First Stripes in Tusheti

Right after breakfast, a minibus will pick the group up from the hotel in Tbilisi and take us northeast to Kvemo Alvani. The drive takes about two hours. There, we’ll switch to 4×4 vehicles and set off for Upper Omalo. The distance is only around 70 km, but it takes roughly 4–5 hours to cover. The route runs through the Caucasus via the Abano Pass (2,836 m above sea level). It is considered one of the most dangerous—yet also one of the most scenic—roads in the world. We’ll reach our destination in the late afternoon, where a welcome feast will be waiting for us.

After breakfast, we’ll head out for a ride around the lovely countryside of Omalo. It’s a great chance to get to know our horses and get used to Georgian saddles and the local riding style. Over about four hours, we’ll also visit the Tusheti National Park rangers’ headquarters, which offers a nice view over the valley. With a bit of luck, we might spot some of the wild animals that live here. In the late afternoon, we’ll have a bit of time to relax, and in the evening — of course — a cheerful dinner awaits us. 🙂 We have the whole evening to share impressions from the first day of riding.

Today we’re heading to Shenako, where we’ll visit a 19th-century church and take a short break. Along the way, we’ll have an opportunity to try some canters on a forest track. Then we’ll ride on to Diklo, the last Georgian village before the border with Dagestan, set in a scenic, spectacular meadow. From there, we’ll return to Omalo, taking the same route in the opposite direction — you’ll see how much the trail changes when you ride it the other way round. We’ll get back to our base in the late afternoon, and then it’s time for an evening get-together.

Today we’re heading to a truly beautiful spot. The trail starts on a dirt road, then climbs through a picturesque old forest. We’ll ride past a sheepfold and continue up onto a mountain ridge, where we’ll be rewarded with a stunning panorama of the Caucasus. We’ll stop for a break by the small, charming volcanic lake Oreti. In good weather, the views stretch for dozens of kilometres, and you can even see the whole of Omalo — including our base — far down below. After a rest, we’ll head back. We’ll do the forest section on the way down on foot, leading our horses. Once we’re out of the woods, we’ll hop back in the saddle and ride towards Omalo, with a chance for a few fun canters. After we get back to base, we’ll sit down for an evening feast, of course.

The plan for this day is… flexible, because we’ve got a few surprises up our sleeve. Your guides will choose one of several scenarios, but you’ll find out which one… on the spot. 🙂 Whatever the detailed plan turns out to be, after breakfast we’ll set off for Dartlo — a village of towers and stone houses, and an important place in Georgia’s history and heritage. The village itself is absolutely beautiful and incredibly picturesque. What’s more, it’s home to both Christian and pagan places of worship, including an elders’ stone circle. We’ll spend the night in a guesthouse in Dartlo, and in the evening we’ll enjoy a traditional dinner and local beer.

We’re leaving Dartlo and heading back to Omalo. The route follows dirt roads for the most part, so there’ll be a chance for a few more gallops. But we’ve got some surprises in store as well. 🙂 Before we reach Omalo, we’ll have one last faster stretch to round off our final riding day back at base. We’ll thank our horses and say goodbye — they’ve done an incredible job. In the evening, we’ll sit down for our final farewell dinner in Tusheti. There definitely won’t be any shortage of food, drinks, or toasts.

After breakfast, we’ll hop into the 4x4s and drive back to Tbilisi. We’ll cross the Abano Pass again by car — this time in the opposite direction, with the views and perspective changing completely. We’ll reach Tbilisi in the late afternoon. There’ll be time to rest and freshen up at the hotel, and in the evening we’ll head into the city centre for our final farewell dinner in Georgia. We’ll spend the night at the hotel.

It’s time do leave Georgia. All riders will be transferred to the airport or to a bus station.