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Georgia is such an underrated destination but it won’t be for long! If you’re interested in visiting Georgia, you should make it happen sooner, not later. I spent 2 weeks there in July 2023, starting in Tbilisi and I loved it. I made time to trek the Caucasus for 4 days it was so beautiful. The mountains are pretty remote and it was a bit hard to plan logistically so here are all of the details. 
The Caucasus are an absolutely breathtaking mountain range in Northern Georgia on the Russian border and it’s the tallest mountain range in Europe (if you consider it Europe, some don’t). This 4 day trek is about 66 km with an elevation gain of 2700 meters and a total elevation to 3100 m.
It’s not the easiest trek but it’s very doable and felt very safe! Here are some Tiktoks I made recapping the trek. This trek is also relatively budget friendly. It’s about $200 when you plan it all out.
You can either trek near Kazbegi or Mestia. We decided to start the Caucasus in Mestia because it seemed more popular. We started in Tbilisi and took a bus to Mestia which takes about 8 hours. On the way there, we stopped in Kutaisi along the way for a night to break up the drive.
There are multiple ways to take the bus from Tbilisi but you can’t reserve ahead and just have to go to the bus station around 8am or you can take a more private ride with Budget Georgia.
Where to stay in Tbilisi: Envoy Hostel for $12 a night
Here are some other fun things to do in Tbilisi:
- Take a day trip to Kakheti, Georgian wine country
- Go out in Fabrika, this cool warehouse with bars and food stalls
- Go up the cable car and see the Mother of Georgia
- Go paddle boarding in the Tbilisi Sea (it’s a lake)
Where to stay in Kutaisi: Bao Hostel for $10 a night 
After Kutaisi, we took a bus the rest of the way to Mestia.
Our 4 day trekking journey is from Mestia to Chvabiani to Adishi to Iprali to Ushguli and back to Mestia.
Some things to prepare before the trek:
Have a day pack. We left everything in our first guest house in Mestia which was super nice and just took what we needed for the trek.
Download each day on Maps.me before since there isn’t service and the trails can be hard to follow. There is wifi in the guest houses but it isn’t the best.
Bring enough cash. You need around 80 Lari or $40 a day for the guest houses and meals and there are no ATMs. We actually ran out of cash and a Swedish couple lent us some on our first day because we had no idea how expensive food would be.
Bring snacks like protein bars since there aren’t any restaurants or shops on the way. We didn’t eat lunch most days since there wasn’t any food. We just ate snacks and had a big breakfast and dinner. (If you can’t tell, not getting enough nutrients while trekking was a legit fear of mine LOL)
Bring a poncho or something waterproof. It rained one day and EVERYTHING was soaked. Also bring sunscreen because there’s very little coverage or shade.
Prepare for a river crossing that you can pay to take a horse for 20 Lari or you can wade through it. The current is pretty strong and it’s very high and cold. I paid to take the horse and it was so worth it. 
Day 0: Arrive in Mestia 
Where to stay: Guesthouse
This guesthouse was super nice and comfortable and included breakfast. You can leave your stuff that you don’t need for the trek here.
Day 1: Mestia to Chvabiani 
The first day is around 10.9 miles from Mestia to the first guest house in Chvabiani. The views were beautiful and there was one part of steep incline at the beginning of the trail. There was only one little stand for snacks and water so you really have to pace yourself during the hike. There isn’t too much shade so prepare for the heat. I would recommend wearing long socks or pants because there are a lot of thorns. 
Where to stay: Guesthouse
The first day started off pretty exhausting but the views were incredible. It was mainly uphill but it was very manageable. The guest house had hot water and the shower felt so good. We ate traditional homemade food at the guest house with another couple trekking. 
Day 2: Chvabiani to Adishi
Day 2 is 8.5 miles with a good amount of uphill and downhill. We got caught in the rain and got soaked. It was also longer than anticipated so I was recommend starting earlier but there were also more cafes to stop along the way (around 2-3). 
Where to stay: Guesthouse
Stone house was super cozy and we stayed with a family with 2 kids. The kids were playing roblux and we ended up eating dinner with the parents with lots of wine and delicious food.
Day 3: Adishi to Iprali
Day 3 is the longest day and the biggest incline at 13.4 miles long but it also comes with the best views. You will also have to cross a river. You can pay to cross with a horse which is what I did since the river is pretty deep and has a strong current. We paid our homestay since it was one of their relatives that manage the horses. After the steep uphill, it’s mostly all downhill which is great but also exhausting. If you don’t have the best knees, I’d recommend walking poles!
Where to stay: Guesthouse
The guesthouse was pretty social with other hikers and we all had dinner together and the beds were comfortable. The food was delicious! 
Day 4: Iprali to Ushguli (and back to Mestia)
It’s the final day! You made it! Day 4 to the end in Ushguli is also a long day at 12 miles. It starts off really steep and then the views are beautiful. The beginning is definitely the hardest part of the day but then you’re just walking alongside a little path in the mountains. Once you get to Ushguli, you can have lunch or a snack and rest. Then you take a taxi all the way back to Mestia. There is a bit of a “taxi mafia” so you can’t negotiate price so it’s best if you can find other trekkers to split the cost with you since it’s a bit expensive.
Where to stay: Same guesthouse in Mestia if you can and retrieve your things!
Rewarded myself with some Khinkalli at the end! Happy trekking and feel free to ask any questions! 
