2017 - Georgia Hike (Mestia to Ushguli)

This was by far one of the best trips I've ever had! Seven of us escaped the heat in Dubai towards the end of June 2017 to do this promising 4-day hike between the town of Mestia and Ushguli. Ushguli is one of the highest continuously inhabited settlements in Europe. If you haven't visited the country of Georgia and like to hike, I fully recommend this trip as it offered beautiful landscapes, glaciers and historic villages; this place was timeless!
At the end of each day we were able to find accommodations within the villages with a chance to eat the local foods which was quite welcoming after a long days hike. This hike is very popular and we had the chance to meet many people from various countries also visiting Georgia to do this particular hike. We were like one big family after a while as you started to see the same faces after a while.
I have to take my hat off to my wife as she was over 3 months pregnant during this hike. We had already planned the trip and booked our flights when we then found out she was pregnant. She was a little slower than usual, but she finished the hike like a champ.
Cameras:
Camera: Sony HDR-AX30
Go Pro Hero 4 (for the time-lapses)
Phantom 4 drone by DJI

[@theb.r.o.s8859]

it feels good when so much people compliment my country

[@saqartvelo3203]

ხოო

[@mariusznowak3475]

I was there four times and I'll be back for the fifth time. Paradise on earth.

[@USARoadtrip364]

wow you were there... envy you... hope to visit there soon...

[@Timur_575]

You right bro 😎💥, wonderful Georgia, there awesome places 😎🔥🔥😊, and there wonderful People 💓💓. Greting from Dagestan,,😎, (russia).

[@mariusznowak3475]

@@Timur_575 I was in Dagestan also :) and Chechnya :)

[@inquestfor]

Such a beautiful country. I'll definitely go back, I've had an unforgettable time across the whole country. Videos like this one have brought back memories and further solidified everything I've experienced over there. The last two and a half minutes are just out of this world, the music and scenery... If someone asked me what is the meaning of life, I would show them that part of the video; to explore the world, meet new people and absorb everything that we encounter on the way, thus becoming better persons while upgrading our state of mind at the same time. Indescribable feeling that brings so much joy to one's life.

[@lostintravel_at]

Oh wow - this is amazing! Georgia is so beautiful! We visited this year and I am cutting the videos right now and living through all that amazing scenery again. ❤️ So nice to see the hike between those amazing places - we took the car. ;-) But after watching your video and those beautiful impressions we have to return and do the hike for sure. Thanks a lot for sharing! ❤️ Greetings from Vienna!

[@tollington14]

Every day there was amazing! Seeing the footage afterwards just shows how awesome the scenery really was! I would love to go back and do this hike again, but I moved back home to Canada and Georgia is now a long ways away...

[@shotanatenadze7985]

One of the best video I've ever seen.

[@lesg5260]

The beauty is Out of this world.

[@გიორგიშენგელია-ი6ნ]

excellent! it truly is a masterpiece! thank you for representing our country in such way! everything fits! it is perfect!

[@Averagebum21]

This is like Paradise. I was about to move to Georgia last year, when the pandemic hit.

[@levia1398]

I think you were in Fairy tale, thanks for the video!

[@kokapanchulidze6074]

Incredible views and amazing movie !!! Thanks for this great work !!!

[@ithurielsspear7361]

Can it get any more beautiful than this? The idea that there are places like this left in the Earth in this day and age offers so much hope. All the soul needs, to rest on a bank of flowers beneath glacial peaks...there is no word in my language for the heavenly royalty of this scenery...maybe some lost tribe high in the Caucasus has a forgotten poetry for this highest degree of perfection of white peace. Lost in time, lost in wonder, lost in love for this absolutely breathtaking country!

[@winstonmarlboro7254]

Georgians mountains are higher than Alpes😍😍😍

[@elenanovakovah9709]

Steve thank you for this great video!!!! the night is something , wow !!!

[@jgroot5617]

inderdaad is Georgië een prachtig land en spectaculair mooi helaas gezien mn leeftijd kan ik daar niet heen maar ik geniet van de vele prachtige filmpjes die op you tube zijn geplaatst

[@002codename]

wonderfully captured. i am gonna hike next month - thanks

[@WanderingSoleTV]

Amazing scenes and images! So very beautiful!

[@stephenhodges2735]

So nice to see so few cars! Wonderful video

[@timhopper1585]

I'm Georgian & proud of my Country!

[@Дарья-к7у4э]

I'm looking forward to come back on this blessing land. Miss u Georgia♡

[@ЕкатеринаЯ-т7д]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤100. 000 лайков!!! Благословенная красота!!!!!🙏🤗

[@maiag7608]

I am missing my Georgia, can't wait to book a flight 😊💖

[@TheTurbodizel1]

Очень круто снято и смонтировано!!!!! Палец вверх)))

[@twinkitwinki9517]

❤❤❤ja Gruzin. Spasiba daragaia Rassia❤

[@jonrepvlogs9102]

Nice video Steve! I've been in Georgia and stayed for 6 months in Tbilisi and travelling the countryside. Awesome nature and people. I've learned the Georgian basic languages when I was there 2012-2013 for business projects. Now I'm here in Dubai, planning to go back in Georgia and Armenia for a missions. I like Hiking when I was a kid back then in the Philippines with my Dad so long ago. Being with loveones do the travelling and hiking is the Best! Is your wife a Filipina? Congratulations! But you know, " its more fun in the philippines!" haha...Thank you!

[@NATUREZABELA]

Bom dia!! lindas imagens!! natureza maravilhosa!!👍😘🎼

[@tugajimi7]

Epic! Great job

[@bartekpietka92]

It’s just stunning

[@ВалерияТретьякова-у4х]

Спасибо,очень хороший репортаж сняли.

[@ზვიადიივანეიშვილი]

ENHORABUENA EL VIDEO VIVA CAUCAS GEORGIAN SVANETI...

[@rbjolly]

Great video. Makes me want to go!

[@GuglielmoBiason]

How did you create the moving map in the first minute?? Looks amazing!

[@tollington14]

You can record "paths" using Google Earth. I made sure it roughly matched that of my first drone shot of the valley

[@황정민-z5l]

Outstanding Job~ I'm loving it👏❤👍

[@jxph7]

amazing

[@MrMf2012]

really great video, I watched more than three times .want ask how many hours hiking per day,and how many km all distance

[@tollington14]

mohamed fakhry Around 7 hours each day on average depending on breaks. I took my time and took lot's of footage as you can see. We hiked about 70km from Mestia to Ushguli I believe

[@gabrielstelly6140]

amazing country to the top, gabriel from lebanon

[@marcusxiaoshunyu481]

I was there in May 2017 and the snow was too thick for hiking~ really disappointing. But your video has motivated me to visit Svaneti again! may i know if you have hired a guide to do this with you? or just do it on your own? Thanks! love your video :D

[@frederic9673]

Rendez-vous with Georgia next august !! it's planned !!!

[@tayanemehdi]

like the trip , can you give more details about the trip , did you just take the road by yourself or you went with a group ... did you pay any travel agency for that trip or ??

[@jakubzebalski4020]

Hello, amazing video! By any chance do you have gpx form this route or may you share the route in other way? May you also share the location of the river which you cross on the horse? Big thanks in advance :).

[@amonmy_]

im doing this in July this year. . anyone traveling?

[@wojciechkrzyzanowski4542]

26:01 :O

[@ThomasC]

Hi, I'm travelling to Georgia in september and want to take my drone as well. Did you experience dificulties at the airport about travelling with a drone? Any problems with flying a drone in Georgia? Thanks!

[@sandrovaro]

Thomas C NO PROBLEMS

[@maricpredrag6055]

how many km per day did you hike? Did you do it alone or with guide. Is it trail marked good?

[@tollington14]

10-15km per day for 4 days. Trail is fairly easy to follow if u have gps and have researched the hike beforehand. Great hike as you can see

[@zarifzintiapov7335]

SPACE!!!!

[@attilabalogh1047]

Amazing video! I will do the same track this July and I am hesitating to book the accommodations, what do you think is it neccesary to book them or I will find a room when I will get there?

[@lenabudach5076]

Hey Attila how did you finally do it? Not sure if I need to book the accommodations ahead either... Thanks

[@attilabalogh1047]

@@lenabudach5076 Finally we booked almost all of them, but we could find a room when we didn't.

[@tirovitli]

I love the Black sea Reagan

[@laneakjt]

Just curious, were there many mosquitoes or ticks?

[@tollington14]

Not at all that I knew of...

[@laneakjt]

@@tollington14 thanks, it's been hard trying to find that info out!

[@ronaldvalenzuela3977]

is still there a snow mountain on the first week of August? i am going to visit the mountain Alps this August. please reply me if it is possible. thank you, hopefully someone will confirm.

[@tollington14]

Ronald Valenzuela As far as I know, there shouldn't be other than the glacier itself that you see in this video. All other trails we did shouldn't have snow.

[@ronaldvalenzuela3977]

Steve Tollington thank you..

[@kathynguyen6605]

Con Bê Đep thiêt....🍮☕ Ke ca Thac Suoi....🍂🍂🍵

[@dainadragatiene4780]

Nuostabūs vaizdai...Atsiduri lyg kitam pasaulyje...

[@entranceambujofficial1503]

Hallow Steve's from india

[@DestinationEarth]

Awesome video! Love the filming and the mix of land and air based shots! I also have a travel channel if you're interested in checking it out! I am putting up stuff from Georgia, USA at the moment!

[@sametoflu5092]

adıshı -adler - adıgon - adıge georgian names.....

[@demininyandanyemisi]

This is an amazing video. thanks for sharing. the footage is beautifully captured and professionally edited. i was searching for an alpine route in switzerland but after watching your video tonight, i'm checking flight tickets to georgia now. once again thanks for the great work and sharing and good luck with the baby:)

[@chaeyuradio]

Breathtakingly beautiful!!! I live in Dubai and went Georgia 6 times, and have a plan to hike Mestia to Ushguli in this September, really appreciate for sharing your traveling video!

[@jannroche]

Majestic and breathtaking. Im starting to fall in love with Georgia. I was there a few days back. Would love to go back again for a trek!

[@dr.dhyeyjamvecha]

such a beauty i never seen this before!!!...just love it,,,,NO WORDS TO DESCRIBE...i AM totally SPEECHLESS

[@davidsonmiranda5887]

Very Beautiful ...I'm going next fall (october) I hope have good weather. Thank you for the vídeo

[@juhlemann]

Lovely work. I was there at the same time (end of June, 2017), although I did not hike it all. The magnificent yellow mountain Azalea in perfumed thickets was as wonderful a memory and the mountains themselves. I did hike up to the Shkhara glacier above Ushguli. I am going back next summer.

[@pyroprutser4877]

What an amazing video, I love the music and the footage! Svaneti (and the rest of Georgia!) is absolutely gorgeous and I can't wait to go there myself next summer!

[@mrmirins7733]

Amazing video. Loved every second of it. Good Job, keep up the hardwork

[@RINDUMI399]

Georgia is a beautiful country

[@legambaz]

Speechlessly beautiful place. Wow! I envy you for making the trip.

[@cinematicadventures]

Really like the technique in your videos, it clearly highlights your style and enjoyable to watch. picture quality is good as well, what filters and post software do you use? +like+sub

[@johnzzawada2748]

What an aw inspiring journey, beautifully shot, magnificent scenery. I would love to know about the music and the artists Thank you and bravo John Z from Western Australia

[@taavettigross9813]

Bravoooooooo!!!!!!!!11

[@ManeaSayal]

this is GREAAAAAAAAAAAAT waiting for 2018 summer trip :)

[@eeee3953]

hello i am from georgia გამარჯობა მე ვარ საქართველოდან

[@FrugalTravellers]

Great inspirational video. Thank you for the time taken to make this. 👍👍

[@Iamirema]

I am from svaneti mestia

[@lmarmota1033]

can I speak to you about some questions that I have? My e-mail is: [e-mail] send me an email and we'll talk

[@Iivenotrace]

Really fantastic scene... thanks..

[@USARoadtrip364]

looks very nice hiking video to Georgia.. very good drone footage as well. enjoyed your videos in this channel. thanks for sharing.

[@karinaloepprich1880]

Thanks for this video. I hiked on the same days parallel to you. It was also my firsttime in Svaneti. So sweet memory. I stayed in Ushguli became a teacher and now I have a family half German/Svan! :D

[@CapitaineMontreal]

I will be there sunday! Cant waIT!

[@ricardjorba5161]

Magnifico reportage, es precioso!!!! Nosotros vamos el año que viene y haremos el mismo trekking pero mas ampliado. Enohorabuena por el video. Un abrazo desde Barcelona

[@lado311]

I'm from Tbilisi, Georgia. Despite that Georgia is my home country I've been in Mestia only once. Paradise on Earth. Great video, thank you for sharing.

[@lado311]

Been there second time this February, was even better than first time.

[@amerbaloushi]

Hey lado ! I'm planning to visit georgia (Mestia to ushguli) this coming June, how the weather would be in June can you advise ?and is there any trip organizers in Georgia?

[@amerbaloushi]

I would really appreciate you

[@r.s.3572]

Amazing Place! Awesome Video!

[@gerhardvolk9397]

I have done this hike this summer. It is definitely as beautiful as the video. Great job! Imaginate paradise .... that's it!

[@sampejke]

Did u stay at these guests houses? Is it expensive? Should I book in advance? Or can just come and ask?

[@gerhardvolk9397]

@@sampejke We had our places booked in advance. In busy times in summer this is no bad idea. But I saw many people just asking. Locals are super friendly.

[@standupray]

Can you hike this without a GPS tracker? Are there waypoints? Thnx

[@michaeljack8975]

Beautifully photographed, edited superbly plus well chosen music to accompany the journey through breath-taking scenery. Wow......thank you.........enjoyed the walk immensely. Brilliant.

[@dmumladze]

Hi Steve. Do you think bicycle can make it on this trail? Were there any hard sections?

[@damianjonczyk7340]

You can do it withiut any problem david! Very easy path to cycle

[@elysiumdream7354]

beautiful video. brought back memories.was there twice.. tried mtb from mestia to ushguli.

[@sampejke]

Amazing! But their roofs are ugly.. the same situation is everywhere in the ex ussr.. not aesthetic metall

[@raould2590]

Breathtakingly beautiful! Thank you for this amazing video - so well taken and love the music! Just back from Georgia, now raring to get back!! A gorgeous country with lovely people! Hope to trek in Svaneti soon.

[@cr-zo6nz]

Hey Steve, I am planning to head to Georgia for ~2 months, will be doing this trail plus many others. I am still debating whether to take a tent and camping gear for flexibility and freedom but at the expense of weight. What are your thoughts?

[@tollington14]

Craig Richards We planned it so that we didn't need to bring a tent such that we could travel with less weight and enjoy the hike. However, I also wanted to bring my drone which took up 2/3rds of the space of my backpack so it was the tent or the drone, and the drone meant more to me in order ti get the shots that you saw. If you do the same trip we did, you won't need a tent as each villiage had plenty of rooms to stay in. If you want the freedom to go off track, perhaps you'll want to bring your tent. Have fun either way, you'll love this trip, it's awesome!!!

[@sampejke]

@@tollington14 hello! how did u return from Ushguli to Mestia?

[@diariodopresi]

I will! 👊 🤗 I hope Next year in my rtw! 😍

[@JoeDoeOutdoors]

Hei great channel ☺ Keep it up!

[@dziulek100]

Nice trip, amazing video :)

[@maritodua7897]

I am from Georgia. Thanks, really great video. My country is a amazzing

[@jspbipro]

Awesome video..I am planning on visiting Georgia at some point and would love to do this hike..any advice on how to book? Is the accomodation set up in advance? and is the a guide to direct you where to go or just follow signs/maps..thanks a lot for the info

[@omrivol]

Amazing video! I visited Svaneti region earlier this month and your video well demonstrates how beautiful it is.

[@vitthalgavane904]

I was there once only. It was in 2012. Really paradise. Beautiful country, Kind peoples. Hope will visit again if get chance.

[@kawmininancy3691]

This is the best video i found about ushguli.most favourite place on earth.felt like i went back to ushguli while watching your video.no distraction.amazing work

[@hyper-sensitivity]

太美了，我真的很想去

[@Surfbird11]

Where is a good place to learn about hiking trails and destinations in Georgia? Any laws regarding hiking, camping, fires, etc we should know about?

[@atarix6900]

very nice movie. just amazing...... thanks!🥰👑😍☘🍀🌲🌺🌹🌿🏵

[@IR-cs8st]

Niesamowity materiał. Dziekuję👍😃

[@ДавидГурджиани]

I am Georgian...And thank you all for a nice comments !!!

[@SeagullVampire]

It's really amazing...I really wanna do the same route next year June. My only concern is horse riding when crossing the river because I never ride a horse before. If I don't know how to ride a horse, will the horse owner ride together with me?

[@tollington14]

Seagull Zin You don't need any experience to ride the horse. It's a piece of cake, you have nothing to worry about. You can do it, it's fun and part of the experience

[@josegiron7008]

jeez man how much I would give if I could just retire there

[@nahomsmind1149]

Next. Tom.. I. Can. I. V. Bay..