Duration: 4 days, 3 nights | Riding Days: 2 | Total Riding: ~45 km | Total Driving: ~480 km

Max Elevation: 3,001m (Unagira Mountain) | Difficulty: Intermediate | Experience Required: Basic riding skills

Tour Highlights

• Ride to the summit of Unagira Mountain (3,001m) with panoramic views of four valleys
• Visit the alpine Oreti Lake at 2,650m elevation
• Explore medieval fortress villages of Shenako and Diklo
• Walk to Pichekhi Castles – the historic border fortress facing Dagestan
• Cross Abano Pass (2,926m) – one of the world’s most dramatic mountain roads
• See flowering rhododendron meadows (mid-June to mid-July)
• Visit Alaverdi Monastery – the 11th-century cathedral in Kakheti
• Tour Keselo Castle complex and the ethnographic museum in Lower Omalo
• Meet Tushetian shepherds at their summer camps
• Stay in traditional guesthouses in Upper Omalo

Tusheti sits in the northeastern corner of Georgia, separated from the rest of the country by the Greater Caucasus ridge. The only road in – crossing Abano Pass at 2,926 meters – is impassable from October to June. This isolation has preserved something remarkable: a high-altitude world where medieval stone towers still dominate village skylines, where sheep outnumber people by hundreds to one, and where horses remain the most practical way to travel between valleys.

The landscape is unlike anywhere else in Georgia. Above the treeline at 2,000+ meters, vast alpine meadows stretch between rocky peaks. In early summer, these meadows explode with wildflowers – rhododendrons, gentians, and alpine roses creating carpets of color against the grey mountain backdrop. The air is thin and clean, the views seem endless, and the only sounds are wind, birdsong, and the bells of distant sheep.

The Horses of Tusheti

Tushetian horses are a distinct local breed, smaller and nimbler than their lowland cousins. Evolved over centuries for this terrain, they’re sure-footed on steep slopes, comfortable at altitude, and unbothered by the rocky trails that would challenge other horses. They’re also remarkably calm – essential for traversing narrow paths with steep drop-offs. You’ll quickly learn to trust your horse’s judgment on the mountain trails.

A Living Heritage

The stone defense towers – some over 20 meters tall – were built centuries ago to protect villages from raiders. Many still stand, though the villages they protect may have only a handful of summer residents. The people who do come – mostly elderly shepherds and their families – maintain traditions that have disappeared elsewhere in Georgia: seasonal migration, communal grazing rights, and a hospitality culture that treats every guest as a blessing.

Driving: 230 km | Duration: 7-8 hours | Walking: 2 km | Elevation: 280m → 2,867m | Meals: Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Guesthouse in Upper Omalo

We depart Tbilisi early, heading northeast through the Kakheti wine region. First stop is Alaverdi Monastery, one of Georgia’s most important religious sites. This 11th-century cathedral – over 50 meters tall – was the tallest building in Georgia for centuries. The monastery still functions today, and monks produce their own wine using traditional qvevri methods.

After a lunch break in the lowlands, the adventure begins: the drive over Abano Pass. At 2,926 meters, this is the highest drivable pass in the Caucasus, and the unpaved road clinging to cliffsides is legendary among overland travelers. We take our time, stopping for photos as the landscape transforms from green valleys to alpine meadows to rocky moonscape near the summit.

Descending into Tusheti, we make our way to the fortress villages of Shenako and Diklo. Shenako features a beautiful 19th-century church with surviving frescoes, while Diklo sits dramatically on a ridge near the Russian border. Here we walk to Pichekhi Castles, the main fortification that once guarded against Dagestani raids. The history here is poignant – these towers saw real conflict, and some were destroyed as recently as the 19th century.

We arrive at our guesthouse in Upper Omalo by evening, where a traditional Tushetian dinner awaits. The village sits at nearly 2,000 meters, and on clear evenings, the sunset views across the valley are spectacular.

Riding: 22 km | Duration: 5-6 hours in saddle | Elevation: 1,900m → 3,001m → 1,900m | Meals: Full board | Overnight: Guesthouse in Upper Omalo

Your first full day of riding takes you to the highest point of the tour – the 3,001-meter summit of Unagira Mountain. After breakfast, we meet the horses and riding guides at the guesthouse. The Tushetian horses are smaller than you might expect, but their sure-footedness on these mountain trails is immediately apparent.

The trail climbs steadily through alpine meadows, gaining over 1,100 meters of elevation over the course of the ride. If you’re visiting between mid-June and mid-July, the hillsides are covered with flowering rhododendrons – masses of pink and white blooms against the dark green of the meadow grass. A small seasonal lake near the summit adds to the scenery.

From the top of Unagira, the views are extraordinary. You can see both the Pirikiti and Gometsari valleys spreading below, with villages visible as clusters of stone towers on distant hillsides: Bochorna, Dartlo, Kvavlo, Chesho. On clear days, the peaks of the Greater Caucasus ridge seem close enough to touch.

We take our time at the summit, enjoying a packed lunch and photographing the panorama, before beginning the descent back to Omalo. The return route offers different perspectives on the landscape, and you’ll appreciate your horse’s ability to navigate the steep downhill sections.

Riding: 23 km | Duration: 5-6 hours in saddle | Elevation: 1,700m → 2,650m → 1,700m | Meals: Full board | Overnight: Guesthouse in Upper Omalo

Your second riding day takes a different direction – toward the alpine Oreti Lake at 2,650 meters. The trail follows a different valley, passing through high summer pastures where you’re likely to encounter Tushetian shepherds with their flocks.

The shepherds here practice transhumance – seasonal migration that has continued for millennia. In June, they drive their sheep up from the lowland winter pastures in Kakheti, crossing Abano Pass to reach these high meadows. In September, they return. Meeting them at their summer camps offers a window into a way of life that’s nearly vanished elsewhere in Europe.

The lake itself is a classic glacial tarn – cold, clear, and reflecting the peaks that rise above it. From the ridge viewpoint, you can see all of Tusheti’s main gorges spread below. This is one of the most photographed spots in the region, and the riding to reach it makes the view even more satisfying.

We return to Omalo by a slightly different route, arriving in time for a final evening in the guesthouse. The third night’s dinner often features khinkali (Georgian dumplings) – reward for two days of solid riding.

Driving: 250 km | Duration: 7-8 hours | Walking: 2 km | Elevation: 2,867m → 280m | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Before leaving Tusheti, we explore two final sites. The Keselo Castle complex above Upper Omalo is the most impressive surviving example of Tushetian defensive architecture – a cluster of stone towers on a dramatic ridge that once served as the region’s last line of defense. The short hike up offers final panoramic views.

In Lower Omalo, the ethnographic museum provides context for everything you’ve seen: traditional crafts, clothing, tools, and artifacts that illustrate Tushetian life across the centuries. It’s a small but excellent collection that brings together the cultural threads of the region.

Then begins the long descent: back over Abano Pass (dramatic views in the other direction), through the Kakheti lowlands, and on to Tbilisi. We stop for lunch along the way. Arrival in Tbilisi is typically late afternoon or early evening – end of tour.

Experience Tusheti on Horseback

Four days is enough to fall in love with Tusheti. The dramatic drive over Abano Pass, the panoramic rides to mountain summits and alpine lakes, the medieval tower villages, the warm hospitality of the guesthouses – it’s an immersive introduction to one of Europe’s last truly remote mountain regions.

This tour is ideal for riders who want to experience Tushetian horse culture without committing to a longer expedition. Two full riding days at altitude, reaching over 3,000 meters and visiting one of the region’s most beautiful lakes, give you a genuine taste of what makes this landscape special.

Ready to ride? Contact us to check availability or discuss your experience level.