Tush Villages

Meeting point at 10.30 am at your hotel in Tbilissi.
We drive to the Kakheti region. This region is full of places of interest. I selected some of them to have an overview of the Georgian heritage (history, wine, religion, landscapes).
We start with the visit of Shumta (which is composed of 2 places): We will visit the new only.The first one called “old Shuamta” gathers 3 churches dating back from the 6-7th century. The “new Shuamta” is a church and a nunnery which has been built in the 16th century. The inside frescoes are quite well preserved.

Then we drive to Telavi, the main city in Kakheti. 40mn-1hour free time to stroll around. Worth a glimpse : colorful local market, fortress of the last king of Kakheti, Erekle II and the little streets.

After a quick lunch (picnic), we go to Tsinandali, a village known for the estate and its historic winery which once belonged to the 19th-century aristocratic poet, linguist and wine maker Alexander Chavchavadze (1786–1846). We visit the beautiful house and the garden built in 1835.

We finish our visit with Alaverdi cathedral. Built on a pagan worship, this cathedral had been set up in the 6th c. and re-built in the 11th century. This was the highest cathedral during the Soviet Union period. The architecture of the edifice is typical of the region.

Then we go to Laliskhuri, a small village located at the foot of the Caucasian Mountains where you are welcomed by a Tush family for the diner and the night. Preparation for the expedition.

Riding: No riding.

Overnight: guesthouse in Laliskhuri (shared bathrooms and hot shower)

After breakfast, we go with a 4WD to the Tusheti region. The path had been built after the second world war and carved in the rocks.

We drive over the ‘Abano’ Pass which lies at 2926m high. The pass marks the border between the Tusheti and the Kakheti regions and offers some splendid panorama over them.

We reach Omalo, the main village of the Tusheti, located in the heart of the Tusheti National Park at 2000 m high. 

We drive further on to our final point Dotchu. As Gogrulta is not reachable by car, we meet the horses here. We hike (1 hour) and ride (1 hour) to reach the village of Gogrulta located at the top of a small summit which offers some spectacular views. 

Riding: 1 h

Walking: 1 h

Overnight: traditional house (No bathrooms. No electricity. No running water)

Attention: The Loo is a simple whole in the village.

The paganism in the Caucasus Region was still present 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. Almost of the Tush people were living there all the year until the mid of the 20th century. We visit on horseback the secluded villages.

Riding: 6 hours, trot/gallop is possible

Walking: 30 min

Overnight: traditional house (No bathrooms. No electricity. No running water)

Attention: The Loo is a simple whole in the village.

If the weather allows us, we ride on the beautiful crest towards Alaznis Tavi.
This ride takes up to 3000m high. The panoramas are breathtaking.
We come back to Gogrulta and spend the evening on the top of the beautiful small summit enjoying the surroundings.

Riding: 6-7 hours

Walking: 1,5 hour

Overnight: traditional house (No bathrooms. No electricity. No running water)

Attention: The Loo is a simple whole in the village.

Today we move to another village in the Gometsari valley. To reach it We ride up to a village called Iliurta, one of the few villages where a church has been built. We enter the Gometsari valley and ride up to Koklata which offer some beautiful panorama on the valley.

Riding: 5-7 hours, trot/gallop is possible

Walking: 1 hour

Overnight: guesthouse (double room, shared bathroom and hot shower)

Today is a long and difficult day but so beautiful. We ride up to Naraicho pass which offers incredible view.
While going up we see a village where only 2 houses are still inhabited.
The pass lies at 3000m and offers incredible panorama on the Caucasus chain. After riding on the crest for some hours, we ride down into Pirkiti valley.
We have to walk down for around 1h30 hours. At the end of the day we reach Dartlo, a village which is registered on the UNESCO heritage list.

Riding: 6-8 hours

Walking: 1,5 hour

Overnight: guesthouse (double room, shared bathroom and hot shower)

We ride up till the end of the valley, riding though several villages. We reach a pass and discover the last valley and 2 more villages.
We overnight in Shenako, one of the very few village where a church had been built.

Riding: 6 hours, trot/gallop is possible

Walking: 1 hour

Overnight: guesthouse (shared bathroom and hot shower)

Drive back to Kakheti. 

We reach Laliskhuri in the end of the afternoon. 

We have dinner with the local people. 

Riding: No riding.

Overnight: guesthouse (shared bathroom and hot shower)

We drive back to Tbilisi. 

We arrive in Tbilisi in the beginning of the afternoon. 

Free afternoon in Tbilisi. 

Then we have dinner in a restaurant. 

Riding: No riding.

Overnight: hotel

You will be transferred to the airport for your flight home, which is likely to depart in the early hours.

Riding: No riding.