Ushguli
Ushguli
The historic villages of Ushguli are among the most fascinating and picturesque destinations in Georgia, but reaching this remote area on your own can be a challenge. Skip the hassle of arranging transportation with this private tour from Mestia. Explore the medieval Svan tower houses and churches of these UNESCO-listed hamlets with a guide to learn about their history and architecture and stop to snap photos along the scenic drive.
Tour details:
Stop:
Lakhiri
⏰ Duration:
15 minutes
🌍 Actions:
take a pictures.
Lakhiri - the village in Mestia municipality (Mulakhi community), on the southern slope of the main Dividing Ridge of the Caucasus Mountains in Svaneti, in the valley river Mulkhari, 1760m above sea level. It is located 11km far from Mestia. There is the biggest number of towers in the village Lakhiri, among the other villages.
Stop:
Tower of Love
⏰ Duration:
20 minutes
🌍 Actions:
history about the tower of love,
take a pictures.
This three-story tower has high floors that are connected with one another by vertical stairs, although you should be especially careful when climbing them. The thick walls of the tower have stood for centuries and are likely to stand for many more. 
Stop:
Ushguli
⏰ Duration:
4 hours
🌍 Actions:
history about Ushguli,
take a pictures,
optional: visit the museums
🌍 Attractions:
- 1. Ushguli Lamaria
- 2. Ushguli Archaeological Museum
- 3. Queen Tamar Summer and Watermelon Towers. Summer towers were dismantled in the 1950s and used as a farm building material.
- 4. Church of the Savior - in the village of Murkmeli, Church of St. Barbara - in the village of Murkmeli
- 5. Savior Church - in the village of Chvibiani
- 6. Savior Church - in the village of Zhibiani
- 7. St. George Church - in the village of Zhibiani
- 8. Church of the Savior - in the village of Chajashi
At 2,200 metres above sea level, Ushguli is one of the highest settlements in Europe, and one of the most extreme points in Svaneti, from which trails go towards the highest peaks of the Caucasus Mountains.
The Ushguli community, which consists of five small villages, is connected to the outside world by the Ushguli-Mestia road and the Ushguli-Lentekhi road, the latter of which can only be taken only during the warm season, mostly during late spring to early fall, as it is often completely covered in snow for the other half of the year!
Stop:
Lamaria of Ushguli
⏰ Duration:
includes ushguli stop duration time
🌍 Actions:
history about Lamaria of Ushguli,
Lamaria of Ushguli is a church of the Mother of God, located on an elevated hill in Svaneti, in the Ushguli community of Mestia Municipality, north of the village Zhibiani. The church has a fence around it with a fortified tower. It is a basilica-type building of the IX-X centuries, with a three-sided, projecting apse. The church has an entrance from the west, and the chapel- from the south-west. The iconostasis is made of stone, the chambers of which rest on the stone pillars starting from the floor and are decorated with plain pillars. Ushguli Lamaria is one of the most important and highly cultural-historical monuments of Svaneti.
