A region of Georgia on the southern slopes of the Caucasus mountain range is hosting a walking festival from July 20 to 22.
With the support of the European Union, Sweden, and Austria as a part of the GRETA project, in collaboration with HIGHLANDER SVANETI x GEORGIA and the USAID Economic Security Program, the Svaneti Destination Management Organization (Svaneti DMO) will host the event.
Within the Festival, a series of HIGHLANDER SVANETI x GEORGIA hiking events will take place in Mestia this year, recognised as one of the world’s iconic routes. The festival serves as a platform to advocate for nature conservation efforts and eco-tourism. These events aim to promote a healthy lifestyle, encourage active recreation, and preserve the pristine beauty of nature in its unspoiled state.
Registration, and more information on the Svaneti Hiking Festival can be found at https://highlanderadventure.com/en-us/svaneti.
The festival offers two formats of trekking tours: HIGHLANDER Pegasus – a three-day, 50km hike – and HIGHLANDER Orion, which covers 25km in two days.
The Svaneti region, which borders Russia, features four of the highest mountains in the entire Caucasus. Georgia’s highest peak, Mount Shkhara, (5,201m/17,059 feet), is located in the province.
Festival participants and guests will have the opportunity to engage in a range of additional events: cooking classes, food tastings, local handicraft workshops, educational sessions, diverse thematic discussions, and evenings filled with local folklore performances.
The GRETA project, titled “Green Economy: Sustainable Mountain Tourism and Organic Agriculture,” is being implemented by the Austrian Development Agency in Georgia. With the support of the European Union, Austria, and Sweden, the project strives to enhance the business environment and foster additional income opportunities in two vital sectors of the Georgian economy: mountain tourism and organic agriculture.
