Chalaadi Glacier

ჭალაადის მყინვარი

An accessible glacier at the foot of the Caucasus, reached by a pleasant forest hike from near Mestia. It is one of the easiest close-up glacier encounters in Georgia, popular with day-trippers.

Things to do

• Hike the Chalaadi forest trail — Follow the well-marked path from the trailhead through beech and birch forest to the glacier snout, an easy few-hour round trip.
• Cross the metal suspension bridge — Traverse the swaying footbridge over the milky Mestiachala River at the start of the walk for classic photos.
• Reach the glacier terminus — Approach the ice tongue at the foot of the Caucasus and see the boulder-strewn moraine up close.
• Photograph the moraine and ice caves — Scramble over the grey rubble field to view blue ice, crevasses, and small meltwater caves at the glacier edge.
• Picnic by the Mestiachala River — Rest at the rocky riverbank where the glacial stream rushes out, a cool spot to eat before returning.
• Combine with a Mestia day trip — Start from Mestia's Svan tower town and drive or walk to the trailhead, making it an easy full-day outing.
• Spot Caucasus peaks and wildflowers — Look up to snow ridges and enjoy alpine meadow flowers along the higher stretches of the trail in summer.

Food to try

• Kubdari — The signature Svan meat pie stuffed with spiced chopped beef or pork, ideal to buy in Mestia before the hike.
• Tashmijabi — A rich Svan comfort dish of mashed potatoes blended with melted sulguni cheese.
• Sulguni cheese — The stretchy, salty brined cheese from the Samegrelo-Svaneti region, eaten fresh or fried.
• Chvishtari — Warm cornbread cakes with cheese melted inside, a hearty Svan staple to pack for the trail.
• Svan salt (svanuri marili) — A fragrant blend of garlic, coriander, blue fenugreek and other herbs used to season nearly everything here.
• Highland honey and herbal tea — Mountain honey and tea served in Mestia guesthouses make a good warm-up after the cool glacier air.

Local customs & good to know

• Wear proper footwear — The moraine near the ice is loose and slippery, so hiking boots and caution on the rocks are essential.
• Do not climb onto the glacier ice — The surface hides crevasses and unstable seracs, so admire it from the moraine rather than walking on it.
• Respect Svan hospitality — Svaneti hosts are proud and welcoming; accepting offered food or a toast and greeting elders politely is appreciated.
• Start early and check the weather — Afternoon clouds and rain are common, and river levels rise with meltwater, so an early start makes the crossing and views better.

Nearby

• Koruldi Lakes — 5 km
• Mount Ushba — 5 km
• Mestia — 9 km
• Hatsvali Ski Resort — 11 km