HIKING FROM USHGULI TO CHVELPI VIA LATPARI PASS
SVANETI | GEORGIA
In this guide we cover everything you need to know about hiking from Ushguli to Chvelpi. This includes a detailed outline of the route, trekking distances and times, camping and accommodation options, packing lists, transport info, and more. We also provide a map and our GPX track download to help you find your way.
Hiking from Ushguli to Chvelpi via Latpari Pass is a great way to connect Upper and Lower Svaneti. You can skip the long journey back to Zugdidi by road and head straight towards Lechkhumi instead. It’s possible to complete the route in one long day, or split it in two with a lakeside camp before the pass. The first half of the hike is particularly scenic (weather permitting), with increasingly spectacular views of the Greater Caucasus Range to the north and Lechkhumi to the south. The entire descent from Latpari Pass to Chvelpi is on a dirt road, making it straightforward but pretty uninspiring. From Chvelpi, a daily marshrutka departs in the morning for the 3 hour drive to Kutaisi.
The itinerary outlined below is a 2 day version of the hike, but it’s possible to complete the route in 1 day if you’re a fast hiker. We did the hike over 2 days, camping at the grassy area before the pass as shown in our accompanying film. The lake is a much nicer spot though, so we’ve amended the itinerary below to reflect what we think is the ideal route.
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Thanks a lot for the guide! It covered everything one might need to know! As an addition of Mestia-Ushguli trek, I did Ushguli-Chvelpi hike in 1 day and I would recommend everyone to camp and spend a night near the lake while enjoying possibly the best views of the Caucasus Mountains. I arrived today at Chvelpi and am currently staying at Mtis Broli guest house. While I can’t say bad about the guest houses I stayed at during the Mestia-Ushguli trek, this one hits different! The hospitality is on another level and I’m saying this as a Georgian. The owners… Read more »
Thanks for the feedback, Papuna! Glad you enjoyed the trek and had a good experience at Mtis Broli. I’m sure it would be helpful for them to be on booking.com, although from memory there wasn’t any internet connection there so maybe this could be a problem for them keeping up to date with reservations? Anyway, maybe the interent is better now : ) Thanks again! Kim
hey! so nice of you! can you share Mtis Broli number? We are planning to sleep there (starting from kutaisi by Marshrutka this sunday)
Hi Stefano, as far as I know, this is the correct number – +995 577 953516 Enjoy! Kim
Thanks a lot for your Ushuli to Chvelpi trekking guide! Done in one day on middle of October, 2021. Wonderful scenery to say goodbye to peaks seen in last days, while going along the ridge. Advice to those who are going out of season – contact guesthouse owner to ensure that there be the place to stay overnight, as the family are not living there permanently. Owner (Mtis Broli) was very caring. When in morning I got to know that marshrutka wont come, as its broken (and no foreseen replacement), he accompany till the main road and stayed for two… Read more »
You’re very welcome and thanks for commenting once again! Such great views from that ridge although from our point of view, we only had glimpses on a cloudy day. Great advice regarding the Mtis Broli guesthouse, and very nice to hear the owner was so helpful given the situation. Must’ve been cold waiting out on that road!