Khevsureti Tour for Travelers
Khevsureti is a remote region in northern Georgia, located between the regions of Tusheti and Kazbegi. Khevsureti is separated from the rest of Georgia by the Bear Cross (Datvis-jvari) pass.
The climate in the region is harsh, with cold winters and mild summers, which affects the lifestyle of the local population. Therefore, summer is considered the ideal time to visit Khevsureti, when the air temperature fluctuates between +15 and +25 C.
Local residents are famous for their traditions, especially the craftsmanship of wool processing and embroidery. In the past, the Khevsurs played a key role in protecting the northern borders of Georgia, and like all mountain peoples they are considered good warriors! Residents of Khevsureti are Christians and parishioners of the Georgian church, but pagan traditions are still present in this region.
Certainly, this place is a real find for ethnographers.
So, let's begin our tour to Khevsureti!
The first day. Khevsureti Georgia
Early in the morning we start from Tbilisi, admire the picturesque Zhinvali reservoir along the way and get to the pass along a mountain road. We begin a short climb to the top of Mount Kitsanistavi. There we will have a delicious lunch with a panoramic view of the mountains and gorges of Khevsureti.
Reinvigorated, we continue our jeep journey through the narrow gorge of the Argun River. This river holds historical significance for the local population, being one of the original sites of Chechen settlement. The Argun is also mentioned in Lermontov's work— the poet was very fond of the Caucasus.
Our stylish guest house is located in Shatili, also here is the fortress of the same name - the main attraction of the village. The structure is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In the evening, we will definitely explore all the winding streets of this unique complex.
Second day. Khevsureti Georgia
Our next day is no less busy. After a hearty breakfast, we climb like mountain goats along the gorge wall to the Kachou fortress. Here we will have a picnic with coffee against the backdrop of a stunning view of the mountain panoramas.
And then we will get back into our jeep and go along the Argun River to the village of the dead. The Anatorii burial grounds are evidence of a tragic period in the history of Khevsureti, when in the mid-19th century the plague, and possibly black smallpox, claimed the lives of many Khevsurs. These burial grounds became a reminder of the disaster that struck the population.
The Khevsureti tour will certainly leave no one indifferent. We also offer two trip options: a one-day route without an overnight stay and a two-day tour with a stay at a guesthouse.
A trip to this mountainous region is a kind of immersion into the past, where the modern world seems inaccessible and so distant. Khevsureti still remains one of the least populated and undeveloped regions of Georgia. Therefore, this makes its visit especially valuable.
