'''Mestia''' is a city in Upper Svaneti, Georgia. It's the regional capital.

Get in

There is exactly one road from Kutaisi to Upper Svaneti. There is a small airport, but it has been closed for some time now. According to http://www.risk.ru/users/veronika/4755/ it has been re-opened, but flights are in a small propeller plane and only twice a week.

There is a 'marshrutka' (small bus) running from Tbilisi for 35 Lari, but it takes 12 hours mostly on twisty, narrow, deserted mountain roads. Not for those prone to carsickness, but the scenery is wonderful.

Get around

Marshrutki.

See

The Svaneti Historical-Ethnographic Museum, which has one of the oldest New Testament manuscripts in Georgian on display.

House and Museum of the world-famous alpinist Mikhail Hergiani

Do

Mountain Tourist activities, supported by the Mountain Tourist Centre of Svaneti, Pereulok Stalina No. 7, two-hundred metres from the main square in Mestia.

Mestia is also the embarkation point for a trip to Ushghuli, the highest altitude inhabited point in Europe. There is another small ethnographical museum there, containing 12th century religious artwork.

Buy

Beautiful works of Folk art can be bought at the Mountain Tourist Centre.

Eat

Drink

Lots of interesting mineral water. And of course, as anywhere in Georgia, marvellous Georgian wine. And Raki!

Sleep

House of Elguji Jorjoliani House of Ketevan Gabliani (Tel. +899-56-93-58) House of Malkhaza Argviliani (Tel. +899-25-90-80)

Contact

Get out

  • Ushguli