Changes

Hitching through Svaneti is an ordeal! Start early; 0500 is a good time. Though you'll probably move more quickly, ensure that you have two days to get anywhere, as the roads are in poor condition and there is little trafficand a portion of the road is in bad state. There are two ways to get into Svaneti, the western approach beginning in [[Zugdidi]] and the eastern approach most likely beginning in [[Kutaisi]]. The western approach into the higher elevations of Svaneti is the more traveled by cars. It is supposedly the better cared-for road (even though you wouldn't believe it when you ride on it).  [[File:roadsignsvaneti.jpg|400px|thumb|right|Have a nice trip!]]The two most visited cities in Svaneti are [[Mestia]] and [[Ushguli]]. Because more traffic climbs up from the west, [[Mestia]] will be reached first. Then another climb even higher into the mountains will take you to [[Ushguli]], called the highest permanent settlement in [[Europe]].

The road between [[Zugdidi]] and [[KhaishiMestia]] is mostly a new, well-paved with numerous rough sectionsroad. The road north of [[KhaishiMestia]] is much more rough with some sections still being constructed.

'''First''': the eastern approach is absolutelly challenging to hitchhike!!! There are places where you can be stuck for days!!! Most Jeep safaris go from [[Zugdidi]] - [[Mestia]] - [[Ushguli]] - [[Lentekhi]]. If you want to hitchhike whole Svaneti, do it the same way. Almost nobody goes the other way round.

*'''[[Lentekhi]] - [[Ushguli]]'''This is by far the hardest part in [[Svaneti]]. There are several mountain passes on this approach. These include Zagaro Pass and Ughviri Pass (2700 meters). Both can be snowed in late into the season so check conditions or be prepared to walk. There are for sure no Marshrutkas from ''marshrutkas'' between [[Lentekhi]] to [[and Ushguli]] and v.v. The road is a seasonal road for summer driving only, means that there is absolutely almost no "real traffic" but a fewforeighners few foreigners do this road as a special challenge with their Jeepsjeeps.  ''[[User:seee|seee]] waited in Ushguli towards Lentekhi in August 2011 one complete day without seeing a car. The next day he walked more than 10 kilometers, until a polish Polish jeep picked him up. Bear in mind that the road leds leads approx. 45 kilometers 45 km through absolute wildernessand some villages along this length marked on various maps are already abandoned.''

''[[User:Kundrt|Kundrt]] waited in Lentekhi maybe half an hour when really old little lorry appeared. The driver didn't go all the way to Ushguli but took him for 10-15 km and explained it will be faster to walk up over one pass, keeping in sight electric transmission line. It's half-day hike and the view from the pass is breathtaking. You will come down to the road a few kilometres west of Ushguli.''*'''[[Ushguli]] - [[Mestia]]'''The road is as bad as [[Lentekhi]] - [[Ushguli]], but there is much more traffic. Many hiking tourists hike from [[Mestia]] to [[Ushguli]] and go back to [[Mestia]] by Jeepsjeep. Keep in mind that this is a highly comercialised touristical touristic area, and finding someone giving to give you a lift for free might be a challenge. The other way round it works better, as many Jeeps jeeps go back empty.

Unlike the rest of Georgia, where locals will happily let your you sleep in their homes for free if you just ask, Svaneti is highly commercialized and prices for homestays are higher than even in the capital (15-20 15–20 lari/night). Camping is possible anywhere outside villages, but in the winter you should camp only with special gear for cold weather.