Car Rental in Batumi for a Trip to Svaneti

Car rental in Batumi for a trip to Svaneti frees you from minibus timetables and lets you see Ushguli, not just Mestia. The road splits into two parts with different demands on the car, and it is better to know that before you book.

Car rental in Batumi for a trip to Svaneti: the car for Mestia

The road to Mestia is a mountain road, and mountain roads are allowed on all our cars except premium models and low sedans. For Mestia, take a comfortable car with some ground clearance.

On the hairpins, keep your distance and take the bends without hurry. On narrow sections, oncoming cars let each other pass in turn. Winter tyres are fitted from November, and you do not need to ask for them.

The road from Batumi to Mestia

The route follows the coast to Zugdidi, and the second half climbs into the mountains along the Enguri reservoir. It is asphalt all the way to Mestia, but it is a mountain road: tight bends, narrow places and, after rain, falling stones.

Set off in the morning: the mountain part is unpleasant in the dark, and there is plenty to see, from gorges and waterfalls to the first Svan towers. Stop at the Enguri dam on the way, one of the highest arch dams in the world. Fill the tank in Zugdidi and download an offline map, since mobile signal drops out in places.

Beyond Mestia: Ushguli and the glaciers

The best of Svaneti starts beyond Mestia: Ushguli, the view of the Shkhara glacier, the Hatsvali and Tetnuldi lifts, mountain lakes and trails to the glaciers. The road to Ushguli is narrow, unpaved and stony in places, with steep climbs, and it calls for a car with more ground clearance from the SUV section.

The stretch is slow, so allow more time than the map suggests. Ask about the road in Mestia the day before, and in winter check again on the morning you set off. If you would rather not drive it yourself, local jeep transfers run from Mestia, and your car can stay in Mestia.

What the insurance does not cover

Full comprehensive insurance is in the price, but on this route one exclusion matters most: tyres and the underbody are not covered on any road, including gravel and mountain roads. On the stony road to Ushguli, a punctured tyre or a scraped underbody is the most likely damage, and its repair is paid by the renter.

Lowering the risk is simple: a car with more clearance, a slow pace over stones, and walking a doubtful section before you drive it. On the asphalt to Mestia the risk is minimal. We say this up front, not when the car comes back.

When to go and what to take

Summer and early autumn are the easiest time: the roads are open, Ushguli is reachable without special preparation, and the days are long. In winter Mestia is accessible, while the upper sections depend on the weather. In autumn it gets dark early in the mountains, so be back in Mestia before dusk.

In the mountains it is noticeably colder than on the coast in any season, so bring a warm jacket and closed shoes even in summer. Take water, snacks, a first-aid kit and some cash in case a village shop does not take cards.

Booking the car for this route

Mileage is unlimited, so the drive to Svaneti and back adds nothing to the rental price. The trip takes at least two days, so book the car for the whole trip and the discounts from 3 days and from 5 days apply.

If two of you will drive, add the second driver to the request: it is free for drivers aged 21 or over with at least a year of experience. With less than 2 years of experience there is an excess, named when you book. If you are unsure which class to choose, describe your route day by day in the request.

In short

Send your request on the Batumi page with your dates and a note that you are going to Svaneti, since that decides the class of car.