Svaneti is one of the mountainous historical-geographic regions in western Georgia. It is located on the southern slopes of the Caucasus Range. Svaneti is separated from Samegrelo and Racha-Lechkhumi with the ranges of Egrisi and Lechkhumi.
The region is divided into two parts by the Svaneti Range: Zemo (Upper) Svaneti – the Enguri Valley (located on the north of the range) and Kvemo (Lower) Svaneti – the Tskhenistskali Valley (located on the south of the range). Currently, Zemo Svaneti (Mestia Municipality) is an administrative-territorial unit of the region of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti. As for Kvemo Svaneti (Lentekhi Municipality), it is an administrative-territorial unit of Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti.
Historically Svaneti was part of the Colchis Kingdom; after this, it was part of the kingdom of Egrisi. Later it was divided into three parts: Free Svaneti, Svaneti ruled by Dadeshkeliani, and Svaneti ruled by Dadiani. The Kodori Gorge was part of historical Svaneti, as for now, it is located on the territory of occupied Abkhazia.
Svaneti is bordered to the east by Racha, to the south by Lechkhumi and Samegrelo, to the west by Abkhazia, to the north by the Russian Federation.
Surrounded by the gigantic mountains, Svaneti is one of the highest populated regions in the Caucasus. Most of the relief is a glacier and is covered with permanent snow and ice. Here you can find some of the most notable peaks of the Caucasus, such as Mount Ushba with the double summit, Tetnuldi, Mount Shkhara (with nine summits), Shota Rustaveli, Ailama, and others. Mount Shkhara (5193 m.) is the highest peak in Georgia and represents a serious challenge for mountaineers from all over the world. It is located on the highest part of the Central Caucasus – the Bezingi Wall.
Svanetian cuisine is rich with delicious dishes. They mainly use locally sourced ingredients for preparing food – dairy products, meat, and grain. Most of the food is mixed with Svanetian salt (Svanuri Marili). It is a mixture of ordinary salt, pepper, and different spices. Kubdari is a signature dish of Svaneti. It is a pastry made with chopped meat of pork or beef or both. The Svans usually drink Rakhi (vodka, which is distilled only once) with it, Honey Vodka is also popular here. Distinguished dishes made with cheese are Tashmijab (cheese kneaded into the boiling mashed potatoes), Chvishtari (Mchadi – cornbread – fried with lots of pieces of cheese inside), and Fetvraal (Khachapuri made with a mixture of cheese and millet flour inside).
Svaneti is an excellent place for those who are searching for an adventure. It is one of the best places in the world for mountaineering. Lovers of skiing and snowboarding should visit ski resorts of Tetnuldi, Zuruldi and Hatsvali. Cultural monuments of Svaneti are represented by approximately 100 churches and up to 200 Svan towers built in the middle ages. In the past, they were not only living in the towers but also using them as a defensive structure.
Mestia (a highland townlet) is the best starting point for the main trips in Svaneti. It is possible to hike up from here, to take horses and use jeep-tour service, also. Svaneti’s must-see places are Becho, Latali (mountain of Mkheri), villages of the following communities – Ipari, Mulakhi, Kala, and Ushguli. Do not forget to visit the Chalaadi Glacier, the lakes of Koruldi and Shdugra (Mazeri) Waterfall. Mazeri Waterfall is the most affluent waterfall in Georgia. Mestia’s must-see places are Mestia Historical-Ethnographic Museum, the Memorial House of Mikheil Khergiani, who was a famous Georgian mountain climber, and the Memorial House of Margiani family. There are preserved unique items in the museums. Chazhashi village is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a center of Ushguli community, here are located more towers than in any other villages of Ushguli.
You can also visit churches and towers while visiting Kvemo Svaneti – Lentekhi townlet. There is a climate-balneological resort of Muashi in Lentekhi Municipality.
There are guesthouses and hotels in Kvemo and Zemo Svaneti. The local relief is convenient for staying at night in tents.
Hiking lovers will enjoy stunning places on hiking trails of Svaneti. There are big and little lakes of Okrotskali on the awe-inspiring hiking route of Zemo Svaneti. These attractive lakes are waiting for you in the community of Chuberi, the Ormeleti Valley, near the border of Abkhazia. It is possible to get from Kvemo Svaneti to Zemo Racha via visiting the mountaineering camp of Zeskho on the road and see the lakes of Sasvano in Racha. In case you travel from Kvemo Svaneti to Kvemo Racha, you will be able to visit the lakes of Chutkharo in Racha. And, if you get from Samegrelo to Svaneti and travel on the Egrisi Range, you will surely be surprised by the Tobavarchkhili Lakes in Samegrelo and magnificent Lakumurash Toba in Svaneti.
