Best of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti

Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti: The Unmissable Treasures

Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti spans from the subtropical lowlands of the Black Sea to the highest glaciated peaks of the Greater Caucasus. This list features Shkhara, Georgia's highest point, and the iconic twin-pinnacled Ushba. Cultural highlights include the Svaneti Museum’s medieval icons and the 4th-century ruins of Nokalakevi. The region's unique geography is further defined by the Enguri Dam, one of the world's highest concrete arch dams, and the deep limestone formations of Martvili Canyon.

Jules Laurens (1825 – 1901) / Public domain

Shkhara

Shkhara is the highest point in the country of Georgia. It is located near the Russian-Georgian border, in Russia's Kabardino-Balkaria…

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Ushba

Ushba is one of the most notable peaks of the Caucasus Mountains. It is located in the Svaneti region of Georgia, just south of the border…

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Southern Ushba

Ushba is one of the most notable peaks of the Caucasus Mountains. It is located in the Svaneti region of Georgia, just south of the border…

Shkara Glacier

Valley glacier on the southern slopes of Georgia's highest peak. It feeds the Enguri River and is reached via a hiking trail from the UNESCO-listed village of Ushguli.

Svaneti Museum

Houses a significant collection of medieval icons, illuminated manuscripts, and archaeological gold. The facility displays unique Svanetian ethnographic objects and historical weaponry dating back to the 3rd millennium BC.

Neide18701 / CC BY-SA 4.0

Martvili canyon

A 2.4-kilometer limestone gorge carved by the Abasha River. It features 70-meter high cliffs, several waterfalls, and boat paths where fossilized remains of prehistoric animals are visible.

Baldis kanioni

Limestone canyon featuring a series of waterfalls and natural pools. The site includes a walking trail through a boxwood grove leading to the 13th-century Balda Monastery.

Nokalakevi (Tsikhegoji)

Nokalakevi also known as Archaeopolis and Tsikhegoji and according to some sources "Djikha Kvinji" in Mingrelian, is a village and…

Lika2672 / Public domain

Zugdidi Botanical Gardens

Zugdidi Botanical Garden, Zugdidi branch of Central Botanical Garden administered by the Georgian Academy of Sciences; was built in the…

Aleksey Muhranoff / CC BY-SA 3.0

Martvili monastery

Martvili Monastery is a Georgian monastic complex located in the village of Martvili in the Martvili District of the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti…

Enguri Dam

The Enguri Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Enguri River in Tsalenjikha, Georgia.

Intsra

A natural area in the Tsalenjikha region characterized by karst topography, boxwood forests, and the Intsra River gorge.

Intsra Waterwall

A 26-meter waterfall located within a karst canyon near the village of Chale. The site is accessible via a marked woodland trail and features moss-covered limestone formations.

Michal Okresa / CC-BY-SA

Mikheil Khergiani Museum House

Museum located in a traditional Svan tower house dedicated to the 'Tiger of the Rocks,' a world-renowned mountaineer. Exhibits include original climbing equipment, personal photographs, and historical medals.

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Mestiatau

A 3,800-meter peak in the Greater Caucasus range, situated north of Mestia. It is a prominent feature of the skyline overlooking the Svaneti regional center.