Mestia, Svaneti

Mestia: Seven Days in the Heart of the Caucasus

On some journeys, the memories you bring home weigh more than your suitcase.

Mestia was exactly that kind of journey for us.

Among the mighty Caucasus mountains, we walked through mist and clouds, right beside glaciers. Sometimes we were soaked by rain; sometimes we were breathless under the sun. Every day brought a new beauty to admire.

Even the view that greeted us on arrival hinted at what lay ahead: high mountains all around, stone houses, Svan towers and the sound of water flowing through the valleys…

We left city life behind and surrendered ourselves to nature’s rhythm.

Our story began at the Koruldi Lakes

The Koruldi Lakes were one of the most special stops on our journey.

As we climbed, Mestia grew smaller below and the enormous Caucasus peaks began to surround us. We grew tired and sweaty, but every glance back at the view gave us fresh energy.

At moments like those, you find yourself thinking:

“I’m so glad we came.”

Walking beside glaciers…

Chalaadi Glacier was an entirely different experience.

As you make your way between the mountains, you feel nature’s power much more closely. Glaciers, rocks, flowing water and that unmistakable mountain silence…

Some landscapes look beautiful in photographs. But when you stand there breathing, feel the cool mountain air on your face and hear water in the distance, you realise a photograph can never tell the whole story.

Trails through the villages

As we travelled from Mestia towards Ushguli, we discovered not only the mountains but also life in Svaneti.

Zhabeshi, Adishi, Iprari…

Every village offered a different view and a different story.

Stone houses, towers that have stood for centuries and a simple way of life among the mountains…

Sometimes people greeted us as we passed through a village; sometimes we simply continued on our way. Everywhere, though, we felt the same thing:

Here, life flows together with nature.

Adishi Glacier and an unforgettable crossing

One of the most exciting parts of the route was our walk around Adishi Glacier.

The peaks rising ahead, the icy water running beside us and the crossings we made along the way turned this journey into something far beyond an ordinary trek.

We walked together.

Sometimes we watched the scenery in silence; sometimes we were tired; sometimes we laughed.

At the end of each day, however, we all wore the same expression:

Awe.

And then, Ushguli…

When we reached Ushguli after those long walks, it felt as if the whole journey had come together before us.

Stone towers, high mountains and this extraordinary settlement tucked among the valleys…

For a while, I simply stood and looked.

No words were needed to explain why we had walked all that way.

Some places cannot be described; they must be experienced.

What did Mestia mean to us?

For us, Mestia was more than a trekking route.

It was a journey of walking together, growing tired, getting wet in the rain, falling silent before the scenery and saying “incredible” again and again.

For seven days, we lived within the unique landscape of the Caucasus.

We walked beside glaciers.

We lost ourselves among the mountains.

We passed through villages.

We listened to the water.

Most importantly, we made wonderful memories together.

Looking back now, every photograph brings a different moment to mind. Yet none fully captures how we felt there.

Seeing Mestia is one thing…

Walking through Mestia is something else entirely.

Thank you to everyone who shared this journey with us.

I’m glad you came, and glad we walked this trail together.

Every step we took through the magnificent Caucasus became an unforgettable story.

We left Mestia behind, but returned with beautiful memories.

And I know that one day we will look towards those mountains again and ask,

“Shall we go back?”

— Bilal Dönmez | Safaritrek