Svaneti

Drop-off Point - Svaneti, Georgia

A passenger drop off at a small village in Svaneti. Just a taste of the region's dramatic landscape on the approach to Mestia. Read about our visit to Svaneti and the rest of our visit to Georgia.

The Clouds, the Grass, and the Peak - Svaneti, Georgia

A peak emerged from the top of the pass from Adishi to Iprari. Read about our visit to Svaneti and the rest of our visit to Georgia.

Green Village - Svaneti, Georgia

The village of Adishi in Svaneti splits the mountains en route to Ushguli. We spent a night with a local family here. Read about our visit to Svaneti and the rest of our visit to Georgia.

Ushguli Village - Svaneti, Georgia

Fog begins to fill the gaps in the village of Ushguli. Read about our visit to Svaneti and the rest of our visit to Georgia.

Svan Towers - Svaneti, Georgia

Svan towers mark the entrance to the village of Adishi, the mountain village where we slept the first night of our hike. Read about our visit to Svaneti and the rest of our visit to Georgia.

Svaneti Mountain Landscape - Svaneti, Georgia

Friendly clouds build on the mountain peaks in Svaneti. Read about our visit to Svaneti and the rest of our visit to Georgia.

Mountain Trekking - Svaneti, Georgia

The village of Adishi looks like a few dots compared to the surrounding peaks. Read about our visit to Svaneti and the rest of our visit to Georgia.

Clouds Before the Storm - Svaneti, Georgia

Read about our visit to Svaneti and the rest of our visit to Georgia.

Stalin Graffiti - Svaneti, Georgia

An aspiring artist draws portraits of Lenin and Stalin (not pictured) on the side of an abandoned house in the village of Khaldi. The irony here is that Khaldi is famous for its defense against the Russian army after the Bolshevik Revolution. Read about our visit to Svaneti and the rest of our visit to Georgia.

Green Fields and the Houses - Svaneti, Georgia

If we had a Lari (~0.60 USD) for each person who told us that Ushguli was the highest inhabited village in Europe, we'd be rich. Hype and claims of a superlative nature aside, it is a beautiful place. Read about our visit to Svaneti and the rest of our visit to Georgia.

Drinking with the Police - Svaneti, Georgia

On the short walk (150 meters) to the Ushguli museum, we were invited to no less than three drinking and khachapuri gatherings. We chose this one for a quick drink with the local police. It's always a wise idea to stay on the good side of the law. Read about our visit to Svaneti and the rest of our visit to Georgia.

Abandoned Village of Khaldi - Svaneti, Georgia

Once considered the epitome of perseverance (it held off Russian troops for 4 months after the Bolshevik Revolution), the village of Khaldi is now abandoned. Our guide's mother used to live in this house. Some items and memories eerily remain inside. Read about our visit to Svaneti and the rest of our visit to Georgia.

Mountain Village - Svaneti, Georgia

If we had a Lari (~0.60 USD) for each person who told us that Ushguli was the highest inhabited village in Europe, we'd be rich. Hype and claims of a superlative nature aside, it is a beautiful place. Read about our visit to Svaneti and the rest of our visit to Georgia.

Svaneti Mountain Landscape - Svaneti, Georgia

A quick shot off the pass from Mulahi to Adishi (en route to Ushguli from Mestia). This is why Georgians go "ush, ush, ush" when you tell them that you are headed to Svaneti. The Svanetian landscapes are only outdone by the people and their hospitality. Read about our visit to Svaneti and the rest of our visit to Georgia.