MONTH BY MONTH IN SVANETI (MAY-OCTOBER)

Layla (4008m) in the middle of summer

​Each and every season is unique!
In recent years (starting from 2017) the weather pattern has changed. There is no certainty that those dry and sunny summers will or will not continue. However I decided that  the following updated description should   refer  to this recent pattern.   
If planning to revisit consider coming in different month. You might not even recognize your favorite spots! Autumn has  beauty  very much different from summer's.
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MAY
Transition from late spring to summer

• Deep snow still prevails above 2300  and nights are cold.  It melts a lot as we get closer to the end of month
• More rainy days (at the beginning of the month). Last two weeks are considerably drier
• Certain  routes  are already accessible
• Snow bridges make river crossings easier and safer. However on sunny  days water is high and turbulent
• Flowers start to pop up and   fruit trees attractively    blossom

On the top of Shtavleri (3993m)  in the second half of May

​June 
Summer  arrives and strengthens it's positions.

• Extensive snowfields   at 2800 which melt away as we approach July   
•  The peak of bloom (both shrubs and flowers)
• Mountains are still covered with  layers of shining snow left from spring
• Days getting hotter and nights are comfortable. Occasional rains (two days in a row at most)
• Glaciers are safer to cross and icy sections are easier to move through

Primulas at  the  foot of Mt.Layla

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​July 
High summer month 

• Days are hot and nights are warm (even at higher altitudes)
• Many  more tourists make popular routes crowded
• Most of the snow (below 3000) melts away
• Weather is  stable with  only rare showers giving way to longer sunny spells
• Most routes are  in excellent conditions 

Above West Layla (Dzhvari) glacier

​August
Vacation season is in full swing

• Days are often extremely hot and dry. Very few rains and occasional  thunderstorms
• Popular trails are very crowded and many hotels/guesthouses  are solidly    booked
• Glacier routes become icy and bridges over crevasses thinner (or   collapse)
•  Wild berries appear
• Mountain lakes   are already free from snow

Above the glacier of Mt.Layla  in the second half of August

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​September
Dry and cool time to enjoy the mountains. Half summer/half fall

• Days are still hot    yet nights become cooler (even freezing as you climb higher)
• Second half of the month may bring  an occasional  snowfall  above 3000
• Colors of autumn start to appear after  its  second week
• Glaciers  look like shields of bare ice. Crossing them after first snowfalls must be taken seriously
• Plenty of wild berries and fruits

Layla (4008m) with it's many glaciers in September

October
Quieter period full of wonders

•  Lower day temperatures make hiking very pleasant
• Nights are freezing  and require extra layers
• Some  snowfalls above 2600 
• Fall colors and snow covered peaks match perfectly
• Climbing routes are either  icy (south faces)  or    covered with    layer of snow (north faces)​​​
• Sunny  periods  go on for weeks
• Harvest season of wild berries continues