Svaneti Ski Tour 8-Day Itinerary

Svaneti is home to Georgia’s highest mountains and several of the longest freeride and ski tour routes on the entire Eurasian continent. Your 6 ski days will be filled with epic descents, stunning hikes, and pure wilderness. Standard tours run from Saturday to Saturday.

Day 1, Saturday: Arrive Kutaisi. Drive to Mestia, Svanetia

Your journey begins in Kutaisi, the former Capital of Georgia, where our driver will be waiting to pick you up. The scenic 5 hour drive up into Svaneti promises stunning views of the greater caucuses mountains and valleys. After you arrive, you’ll settle into Edelweiss Guesthouse, an authentic slice of local life, and enjoy a welcome dinner sampling Georgia’s famous cuisine – cozy fare for cold snowy nights. Thanks to Georgians’ famous hospitality and delicious wine, you’ll quickly learn to repeat “Gaumarjose!” (“Cheers!”) to celebrate our long-awaited arrival.
Overnight: Edelweiss Guesthouse, Mestia
Meals included: Welcome Dinner

Day 2, Sunday: Ski Hatsvali ski resort

Begin your trip at one of the two local Mestia ski resorts, Tetnuldi or Hatsvali. Enjoy chutes, faces, and open trees with stunning views of Tetnuldi peak, ending in a long out-of-bounds run to a nearby village. In snowy weather, the guides will choose Hatsvali ski resort - a true locals’ ski area. A 5-minute drive from the hotel, Hatsvali is perfect for quick laps and tricky tree runs. Ski tour along the ridge to warm up your touring legs and enjoy a peaceful forest ride. Finish the day with a stroll around town, taking in the historic medieval towers and village life.
Overnight: Edelweiss Guesthouse, Mestia
Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 3, Monday: Ski Tour near Mestia

Depending on your interests and mountain conditions, our guides will select an ideal ski-touring day trip. Having trained extensively in Svaneti, our guides have a long list of local ski tours to share, from mellow glades to steep faces.
Overnight: Edelweiss Guesthouse, Mestia
Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 4 to 6, Tuesday to Thursday: Multi-day trip to Ushguli or Chalaadi Glacier

In Svaneti, all options are good options. Our guides will select an ideal multi-day itinerary depending on the mountain conditions.

Option A: Ushguli - Deep in Svaneti lies Ushguli, a legendary group of medieval villages surrounded by Georgia’s tallest peaks and countless ski lines. Spend 3 days ski touring among the giants and resting in the peace and quiet of this secluded village.

• Day 4: Drive to Ushguli, ski tour Ushguli.
• Day 5: Ski tour Ushguli.
• Day 6: Ski tour Ushguli, return to Mestia.

Overnight: 2 nights in an Ushguli guesthouse, last night in Edelweiss Guesthouse, Mestia
Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner

Option B: Cloudbase Hut and Chalaadi Glacier, plus day-trip near Mestia - Enjoy nature’s solitude at Cloudbase Hut on the slopes below Ushba, Svaneti’s iconic twin-peaked mountain. Spend 2 days on Chalaadi and enjoy one last ski tour or resort day in Svaneti.

• Day 4: Ski tour up to Cloudbase Hut, spend the night.
• Day 5: Ski tour Chalaadi Glacier, ending in Mestia.
• Day 6: Day trip from Mestia (ski tour and/or ski resort).

Overnight: 1 night in Cloudbase Hut, 2 nights in Edelweiss Guesthouse, Mestia
Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 7, Friday: Freeriding Tetnuldi

On a clear day, Tetnuldi Ski Resort is a freerider’s paradise - so perfect that Tetnuldi hosted the Freeride World Tour in 2023 and it was so good that an even bigger FWT competition is was held here for 2024! Enjoy chutes, faces, and open trees with stunning views of Tetnuldi peak, ending in a long out-of-bounds run to a nearby village.
Overnight: Edelweiss Guesthouse, Mestia
Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 8, Saturday: Journey home. Drive from Mestia to Tbilisi or Kutaisi

After another wonderful Georgian breakfast, Say goodbye to new friends, hop in the car, and your driver will take you to back to your meeting point in Kutaisi before you departure. If your first experience in Georgia is anything like ours, we bet that you’ll join us again soon. Don’t forget to pack a bag of Svan salt to enjoy back home! Until next time!
Overnight: N/A
Meals included: Breakfast

Please note this itinerary is an example of the Ski Tour of Svaneti. The knowledgeable guides will select exact slopes and times based on weather & snow conditions as well as participants' abilities & wishes.

Lodgings

The Svaneti ski tour spends 7 nights in up to 3 different locations, all with superb locally run, accommodations & amazing dining. All dinners & breakfasts are included in the tour price. In true Georgian style, you will be impressed at the quantity and quality of the local cuisine.

Edelweiss Guesthouse, Mestia

In the Svaneti your base will be in the village of Mestia and the comfortable family-owned Edelweiss Guesthouse, acclaimed for its authentic Svan cuisine.

Ushguli or Cloudbase Hut

For your overnight ski touring experience in Svaneti, lodging options include a local guesthouse in the snowbound village of Ushguli, or if skiing the Chalaadi Glacier, one night in the Cloudbase Hut located spectacularly on an alpine ridge on the way to the glacier.

Rates & Inclusions

Rates Information

8-day tour from USD$1,900/person

• Price based on minimum group size of 8, twin-share
• Scale of tariff ranges from $1,900/person in a group of 8 up to $2,800 for a group of 2
• Invoice / base currency is USD$
• Custom tours for private groups only, starting and finishing on a Saturday
• Convert to your currency here

• HOSTING & GUIDING: Professionally qualified private host & guide for 8 days
• ACCOMMODATION: 7 nights comfortable accommodation in double/twin rooms
• MEALS: All breakfasts & dinners whilst on the tour
• GROUND TRANSPORT: All transportation during the tour plus from Kutaisi & back
• SKIING: 6 fully guided ski days (1 to 3 days of lift-accessed skiing, 3 to 4 days of ski touring)
• LIFT PASSES: All Georgian ski lift passes during the tour
• SKILLS DEVELOPMENT: Use of avalanche safety eqt & ski/snowboard or touring technique (if you want it!)

• SINGLE ROOM: Price upon request
• GEAR RENTALS: Ski, Snowboard & Touring Equipment (prices on request)
• AVI SAFETY EQUIPMENT: ABS Backpack, Beacon, Shovel, Probe (prices on request)

• FLIGHTS: To Kutaisi (KUT) - Search & book flights to Georgia
• SKI TRAVEL INSURANCE - Get ski travel insurance here
• OTHER: Lunches, drinks & personal expenses not list as inclusions

Terms & Conditions

As per agreed terms & conditions with the tour operator, Vagabond Adventures, at the time of booking, and including but not limited the payment & cancellation T&Cs listed below. Any contractual arrangements as a result of a booking enquiry are directly with the tour operator and is subject to their terms and conditions.

Payment

30% deposit required to book. The remainder must be paid a minimum of 30 days before the trip.

Cancellation by the Client

All cancellations must be submitted to the Company in writing, are effective as of the date we receive them according to our internal records, and will be subject to a cancellation fee (“Cancellation Fee”) as follows (amounts are per person and only apply to amount paid after the non-refundable deposit amount):
◦ Cancellation 30 days or more prior to trip departure – 30% of total booking cost
◦ Cancellation less than 30 days prior to departure – 100% of total booking cost

Cancellation policy for custom trips may differ from these terms and will be communicated prior to booking.

No refunds will be made if you voluntarily leave a trip for any reason after the trip has begun. The same applies if you leave a trip or cannot fully participate in a trip due to injury or illness. Refunds will be at the discretion of the Company if you are involuntarily forced to leave a trip for any reason. No refunds will be made for any accommodation, transport, sightseeing, meals or services not utilized.

Cancellation by the Company

The Company reserves the right to cancel any trip prior to the scheduled departure date for any reason whatsoever, including without limitation, insufficient participation, local weather conditions or logistical problems that, in our sole reasonable judgment, may impede trip operations. In the event of trip cancellation by the Company for any reason whatsoever other than a force majeure event, your sole and exclusive remedy shall be the refund by the Company of all payment amounts received from you by the Company as of the date of cancellation, and the payment thereof shall release the Company from any and all other or further liability in any way related to such cancellation. The Company makes substantial payments to its suppliers (hotels, transportation companies, etc.) far in advance of the scheduled trip departure date. Accordingly, if a trip is cancelled due to a force majeure event (e.g. acts of God, war, labor strikes, earthquake, flooding, etc.), the Company will undertake commercially reasonable efforts to promptly refund the portion of any amounts paid by you that have, in turn, not already been advanced to suppliers. In addition, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to recover and refund to you the balance of your payment amounts that were advanced to suppliers, less the costs, if any, of such recovery, as promptly as possible. However, (a) the Company does not guarantee recovery of any portion of advance payments made to suppliers, and (b) commercially reasonable recovery efforts under this Section shall not include or require, and shall be fully satisfied and performed exclusive of, the institution of any legal proceedings by or on behalf of the Company in any forum, venue or jurisdiction whatsoever. The Company is not responsible for, and you hereby release and forever discharge the Company from, any expense or cost incurred by you in preparing for or arising or resulting from a cancelled trip, including without limitation, the cost of non-refundable airfare, other transportation, lodging and meal expense, visa fees, medical expenses, equipment and clothing purchases, and the cost of any additional or alternative arrangements you elect or are required to incur or make as a result of a cancelled trip.

Booking Amendments

If you wish to change your booking in any way, you must contact us as soon as possible and we will accommodate your request to the best of our ability. Surcharges may apply.

Substitution of a Client

If any member of the party is prevented from traveling because of the death, injury or serious illness of the passenger, close relative or friend, redundancy or jury service, it may be possible to transfer the booking to another suitable person (acceptable to the Company) provided that (a) written notice is given at least 30 days prior to departure, and (b) you will be responsible for any expense, fee or charge incurred by or imposed on the Company by suppliers and vendors that may arises as a result of the transfer or substitution. An administration fee of up to $100 may be imposed by the Company to cover its internal costs associated with the booking transfer. In addition, you will be responsible for any fees or expenses arising from the substitution or change that are imposed by vendors or suppliers of services not included in the trip price, which may include by way of example, airline cancellation charge and change fees.