Ushguli – Shkhara Glacier – Namkvami Lake

This hike starts from the village of Chazashi (2,100 meters) in Ushguli community, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The hike is 9km-long and takes seven or eight hours to complete.

Starting out, head northeast towards Shkhara (5,208 meters), a peak on the main range of the central Caucasus Mountains and considered by alpinists to be one of the hardest peaks to climb in Europe. The hiking path leads to the base of Shkhara Glacier, 2,900 meters above sea level, where you can see the snowy slopes of the resplendent Shkhara from close-up.

The road continues to the east, onto Namkvami Plateau. After about three kilometers, you see the beautiful Namkvami (Romisghele) glacial lake, which is the last stop on the route, located 2,500 meters above sea level. The scene here is truly magical, with the reflection of towering Shkhara and the surrounding alpine meadows gleaming on the water.