Thursday, March 24, 2011

New tours New updates

Please check all updates on official web www.highlander.ge. Since I have installed there wordpress, I can rum blog kind news updates there too. I don't have enough time to pay attention here too. So please check my site.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Some news

Website www.highlander.ge is complitly updated. Check out new version. New site is based on Wordpress, so it is easy to post news directly there. Here all news will be copied from the site.
Tomorrow I'm going to Mestia, to attend Extreme week Svaneti.
I'll post all news about this event on my site, news category: New events
So follow blog, follow the new site!!!

Thursday, February 24, 2011

eXtreme week in Mestia

From 3 – 10 (March), Adrenaline.ge presents – week of extreme sports – “eXtreme Week Svaneti 2011 / winter season”.

eXtreme Week timetable:

March 3
13:00(pm)
- eXtreme Week opening event – snowpark & ski marathon
18:00(pm)
- Opening event party: Ceremony of awarding
(free Beer and Glinwine for the audience and participants)
March 4
13:00pm
- Moto-cross competition
16:00pm
- Ceremony of awarding

March 5
11:00(am)
- Free-ride ski / Snowboard – I tour
16:00(pm)
- Ceremony of awarding

March 6
11:00(am)
- Snowboard cross
14:00(pm)
- Ski cross
17:00(pm)
- Winner awarding ceremony

March 7
12:00(pm)
- Ski vs. Snowboard / Free cross
17:00(pm)
- Winner awarding ceremony

March 8
11:00(am)
- Free ride Ski / Snowboard – II tour
17:00(pm)
- Winner awarding ceremony

9 March
12:00(pm)
- Freestyle Ski / Snowboard competition
15:00(pm)
- Winner awarding ceremony
19:00(pm)
- eXtreme Week Closing Event:
• Ice sculpturing festival (opening)
• DJ
• Announcer
• eXtreme Show
• After Party
(free Beer and Glinwine for the audience and participants)



P.s – Ice-statue sculptors’ will show their performance on the background of the week from the very beginning of it (Ski-lift territory). A special area will be allocated for volunteers who will be able, to create their work. The final stage of Ice sculptures will be performed on March 9, On the final event



The schedule of free busses picked out for the participants and the audience:

Tbilisi- Mestia

I Tbilisi – Mestia – 2.03.2011 / 10:00 AM / Republic Sq.
II Tbilisi – Mestia – 4.03.2011 / 10:00 AM / Republic Sq.
III Tbilisi – Mestia – 8.03.2011 / 10:00 AM / Republic Sq.

Tbilisi- Mestia

I Mestia - Tbilisi – 7.03.2011 / 10:00 AM / Mestia Central Sq.
II Mestia – Tbilisi – 10.03.2011 / 10:0 AM / Mestia Central Sq

Prizes will be given to the winners holding I, II or III place on each tournament.
The competition is open to any interested person who is skiing or snowboarding :)
Participation in the tournament is not allowed without protective helmets.


Prizes will be given to people holding I, II or III place on each tournament.
The competition is open to any interested person who is skiing or snowboarding:)
Participation in the tournament is not allowed without protective helmets.

Free busses are provided from Tbilisi to Mestia for the audience and the participants of the eXtreme Week Svaneti.
The exact bus schedule will be provided in the nearest future.

From the link below you are able to check and download contacts, terms and conditions, prices and all the necessary information about Hotels, Hostels and Family Rooms in Mestia skiing resort.
http://bin.ge/file/29760/mestiis-sastumroebi.doc.html

For any further information, do not hesitate to contact one of the organisers of the eXtreme Week Svaneti
TEL:
877 511001 zuka
857 105182 iva
874 565666 luka
892 222168 morbeda (giorgi)
874 600066 nika

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Mtskheta

Mtskheta excursion


View from Jvari

Half day excursion in Mtskheta


Mtskheta – ancient capital of east Georgia, from IV century BC. After moving political center to Tbilisi, Mtskheta remained as spiritual center of the country. Once more it became political center – in X – IX centuries, while Tbilisi was still occupied by Arabs and known as Tbilisi emirate. Currently it is little town in 20 km from Tbilisi.


Jvari

Here are prechristianity archaeological and Christianity architectural monuments, which are recognized by UNESCO as world heritage sites.


Tbilisi tour

Tbilisi


Tbilisi

Tbilisi – capital and the biggest city of Georgia, with long and dramatic history. Founded as fortress between major towns Mtskheta and Rustavi in IV century, became capital in beginning of VI century. Was ruined and rebuilt many times. Many legends are connected to the city's past days. Tbilisi has seen many different rulers during it's history, Georgians and foreigner conquerors. Tbilisi located on crossroads of cultures used to be the center of south Caucasus in XIX century, and has mixed up both, eastern and western cultures.


Read more

Snow in Mestia

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Friday, January 21, 2011

Mestia, Hatsvali today






Today I again went up on Hatsvali, to check how is snow there.

So, weather was sunny and freezing. View from Zuruldi mountain was just perfect - Ushba, Chatini, Tetnuldi, Banguriani, Laila, between great Caucasus and Svaneti ranges!

Snow depth on Hatsvali (lover station of roperoad) was up to 10 sm, on Zuruldi (upper station) 30-40 sm.

So we need some more snow! Locals said that it will be heavy snow after 25 January.

I will update regarding weather situation.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Mestia center today

Snow, snow snow...

In Mestia it is still snowing. Everything around became white, mountains are covered by fog...

Today in Svaneti began week of ghosts - Lipaani. Locals believe that on sunset ghosts of dead people will return to their homes, so they make food, cleaning homes and before sunset will make table, burn candles, to welcome dead ancestors. During this week is also made wood branches from birch, which will be kept behind oven almost one month - till day Lamparoba. On Lamparoba, which will be on 14 February and people will take birch branches to cemetery, where are buried their ancestors and burn branches there.

Christianity was adopted here in IV-V centuries, but ancient pagan traditions are saved here also. From one side it is attractive for tourists, but on the other side there is danger that all those traditions will became just another attraction for tourists and nothing else. My wish is to keep this ancient, amazing place as it is, free, traditional, archaic, but to develop tourism in such way that locals could find most profit from it and stay hosts on their land. Just to make Svaneti better for Svans and not to turn it into copy of something but keep and develop the best what already is in Svaneti.


Monday, January 17, 2011

Snow in Mestia!!!

Today in Mestia is snowing!!!
Tomorrow will be also snowing!!!
Later I'll put photos of snow in Mestia!!!

Don't miss hottest offer of this winter ski tours in Mestia!!!

We are ready to welcome guests!

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Weather

Georgian national tourism agency

Here are listed all what offers tourism department of Georgia in Svaneti, and the same what can offer I for you.

Museums


Museum of history and ethnography of Mestia
Working hours: 11-18
Working days: everyday except Monday
Ticket price: 6 GEL
Guide: 10 GEL

Margiani ancient house
Working hours: 11-18
Working days: everyday
Ticket price: 3 GEL

Mikhael Khergiani's museum
Working hours: 11-17
Working days: everyday except Monday

Museum of ethnography in Ushguli
Working hours: 11-18
Working days: everyday
Ticket price: 5 GEL

Mevlud Charkeseliani's museum in Ushguli
Working hours: 11-18
Working days: everyday
Ticket price: 3 GEL

Activities:

Svan "supra"


Kubdari: baked meet in pasta with spices.
Chvishdari: baked corn with cheese
Lemziri: ritual Khachapuri
Tashmijabi: boiled potatoes with cheese.
Sulguni with mint - fresh svanish cheese "Sulguni" with mint.

Svanish "Supra" and folk musik


(by Svaneti tourism center or by LILE first touroperator in Svaneti)
Folk evening with or without Svan "supra"
Event may take place in Guesthouse, Hotel, Margiani's ethnographic house, Betkili, or in Latali elder's home.


Adventures

by Svaneti tourism center

Ski tour
  1. Mestia - Koruldi - Mestia

  2. Mestia, bottom of mountain Banguriani - Mestia

  3. Mestia - Tsvirmi - Mestia (two day tour, overnight in Tsvirmi)

  4. Mestia - Jabeshi - Mestia (two day tour, overnight in Jabeshi)

Ski tour - para glider

  1. Koruldi lakes - Mestia
  2. Banguriani mountain bottom - Mestia
  3. Lake Lensi - Mestia or Lenjeri

Golden fleece


Learn and try out ancient method of gold finding by golden fleece, which was used more then 3000 years.
By LILE first touroperator in Svaneti

Svaneti Tourism Center

Svaneti tourism center was started in 2006 by ex mountain climber Zaur Chartolani. Goal of non profit organization is to develop tourism in Svaneti. They marked several trekking trails with different difficulty, organized trainings for mountain guides and guesthouse owners. Here is organization's site: www.svanetitrekking.ge


Hotels in Mestia

There are four hotels in Mestia. Here I'm giving current rates for hotels.

Tetnuldi


www.tetnuldi.ge
Standard single: 100 GEL
Standard double: 140 GEL
Delux single: 140 GEL
Delux double: 160 GEL
Suite: 200 GEL


Hatsvali


Little hotel located at lower station of cable
Suite: 150 GEL
Standard double: 100 GEL
Standard single: 90 GEL
Delux: 120 GEL.


Mestia


Hotel in the center of Mestia
Standard double per person FB: 65 GEL
BB: 45 GEL
Double with shared bathroom and WC FB: 45 GEL
BB: 25 GEL


Svaneti


Standard double per person FB: 70 GEL
BB: 45 GEL
Without breakfast: 35 GEL



Today in Mestia is cloudy!!!

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Mestia today



If you have any questions regarding tourism in Svaneti please fill free to ask me, I'll try to give you maximally full answers.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Site

Guestbook is working on the site!!!
So you are welcome to leave comments there :)

Monday, January 10, 2011

Winter season was opened in Mestia

Ссылка: Открытие туристического сезона  в Сванети



Winter season in Svaneti is opened! so welcome to Svaneti!!!

NY times recommends Georgia as travel destination



Republic of Georgia

A rustic ski wonderland on the verge of discovery.

Ski buffs don’t usually think of Soviet Georgia when planning their next backcountry outing. But some ambitious plans in the Caucasus are trying to change that fast. Tucked between the Black and Caspian seas and smattered with mountains, Georgia has the kind of terrain adventurous skiers yearn for: peaks reaching 16,000 feet, deep valleys and largely untouched slopes. Known best for spectacular off-piste and heli-skiing, Bakuriani and Gudauri — each a short drive from Tbilisi — saw 30,000 visitors in 2009 and are expanding fast.

And now, in efforts spearheaded by the Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili, the ski-resort bug is spreading even further. In Mestia, the first groomed slopes of a new resort opened in December. Also earmarked as a winter hot spot is Goderdzi pass, which can have snow coverage six months a year.

Full article

Monday, January 3, 2011

Happy new year!!!

Happy new year my dear guests!
wish you everything only the best!!!

Here is updated version of winter in Svaneti
After 5 January snow is promised.