Ushguli – Shkhara Glacier – Namkvami Lake

Hiking Route

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

The hiking trail is 9 km long and it takes from 7 to 8 hours to complete.

Starting out, head northeast towards Mount Shkhara (5,203 meters), the highest mountain in Georgia, located on the main range of the central Caucasus Mountains and considered by mountaineers to be one of the hardest mountains to climb in Europe.

The hiking trail first arrives at the base of Shkhara Glacier, 2,900 meters above sea level, where you can see the snowy slopes of the resplendent Shkhara from a close-up. From here, to route continues to the east, and starts to descend to Namkvami Plateau. After about three kilometers, you will see the beautiful Namkvami Lake (aka Romisghele 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.