REGION

Svaneti, a high mountain region in northwestern Georgia, is an unusual and surreal land of towers, rocky terrain, and snow-covered peaks in the Greater Caucasus Mountains. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the country’s remote areas recently renovated with tourist infrastructure. Now, every traveler who comes here to explore Georgia tries to get a glimpse of Svaneti for at least a short period. Here are some of the best things you should see and do in Svaneti.

Located at 1,500 meters (4,921 feet) above sea level, Mestia is the starting point for many trips throughout the region. From here, you can hike up to glaciers, learn about the Svan culture at the museum, try local delicacies, and ski at one of Georgia’s ski resorts. One of the most significant things to do here is to visit the Museum of History and Ethnography.

There’s a well-marked journey from Mestia to Ushguli — the most remote area of the region, a UNESCO site, and the highest settlement in Europe at the elevation of 2,200-meters above the sea level and is laid out at the foot of Mount Shkhara and offers gorgeous views of snow peak mountains, medieval defense towers, and green slopes.

In the outskirts of Ushguli on a lonely hill there stands ancient Lamaria church (church of the Assumption of the Mother of God), which offers spectacular views of the Shkhara mountain, and inside, it features old frescoes.

Svaneti is known for some of the tasty food in Georgian cuisine, with kubdari being widespread in the country. This beef or pork-and-beef filled meat pie is seasoned with onions and Svaneti salt – a mixture of dry coriander, cumin, red pepper, fennel, salt, and garlic.