Mestia to Ushguli tour

Ushguli is located under the Skhara Peak, between the juncture of Enguri and Shavtskala-Kvishara rivers. Village of Ushguli is located between 2070-2200 meters. It used to be the highest inhabited village in Europe until 2015, when another village in Georgia – Bochorna took the title, though Bochorna has only 1 inhabitant. There’s about 60 families living in Ushguli now.

Ushguli is only accessible in the summer months, as it’s located in an area where avalanches are very common. Through the rest of the year, roads are covered in snow and getting to Ushguli is only possible via a helicopter.

It is thanks to this isolation that Ushguli is so unique – people have lived here in isolation from the rest of the world for hundreds of years. In winter months families spend most of their days reading, taking care of animals and chit-chatting with neighbors – there’s not much else you can do in the freezing cold of the Svaneti winters.

Another thing that makes Ushguli unique, is the fact that it has never had a ruler – Ushguli has always been under the Georgian kingdom but never had a direct ruler – as the Georgian saying says: “True freedom is only high in the mountains”.

Places to See in Ushguli

Every hill and stone in Ushguli will mesmerize, however there are still couple of places you should not miss when you visit:

• Ushguli Lamaria – IX-X Century – Christian-Pagan Temple-Church – It’s a mix of two religions in one as Pagan beliefs and influences are mixed with Christianity in Georgia, especially in the isolated areas like Svaneti
• Ushguli Archaeological Museum – if you want to see the artifacts of the medieval life here
• Queen Tamara Towers
• Village of Chajashi – has the highest number of towers in a small area – it numbers 30 original Svan towers
• Hike to Shkhara Glacier – Enjoy a nice hike and see the birth of one of the biggest Rivers in Georgia – Enguri

 

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