My Exact Packing List For Hiking In Svaneti, Georgia (Detailed!)

Hiking in Georgia’s Svaneti region?

One of the most important decisions you’ll need to make is what to pack — especially as there aren’t stores in most of the villages.

Luckily, I’m just back from a 6-day Svaneti trek, and can share my exact packing list for hiking the region in summer, specifically late June.

🔗 Note: This guide contains affiliate links to the exact items I genuinely use, love, and packed for my Georgian hiking adventure.

Svaneti Weather In Summer

On average, daytime temperatures fluctuated between 20°C and 25°C (68°F to 77°F) in the valleys; however, when out in the mountains, you also need to be prepared for chillier temperatures.

Not only that, but weather conditions can change at any moment. During my summer hiking trip in Svaneti, I experienced blaring hot sun, rain and hail, and even snowy sections of trail.

Basically, you shouldn’t just pack for a “summer” trek, as mountain passes routinely drop to 5°C to 10°C (41°F to 50°F) — meaning you can experience multiple seasons in a single afternoon!

Luggage Transfers On The Trail

Knowing how your luggage is transferred will help you accurately plan what you’ll need to carry.

If possible, I highly recommend arranging to have your luggage transported from village to village so you can simply carry your day pack and enjoy the beauty of the trail.

I booked a guided group Svaneti hike through TrekGeorgia, who transferred our big luggage from place to place by van and handled all of the trip logistics.

If you prefer self-guided trekking, another option is booking through a company like Camp Caucasus, who will provide trail maps and also handle accommodations and luggage transfers.

Finally, if you’d rather keep things as cost-effective as possible and don’t mind hiking with all of your luggage, you can sign up for AllTrails Peaks or Plus, which include offline map usage.

If you decide not to have your luggage transferred for you, I suggest re-wearing clothing as much as possible to limit how much weight you’ll be carrying.

Svaneti Trekking Packing List

On that note, here is the exact Georgia packing list I recommend for trekking Svaneti in summer. In case it’s helpful, I’ve also included links to the brands I used:

🧳 Luggage

• 1x spacious duffle bag. I use the highly durable and waterproof North Face Base Camp Duffle in medium. I’ve literally used this bag as a sled on a snowy downhill trail and everything inside stayed bone dry!
• 1x 20-35 liter day pack. I’ve happily used the G4Free 35L Day Pack for years now, which has essential features like padded and adjustable hip and shoulder straps, a chest strap to distribute weight more evenly, 7+ different pockets and compartments, a water bladder exit on the top, and a rain cover.
• Carabiners. I hook a few of these Rhino Lightweight Snap Carabiner Clips to my daypack so I can secure my water bottle, hiking poles, etc.
• 1x tote bag with zipper. I love this tear-resistant foldable bag that packs down small. It came in handy for keeping muddy boots (wrapped in bags) separate from my main luggage.
• 1x hiking fanny pack. Not essential, but helpful for quick front access to things like sunscreen, snacks, chapstick, and your phone. The Cotopaxi Allpa 1.5L Hip Pack is a spacious and sustainably-made option.

💦 Hydration

• 3L water bladder. I have used the 3L Platypus Big Zip EVO Water Reservoir for years. While 3L is pretty large, having the extra space provides peace of mind. You also don’t have to fill it up all the way if you don’t want.
• Water filter or filtering bottle. This isn’t essential as it’s easy to get water at guesthouses — plus if you book with TrekGeorgia they supply bottled water; but, having a bottle like the LifeStraw Go allows you to refill in local streams and rivers to reduce pack weight.
• Reuseable water bottle. I like to have a bottle on hand to add my daily electrolyte mix in — since you shouldn’t add powders and mixes to your water bladder, or else it might grow mold. You can bring whatever bottle you like or use the LifeStraw Go without the filter.
• Electrolyte mix. I’m a fan of FITAID Hydrate, which works great and isn’t overly sweet.

💊 Health & Wellness

• Travel insurance. Important: It is mandatory for tourists to have proof of travel insurance to enter Georgia. I use and love SafetyWing — which offers affordable, comprehensive, and straightforward plans (no waiting for a quote!).
  • Once you purchase, simply click their “Generate visa letter” button to create proof of coverage in one click. Print this along with your purchase receipt to show when entering Georgia if asked.
    
• Prescription medications. These should go in your carry-on in case your checked bags get lost, and should be kept in their original pharmacy-labeled containers.
• Over-the-counter medications. Be prepared for regular high-altitude and travel ailments like headaches, sinus issues, diarrhea, gas, and upset stomach. Also, traveling by bus over mountain roads can lead to car sickness, so pack some Dramamine.
• Relief for sore muscles. My go-to is White Tiger Balm, which I use for everything from achy muscles to headaches.
• Sun protection. This includes SPF 30+ broad spectrum sunscreen, polarized sunglasses, a sun hat, and SPF lip balm.
• Toiletries. While Svaneti guesthouses offer towels and hot showers — often with shared facilities — not all provide soap and shampoo, so bring everything you’ll need to shower and refresh. My personal toiletry kit includes deodorant, travel toothbrush, mouthwash, toothpaste, floss, Vaseline, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, bar soap, razor, comb, face wash, and moisturizer.
• Hair ties and headbands. You’ll want to keep your hair out of your face while trekking. For something stylish and multi-functional, I’m obsessed with these K’lani Hair Tie Bracelets.
• Flushable wipes. I always have these plant-based WONDERFUL Travel Flushable Wipes on me for a quick refresh or to use as toilet paper when needed. Just don’t actually flush them, as plumbing can be fragile!
• Toilet paper. While guesthouses provide this, the rolls are usually small and you often have to share with others.

🥜 Food

While you’ll get a daily lunch box, it’s often pretty small without much variety. I found it really helpful to have a mix of salty and sweet snacks to keep my energy up. My go-tos:

• Cliff Bars (the Oatmeal Raisin Walnut is my favorite!)
• Cheeze-Its
• Pretzels
• Trail Mix
• Cookies

🧥 Clothing

The following list is for 6 days of hiking in Svaneti, though you can adjust the amount of shirts and underwear you’ll bring if your trek is shorter or longer.

Ultimately, the amount of each item you pack depends on your comfort re-wearing clothing. You can always bring a mini bottle of Febreze to help keep clothes you re-wear smelling fresh!

💡Tip: Before getting into the clothing list, it’s important to understand how to properly layer your hiking clothing. In order, you’ll want a moisture-wicking base layer, fleece, packable puffy, and a wind- and rain-proof top layer. While you won’t wear all of these items at all times — especially for summer hiking in Georgia — you will want to have these items on hand. Even in summer, the mountains get chilly!

On that note, you’ll want to pack:

• 3-6x moisture-wicking t-shirts. If you’re okay re-wearing, go with fewer t-shirts to save space. Choosing merino wool t-shirts helps regulate your body temperature and reduces odors.
• 1-2x light sun shirts. Avoid black, which attracts the sun. I like the MAGCOMSEN UPF 50+ Sun Protection Shirt in light pink.
• 2x long-sleeve moisture-wicking base layers. I used one for hiking and one for a clean warm layer at the guesthouses after showering.
• 1x clean outfit for guesthouses. Don’t wear this hiking, as this is your daily post-shower outfit. Personally, I packed wool leggings and a t-shirt. You can also wear these clean clothes on the plane ride home, too!
• 1x fleece. I never travel without my Cotopaxi fleece, which can keep you warm on summits and mountain passes — plus it’s cozy to wear at guesthouses.
• 1x packable puffy. This should be something warm and lightweight that easily packs down into your daypack. Personally, every packable puffy I’ve ever purchased is from Big Agnes; I’m currently using their Larkspur Jacket.
• 1x rain- and wind-proof jacket and pants. Always keep these items in your day pack! Right now, I’m loving the brand 33,000ft — like their Packable Rain Jacket and Packable Rain Pants, both of which are lightweight and pack down small.
• 1x poncho. Even in summer, you can experience pelting rain and hail (I did during my trek!). A poncho will keep you extra dry.
• 2x hiking pants. You might also choose to bring 1x hiking pants (like my favorite, the Coalatree Trailhead Hiking Pants) and 1x hiking shorts. Personally, I only hike in pants to help avoid ticks and poisonous plants.
• 1x neck gaiter. I’m a big fan of BUFF neck gaiters, which can be used as sun, wind, and cold protection. They’re also versatile and can be used as a scarf, hat, headband, and more.
• 1x winter hat. I didn’t use mine, but this is always good to have.
• 1x gloves. I didn’t use mine, but this is always good to have.
• 1x scarf. I didn’t use mine — instead I used my neck gaiter — but this is always good to have.
• Pajamas. I recommend 1x t-shirt, long-sleeve shirt, shorts, and pants — or consider reusing what you wore on the plane ride over. For instance, I reused my airplane hoodie as pajamas instead of packing a separate long-sleeve shirt.
• 6x+ underwear. I recommend packing bamboo underwear as they’re soft and moisture-wicking.
• 3x sports bras. Use 2 pairs for hiking, and keep 1 clean for post-shower and the airplane home.
• 2x sock liners. Optional, but my OrrinSports Toe Socks Liners have helped me avoid blisters on treks around the world.
• 3x hiking socks. Bring 1 lightweight and 2 midweight pairs.
• 1x clean socks. Put these on post-shower at guesthouses and wear them on the plane ride home.

🥾 Hiking Gear

• Headlamp. While I didn’t use it, I always hike with my Lepro Rechargable Headlamp just to be safe.
• 1-2x pairs of waterproof hiking boots. You can get away with one, but I like to have a spare pair in case. My go-to is the KEEN Targhee 4 Mid Height Waterproof Boots, which are roomy and help you avoid painful “toe bang” on steep downhills.
• 1x pair of shower sandals. Some guesthouses have shared facilities, so you won’t want to go in barefoot.
• 1x pair of shoes to wander around after hiking. Personally, I just used my extra hiking boots for this to lighten my load, but you may want another pair.
• Hiking poles. If you book with TrekGeorgia they’ll supply hiking poles; however, if you’re bringing your own I recommend a foldable pair from Hiker Hunger Outfitters, which fold up quickly and fit right in your backpack’s side pocket.

📱Electronics

There are outlets at all of the guesthouses and often WiFi, so consider what you’d like to bring. A few essentials:

• Phone. You’ll want this to stay connected and take photos. Tip: Download some movies and shows for relaxing without WiFi in small villages — as well as a white noise video for help with sleeping and blocking animal sounds. Randall’s Relaxation is my favorite YouTube channel for these!
• Headphones. After a day of hiking or on long bus rides, it’s nice to pop on your headphones and zone out with some downloaded shows or music.
• eSIM. If you’d like to stay connected while trekking, I recommend Saily eSIM, which worked for me at every guesthouse and often on the trail itself. 3GB was enough for my 10-day trip to Georgia, including my 6-day trek.
• Power bank. I use the Anker Portable Charger, 20,000mAh Power Bank. You’ll want this for the plane and along the trail during long days. Svaneti guesthouses have outlets, so you’ll be able to recharge your gear and charging cube too.
• Travel adapter. If you’re coming from the USA or another country with different plugs, something like the NEWVANGA Universal Travel Adapter Fast Charger allows you to charge multiple devices without issue.
• Camera. I brought my lightweight mirrorless Nikon Z6ii with 24-70 f/4 lens and Insta360 with invisible selfie stick and mini SD for easy solo and 360 shots.

🏔️ Extras

• Travel-sized Febreze. To help keep the hiking clothes you re-wear smelling fresh.
• Eye mask. Some rooms have a lot of light coming in even at night, so an eye mask can help block it out.
• Ear plugs. While hiking in Svaneti, you’ll not only hear other hikers, but also lots of animals.
• Biodegradable trash bags. These are great for wrapping up muddy boots, throwing trash in, really anything! Getting a biodegradable option avoids adding plastic waste to the landfill, especially in rural villages.
• Hand soap and sanitizer. You never know when you’ll end up with dirty hands and no way to clean them. I love these simple Purell hand sanitizers that clip to your backpack as well as these biodegradable soap sheets that take up almost no space.
• Travel knife. This isn’t essential, but guesthouses often give you lunch foods like whole tomatoes and cucumbers that are better enjoyed cut up. Something like this reusable travel cutlery set will come in handy.
• Small food container. This isn’t essential, as you’ll get a bag to use, but each morning you’ll make your lunch, which often includes fragile foods like tomatoes and boiled eggs. Bonus: This bento box also includes travel cutlery!
• Book. After hiking, it’s nice to cozy up with a tea or coffee and a book while enjoying the view.