Friday, February 4, 2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Kakheti tour
Kakheti tours are published on my site. check out:
3 day tour in Kakheti, one day tour and wine tour.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 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.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Earthquake
Several minutes ago in Mestia we felt quite strong earthquake
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/usb000113p.php
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
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!!!
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
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
Ski tour- Mestia - Koruldi - Mestia
- Mestia, bottom of mountain Banguriani - Mestia
- Mestia - Tsvirmi - Mestia (two day tour, overnight in Tsvirmi)
- Mestia - Jabeshi - Mestia (two day tour, overnight in Jabeshi)
Ski tour - para glider
- Koruldi lakes - Mestia
- Banguriani mountain bottom - Mestia
- 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
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!!!
Friday, January 14, 2011
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
Monday, January 10, 2011
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.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
Happy new year!!!
wish you everything only the best!!!
Here is updated version of winter in Svaneti
After 5 January snow is promised.