Svanet*

One of the most beautiful and untouched corners of Georgia, Svaneti is a mountain nation nestled in the high Caucasus. Isolated in their villages, its people, the Svan, speak their own language, a dialect that split off from the main Georgian language over four thousand years ago.

Mestia is the main town and cultural heart of the Svan people. It was only in 1935 that the first road was built, linking Mestia to the outside world.  Upon entering the region you’ll find the most striking feature of the Svan villages to be its stone towers, designed to serve as protection against invaders and protect families during the blood-feuds that often took place in these communities.

The road to Svaneti twists and turns through villages where wild pigs and herds of cattle create brief mountain traffic jams. The villages are located in rich green valleys, surrounded by sub alpine pine and chestnut forests and majestic mountains, the most prominent being Mount Shkhara, Mount Ushba, and Mount Tetnuldi.

An hour and a half drive from Mestia is the small historical village of Ushguli, declared a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO that is widely viewed as the highest permanently inhabited village in “Europe”.    

With its breathtaking vistas of mountains, valleys, glaciers, and forests, Svaneti is a true oasis of adventure and discovery! 

Come join us at Hotel Tetnuldi and experience all Svaneti has to offer!