia
Location: Tbilisi, Georgia
Contact: +995 551 18 13 58
Important notes
- This is a private tour and the route can be customized.
- Accommodation and meals are not included; we can help arrange Mestia guesthouses to suit your budget.
- The driver also provides guiding support during the trip.
- Day 1 and Day 3 involve long scenic drives (5-6+ hours each); this tour suits travelers comfortable with mountain road journeys.
- The Ushguli road depends on weather and season — it is most reliable from June to October and may close in winter.
- Modest dress is required inside churches: covered shoulders and knees, and a headscarf for women.
Frequently asked questions
- Is accommodation included?
- No — the two nights in Mestia are arranged separately so you can choose the style and budget that suits you, from family guesthouses to modern hotels. We're happy to help you book the right place.
- How much driving is involved?
- This is a genuine expedition: Day 1 and Day 3 each involve 5-6+ hours of scenic driving between Tbilisi and Mestia, and Day 2 includes the mountain road to Ushguli (roughly 1.5-2 hours each way). The private format means you stop whenever the views demand it.
- When does this tour run?
- The most reliable window is June to October, when the Ushguli road is dependably open. Outside this season, the route depends on weather — winter trips to Mestia are possible, but Ushguli is often cut off by snow, and the itinerary is adjusted accordingly.
- Do we need a 4WD for Ushguli?
- In summer, the Mestia-Ushguli road is now largely concrete and generally passable in a standard vehicle. If conditions require a local 4WD for any section, that transfer is arranged on site and paid separately.
- Is this tour suitable for children or older travelers?
- The sights themselves are accessible, but the long drive days suit travelers comfortable with extended time in the car. As a private tour, the pace can be adjusted — families often add an extra night in Mestia to slow things down.
- Can we extend the tour or start from Kutaisi?
- Yes — the route is customizable. Starting or ending in Kutaisi shortens the driving considerably, and a fourth day can be added for hiking around Mestia or a slower Ushguli visit. Contact us with your dates and we'll adjust the plan.
Private customization
Want this tour customized for your group?
Request direct booking and adjust pickup, route details, timing, family needs, and travel pace before confirming your trip.
