The Caucasus Range is one of the great ski destinations on earth.
This trip covers the full range of what Svaneti has to offer: a mix of amazing backcountry terrain through incredible local resorts, a glacier descent beneath the mythic pyramid of Mount Ushba, and two days of ski touring above the UNESCO World Heritage village of Ushguli. With IFMGA-certified guides leading the way, this is the Caucasus done right.
From the trip description by Alpenglow Expeditions
On-snow support
- Independent: Below this trip's level of support
Ski or ride independently, without trip staff accompanying you on the mountain.
- Hosted: With your guide
Trip hosts ski or ride with the group, help everyone get oriented, and share local knowledge.
- Guided: Included
Professional guides lead the group and select suitable terrain and routes based on conditions and ability. Instruction is not included.
- Coached: Not confirmed
Professional coaches lead the group, select suitable terrain, and provide instruction and personalized feedback to help you improve.
- Resort and backcountry guidingLed by IFMGA/AMGA certified guides
Terrain, ability and who it is for
- Skiers must be expert downhill skiers on a variety of terrain and snow conditions, including variable, wind-affected, and spring snow. This expedition includes steep side-country terrain, glacier travel, and backcountry touring approaches. Prior use of ski crampons is required.
- Participants should have a minimum of 10 days of backcountry ski touring experience in a variety of conditions. Comfort on steep and variable terrain is required. Prior experience with glacier travel is a plus. Splitboarders are welcome.
- Several days involve ski touring with 3,000 to 5,000 vertical feet of climbing, including the two-day Chalaadi and Ushguli objectives.
- Sport
- Ski + Snowboard
From the trip description by Alpenglow Expeditions
What the price includes
Included
- Lodging
- Meals · partly
- Transfers
- All lodging according to itinerary, including double occupancy lodging while in town and group lodging in mountain huts.
- Breakfasts in town, all meals while on the mountain
- Group camping and climbing equipment
- All park/climbing permits*
- Scheduled in-country transportation
- Airport transfers
- Certified guides
Not included
- Flights to/from the city where the expedition begins.
- Additional nights in hotel outside of the itinerary
- Airport taxes
- Visas
- In-town dinners
- Immunizations
- Tips for guides or local staff
- Travel, rescue, or any other type of insurance
- Hospitalization or evacuation costs
- Single supplement charges
- Excess baggage charges
- Alcohol
- Other personal expenses
- Aconcagua Climbing Permit*
- The costs of delays or changes to itinerary that are beyond the control of Alpenglow Expeditions or its agents are not included.
Not confirmed by the operator: Lift pass, Lesson.
Day by day
- Day 1: Arrival in TbilisiArrive at Tbilisi International Airport and get settled at the hotel in the old town. The old city is one of the most interesting urban environments in the Caucasus region, and if you land with time to explore, the sulfur bath houses in Abanotubani, the Narikala fortress, and the local restaurants are all worth your evening. Tomorrow is an early morning.
- Day 2: Tbilisi City DayA full day in Tbilisi before heading into the mountains. Tbilisi has been a major crossroads of history, culture, and trade for over a millennium, and a day here goes quickly. Your guides will help the group get oriented and make recommendations. In the evening, we prepare gear and review the plan for the days ahead.
- Day 3: Travel to MestiaAfter an 8-hour drive through the Caucasus Mountains, we check into Hotel Posta, walk through downtown Mestia, and get our first look at the terrain surrounding the valley. The Svan towers are immediately visible, and the peaks above them are massive.
- Days 4–5: Tetnuldi and Hatsvali Ski ResortsTetnuldi is one of the newest ski areas in the Caucasus and the host of the 2023 Freeride Tour. The resort sits in a pristine alpine environment surrounded by serious terrain. We tour off the top lift for side-country skiing with direct views of Tetnuldi summit at 15,938 feet.Five minutes from Mestia, Hatsvali is our go-to on days when the weather moves in. The resort has groomers and off-piste terrain, and from the top of the lifts we can tour into tree skiing and chutes that hold protected snow in variable conditions. A great day to settle into the group rhythm and dial in equipment before the bigger objectives later in the week.
- Day 6: Rest Day / Svaneti MuseumA scheduled day off from skiing. We recommend visiting the Svaneti Museum of History and Ethnography in Mestia, one of the most remarkable small museums in the Caucasus. Medieval iconography, jewelry, weapons of war, and ancient coins give real context to the Svan people who have inhabited this valley for thousands of years. Use the rest of the day to recover, use Hotel Posta’s spa and sauna, and eat a good meal. The coming days are big ones.
- Days 7–9: UshguliWe drive to Ushguli for two to three full days of ski touring above the village. Ushguli is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and visually unlike anything most skiers have ever seen. Stone Svan towers rise from the snow, the surrounding peaks are enormous, and the skiing above the village is expansive, uncrowded, and deeply satisfying. We stay both nights in a local family guesthouse, eat together, and finish the week the way it deserves to end.
- Day 10: Return to Tbilisi / DepartMorning shuttle to Kutaisi, Georgia’s second city, where we spend a few hours taking in the surroundings before boarding an overnight sleeper car on the Georgian Railway for a relaxing journey back to Tbilisi.
- Day 11: DepartWe arrive via an overnight train early in the morning on Day 11 and depart that evening.
From the trip description by Alpenglow Expeditions
Where you stay
Accommodations: Mestia nights are at Hotel Posta, a renovated property in the town center with an indoor pool, Finnish sauna, fireplace lounge, and restaurant. For our ski days in Ushguli, we have the option to stay in small guest houses or return to Mestia at night.
Getting There
- Arrive at Tbilisi International Airport and get settled at the hotel in the old town.
- After an 8-hour drive through the Caucasus Mountains, we check into Hotel Posta.
From the trip description by Alpenglow Expeditions
Pins show the approximate main trip area—not a route, meeting point, or full itinerary. Confirm exact locations in the company's trip details.
Dates and prices
- Feb 20 – Mar 3, 20272026/27 · 11 days6,950 USD$6,950 per person; currency not labelled on the page; US-based operator (North Lake Tahoe), read as USD; 20% Deposit Required to Lock In Your SpotAvailableChoose these datesBook on company website
Published as "Feb 20th – March 3rd, 2027". The page gives 11 Days and an 11-day itinerary; the printed end date is March 3.
Prices, taxes and fees, required extras, inclusions, availability, and booking terms can change. Confirm the current price and trip details on the company website; source last reviewed September 24, 2026.
Good To Know
Food: Breakfast is included each morning. Dinners are not included, but eating well in Mestia is easy.
This trip is suitable for advanced backcountry skiers and splitboarders only. You must be very comfortable on steep terrain, and have a minimum of 15 days of touring experience in a variety of conditions.
Non-8,000m Peaks: A trip is confirmed 70 days before the start of an expedition.
When an expedition is more than 90 days out, we require a 20% deposit to guarantee your reservation. Within 90 days we require full payment.
We require Rescue Insurance on all of our international expeditions.
From the trip description by Alpenglow Expeditions
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