GeorgiaOfficial tourism
Mount Shkhara

Georgia's rooftop, frozen and forbidden

Mount Shkhara

Why go

Shkhara rises 5,193 meters as the country's highest peak, a jagged massif straddling the Russian border that dominates the upper Enguri valley. Its twin summits and 3-kilometer ridge form the dramatic backdrop to Ushguli, Europe's highest inhabited village. The mountain is sacred in Svan tradition—its name derives from the Svan word for 'nine,' possibly for its nine visible peaks or the nine months of snow. Unlike Kazbek, Shkhara is rarely climbed from the Georgian side — most ascents approach via the harder-to-reach but more established Russian routes in Kabardino-Balkaria, though Georgian-side routes exist and were used for a rare 2018 winter first ascent of the south face. You come not to summit but to witness: the mountain's scale from Ushguli's medieval towers redefines your sense of height and time.

On the ground See

  • Ushguli's Lamaria Church (12th century) with Shkhara filling the entire eastern horizon at dawn
  • The Shkhara Glacier tongue visible from the dirt road to Chveli, 8km north of Ushguli
  • Trekking toward the glacier base to observe icefall dynamics and the 2014 moraine-dammed lake outburst zone

Practical Know before you go

Best visibility June–September; reach Ushguli by 4WD from Mestia (4 hours) or on foot via the 4-day Mestia–Ushguli trek; Georgian-side climbing routes exist but are seldom used due to access difficulty, and most expeditions approach via the Russian side through Kabardino-Balkaria, which requires separate permits.

Last reviewed 25 August 2026 · reviewed quarterly