Ever since speaking with a woman from Kazakhstan, I’ve been reluctant to recommend treks in the former Soviet Union.
She told me, “Kazakhstan has wonderful trekking, but you will be robbed and possibly killed your first night in the mountains if you go alone.”
But I found an impressive website from Georgia. I would happily hike with these guides in Svaneti, surrounded by 3,000-5,000m peaks, the highest inhabited area in Europe.
Given the diversity of its relief and the richness of its history and the unique ethnic identity of its residents, Svaneti is one of Georgia’s most outstanding regions.
It had long attracted many tourists, but the political and economic decline experienced by Georgia following the fall of the Soviet Union and independence has hampered efforts to revive and further develop Svaneti’s tourist and recreational potential.
In order to achieve this, it is necessary to foster the development of the family-run tourism business, especially given that this business employs much of the population (host families, providing tourists with products and traditional crafts, vehicle transport, horses, guide services, museums, folk music ensembles and more), and provides the local people, many of whom live near the poverty line, with additional incomes.
Svaneti Trekking – About Us
They recommend a number of dayhikes in the region, all which look great. I’d love to get there.
Their longest route recommended is a horse trek called ZHABESHI-USHGULI.
Svaneti Trekking – English, German, Russian and Georgian
Ushba (4710m) larger original – flickr – Patricia Scherer
Our list of the best hikes in China is weak for a number of good reasons.
Rogier of Bluepeak.net alerted me to Torngat in Labrador, Quebec.
besthike.com 