Becho Valley

The upper Dolra valley (aka Becho after the communities), west of Mestia, leads arrow-straight up into one of the most dramatic valley-heads in the  whole Caucasus range, a huge bowl of spires and broken cliffs on the border with Russia dominated at its eastern end by 4,700m Ushba, with glaciers falling off their upper reaches and beautiful forests and waterfalls on their flanks. A wild, pale glacial river roars along its floor.

This walk starts at Mazeri, half way up the valley. You drop to cross the river, turning right onto a good track, which leads you for some 7km through pretty meadows and copses, then into richly diverse forest of generally low trees with undergrowth including great patches of low rhododendron, which glow white in Spring and reddy orange  in Autumn. You come and go from the river bank. Enjoy views of impossible spires and crags and forested promontories.

The trail gains height in steps up onto new platforms of, presumably, long-overgrown glacial debris. You eventually cross the river. Head straight up the steep hillside, through a lonely army outpost and on up (climbing maybe 200m) to a junction where you traverse right round to a final short climb to some rocks close to the pair of stunning Shdugra waterfalls, which you will have seen from afar.

Or, you can head on up an at times tricky path from the junction to the Ushba glacier on Ushba’s flanks at some 2,560m. A demanding but very rewarding walk. 9-10 hrs return, so a proper day out.

Either way, retrace your steps.

This can be demanding walking in remote mountains with uncertain weather. Come fully prepared.

For more information and photos, including detailed practical information and some warnings, see our Greater Caucasus Mountains walk page.