Svaneti, 1-Week Remote Ski Touring in Georgia

We had tough conditions with big snow falls just before we came and Nick make everything possible to find safe places where we could discover his mountains in a safely manner. Despite the high risk of avalanche we enjoyed a lot in places with limited exposure thanks to Nick’s high professionalism and knowledge of the mountain,

I can not recommend Nick enough! During our climb to Mt. Tetnuldi we always felt safe, because of how he cares for the guests and how attentive he is. He was happy to explain and teach whenever we had questions. His demeanor is calm and confident. Enjoyed every bit of the time spent during the trip. As a bonus, he is also an amazing cook, even above the 3500 m from sea level. :)

We had a really great time ski touring with Nick. He took us to the best skiing spots and the trip was perfectly organized. Big thanks to Nick for guiding us!

I had a great time with Nick and highly recommend him. He was very professional while guiding on Mt. Tetnuldi and was also teaching our group many skills. He showed great patience and skill with teaching that helped us reach the next level in our mountaineering skills. He is easy going and has a sense of humour so it is easy to spend a few days on the mountain with him. Nick comes from this area and has a depth of knowledge that is so vital in Georgia. Nick also closely helped with the planning process to make every element as smooth as possible. Safety is crucial and Nick certainly made me feel safer and more confident than other guides I have taken in the past. He will be my first choice when I have the pleasure of mountaineering in Georgia again. (also I should add that we communicated in English the whole time and there was no language barrier)

We spent one week at Tednuldi basecamp to train with the rope, ice climb and climb the summit in the end. We learned a lot and I felt during all difficult stages of the week very safe. Nick is extremely attentive and cares the most for your safety. At the same time, he pushes you to your best performance. I can’t recommend him enough, as a guide and mountaineer!

I was privileged to have Nick Phaliani as my guide for mountaineering and climb to Ushba. Nick has superb skills and experience, his knowledge of the region is priceless. A very good leader and teacher with a relaxed style.

Nick is an excellent guide! We wanted to experience some great skiing and some great views - and we did! Nick is a professional and next time we get to Georgia we will contact Nick to be our guide for sure! I will definitely recommend Nick to other people (and also the cabin he has close to Mt Ushba) - we felt safe with him, had a lot of fun and got the most amazing powder turns. Also, he has a lot of knowledge about the area. You will not find a better guide.

The trip to Mt. Layla with Nick goes far beyond the professionalism and the technical preparation he provide. Nick has pleasant personality and is very open-minded person. He is also very attached to Georgian traditions and knows a lot about the national culture so a talkative and curious person like me would really enjoy chats with him by the accompaniment of Georgian music.

Nick was extremely helpful and motivating during our Mount Kazbegi ascent. A fun soul to be around and a great conversationalist. He really eases out the worries of weather, camping and pushes you to keep a positive mindset. I learnt a lot from him about mountain technicalities, tips and tricks about ice and snow. He also introduces you to great Georgian music, so that’s a plus!

We had an amazing time skiing and touring 10 days with Nick in his backyard around Mestia and Ushguli. Nick was super helpful, always found the best powder descents and was perfectly connected in the town. We stayed at his place - had amazing food and hospitality there. It was simply a great time and everything was organized perfectly by nick. Thanks.

We stayed in Svanetia for two weeks and toured around with Nick for freeriding. He is an enthusiastic freerider himself so he has a good eye for good riding spots, not just touring. He is also fun to hang out with and being local, has great knowledge about Svanetia. He was very organized, and we enjoyed all of our tours; the best being Ushguli and the Cloudbase Hut. We also stayed in his family guesthouse.

I can't recommend Nick enough! He's a true mountain pro, his snowboarding/skiing skills are amazing, same as his knowledge about mountains and Georgia in general. He showed us incredible places and told us great stories about Georgian history and mountains. Personally, he's a kind, helpful and funny guy. We spent a week together in 2017 and are good friends ever since! If you're ever in Mestia you should contact him!