Experience the best of Mestia

Mestia is the main town of Upper Svaneti, lying at about 1,500 metres in a valley of the Greater Caucasus. Its skyline is marked by stone towers, defensive houses built by Svan families, and many more stand in the villages up the valley. The Upper Svaneti monuments are a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the town's museum shows the region's history.

Ushguli, a village high up the valley, is among the highest permanently inhabited settlements in Europe, and it lies beneath Shkhara, the highest peak in Georgia. Walkers come in summer for the glaciers and high pastures, and roads over the passes are often closed in winter.

Svan food is hearty: kubdari, a pie of spiced meat, is the local classic, alongside cheese-filled breads and a seasoning called Svan salt, a blend of salt, garlic and spices. Georgian wine is served at every table. Summers are short and cool, and winters bring heavy snow that can cut the roads.