Tusheti: interesting tours
If, while traveling around Georgia, you want to visit its most protected places, I strongly recommend going to Tusheti.
Tour Tusheti Georgia - a good choice for traveling by car to Tusheti and sightseeing in this region. Mountainous Tusheti in Georgia is located in the northeast of the country and is a historical region.
Tusheti borders to the north with the Chechen Republic, which is part of the Russian Federation. They are separated by the Sulako-Tersky ridge. To the south of Tusheti lies Kakheti, and they are separated by the Main Caucasus Range. To the east of Tusheti is the territory of the Republic of Dagestan, which is also part of the Russian Federation. To the west of Tusheti is the historical region of Georgia - Khevsureti.
In modern Georgia, Tusheti belongs to the Kakheti region and is part of the Akhmeta municipality.
The territory of Tusheti is included in the Tusheti National Park. It was created in 2003 with the aim of protecting both the natural environment and the historical and archaeological heritage. In this region there is a chance to meet unique endemic species of both flora and fauna, and local residents are trying to preserve these unique places. It is in Tusheti that the presence of the Anatolian leopard, a rare and secretive representative of the cat family, is occasionally recorded. In general, these are really sparsely populated and rarely visited places that are difficult to reach.
Road to Tusheti
There is only one road to Tusheti: Pshaveli - Abano pass - Omalo village. As already mentioned, Tusheti is separated from the rest of Georgia by the Greater Caucasus Range, and the Abano Pass is the highest in the Greater Caucasus, its height is 2826 meters. It is this fact that determines the inaccessibility of mountainous Tusheti. Go to excursion from Tbilisi to Tusheti by car It is possible only for 3-4 months of the year; the rest of the time the Abano Pass is closed due to weather conditions. But those who climbed to the Abano Pass along the mountain serpentine note its amazing views, and say that even in Georgia you need to look for views comparable to the views on the road to Omalo.
The village of Omalo in Tusheti is the capital of this historical region. In Omalo there is a summer office of the national park administration, guest houses and the beginning of hiking trails for sightseeing in Tusheti. And in Tusheti there is something to see. As already mentioned, Tusheti is located on the edge of Georgia, bordering on countries of Muslim culture. And although the Tushins are Orthodox, they cannot bring pork into the region, women are not allowed into churches, and they may be seated according to gender at the table.
In Omalo itself you will see architectural monuments of the ancient Tushins - the Keselo fortress. Its towers rise proudly at the top of a steep hill, still protecting the peace of these places.
Traveling around Tusheti with a guide by car, you will have time to visit different villages. For example, the village of Shenako, where the famous Soviet film "Mimino" was filmed. You will admire the wonderful mountain landscape from the top of Shavikvish and try the original cuisine of the Tushetians, in which mountain herbs and sheep's milk cheese occupy a special place. The village of Dartlo will charm you with its originality - this is one of the oldest villages in Tusheti. The tower complex of this village in Georgia has been declared a cultural heritage site.
Expedition to Tusheti for a week
For special connoisseurs we have a special tour - trip to Tusheti by car for a week.
During our week, we don't just "drop by to have a look." We live in Tusheti: we breathe it, walk its paths, drink its water, and meet people for whom these mountains are their entire world.
What awaits you in 7 action-packed days:
- Several different off-road routes along the most picturesque roads of Tusheti – from Omalo to the most remote villages and passes
- Visit Bocherna — the highest permanently inhabited village in Georgia (about 2340 m), where only a few families remain in winter, and in summer a completely cosmic view of the Main Caucasus Range opens up
- Trek to a high-mountain lake Oreti — one of the most beautiful and secluded in the region. Here we'll have a leisurely picnic on the shore: fresh shashlik, homemade cheeses, wine, silence, and the mountains reflected in the mirror-like water.
- Several full-fledged treks of varying difficulty: from easy walks through alpine meadows to ascents to peaks and passes with 360° views
- Overnight stays in the most atmospheric places: cozy guesthouses in the ancient towers of Dartlo and Chauntea, family-run estates in Shenako, and sometimes tent camps under the stars in completely wild locations
- Time for spontaneous decisions: a week gives us the luxury of flexibility. Would you like to stay an extra day in some incredibly beautiful place? Or, on the contrary, wait out the bad weather in a warm house with wine and local stories? Anything is possible.
- Immersion in Tushetian culture: learning about traditions, tasting homemade cheese and wine, chatting around the fire, and sometimes participating in small village gatherings
A week in Tusheti isn't a vacation in the traditional sense. It's a profound, almost meditative experience: when the bustle of the city, notifications, and deadlines dissolve somewhere far below, and only the present remains—the mountains, the wind, the smell of a campfire, the taste of bread baked in a tonir, and the feeling that time is finally flowing in the right direction.
