Mazeri and Ushba

Mazeri is a small village in the Becho community, about 25 km west of Mestia, at around 1,660 m. It sits at the foot of Ushba, the double-summited peak often called the Matterhorn of the Caucasus, whose south summit reaches 4,710 m. The village is quieter and greener than Mestia, with a handful of guesthouses, hay meadows and views straight up the Dolra valley to the mountain, and it makes a peaceful base for a night or two. Most visitors come to hike towards Ushba, one of the most famous and difficult climbing peaks in the Caucasus.

The classic hike follows the Dolra River for about 3 km to the foot of the Shdugra Waterfall, also called the Ushba Waterfall, about 120 m high. A steeper path continues about 3 km to its top, crossing the river, and on towards the moraines below the Ushba Glacier. The route passes a border police post because the Russian border is close, so carry your passport. Strong walkers can also cross from the Becho valley to Mestia over the high plateau south of the Koruldi Lakes, a long day of about 21 km reaching almost 3,000 m.

Ushba has drawn climbers since the 19th century. Its lower north summit was first climbed in 1888 by the British mountaineer John Garforth Cockin with the guide Ulrich Almer. The higher south summit was reached in 1903 by an expedition led by Willi Rickmer Rickmers. Its steep faces and changeable weather still make it one of the hardest major peaks in the Caucasus.