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Adishi in Svaneti: how to get there and what is there to see?

27 km from Mestia on a rough road, towers, a glacier and old churches.

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Short answer

Adishi is in Svaneti 27 kilometres from Mestia, and the road from Mestia is rough and winding, so the last stretch needs a vehicle with high off-road capability. It is 27 km from Mestia, and the Mestia to Adishi road is especially rough and winding, with the last stretch needing a vehicle with high off-road capability. You can fly to Mestia from Kutaisi Airport or from the airfield in Natakhtari near Tbilisi, or take a train to Zugdidi and continue by minivan or taxi.

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Why

  1. The Mestia to Adishi road is especially rough and winding.
  2. The last stretch needs a vehicle with high off-road capability.
  3. The village itself has kept its towers, churches and old houses.

Details

The village is known for well-preserved Svan towers, with the Adishi Glacier visible behind them. There is the Church of the Savior (10th–11th century) with 12th-century paintings, two St. George churches (11th–12th century) and the 13th-century Archangel Church with ancient frescoes. The Adishi Gospels, one of the oldest examples of Georgian writing, are kept in the Svaneti Historical/Ethnographic Museum. More on the region: where is Svaneti, on the road from Kutaisi: Kutaisi to Mestia, on flights: domestic flights to Mestia.

Tip

Decide in advance how you will cover the last stretch from Mestia: a vehicle with high off-road capability is required.

What may differ

Ask drivers and guesthouses in Mestia about the season and travel time from Mestia.

Common misconception

Any ordinary car can reach Adishi.

What actually happens

The last stretch of the road requires a vehicle with high off-road capability.

People also ask

  • How do you get to Adishi?
  • What is there to see in Adishi?

Sources

This is reference information. Rely on official sources and check before you travel.

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