Svaneti, Georgia

Nestled deep in the North-Western corner of Georgia's Caucasus Mountains is Svaneti, a remote, mountainous region famous for its natural beauty, distinct identity, and stone defensive towers, called Koshki. The area surrounding Mestia, the Svanetian capital, features almost 200 of these UNESCO-listed towers. A couple of hours away from Mestia is Ushguli, one of Europe's highest continuously-inhabited villages, lying at 2,200m. Surrounding these villages are peaks that rise to more than 5,000 metres, of which the most famous are Ushba (4,710m), directly above Mestia, Tetnuldi (4,858m), and the highest in the region: Shkhara (5,203m), which is part of the Bezengi Wall / Pitsrula, a formidable ridge spanning the border between Georgia and Russia across 12 kilometres. 
These photos were taken across three trips in three seasons: Summer 2018, Spring 2023, and Winter 2024, with a further Winter trip planned for 2027.
A sunrise over a mountainous village, with ancient defensive stone towers.

Ushguli at Sunrise, Mt Shkhara (5,203m) in the background. 2018.

A snowy landscape with an ancient stone village in the mountains.

Ushguli in Winter. 2024.

Sunset over forested mountains with dramatic light accentuating trees.

Looking down to the lowlands South of Mestia. 2023.

A dramatic photo of a sharp, snowy mountain called Mt Ushbha, in Georgia's Svaneti region.

Mt Ushba (4,710m), towering above Mestia. 2023

A photo of an ancient stone village with defensive towers caught in a snowstorm.

The defensive towers of Mestia in a passing snowstorm. 2024.

Sunset over a snow mountain in Ushguli, Svaneti.

Mt Shkhara at sunset. 2023.

A sunrise over a mountainous village, with ancient defensive stone towers.

Ushguli at Sunrise, 2018. Mt Shkhara (5,203m) in the background.

A river in a mountainous area with a tall, snowy mountain in the background.

The valley leading to the Bezengi Wall and Mt Shkhara. 2023.

A sunset over a mountainous village, with ancient defensive stone towers.

The defensive towers of Ushguli at sunset. 2018

Leafless trees catch the strong sunlight above a river canyon.

River canyon leading towards Ushguli. 2023.

Bright trees catch the sunset on a mountain side.

Sunset on the hillsides near Mestia. 2023.

A photo of a man on a horse in front of a large, lush green mountain with snow on top.

A local shepherd facing Mt Skhkara (5,203m), Ushguli. 2018

A circular cloud above a pyramid-shaped snowy peak.

Mt Tetnuldi (4,858m) towering above the snowy landscape. 2024.

A photo of an ancient stone village with defensive towers caught in a snowstorm.

Ushguli in a whiteout. 2024.

A bright orange sunset in a mountain village, with a farm in the foreground and defensive stone towers in the background.

Defensive towers and farms of Ushguli. 2018.

A bright orange sunset in a mountain village, with a farm in the foreground and defensive stone towers in the background.

Defensive towers and farms of Ushguli. 2018.

A starry Milky Way above a stone tower in an ancient village in Georgia.

Ushguli's defensive towers under the night's Milky Way. 2018.

A photo of an ancient stone village with defensive towers caught in a snowstorm.

The defensive towers of Mestia in a passing snowstorm. 2024.

A photo of an ancient stone village with defensive towers caught in a snowstorm.

The defensive towers of Mestia in a passing snowstorm. 2024.

A photo of an ancient stone village with defensive towers caught in a snowstorm.

Mestia's defensive stone towers in a passing snowstorm. 2024.

A photo of an ancient stone village with defensive towers caught in a snowstorm.

Mestia's defensive stone towers in a passing snowstorm. 2024.

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