If you fancy a beautiful hike through wild nature, the trekking from Svaneti to Mingrelia and back is perfect for you. The route is one of the most beautiful but least well-known hiking trails in Svaneti.
During the hike, you will cross the famous Egrisi Mountains between Svaneti and Mingrelia and enjoy the unique scenic beauty of both regions.
Since there are no official huts along the route, you will need to camp and take provisions with you. You can hire a packhorse and a horse guide in the village of Tsanashi to carry your luggage.
The tour is suitable for experienced hikers who are able to camp for three consecutive nights and hike up to an altitude of 3,000 metres with an approximate altitude difference of 1500 metres. Since the trail is not marked and is partially overgrown, we advise against hiking on your own without a local guide.
The trip includes four hiking days with a rest day by the lake. With the two transfer days to and from Lentechi, the entire trip lasts seven days. Therefore, we plan the programme as a seven-day hiking programme.
Note: The tour can also be booked as an individual trip with or without a tour guide. Tips, pre- and post-programme for hiking in Georgia on your own can be found here.
The trekking from Svaneti to Mingrelia / Samegrelo begins with a drive to Lentekhi, the administrative centre of Lower Svaneti. The drive from Tbilisi takes about six hours, and only two hours from Kutaisi. We therefore recommend that our guests fly to Kutaisi.
Meals: breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Lentekhi/in a guesthouse
The first stage of our trekking from Svaneti to Mingrelia begins in the village of Tsanashi in the valley of the Khelidura River. We reach the village of Ediashi, which is used by local shepherds as a summer pasture, through a beautiful forest. We plan to spend our first night right on the edge of the forest here.
Meals: Breakfast / lunch box / Dinner
Accommodation: Ediashi / Tent
Trekking route:
Length: 15 km
Elevation: Ascent approx. 1100 m, descent approx. 200 m
Time: Approx. 6 hours
Today we cross the Egrisi mountain range and arrive in the Samegrelo region. The route runs along a ridge and climbs gradually. The highest point is Utvini, from where there is a 360-degree view of the mountains of Svaneti, the Caucasus and the Egrisi Mountains.
After that, we descend to the Lebarde Lakes, where we will spend the night. On the way, we will have the opportunity to observe the daily life of the locals and taste their dairy products.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch box / Dinner
Accommodation: Lebrde / Tent
Trekking route:
Length: 16 km
Elevation: Ascent approx. 700 m, descent approx. 350 m
Time: Approx. 6 hours
Today’s stage will be used as a rest day. We can camp by the lake and swim if the weather is nice. We will enjoy the beautiful landscape and relax all day.
Meals: breakfast / Lunch box / dinner
Accommodation: tents
On today’s stage of our trekking from Svaneti to Mingrelia, we cross the Egrisi Mountains again and reach Mount Labrachi in Svaneti, where the shepherds spend the summer. As in Lebarde, we also have the opportunity to meet the locals and observe their daily lives.
Meals: breakfast / lunch box / dinner
Accommodation: camping
Trekking route:
Length: 17 km
Elevation: ascent approx. 900 m, descent approx. 400 m
Time: approx. 7 hours
The last hiking stage leads from Monte Labrachi down to Lentechi. The route is also accessible by car, so that guests who are too tired to hike can travel by car.
Meals: Breakfast / lunch box / Dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Trekking route:
Length: 18 km
Difference in altitude: Ascent approx. 1450 m, descent approx. 230
Time: Approx. 6 hours
Our trekking tour from Svaneti to Samegrelo / Mingrelia ends with the transfer from Lentechi to Kutaisi or Tbilisi.
Meals: breakfast / lunch / dinner
Note: Since there are no fixed dates for this trip, you can flexibly organise the time period for your trip. The best time to travel is from mid-June to the end of October. You can find out more about the best time to travel to Georgia HERE.
Important Information About Our Prices
Our listed prices apply when the minimum number of 5 participants is reached.
If the minimum number of participants is not reached, the following surcharges apply:
3–4 participants: 20%
2 participants: 30%
1 participant: 60%
For more details about our booking policy, please click HERE.
The trek is challenging and is intended for experienced hikers. It requires a good level of physical fitness, as the route is unmarked and partially overgrown. The trek includes daily ascents and descents of up to 3,000 metres and requires camping in the wilderness.
For the trek, you will need a complete set of trekking equipment, including a tent, sleeping bag, camping mat, weatherproof clothing, hiking boots, food and enough water. A GPS device or maps are also recommended. Since there are no official huts, you will have to carry everything you need yourself or hire a pack horse.
A guide is highly recommended as the route is not marked and is partly overgrown. A local guide knows the best paths and will ensure your safety. Without a guide, there is a risk of getting lost or underestimating difficult terrain.
The best time to go on a hike is from the end of June to mid-October. During this period, the weather conditions are most favourable and the paths are free of snow. Outside of this period, the weather conditions may be extreme and the paths impassable.
Transport to Lentekhi can be organised from either Tbilisi or Kutaisi. The journey from Tbilisi takes about six hours, while the journey from Kutaisi takes just two hours. We recommend booking a flight to Kutaisi and arranging transfer to Lentekhi from there. After the trek, transport back can also be arranged from Lentekhi to Kutaisi or Tbilisi.