Travel guide to the top of Mount Tetnuldi in the Caucasus
Mount Tetnuldi is a high mountain peak located in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region of Georgia. A chairlift service road to the west climbs up to 3.149m (10,331ft) above the sea level. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.
Set high in the central part of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range, the road is totally unpaved. It’s a service access road for the new ski resort in Tetnuldi, opened during 2015-2016 winter season. It’s one of the highest roads of Georgia.
Tucked away on the northwestern part of the country, acessibility is largely limited to the summer season, from June-September. Located near the beautiful town of Mestia, a 4x4 vehicle is required.
The road to the summit, informally dubbed the “Caucasus Queen”, is very steep, hitting a 18% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps. Starting at Tetnuldi Ski Resort, the ascent is 3.4 km (2.11 miles) long. Over this distance the elevation gain is 450 meters. The average gradient is 13.23%.
Road suggested by: Dragan Vidovic
Pic: Gega Metepshishvili