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's only one road to Tusheti: Pshaveli, the Abano Pass, and the village of Omalo. As 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, at 2826 meters. This fact makes mountainous Tusheti difficult to access. Excursions from Tbilisi to Tusheti by car are only possible three to four months a year; the rest of the year, the Abano Pass is closed due to weather conditions. However, those who have climbed the serpentine mountain road to the Abano Pass remark on its breathtaking views, saying that even in Georgia, views comparable to those on the road to Omalo are hard to come by.
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 through Tusheti with a guide by car , you'll visit various villages. For example, the village of Shenako, where the famous Soviet film "Mimino" was filmed. You'll admire the magnificent mountain scenery from the summit of Shavikvish and sample the distinctive cuisine of the Tushetians, which emphasizes mountain herbs and sheep's milk cheese. The village of Dartlo will enchant you with its unique character—it's one of the oldest villages in Tusheti. The tower complex of this village has been declared a cultural heritage site in Georgia.
Expedition to Tusheti for a week
For those who appreciate it, we have a special tour – a week-long car trip to Tusheti.
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.
