You don’t need to be an experienced rider to do these tours. Actually, it’s a good opportunity to try riding! In the mountains the trails are not suited for gallop, so the tours are mostly walking-pace ones. In places you may have to dismount and lead the horse (especially downhill on slippery bits), but generally the local horses know how to choose the best route. Svans don’t keep horses for tourists, the animals you will be riding are working horses, used to walking in the mountains and to carrying people. Please note that we are NOT able to provide safety helmets.
Horse tours
Some of the tours are good to do if you are based in Mestia, and others are located in remote villages, so it doesn’t make sense to go there specifically to do the tour. Our idea was that you can combine such horse-riding tours with multi-day trekking or car-trips that bring you to those remote locations.
Prices
We provide an indication of the price calculated for a group of 2 riders accompanied by a guide on horseback. We also included drop-off and pick-up where reasonable. We will adjust the price depending on the number of riders and your location.
Bali Range
Duration: 3-4 hours
Start from: Mestia (drop-off and pick-up included)
Trail from: Latali
Price: 350 GEL
The trail starts in central Latali and goes up over Bali Range, the border between feudal Svaneti ruled by Dadeshkeliani family, and eastern Free Svaneti that has never known feudal rule. Great views of Latali, the Svaneti Range, Mt.Laila and glorious Ushba.
Mkheri
Duration: all day (5-6 hrs riding)
Start from: Mestia (drop-off and pick-up included)
Trail from: Latali
Price: 370 GEL
Archangel’s church of Mkheri is a tiny stone building located at 2500 m above sea level in an alpine meadow overlooking Latali – and half of Svaneti. The panorama is wonderful, but the climb up is not an easy one. The horseback version makes it faster and more fun.
Tanghili church
Duration: 3 hours
Start from: Mestia (drop-off and pick-up included)
Trail from: Latali
Price: 345 GEL
While this tiny church is definitely worth a visit, it is located on the top of a steep hill and requires some physical effort to reach. Take a horseback ride to enjoy the scenery of the Enguri valley and admire this…
Chizhdi pass
Duration: all day (6-7 hrs riding)
Start from: Mestia (drop-off and pick-up included)
Trail from: Tskhumari
Price: 580 GEL
Choose this tour in fair weather, and you will be rewarded with a stunning panorama of the Great Caucasus from Peak Stavler and Elbrus to Mt. Tetnuldi and the Bezengi wall from 2700 m…
Lasili valley
Duration: all day (6-7 hrs riding)
Start from: Mestia (drop-off and pick-up included)
Trail from: Ipari
Price: 440 GEL
Lasili is a beautiful green valley with waterfalls, meadows and forest-covered rocks. It used to be one of the main roads into Lower Svaneti that went along Lasili river and over Lasili pass. A very pleasant ride with some river-fording for fun.
Meziri
Duration: 4 hours riding
Start from: Mestia (drop-off and pick-up included)
Trail from: Mazeri
Price: 435 GEL/325 GEL if you are based in Mazeri
Meziri is an alpine meadow over Mazeri, with a lake, a 10th century church devoted to the Archangel Michael and a spectacular view of Ushba and the Svaneti Range…
Becho waterfalls
Duration: 4 hours riding
Start from: Mestia (drop-off and pick-up included)
Trail from: Mazeri
Price: 435 GEL/335 GEL if you are based in Mazeri
The horses will take you to the foot of Becho waterfalls – the place where you best feel the energy of the biggest waterfall system in Georgia. If you are staying in Mazeri and…
Kvishi
Duration: all day (7-8 hrs riding)
Start from: Mestia (drop-off and pick-up included)
Trail from: Mazeri
Price: 530 GEL / 410 GEL if you are based in Mazeri
This tour takes you to another waterfall system that flows from under the impressive Dolra glacier on Dolratau to form the Dolra river. A small green lake is waiting for you there, as well as a view of Baki and Nakra…
Lakhiri
Duration: 4.5 hours riding
Start from: Mestia (drop-off and pick-up included)
Trail from: Zhamushi
Price: 440
This tour will take you through two lovely villages off the beaten tourist track: Zhamushi and Lakhiri. Amazing architecture of 10th-12th centuries, authentic village life, and a visit to Archangel’s church of Lakhiri…
Mushuri
Duration: all day (6 hrs riding)/ 2-4 hrs shorter version
Start from: Mestia
Trail from: Kala
Price indication: 650 GEL / 475 GEL if you are based in Kala
Shorter version: 540 GEL / 370 GEL if you are based in Kala
The shorter ride goes up beautiful Mushuri valley to the point from where you can already see the summits of the Bezengi wall. The longer version takes you to the alpine meadows above the valley, then…
Bezengi wall
Duration: 5 hours riding
Start from: Mestia
Trail from: Kala
Price indication: 650 GEL / 475 GEL if you are based in Kala (Iprali, Lalkhori)
There is a very popular hiking trail to Chkhutnieri pass that a lot of trekkers do on foot to get close to the Bezengi wall, but it is also possible to get there on horse-back and save the trouble of climbing a whole kilometer uphill…
Latphari pass – Ushguli
Duration: all day (6-7 hrs riding)
Start from: Mestia
Trail from: Kala
Price indication: 570 GEL / 370 GEL if you are based in Kala and plan to stay overnight in Ushguli
ATTENTION!!! Route temporarily closed, dangerous trail. Ushguli is an amazing place in itself, but there are different ways of getting there. You can just drive or walk along the Enguri gorge with minimum of views, or you can go up to Latphari pass and your first glimpse of Ushguli…
Shkhara glacier
Duration: 4-5 hours
Start from: Ushguli
Price indication: 280 GEL
If you are staying overnight in Ushguli, it’s a good idea to take a horseback ride to Shkhara glacier. You ride out of Ushguli past Lamaria monastery to the north-east and follow Enguri river upstream…
