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We invite you to our horseback expedition in Tusheti, nature’s masterpiece in Georgia, in Greater Caucasus.
Tour is suitable for experienced riders.
Tbilisi International Airport
11 Days (6 Days Riding)
Average per day, 6/7 hours riding.
Arrival in Tbilisi
Transfer to your hotel 3/4* located in the very old city.
Meeting point at 10.30 am at your hotel in Tbilisi. We drive to the Kakheti region.
This region is full of places of interest. Here are selected some of them to have an overview of the Georgian heritage (history, wine, religion, landscapes).
We start with the visit of Shumta (which is composed of 2 places): We will visit the new only. The first one called “old Shuamta” gathers 3 churches dating back from the 6-7th century. The “new Shuamta” is a church and a nunnery which has been built in the 16th century. The inside frescoes are quite well preserved.
Then we drive to Telavi, the main city in Kakheti. 40mn-1hour free time to stroll around. Worth a glimpse: colorful local market, fortress of the last king of Kakheti, Erekle II and the little streets. After a quick lunch (picnic), we go to Tsinandali, a village known for the estate and its historic winery which once belonged to the 19th-century aristocratic poet, linguist and wine maker Alexander Chavchavadze
(1786–1846). We visit the beautiful house and the garden built in 1835.
We finish our visit with Alaverdi cathedral. Built on a pagan worship, this cathedral had been set up in the 6th c. and re-built in the 11th century. This was the highest cathedral during the Soviet Union period. The architecture of the edifice is typical of the region. Then we go to Laliskhuri, a small village located at the foot of the Caucasian Mountains where you are welcomed by a Tush family for the diner and the night. Preparation for our horse riding expedition tour in Tusheti.
Guesthouse with shared bathrooms and hot shower.
After breakfast, our adventure takes us with a 4WD to the Tusheti region. The path had been built after the second world war and carved in the rocks. We drive over the ‘Abano’ Pass which lies at 2926m
high. The pass marks the border between the Tusheti and the Kakheti regions and offers some splendid
panorama over them.
We reach Omalo, the main village of the Tusheti, located in the heart of the Tusheti National Park at
2000m high. We drive further on to our final point Dotchu. As Gogrulta is not reachable by car, we
meet the horses here. We hike (1 hour) and ride (1 hour) to reach the village of Gogrulta located at
the top of a small summit which offers some spectacular views.
Accommodation is very typical and has stayed as it was before. It means absolutely no comfort
but very authentic.
Around 1 hour ride and 1 hour on foot
Accommodation : Traditional house. No bathrooms. No electricity. No running water
ATTENTION : The Loo is a simple whole in the village.
The paganism in the Caucasus Region was still present until the middle of the 20th century.
Many altars remain in Tusheti and some of their divinities like Otchopintre (god of nature) or Elia (god of weather) are still honoured.
Almost of the Tush people were living there all the year until the mid of the 20th century.
We visit on horseback the secluded villages.
Around 6 hours ride.
Trot/gallop, 1 possibility
Around 30mn on foot
Accommodation : Traditional house. No bathrooms. No electricity. No running water
ATTENTION : The Loo is a simple whole in the village.
If the weather allows us, we ride on the beautiful crest towards Alaznis Tavi.
This ride takes up to 3000m high. The panoramas are breathtaking.
We come back to Gogrulta and spend the evening on the top of the beautiful small summit enjoying the
surroundings.
Around 6-7 hours ride.
Trot/gallop, No
Around 1h15 on foot
Accommodation : Traditional house. No bathrooms. No electricity. No running water
ATTENTION : The Loo is a simple whole in the village.
On this day we move to another village of Tusheti in the Gometsari valley.
To reach it We ride up to a village called Iliurta, one of the few villages where a church has been built.
We enter the Gometsari valley and ride up to Koklata which offer some beautiful panorama on the valley.
We overnight in a beautiful guesthouse with all conveniences down in the valley.
Around 5-7 hours ride (depending on the weather and pathway)
Trot/gallop, a few
Around 1h on foot.
Accommodation: guesthouse, double room, shared bathroom and hot shower.
Today is a long and difficult day but so beautiful.
We ride up to Naraicho pass which offers incredible view.
While going up we see a village where only 2 houses are still inhabited.
The pass lies at 3000m and offers incredible panorama on the Caucasus chain.
After riding on the crest for some hours, we ride down into Pirkiti valley.
We have to walk down for around 1h30 hours.
At the end of the day we reach Dartlo, a village which is registered on the UNESCO heritage list.
Around 6-8 hours ride.
Trot/gallop not possible.
Around 1h30 on foot
Accommodation: guesthouse, double room, shared bathroom and hot shower.
Today, our horse riding tour takes us up till the end of the valley, riding though several villages of Tusheti. We reach a pass and discover the last valley and 2 more villages.
We overnight in Shenako, one of the very few village where a church had been built.
Around 6 hours on horse
Trot/gallop, a few
Around 1h on foot
Accommodation: Guesthouse, shared bathroom and hot shower.
Drive back to Kakheti.
We reach Laliskhuri in the end of the afternoon.
We have dinner with the local people.
Accommodation: guesthouse and shared bathroom hot shower.
We drive back to Tbilisi.
We arrive in Tbilisi in the beginning of the afternoon.
Free afternoon in Tbilisi.
Then we have dinner in a restaurant.
Hotel 3/4* located in the very center of the old City
Transfer to the airport.
Cover film recorded by Elsa Briault
Services :
1. Full board.
2.Equestrian material
3.Accommodation in a guesthouse in Laliskhuri, in some traditional houses in Gogrulta, guest-houses all the rest of the trek (alcoholic beverage are not included) and in a hotel (2 nights) in Tbilissi. The hotel is located in the very old center of the town, a breakfast is included. The accommodation for this hotel will be in double room (2 persons per room). For people who are willing to have a single room, there is an extra charge (40 euros/night), only possible in Tbilisi
4. 1 dinner in restaurant in Tbilisi (except alcoholic drinks) .
5. Car transfers in some private cars (Mercedes mini bus and 4WD).
6. Guides
From your side :
1. Airline ticket.
2. Full insurances compulsory
3. Sleeping bag (the house in Gogrulta)
4. Alcoholic beverage
5. All entry fees during your free time.
6. Tips.
7. Water filter or purification pills (Actually you need neither purification pills nor water filter as the
water is very clean in this area. But CTC does not take any responsibility so it is on your own to
decide to use it or not).
8. Personal medicine.
9. Hut and glasses and sun cream.
10.Hard hats.
11. Raining clothes (PANTS AND JACKET), warm jacket.
12.Small flash light or torch.
13.Small knife.
14.Good trekking shoes are required. NO RIDING BOOTS. ONLY TREKKING SHOES
Sales terms in case of trip cancelation for Horseback Expedition in Georgia Caucasus 2024
• Booking : Deposit 30% of the full amount
• For all booking 20% of the trip amount have to be paid.
• Between 60 days and 30 days : 30% of the total trip amount have to be paid.
• Between 29 days and 10 days : 50% of the total trip amount have to be paid.
• Between 9 days and the departure day : 100% of the total trip amount have to be paid.
Remarks for Horseback Expedition in Georgia Caucasus
1. The itinerary of Horseback Expedition in Georgia Caucasus may change according to the mountains and weather conditions and at this season it occurs quite often that we have to modify the itinerary because of the pathway/weather/ consequences of the winter)
2. The airport transfers are only organised on the first day and the last day as written on the program. If you are planing to arrive or leave before (resp.after) the due date, the transfer is on your own. You can download the Bolt application or order a taxi at the airport.
3. The luggage will be carried in some precarious conditions. We are also not responsible for some damages which can occur.
4. Except in Tbilisi, no possibility of single room.
5. At Laliskhuri, we will give you 2 waterproof bags in which you should arrange your staff. You can leave the rest of your unneeded luggage there. The weigh should also be reasonable. Our horse should carry all the staffs.
6. During the trek we have to be self sufficient as once the Kakheti region left we can not find any provisions.
7. We are cooking every day, typical Georgian food and Tush specialities. Our food is often coming from the local production.
8. During the trek, ways down have to be walked.
9. We will go in a very secluded area and especially the first part of the trek. Some good physical and mental conditions are required. You have to take out an insurance to cover any accident, medical assistance and mountain rescue.
10.Mountain experiences are also recommended as some trails could sometimes be difficult.
11.We reserve the right to modify the itinerary if we judge for any reasons that the way is not safe enough. This decision will be taken by the main guide and should not be contradicted or discussed.
12.The horse trek is mainly done at low speed (at pace because of the difference in altitude and the type of soil). A few trots and canters are possible on the Tush village ride only.
Advises for Horseback Expedition in Georgia Caucasus