Georgia - Tusheti Hike

Meet your guides at 9 a.m. for a casual walk through the old town or just sleep off your jet-lag and meet us later. Our official meeting time is at 1 p.m. at the hotel. We will have lunch together and then have a two-hour drive to the Kakheti wine-growing region at the foot of the Caucasus mountains. Check into your guesthouse, which is owned and operated by a local family. Reconvene for a winery visit and tasting at one of Georgia’s most innovative yet traditional producers, followed by a home-cooked meal at the winery. Overnight near Telavi. Accommodation and all meals included.

You have an unforgettable 4-hour 4x4 drive up one of the most incredible roads in the world to access the Tusheti National Park. Inside the park are dozens of small villages that cling to the steep, grassy slopes of the mountains, and which have received UNESCO’s “Living Museum” status. Stop for a picnic lunch overlooking the village of Omalo and its 12th century defensive towers, then begin a hike up through “Upper” Omalo to the neighbouring village of Shenako, whose defensive towers are like a beacon from the land of Oz. Overnight in a charming guesthouse owned and run by the parents of one of our guides. A delicious dinner is accompanied by local wine and Chacha, the amazingly smooth Georgian brandy. Drive time 4 hrs, hiking time 2.5 hrs. Overnight Shenako. Accommodation and all meals included.

You have a full day today as we hike from Shenako to the villages of Diklo and Dotkalto. Hike through an incredible array of wildflowers and alpine grasses as you enjoy views down over Dagestan’s beautiful valleys. You’ll see families hard at work in their fields, often constructing the ubiquitous "hay hives” that dot the landscape. Return by 4x4 to Shenako, where our hosts have spent the day preparing for a “Supra.” More than just a feast, a Supra is an important Georgian cultural event characterized by abundant food and ritualized drinking led by a tamada (toastmaster). The rules are strict. You can only raise your glass when the tamada proposes a toast, and above all, you must drink to the toast (how big a sip you take is up to you!). Before the tamada steps into action, you’ll learn how to make Georgian dumplings from our host. Hiking time five hours. Overnight Shenako. Accommodation and all meals included.

You have a challenging hike today as we ascend the Sanare Pass, which is 1,911 m (6,270 ft.) above sea level. Happily, we are accompanied by a pack horse which carries our day-packs and picnic. Stop for lunch on the banks of a small waterfall beneath Chigo village. As we approach Dartlo the valley opens up, and in the distance, we can see the craggy and snowy peaks of the Atsunta Range, which soar to over 4,000 m (12,000 ft.). Arrive in Dartlo and relax by the stream that tumbles down the east flank of the village. Dartlo is up for UNESCO World Heritage status for its traditional and unique architecture and Medieval stone defensive towers. You'll see the typical slate-roofed houses jumbled amongst 12th century stone towers. The village overlooks a broad and verdant river valley. Overnight at a local guesthouse. Hiking time 6 hrs. Day-packs carried by horse, while the main bags are moved by 4x4. Overnight Dartlo. Accommodation and all meals included.

Enjoy breakfast next to the stream that rushes past our guesthouse, then transfer by 4x4 to the neighbouring village of Ghele. From there we have a hearty 1,000 m (3,000 ft.) climb up to the Nakaicho Pass, which sits at an elevation of 2,903 m (9,500 ft.) and rewards you with commanding views over the dramatic landscape. Continue to a shepherd’s house for a reviving cup of tea (or brandy!), and then eventually to the village of Jvarboseli, where we spend the night at a quaint guesthouse run by a wonderful family full of hospitality and good cheer. Overnight Jvarboseli. Accommodation and all meals included.

Hop in your trusty 4x4 this morning for a half-hour transfer to the start of our final hike to Oreti Lake. The trail takes you through forests and villages to remote hamlets where shepherds bring their animals for the summer pasture. Stop for lunch in the summer home of a shepherd who makes wonderful local cheese. At the end of the day we are transported to the UNESCO World Heritage village of Omalo for our final night in the Tusheti Mountains. Overnight Omalo. Accommodation and all meals included.

Today we transfer back to Tbilisi, which entails another epic 4x4 journey out of the mountains and into the city by mid-afternoon. You’ll have time to freshen up before exploring the historic city on your own. We provide a map and an easy-to-follow itinerary that takes in the most charming and historic parts of the old town. Reconvene for a farewell dinner, a short walk from the hotel. Overnight Tbilisi. Hotel and all meals included.

Note: some of you may have early flights around 4 a.m. while others may be leaving later. You could even fly out tonight if it fits your schedule, but please don’t book anything before 6 p.m. Let us know your travel schedules and we'll make sure you're set with transport.

Say your good-byes after breakfast this morning. Breakfast and airport transfers included. 

Please note: Some details of the itinerary may change according to the departure date of your tour. Whenever we run a tour, we make discoveries. Sometimes they are good discoveries, like a wonderful new trattoria, and sometimes bad, like a trail has been washed away. Therefore, we sometimes change our itinerary to improve it by adding wonderful new elements or by removing something that does not work anymore. Rest assured; we always aim to provide you with the best possible experience. We will advise you of any changes to the original itinerary before departure.

Note on Itinerary: Although we do our best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.