Svaneti: Europe's highest villages
Medieval stone towers, glacier valleys and Ushguli — one of the highest permanently inhabited places in Europe. What to know before you go to Upper Svaneti.
Towers and glaciers
Upper Svaneti, high in the Greater Caucasus, is famous for its koshki — medieval defensive tower-houses that still stand over the villages. The region is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and its mix of glaciers, wildflower meadows and stone hamlets is unlike anywhere else in Georgia.
Mestia and Ushguli
Mestia is the main hub, reachable by road or a small airport; from there it's a rough but stunning drive to Ushguli, a cluster of hamlets at around 2,100 m often called one of the highest continuously inhabited settlements in Europe. The Mestia–Ushguli trek is a classic for walkers.
When to go
Summer, roughly June to September, is the reliable window, when the roads and passes are open and the meadows are green. We travel Svaneti by 4×4 with a driver who knows the road, and can add it to a wider Georgia trip or run it as a focused few days.