The Wild Tusheti

from

£2,150

We will start our horseback trek in the heart of the National Park. From the park, we go to the village of Gogrulta into Tusheti. This village is not reachable by car and maintains its tradition that’s rooted in the Tush way of life.

During the trip, we will ride over high passes that are at a height of 3000 m. Some of these passes take us to some very secluded areas with outstanding sceneries. If we are lucky, we will probably meet the last semi-nomads of the Tusheti Caucasus Mountains, who settle in the high pastures during summer. On this exped, we also experience the daily lives of the Tush people and discover the Georgian culture and heritage.

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Style Type
- Culture
- Expedition
- Georgia
- Trekking
Expedition
Level Moderate
3/8
Group Size Small Group
5-8

All about the The Wild Tusheti.

We will start our horseback trek in the heart of the National Park and more precisely in the village of Gogrulta. This village is not reachable by car and maintains its tradition that’s rooted in the Tush way of life.

During the trip, we will ride over passes that are at a height of 3000 m and reach some very secluded areas with outstanding sceneries. If we are lucky, we will probably meet the last semi-nomads of the Georgian Caucasus Mountains, who settle in the high pastures during summer. We will experience the daily lives of the Tush people and discover the Georgian culture and heritage.

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The tour package inclusions and exclusions at a glance

What is included in this tour?Items that are included in the cost of tour price.

Full boarding

Equestrian material

Tents, tableware

Accommodation in a guesthouse in Laliskhuri; in some traditional houses in Omalo/ Shenako and in Gogrulta; in tents for the rest of the trek; and in a hotel (2 nights) in Tbilisi. The hotel is located in the old quarters of Tbilisi; breakfast will be provided. The accommodation in this hotel will be provided in double or triple rooms (2/3 persons per room). For people who wish to have a single room, there is an extra charge (80 euros/night).

Table wine/tchatcha will be provided during the trek until the stock runs out.

One dinner will be provided in a restaurant in Tbilisi (except alcoholic drinks).

Car journeys will be in some private cars (Mercedes minibus and 4WDs).

Guides/cooks will be provided

Day 1 Europe-Tbilisi
Arrival in Tbilisi
Stay in a 3 or 4-star hotel
Day 2 Tbilisi-Kakheti-Laliskhuri
We will meet at 10.30 am at your hotel in Tbilissi.
Then, we will drive to the Kakheti region, where you will have an overview of the Georgian heritage (history, wine, religion, landscapes).
We will first visit Shuamta, which is composed of 2 places: “old Shuamta” that has 3 churches dating back to the the 6-7th century and “new Shuamta” that is a church and nunnery built in the 16th century. The frescoes here are quite well-preserved. We will only visit “new Shuamta”.
Then we will drive to Telavi, the main city in Kakheti.
We will have about 40-60 minutes to stroll around and visit the colourful local market, the fortress of the last king of Kakheti, Erekle II and the little streets.
After a quick lunch (picnic), we will go to Tsinandali, a village known for the estate and its historic winery of the 19th-century aristocratic poet, linguist and winemaker A l e x a n d e r Chavchavadze (1786–1846). We will visit the beautiful house and garden that were built in 1835.
We will finish our visit with Gremi, which was the capital of Kakheti in the 16th and 17th centuries. Founded by Levan of Kakheti, it functioned as a lively trading town on the Silk Road and the royal residence until it was razed to the ground by the armies of Shah Abbas I of Persia in 1615. The town never regained its past prosperity and the kings of Kakheti transferred their capital to Telavi in the mid-17th century.
Next, we will go to Laliskhuri, a small village located at the foot of the Caucasian Mountains where you will be welcomed by a Tush family for the night.
We will also prepare for the expedition here.
Day 3 Laliskhuri-Tusheti
After breakfast, we will travel in a 4WD vehicle to the Tusheti region.
The path to the region had been built after the Second World War. We will drive over the ‘Abano Pass’, which lies at a height of 2926m.
The pass marks the border between the Tusheti and the Kakheti regions and offers some panoramic views.
Our first stop will be Omalo, the main village of the Tusheti that’s located in the heart of the Tusheti National Park at a height of 2000m.
We will visit the fortress and drive further on to our final point Dotchu. As Gogrulta is not reachable by car, we will have to ride on horses to reach there.
We will ride for around 2-3 hours to reach the village of Gogrulta. While the packhorses will take another shorter way, we will take a longer and easier route for our first ride to get accustomed to the conditions.
Gogrulta is located at the top of a small summit which offers some spectacular views. Accommodation is very typical and devoid of comfort but very authentic.
Around 3 hours ride.
Trot/gallop possible (a shorter one)
Accommodation: traditional houses, no bathrooms.
Day 4 Gogrulta
Paganism was prevalent in the Caucasus Region until the middle of the 20th century. Many altars remain in Tusheti and some of their divinities like Otchopintre (god of nature) or Elia (god of weather) are still honoured. Before the construction of the road, the Tush were confined to the region, but started to move out later.
Depending on the weather and mountain conditions and ability of the riders, we will ride to Iliurta, the lost villages or up to a beautiful pass.
The road to the pass is very rugged. We will descend for 40minutes, and then ride up to the beautiful crest, where we will discover the first outstanding panorama on the region.
Then we will walk down for about 1 hour, cross the river and ride up an extremely steep path to Gogrulta.
The ride will be of about 6 hours
Trot/gallop possible, depending on the path we take
We will be on foot for 1-2 hours, depending on the path we take
Accommodation: Traditional house
Day 5 Gogrulta-Pass To Gometsari Valley
We will ride up to the crest where we will see some panoramic views of the Tusheti region.
We will spend the entire day on the “roof” of the Caucasian range, which is around 3000m high. The highest point here is 3200m.
We will set up camp depending on the weather.
The elevation will be about 2500m.
We will ride for around 6 hours
Trot/gallop not possible
We will walk for about an hour
Accommodation: tents
Day 6 Gometsari-Zovata
We will start the day on foot and go downhill for around 30 minutes.
We will continue in the valley to reach a pass and arrive at Gometsari in the beginning of the afternoon. From here, we will proceed to the Zovata valley.
We will ride for around 6 hours
Trot/gallop not possible
We will be on foot for about 1 and a half hours and have to mount and dismount several times
Accommodation: tents
Day 7 Zovata-AZ Valley
We will ride up more than 900m to reach a pass that will lead to a beautiful valley.
Once at the pass, we will ride along the river.
The landscape can be quite treacherous at places and we might have to walk.
We will set up camp near a river.
We will ride for around 6-7 hours
Trot/Gallop not possible.
We will ride for 1 and a half hours at 800 m below sea level
Accommodation: tents
Day 8 AZ Valley-Saidumlo
We will ride up to a third pass, which is up to 800 metres high at places.
Once at the top, we will walk down along some beautiful gorges.
After walking for a bit, we will ride down to the valley and set up camp a little bit further at Saidumlo.
We will ride for around 6 hours
Trot/gallop not possible.
We will be on foot for one and a half hours
Accommodation: tents
Day 9 Saidumlo - Pirikiti Valley
We will ride to Pirikiti valley, where there are several Tush villages. The first inhabited one is Girevi. We will visit Parsma and ride through Tchecho. We will set up camp between Parsma and Dartlo near a river. Some of the passages can present difficulties in crossing: pathways are carved out of rock along a ravine; that’s why you will require some mountaineering experiences.
We will ride for around 6-7 hours
Trot/gallop not possible.
We will have to cross some passages on foot for about 50 minutes
Accommodation: tents
Day 10 Pirikiti Valley - Gogrulta (OMALO/SHENAKO)
We will visit Dartlo, (a UNESCO world heritage site) and ride up the Mirgvella pass and reach Omalo at the end of the day. Here, we will visit the fortress and other places of interest.
Paganism was prevalent in the Caucasus Region until the middle of the 20th century. Many altars remain in Tusheti and some of their divinities like Otchopintre (god of nature) or Elia (god of weather) are still honoured. Before the construction of the road, the Tush were confined to the region, but started to move out later.
We will spend the night in a traditional Tush house.
We will ride for around 6-7 hours
Trot/Gallop possible
We will walk for about 40 minutes at 250 m below sea level
Accommodation: traditional house
Day 11 Gogrulta (/Omalo/Shenako*) - Laliskhuri
We will drive back to Kakheti and reach Laliskhuri
at the end of the afternoon.
If we have time, our last visit will be the Alaverdi monastery. This pagan cathedral was established in the 6th century and re-built in the 11th century. The architecture of this edifice is typical of the region and was the tallest cathedral during the Soviet period.
We will have dinner with the local people.
Accommodation: guesthouse/ local house
*Depending on the time when the horseback trekking begins, the weather and other parameters, our final destination could be Gogrulta, Omalo or Shenako
Day 12 Laliskhuri - Tbilisi
We will drive back to Tbilisi and reach there in the afternoon.
After having dinner at a restaurant, we will stay overnight in a 3 or 4-star hotel.
Day 13 Back To Europe
Transfer to the airport; arrival the same day.

Accommodation

Gogrulta: Traditional house

Omalo and Laliskhuri: Guesthouse

On the way: double tent (by VAUDE); 2 people per big tent

Tbilisi : Hotel located in the old centre of Tbilisi; double room with breakfast, 2 people per room

We reserve the right to modify the itinerary if based on objective assessment we find that the way is not safe enough. This decision will be taken by the main guide and should not be contradicted or disputed.
The horse trek is mostly completed at low speeds due to difference in altitude.

Luggage will be carried by the horses so we recommend to keep it light! Valuable / breakable items please keep to a minimum as there is the risk of them breaking.
At Laliskhuri, we will give you 2 waterproof bags in which you should arrange your stuff. You can leave the rest of your less important luggage there. The weight should also be reasonable, as the horses will be carrying all the stuff.

During the trek, we have to be self-sufficient, as we won’t be able to find provisions after leaving the Kakheti region.
The food we will provide will be typical Georgian and Tush specialties and will be cooked every day. Our food is sourced from local production and is organic.

During the trek, you will have to walk downhill for long stretches.
We will travel through isolated and desolate areas, especially the first part of the trek. Hence, you must have good/tough physical and mental conditions. You must have insurance to cover any accident, medical assistance and rescue tasks in the mountains.
Mountaineering experience is also recommended, as some of the trails could sometimes be difficult.

This advice has been reviewed in full with amendments throughout

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and against all but essential travel to areas immediately adjacent to the Administrative Boundary Lines with Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

The British government does not recognise the unilateral declarations of independence made by the de facto authorities in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Consular support is not available in parts of Georgia where we advise against all travel. See Local travel

We recommend you have valid travel insurance before you travel. Foreign nationals have been detained on arrival in Georgia for possession of medicines that would not normally be problematic in the UK or other countries. See Entry requirements

Take care when driving and if possible avoid driving at night. See Road travel

The political situation in Georgia is generally calm, but demonstrations and opposition rallies occasionally take place. Demonstrations are usually policed. Keep well away from all demonstrations.

There is some risk from unexploded ordnance in areas along the Administrative Boundary Lines with South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and near the border with Azerbaijan (Red Bridge area in particular). Areas where unexploded ordnance might be present are not always marked. See Local travel

Terrorist attacks in Georgia can’t be ruled out. See Terrorism

You can contact the emergency services by calling 112.

If you’re abroad and you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission.

Visas

British nationals don’t need a visa to enter Georgia for visits of up to 1 year. If you wish to stay for longer, you’ll need to apply for a long term visa. Contact the Embassy of Georgia in London or visit the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for more details on entry requirements.

If you’re living in Georgia you should contact the Justice House or Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia for advice.

Passport validity

Your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. No additional period of validity beyond this is required.

Travelling with medicines

Georgia has a very strict anti-drugs policy, which can also cover prescription and non-prescription drugs or medicines, otherwise commonly available in the UK and the European Union. For example, non-prescription medicines containing codeine are illegal in Georgia. This can cause serious problems for travellers and in some cases lead to administrative and criminal proceedings. Before travelling, check Georgia’s medication importation regulations on the Ministry of Health website

If you intend to travel with prescription medicine, you must carry a doctor’s prescription and ideally the original packaging. See Health

Please follow the link for the latest health advice

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