Tusheti Family Tour

Right after breakfast, a minibus will pick the group up from the hotel in Tbilisi and take us east, 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 a bit over 70 km, but it takes roughly 4–5 hours to cover. The route runs through the Caucasus via the famous 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 jolly, welcome-to-Tusheti feast will be waiting for us.

After breakfast, we’ll head out for our first ride to explore the lovely countryside of Omalo. We’ll 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’ cabin, 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 be back at our base, with a bit of time to rest and relax, and in the evening we’ll have dinner followed by an evening get-together.

Today we’re heading to Shenako, an important village for the whole region, where we’ll see a 19th-century little church. Then we’ll ride on to Diklo, the last inhabited settlement before the border with Dagestan. The final stretch into the village is flat and perfect for a joyful canter – and we can definitely make the most of it. 🙂 In Diklo we’ll take a short break, then set off back to our guesthouse. We’ll be back in Omalo in the late afternoon. Chances are we’ll be a bit dusty after the ride, but we’ll have time for a shower and a change before dinner. In the evening we’ll all sit down at the table together.

Today we’ve got a really exciting trail ahead of us. After breakfast, we’ll saddle up and ride down to Lower Omalo, then follow the road we took when we first came into Tusheti. Before long, we’ll leave the dirt road behind and head into the forest, where a proper climb awaits – the trail goes steeply uphill. Eventually we’ll emerge onto mountain meadows, with fewer and fewer trees around us. We’ll pass a shepherds’ enclosure and then reach open ground, where an incredible panorama opens up. About half an hour later we’ll arrive at the charming volcanic Lake Oreti. From here you can see Omalo, nearly all of Tusheti, and on a clear day the visibility stretches for dozens of kilometres. We’ll stop for a break by the lake and once rested we’ll start our way back. The forest section – this time downhill – we’ll do on foot, leading our horses. Once we’re back down, we’ll hop into our saddles again and head straight back to our guesthouse – just in time for dinner.

After breakfast, we’ll ride to Dartlo – the village of towers and stone houses, and a place of real importance for the history and heritage of Tusheti and Georgia as a whole. The village has both Christian and pagan sites of worship, and it’s unbelievably picturesque. In Dartlo we’ll stop for a break and a rest, and the adults will also be able to try a locally brewed beer – light and of distinctive taste. Once we’ve recharged, we’ll head back. We’ll take a dirt road which – especially as we get closer to Omalo – pretty much begs for a canter or two. 🙂 We’ll be back at our guesthouse a bit dusty again, and once we’ve freshened up, we’ll sit down – as we should in Georgia – for an evening feast. 🙂

This is our last day riding through Tusheti. We’ve got a few truly beautiful routes up our sleeve, and we’re keeping the exact plan for today a secret. A lot depends on the weather, so we’ll choose from a handful of options in the morning. One thing is certain, though: we’ll ride to an extraordinary, stunning place that will absolutely blow everyone away. We’ll be back in Omalo in the late afternoon, and then it’s time for our final dinner and a proper Georgian farewell feast in Tusheti. Tomorrow we head back, but tonight there’s still a long, cheerful evening ahead of us. 🙂

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. You’ll be back one fine day, rather sooner than later. 🙂