A 360-Degree Scenic Photography Paradise 🏞️

On my first day in Mestia, I chose the Koruldi Lake hiking trail. 🚤 Firstly, it's conveniently located near the town, offering options to either hike up from the town or take a car to the mid-mountain café as a starting point. ✨📸 Personally, I recommend taking a car directly to the café at the mid-mountain to begin your hike. 🚗☕ From the café to the lakeside: Hiking distance: 6KM😎 Elevation gain/loss: +600M/-600M From Mestia town to the lakeside: Hiking distance: 16KM😅🌄 Elevation gain/loss: +1400M/-1400M📸 Starting from the café, the trail mostly follows the ridge. As you ascend, you'll be treated to views of Mount Ushba, known by some as the "Matterhorn of the Caucasus" due to its sharp peaks. Locals also call it "Cat Mountain" because of its twin peaks, standing at an elevation of 4,710M. 🏔️🐱 The path up is generally well-established but quite steep. 🏙️ While off-road vehicles can technically reach the lakeside, the road conditions are poor. For safety reasons, it's better to start your hike from the café. 🚙💨 Helpful Tips 💡 Vehicles frequently pass by on the trail, and occasional strong winds at the summit can kick up dust. A face mask is essential for this route. 😷 A Bit of Extension 🌄 From the lakeside, you can continue climbing upward. The further you go, the more challenging the terrain becomes, reaching up to the 3,328-meter cross. From the summit, you can admire the glaciers of Mount Ushba.🌇🌬️ Alternatively, you can embark on a cross-country hike from Mazeri to Koruldi and then to Mestia. This route covers approximately twenty kilometers and is suitable for those with good physical endurance. 🚶‍♂️💪 #Mestia #Georgia #GreaterCaucasusMountains 🏟😅