Ski Touring & Backcountry
Human-powered days on skins around Mestia, Ushguli, Adishi, Koruldi and the Laila range. Day tours and full weeks, guided by locals who read the Caucasus snowpack.
Valleys we tour
Skins on, engine off. Earn the descent.
Prefer a whole week? See our multi-day Svaneti ski expedition — 7, 10 or 14 days with IFMGA guides, from €1,548 per person.
Ski touring opens the terrain lifts and cats never reach — quiet valleys, cols and summits across Upper Svaneti. Day tours run from Mestia and Hatsvali; multi-day traverses link village guesthouses between Mestia, Adishi and Ushguli, or push into the Laila range.
You need uphill fitness, off-piste ability and touring bindings or a splitboard; rental setups are available. Every day includes an avalanche transceiver, airbag, shovel and probe, and a snowpack assessment. Weeks run guesthouse to guesthouse with half-board and transfers.
Ski touring in Svaneti — earn your turns in the Caucasus
For skiers who love the climb as much as the descent, Svaneti is a backcountry ski touring dream. Skinning out from Mestia and the surrounding villages, you reach untouched powder, high passes and summit views across the Greater Caucasus — Ushba, Tetnuldi, Shkhara and the Laila range. Away from lifts and crowds, it is pure mountain travel.
We guide single-day skin tours and multi-day traverses for fit skiers with off-piste experience. Every tour runs with a certified guide carrying avalanche safety equipment; we assess the snowpack, plan conservative terrain and move at a sustainable pace. Village guesthouses let us run hut-to-hut style tours through Upper Svaneti.
Tours we run
- Adishi ski touring — skin tours around the classic Svan village of Adishi and its glacier.
- Laila range traverse — a multi-day backcountry traverse for experienced tourers.
- Custom day tours from Mestia to match your fitness and the snow.
What you need
Touring skis or a splitboard with skins, and solid off-piste fitness and technique. If you prefer descents without the climb, consider catski or freeride instead. Gear rental and transfers are arranged from Mestia.
Frequently asked questions
How fit do I need to be for ski touring in Svaneti?
You should be comfortable skinning uphill for several hours and skiing off-piste in variable snow. Multi-day traverses demand good endurance. We can tailor day tours to moderate fitness levels.
Do you provide touring equipment?
We can arrange touring ski, splitboard and skin rental in Mestia, plus avalanche safety kit. Tell us your needs when booking.