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

Tbilisi - Ushguli 2010 - Solo Trip Hiking

by Levan Argvliani

Hatsvali ski resort

Snow in Mestia

mountain Tetnuldi

By Vakho Naveriani

Snow in Mestia

Currently it is more then half meter snow in Mestia! So perfect weather to ski!!!
Hatsvali now:

Mestia now

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.

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!

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.

Winter season was opened in Mestia

Ссылка:

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

Winter trips in Svaneti

This is update of Winter in Svaneti post.
So, only skiing for 7 days will cost 550 GEL per person in case of group of 4, because money for transfers will be divided between tourists. Here is included flights Tbilisi - Mestia - Tbilisi, accommodation in guesthouse with 3 meals per day and transfers - from airport to guesthouse, and every day from guesthouse to cable and back.

Regarding skis rent there is still no information, but at least it will be organized, I just will need to know in front. It might cost 35-40 GEL per day.

Cable this year is free.
At bottom of cable is cafe.

Available excursions:
1. Mestia: ethnographic museum, historical district Lanchvali, ancient house and tower of Margiani family (XII-XIX centuries), historical district Lagami, museum of mountain climber Mikheil Khergiani and church of transfiguration with ancient frescoes (IX century). Mineral water springs. Cost of excursion 60 GEL is divided between tourists. Museums enterances 16 lari per person.

2. Ushguli: Highest inhabitant village in Europe on latitude 2200m, in bottom of highest mountain in Georgia - Shkhara (5068m) road from Mestia takes up to 3 hours. In this remote village is saved ancient Svan architecture and livestyle. Tour includes walk in villages of Ushguli community, ethnographic museum, lunch and visiting Lamaria church.
Cost of tour 260 GEL (divided between tourists) plus per person 5 lari - ethnographic museum, 10 lari museum of holy icons, 10 lari lunch.

3. Lenjeri and Latali: medieval church of archangel in Lenjeri, medieval churches of Savior and Jonah the prophet, museum of mountain climber and photographer Guram Tikanadze, old streets in village and mill, walk to village Lakhujdi, climbing to svan tower and visit Parjiani family ancient house ruins. Walk or ride to mountain to visit church Tangili. Cost of tour 140 GEL (divided between tourists) plus per person 5 lari -Tikanadze museum, 10 lari lunch, horses 15 lari per hour.

4. Adishi: Remote highland almost abandoned village, which also saved ancient spirit even best then Ushguli. In bottom of mountain Tetnuldi (5021m). Walk in village, visit towers, medieval churches, lunch. Cost of tour 210 GEL (divided between tourists) plus lunch 10 GEL.

There is also possibility to make traditional svan 'supra', with traditional dishes, toasts, folk songs, legends. Cost depends on quantity of tourists.

Photos from Mestia

Mestia airport

Ushba

Hatsvali

Cable in Mestia, Hatsvali

Photos of cable in Hatsvali, Mestia, by Vakho Naveriani