The
Svaneti
Skyline
Seven nights and six ski days in Georgia's Greater Caucasus: passes up to 3,000m, long freeride descents and the peaks of Ushba, Tetnuldi and Shkhara on the horizon. Guiding, transfers, guesthouses and food are taken care of. You bring the legs.
- 6
- Ski days
- 7
- Nights in guesthouses
- 3,000M
- Highest passes
- KUT
- Airport · transfers included
- ALL
- Meals included
Svaneti sits high on the southern side of the Greater Caucasus in north-west Georgia. Its main town, Mestia, lies at about 1,500m and is surrounded by peaks over 4,000m. Ushba, Tetnuldi and the long ice wall of Shkhara fill the skyline on every tour.
The Svaneti Skyline is six days of ski touring in that terrain. Each day you skin from a village or a high road into open alpine bowls and broad ridges, then ride a long freeride descent back to the valley. Expect up to 1,000–1,400m of ascent a day. There are very few other tracks.
You stay in family guesthouses, eat Georgian home cooking and travel in local 4x4 transport. Guiding, airport and local transfers, accommodation and food are all part of the package, so the only thing to organise is your flight.
- 01
- Six Ski Days
- 02
- The Giants of the Caucasus
- 03
- Ushguli at 2,200m
- 04
- Everything Arranged
- 05
- Georgian Table
- 06
- Small Group
A warm-up day at the Tetnuldi resort, then five touring days with 800 to 1,400m of ascent and a long freeride descent, chosen day by day by the guide.
You tour in view of Ushba (4,710m), Tetnuldi and Shkhara (5,193m), the highest peak in Georgia. The scale is bigger than anything in the Alps.
One or two nights in one of the highest inhabited villages in Europe, with tours to 3,000m passes facing Shkhara. Upper Svaneti is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Guiding, airport transfers from Kutaisi, local transport, guesthouse accommodation and food are all included in the package.
Khachapuri, kubdari, khinkali and home cooking every evening. The food is a reason to come on its own.
A small group that moves at a similar pace, led by a Snowbusters guide together with a certified local guide.
Other Dates
Dates & Pricing
- Jan€1,490
- Mar€1,490
Freeriders F3 ← This Trip
Advanced riders who stay in control in deep, wind-affected and crusty snow, on steeper slopes and with tired legs at the end of a long day.
Fit Tourers (T1 to T2) ← This Trip
You have toured before, your kick turns and transitions work, and you have the fitness for 800 to 1,400m of ascent on five consecutive days.
New to Touring — Not Yet
If you have never toured, start with our Intro to Ski Touring & Splitboarding or Deep & Steep Austria, then come to the Caucasus.
Touring Fitness & Technique
- 800 to 1,400m of ascent per touring day
- Five touring days in a row after the Tetnuldi warm-up
- Efficient skinning, kick turns and transitions
- Pacing tips so you still have legs for the descent
Safety & Local Knowledge
- Daily snowpack and weather assessment by the guides
- A certified local guide who knows the valley
- Avalanche equipment and rescue training on day one
- Tours chosen day by day, with no fixed objectives
Freeride Descents
- A long freeride descent on every touring day
- Open alpine bowls, broad ridges and birch forest
- Views of Ushba, Tetnuldi and Shkhara
- Very few other tracks
Land in Georgia, Drive into the Caucasus
Fly into Kutaisi (KUT) for the shared transfer to Mestia, around five hours by road up the Enguri valley. Check in at the guesthouse, check the kit and meet the guides for the week's briefing over the first Georgian dinner.
Tetnuldi: Warm-Up and Group Check
The first ski day is at the Tetnuldi ski resort, with beautiful views and quality snow. The guides use it to see how the group skis and to go through avalanche equipment and rescue techniques before the touring days.
Detsili Pass — 2,550m
A 40–50 minute drive to the village of Etseri, then a climb of around 800 vertical metres to the pass at 2,550m, with beautiful views.
Guli Pass — 2,990m
A drive from Mestia to the village of Becho and a start at 1,650m. The pass is at 2,990m; depending on the group and the conditions the day goes to at least 2,700m, for 1,000 to 1,400 vertical metres.
Ushguli: Lamaria Ridge — 2,980m
A drive of about 1 hour 10 minutes to Ushguli at 2,200m, one of the highest inhabited villages in Europe, where the group stays one or two nights depending on the weather. The tour climbs 800–850 vertical metres to the ridge at 2,980m, with a view of Shkhara, the highest mountain in Georgia.
Ushguli: Gorvashi Pass — 3,000m
From 2,050m to the pass at 3,000m, 950 vertical metres. Views of Shkhara, Jangitau, Rustaveli, Tetnuldi, Ushba and Elbrus, and over Upper and Lower Svaneti.
Ushguli: Karreta Side — 2,900–3,000m
A longer tour from 2,100m to 2,900–3,000m, 900 to 1,000 vertical metres, with views of Shkhara and Jangitau.
Laila — up to 3,000m
The biggest day on the list. The start is at 1,300m and the high point is between 2,300m and 3,000m, depending on the weather, the conditions and the group: 1,000 to 1,700 vertical metres.
Koruldi Lakes — 2,700m
Straight from Mestia at 1,450m to the lakes at 2,700m, 1,350 vertical metres, with views of Tetnuldi, Ushba, Gistola, Banguriani and almost all the Svanetian mountains. There is a possibility to stay one night in a hut and go higher on the second day, or ski the other side before returning to Mestia.
Back Down the Valley
Breakfast, then the return transfer to Kutaisi (KUT), timed for the group's flights.
Serious Mountains.
Serious Preparation.
Big. Remote. Unpatrolled.
Svaneti is remote, unpatrolled high-mountain terrain. There is no public avalanche bulletin for the region and mountain rescue resources are limited, so help can take time. That is why every participant needs full avalanche equipment and companion rescue capability, and why the guide makes every route and go/no-go decision.
The trip is led by a Snowbusters guide (Jany or Adam) together with a certified local guide who knows the valley and its snowpack. The group can be split by level, fitness or wishes if needed.
The stated ascent and day-length figures are maximums and are not reached every day. Conditions come first, then the level and wishes of the group. The guide picks each tour on the day.
Travel and medical insurance is not included. It must cover ski touring off-piste, mountain rescue and helicopter evacuation. We recommend Alpenverein (Austrian Alpine Club) membership.
Your Guides
Meet your guides
Accommodation & Logistics
Guesthouse Life
Family guesthouses, warm rooms and Georgian home cooking. Transfers, rooms and meals are arranged for you.
Accommodation
Seven nights in family-run guesthouses: Mestia as the base, plus one or two nights in Ushguli at 2,200m, depending on the weather. Rooms are simple, warm and shared, usually twin or triple. The hosts cook, and the table is where the day ends.
Food is included: breakfast and dinner at the guesthouse and a packed lunch for the tour. Expect khachapuri, kubdari (the Svan meat-filled bread), khinkali, soups, salads and home-made cheese. Tell us about dietary needs when you book.
Getting There
Arrival is at Kutaisi International Airport (KUT), which has direct budget flights from many European cities. Shared airport transfers to Mestia and back are included and are timed for the group's flights. The drive takes around five hours.
All local transport to and from the tours is included too, so there is nothing else to arrange on the ground.
- Kutaisi International Airport (KUT)
Kit & Included
What You Need
& What's Included
- Guiding on 6 ski days by a Snowbusters guide and a certified local guide
- Technical tips and coaching on touring and freeride technique
- Shared airport transfers from and to Kutaisi (KUT)
- All local transport to and from the tours, including Ushguli
- 7 nights' accommodation in family guesthouses in Mestia and Ushguli
- Food: breakfast, packed lunch and dinner
- Avalanche equipment and rescue training on the first ski day
Not included
- Flights to and from Kutaisi (KUT)
- Lift pass for the Tetnuldi ski day, and for any other day spent in a resort
- Travel and medical insurance with mountain rescue cover
- Ski, splitboard and avalanche equipment rental
- Alcoholic drinks
- Personal expenses and tips
Touring gear is hard to rent in Mestia. Bring your own, or ask us in advance and we will help arrange it.
Freeride/touring skis with touring bindings, or a splitboard *
Mandatory · bring your own · skins essential
Avalanche beacon, shovel and probe *
Mandatory every day
Helmet *
Mandatory — no exceptions
Touring boots or snowboard boots, climbing skins and adjustable poles
Ski crampons
For firm morning snow
Backcountry backpack (30–40L)
Carried every day
Layered technical clothing, goggles, sunglasses, spare gloves
For variable conditions and strong sun
Headlamp
With spare batteries
Freeride: F3. Touring: T1 to T2, with real fitness. Not for first-time tourers or piste-only riders. Not sure what that means? Read our guide to rider levels.
FAQ
Common Questions
How fit do I need to be?
Fit enough for five touring days in a row with 800 to 1,400m of ascent a day, and still able to ski well on the way down. If you tour regularly in the Alps at that level, you are ready.
How much touring experience do I need?
This is not a first touring trip. You should have toured before, be confident with kick turns and transitions, and ride variable off-piste snow in control. If you have never toured, start with our Intro to Ski Touring & Splitboarding.
Is the programme fixed?
No. The first ski day is at Tetnuldi. After that the guide plans day by day and picks the best tour for the weather, the snow and the group.
How do I get there?
Fly to Kutaisi (KUT). The shared transfer to Mestia is included and takes around five hours by road. Flights are not included.
Can splitboarders join?
Yes. Splitboarders are welcome, with the same fitness and experience requirements.
Reserve Your Place
Skin Up.
Ride
the Caucasus.
Six touring days, tower villages and Georgian hospitality.