Travel Programme

Overview

The hiking in the Caucasus programme has been designed for guests who want to discover the unique landscapes, culture and attractions of the beautiful mountainous regions of Georgia – Svaneti, Stepantsminda and the Bordjomi-Kharagauli National Park – on foot.

The package is a combined trip that includes not only hiking but also some cultural discoveries, giving it a special place among the offers for hiking tours in Georgia.

The famous Georgian cuisine and wines also await us on this trip. As with our other hiking tours in Georgia, the group will be accompanied by a vehicle that transports the luggage. In the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park, packhorses will support us.

Our accommodation is in both hotels and small, simple family hotels, where a hot shower and delicious food await us every day. The overnight stays in the family hotels in the villages of Svaneti allow us to observe and experience the everyday life of the locals. In the national park, you can spend the night in a tent or in a hut.

Note: The trip can also be booked as an individual trip with or without a tour guide. Tips and information for preparing and following up on hikes in Georgia on your own can be found here.

Highlights

Tbilisi – the capital of Georgia with its attractions and the old capital, Mtskheta
Stepantsminda, Heehrstasse, Trinity Church, Sno Valley, Juta village
Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park, Borjomi resort
Kutaisi, Gelati Cathedral, Mestia,Ushguli and other villages in Svaneti

Itinerary

Day 1.Arrival and city tour in Tbilisi

Our hiking adventure in the Caucasus begins with a city tour of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. On our 2-3 hour tour, we will get to know the most important sights of the 1,500-year-old city and learn many interesting facts.

In the evening, a delicious dinner with Georgian specialities and the famous Georgian wine awaits us.

Meals: Breakfast / Dinner

Accommodation: Tbilisi / in a hotel

Day 2.Drive to Stepantsminda on the military road

The drive to Stepantsminda is an unforgettable experience. First, we will visit the old capital, Mtskheta, where we will see two important monuments of Georgian culture: the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and the Jvari Church.

The famous Georgian Military Road awaits us with its sights and scenic beauties. In the evening, we will visit the Trinity Church in Stepantsminda, which has stood at the foot of the mighty Mount Kazbek for 700 years.

Meals: breakfast / dinner

Accommodation: Stepantsminda / in a hotel

The view of Mkinvari Mountain in Kazbeg - Hiking in Caucasus

Day 3.Gveleti Waterfall and Chaukhi Mountains | Hiking N 1

The first stage of our hike in the Caucasus takes us to two beautiful waterfalls in the village of Gveleti in the Dariali Gorge on the Russian border. The hike takes about 2 hours.

In the afternoon, we will drive to the picturesque Sno Valley and hike from the village of Juta to the Chauchi massif and back. This route is part of the well-known Stepantsminda-Tusheti route and is characterised by its scenic beauty.

Meals: breakfast / packed lunch / dinner

Accommodation: Stepantsminda / hotel

Hiking route:

Day 4.To the glacier and back | Hiking tour N 2

Today’s hike in the Caucasus Mountains is a bit more demanding. We will hike towards the base camp of Mkinvari Mountain. This route is also used by mountaineers who want to climb the mountain. But today our destination is only the glacier and not the base camp. On the way, there is a nice hut where we can rest and order hot or cold drinks.

From the hut, we have a magnificent view of the mountain and the glacier. In the late afternoon, we return to the hotel, ending the first part of our hike in the Caucasus.

Meals: breakfast / lunch box / dinner

Accommodation: Stepantsminda / hotel

Hiking route:

To the glacier in Kazbeg - Hiking in Caucasus

Day 5.Drive to the Borjomi National Park | Resort in the Lesser Caucasus

Today we leave the Greater Caucasus and drive to Borjomi, a beautiful resort town in the mountains of the Lesser Caucasus, known for its beautiful forests, flora and fauna.

Upon arrival in Borjomi, we will take a short walk through the central park and taste the famous Borjomi mineral water.

Bus transfer: 6 hour

Meals: breakfast / dinner

Accommodation: Borjomi / hotel

Day 6.Hike in the Borjomi National Park | Hiking tour N 3

The Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park offers many beautiful hiking opportunities. We have selected the most beautiful routes for our hike. The Panoramic Trail offers unique natural beauty and views of the mountains of the Greater and Lesser Caucasus.

Our luggage will be carried by packhorses. You will either sleep in a tent or in a hut.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch box / dinner

Accommodation: tent or hut

Hiking route:

In Bordjshmi-Kharagauli National Park – hiking in Caucasus

Day 7.Hike in Borjomi National Park | Hiking tour N 4

We continue our hike and return to our starting point in the city. We recover at the hotel and enjoy the beautiful atmosphere of the resort town; that’s all part of hiking in the Caucasus.

Meals: breakfast / lunch box / dinner

Accommodation: tent or hut

Hiking route:

View in Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park - Hiking in Caucasus

Day 8.Drive to Kutaisi | West Georgia

Today is dedicated to cultural discoveries and relaxation. After a three- to four-hour drive to Kutaisi in western Georgia, we will visit the 12th-century Gelati Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Afterwards, guests can visit a beautiful farmers’ market in Kutaisi and observe and experience the everyday life of the locals.

Bus Transfer: 7 hour

Meals: breakfast / dinner

Accommodation: Kutaisi / at the hotel

Day 9.Drive to Svaneti | the Crown of the Caucasus

Today we have a long drive ahead of us to Svaneti. Due to the beauty of the landscape, the route is part of the following hiking tours in Svaneti:

We travel to Svaneti via the Mingrelia region, where we spend the night in Mestia, the administrative centre of Svaneti.

We make photo stops along the way to photograph the scenic beauties of this unique region. A beautiful stage of our hike in the Caucasus begins!

Bus transfer: 5 hours

Meals: breakfast / dinner

Accommodation: Mestia / in a hotel

Day 10.Hiking from Tschvabiani to Hadischi | Hiking tour N 5

After a 30-minute drive from Mestia, we start our first hiking tour in Svaneti. From the village of Chvabiani, we hike to the mystical and beautiful village of Hadishi with its towers and small chapels with beautiful paintings.

Beautiful meadows and views of the Caucasus and Svaneti mountains will accompany us on this route.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch box / Dinner

Accommodation: Hadishi / Guesthouse

Hiking route:

Day 11.Hike from Hadischi to Kala| Hiking tour N 6

Today’s stage is a very beautiful experience and is considered the crowning stage. Today we cross the beautiful Chkhutnieri Pass directly at the foot of the Caucasus on the Hadischi Glacier. First we hike along the river Hadischitschala to the end of the valley, where we cross the river by horse.

From here, we continue uphill to the pass, where we can enjoy unique views. In the late afternoon, we reach the community of Kala, where we will spend the night either in the village of Khalde or in Iprari.

Meals: breakfast / lunch box / dinner

Accommodation: Kala / in a guesthouse

Hiking route:

River crossing in Hadischi -Hiking in Caucasus

Day 12.Hike from Kala to Ushguli | Hiking tour N 7

This stage is characterised by beautiful meadows and mountain flowers. The route is a little shorter and after 4 hours we reach Uschguli. The village is located at an altitude of 2,200 metres and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We will have a short rest in Ushguli and then take a tour of the village. In the evening, we will return to Mestia and end our beautiful hiking tour in the Caucasus.

Meals: Breakfast / lunch box / dinner

Accommodation: Mestia / guesthouse

Hiking route:

Day 13.Drive to Tbilisi | End of the rout

The whole day is dedicated to the journey to Tbilisi. We will arrive in the city in the late afternoon.

Meals: breakfast / dinner

Accommodation: Tbilisi / in a hotel

Day 14.Departure | End of tour

Our hiking tour in the Caucasus ends with the transfer to the airport.

Tour Dates:

20.06.2025 – 15.10.2025 Available| 10 places still left

Please note: Since there are no fixed dates for this trip, you can flexibly arrange the travel period. The travel period for hiking in the Caucasus is between mid-June and mid-October. You can learn more about the best time to travel to Georgia HERE.

Tour Price:

Prices per person in a DR:EUR 1920

SGL - room supplement: EUR 140

Please note: The price applies if the minimum number of participants of two persons is reached. Price differentiation if the minimum number of participants is not reached: PLEASE SEE HERE.

Our services included:

Transfers to/from airport
All transfers in a comfortable minibus
Support car / luggage transport
Breakfast, lunch/picnic, dinnernach dem Programm
Travel Organization
English-speaking guide
Tickets according to the programme
Accommodation3* hotels or guesthouses (see program)
Horses for river crossing

NOT included:

Flight
Alcohol (except for wine tasting)
Travel insurance
Tip

Travel packing list:

Equipment & clothing – hiking poles, sunglasses, sun hat, small daypack, 1/1.5 litre water bottle, sweets for toddlers, which can often be found in the villages or inns, camera, mobile phone, charger ( There are European sockets in Georgia), power bank, hiking boots with a good profile and a change of light shoes, waterproof trousers, waterproof jacket, functional clothing such as underpants, T-shirt, leggings, jumper, fleece jacket, gloves, sleeping bag.
First aid and hygiene – plasters, blister plasters and tape, headache medicine, medicine for diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, nasal spray, eye drops, insect repellent, electrolyte preparations, personal medication, sun cream.

Additional information:

Difficulty level: moderately difficult; suitable for experienced hikers who can hike up to 3000 m in altitude.
Hiking days: 8 hiking days, 1 rest day, 2 transfer days to and from Svanetia.
Daily stages: from 12 to 17 km.
Accommodation: simple and very nice family hotels.
Luggage: Our main luggage is transported by our support vehicle. We only carry day luggage.

Our route

FAQ-s about hiking in the Caucasus

Question 1What equipment do I need for the hiking tour in the Caucasus?

We recommend sturdy walking shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, a backpack, sunscreen, a hat, a water bottle, and personal hygiene items. A detailed packing list will be provided prior to departure.

Question 2.How demanding are the hikes?

The hikes vary from moderate to challenging. We recommend a good level of physical fitness. Daily hiking times are between 2 and 6 hours with altitude differences of up to 1,000 metres.

Question 3.What types of accommodation are offered?

Our accommodation includes hotels and smaller family-run hotels. In the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park, we will stay either in tents or huts. All accommodation offers hot showers and delicious food.

Question 4.Is the luggage transported during the hikes?

Yes, the group will be accompanied by a vehicle that transports the luggage. In the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park, packhorses will carry the luggage.

Question 5.What catering is provided during the trip?

The catering includes daily breakfast and dinner at the accommodation. There are packed lunches along the way. Georgian cuisine and wines are a highlight of the trip.

Question 6.Which cultural attractions will be visited?

The trip includes visits to important cultural sites such as the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, the Jvari Church, the Gelati Cathedral and various traditional villages.

Question 7.What is the best time of year to go hiking in the Caucasus?

The best time to visit is from mid-June to mid-October, when the weather conditions are ideal for hiking.

Question 8.How big are the groups and what language do the tour guides speak?

The groups consist of a maximum of 12 participants. The tour guides speak fluent English and German and are experienced hiking guides with extensive knowledge of the region.