The highest village and monastery in Europe at the top of a cliff. A sofa trip to picturesque Georgia! / Script

Encounter with a monk living alone on a 40-meter-high cliff, the pristine beaches of the Black Sea and the magic of the Svaneti mountains. At a time when travel is almost impossible, the 1000-mile expedition definitely invites everyone to add Georgia to their list of future destinations.

In the fall of 2012, singer Intars Busulis and climber Indulis Šverns, together with the “1000 mile” expedition team, went to Georgia. This time, travelers spent the night not only in guest houses, but also in tents, discovering picturesque natural landscapes before their eyes in the mornings.

Traveling on a variety of roads, in a variety of vehicles, travelers reached as far as the highest village on the European continent (if the number of Georgia as part of the European continent) was Ushguli. It is located at the foot of Georgia’s highest peak Shara (5058 meters). Shara, on the other hand, is part of the Bezengi Wall mountain range in the Caucasus. The unspoilt villages and their buildings, the history of Svaneti’s inhabitants, as well as the beautiful and unspoilt landscape delighted travelers in the 4th series of the expedition. In one of the interviews, Intars Busulis noted that visiting the villages of Ushguli is every Georgian dream, but not everyone has managed to fulfill it, because the roads can be driven only 6 months a year, in special vehicles.

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The second dream of every Georgian, fulfilled by Latvian travelers in the 5th series of the expedition, is to end up in a very unusual monastery located in the village of Kachi. It is called the “fortress of loneliness”. This almost inaccessible sanctuary, built around the 6th century, is located on top of a high cliff. In this place, at an altitude of 40 meters, during the trip lived the monk Maxim, with whom the travelers also got acquainted. Maxim restores and nurtures this sanctuary and is the only inhabitant of the “fortress of loneliness”.

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Georgia’s beautiful and diverse nature, the splendor of shrines and monasteries, and the sincerity of its people accompanied travelers every day of the expedition, whether it was in Svaneti or in the resort towns on the Black Sea. A variety of mineral waters were tasted, Georgian cuisine was introduced, the art of toasting was taught, wine-making customs were learned, tea was made from glacial water and sharp sensations were experienced while enjoying rock climbing in inaccessible places. While we are waiting for the opportunity to travel, Georgian nature sights, accompanied by Intars Busulis, can be enjoyed from home.

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