BLOG
Most of us know Georgia for its incredibly impressive traditional dishes, khachapuri and khinkhali to give a few examples, as well as folk dances and traditional music. I suppose you’ve heard about Georgian hospitality, their wine traditions and the famous Georgian folk dance ensemble Sukhishvilebi? But, now, let’s put aside traditions and food and talk about things which are not often heard.
Since I travel a lot in my life and have visited many places that offer very good conditions for hiking, it has become one of my favorite hobbies!
The first thing one usually discovers when visiting a country is the capital city. Seeing Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, the first idea to come to mind won’t necessarily be in the frames of an active and healthy lifestyle. But in case you lust for a dynamic lifestyle away from the feast table and bars, I’ll share with you, dear reader, a wonderful alternative: hiking! The best part about Georgia is of course the incredibly varied landscape and I’d like to share with you some of my personal favorite hiking trails which, in my opinion, bring together all those unique aspects of the country.
Let’s start with a trek located in the most mysterious and isolated region of Georgia- Svaneti. It’s a 4-day trail that connects two small medieval towns: Mestia, which is the center of Svaneti, and the remote mountain townlet of Ushguli, the highest inhabited place in Europe. This trail is recommended for hikers who are looking for the best possible scenery, contact with locals, comfort and who don’t mind meeting other tourists, as it’s a rather active tourist region. I suppose it goes without saying that you should pack some warm clothes for this 58 km trek. Being Lithuanian, I’m pretty used to it…
The second trek spans Omalo and Shatili, the mountain regions of Tusheti and Khevsureti. I would recommend it to those who enjoy camping and are interested in the culture of traditional Georgian mountain folk. This trail is longer, and you’ll be able to cover the entirety of this 70km trek in 5 days.
The last is a hike through the Chaukhi Pass which connects Juta village in Kazbegi with Khevsureti. It’s a very worthwhile trip, the best part about it that you’ll get to discover the Abudelauri lakes - three beautiful alpine lakes with different colors (green, blue and white). This is the shortest route on my list at 21 km one-way or 52 km (with a return through Arkhoti). You’ll be able to hike it in 4 days (with return). For these long distance but worthy trips you should be in a good physical shape and, I can’t stress it enough, well equipped! I hope this article will encourage you to experience some new stunning adventures.
By Ula Marija Naujokaityte