# Trekking in Georgia (the Caucasus): Places You Have to Visit > Hospitality, wine and the mighty Caucasus. We rounded up trekking spots in Georgia worth doing at least once, with routes for beginners and pros alike. - URL: https://langandtrip.com.ua/en/article/trekinh-u-hory-hruziyi/ - Language: en - Published: 2022-03-31 - Categories: Hiking, Nature, Culture, Historic Sites, Mountains, Tours, Georgia, Mountain --- Georgia is a country famous for its hospitality, delicious wine and mountains. Here you can meet travelers who came for a short while and ended up staying for months. And no wonder! The views that open up from the Georgian Caucasus are one of a kind: green hills, grazing goats and sheep, babbling streams. Set off on a hike here and you will have the adventure of a lifetime! These are the places worth visiting! ## Shkhara (5,193 m) Shkhara is the highest mountain in Georgia, located in the northern part of the Caucasus. To reach the summit of Shkhara, you have to climb more than 2,200 m above sea level. Along the way you need to be extremely careful. The route runs along steep, ice covered slopes. You have to know how to use an ice axe and crampons, and how to work a Tyrolean traverse. In practice, this means the place is meant for experienced mountaineers. That said, it is possible to trek beneath the Shkhara glacier. The view is breathtaking. Out of nowhere, among the green peaks, white, glistening Shkhara appears. Along the way you come across countless streams and wild pastures. There is plenty to see! ![](/storage/image/prev/statti-5-1.jpg) ## Laila (4,010 m) Laila is a peak located in Svaneti, a high mountain region of Georgia. The word "laila" in Georgian means "flame." The mountain was named this way because of the storms that so often break out over its summit. The route runs along steep, ice covered slopes. And, just as with Shkhara, this is not a trip for anyone taking their first steps in the mountains. Those without mountain experience who do not know how to use climbing gear can turn to travel agencies that organize guided ascents. On your own, you can climb to the base camp at an altitude of around 3,000 m and enjoy a wonderful mountain panorama from there. Along the way you can see the medieval towers of Svaneti and savor the dishes of Georgian cuisine. ## Trekking with a View of Mount Ushba (4,694 m) Ushba is called the Caucasian Matterhorn because of its soaring silhouette. Every year its slopes draw hundreds of tourists from all over the world. The difficulty of the ascent lies in crossing an active glacier and coping with strong winds. Every year a few people lose their lives to it. Fortunately, you do not have to climb Ushba to appreciate its unusual beauty. An excellent option is a trek that starts in Mestia. There are wonderfully marked trails leading to a picturesque pass that offers a view of Mount Ushba. ![](/storage/image/prev/statti-5-2.jpg) ## Trekking to the Village of Ushguli Ushguli is a cluster of four villages in Upper Svaneti. It is a byword for inaccessibility. For most of the year you cannot reach it by car, on horseback or on foot, but given the right conditions it is definitely worth doing. Ushguli is a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The locals are renowned for their hospitality and their readiness to offer you wine. History defines them as an exceptionally brave people. Many times they stood up to armies that were far more numerous and far better equipped. You reach the villages along a marked trail from Mestia. The hike takes 5 to 6 days. On the way you will see Shkhara, the highest peak in Georgia. ![](/storage/image/prev/statti-5-3-1024x682.jpg) ## Trekking to the Juta Valley They say the Juta Valley is the pearl of the Caucasus. Reaching it by car is impossible. At best you can set off on a hired horse. For everyone else there is a 7 day hike that starts from Omalo. Along the way you can admire boundless green hills, blooming meadows and grazing sheep and goats. You should, however, watch out for shepherd dogs. The animals are not used to the sight of a stranger. You can also count on the Georgian equivalent of emergency mountain rescue: you are on your own. Even so, the view of the Juta Valley rewards you for every hardship.