Mestia now

Snow!!!

It is snowing in Mestia!!!

Beautiful photos from Svaneti

http://ania-ba.livejournal.com/92433.html

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.

Earthquake

Several minutes ago in Mestia we felt quite strong earthquake

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/usb000113p.php

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.

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!

Weather

Weather Forecast | Weather Maps

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!!!

A bit snow from Mestia

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.

Site

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

Winter season was opened in Mestia

Ссылка:

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

Vardzia tour on my site

Check out Vardzia tour!!!
Vardzia 4 day tour

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.