Discovering Tusheti

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Arrival - Tbilisi

Arrive in Georgia, Tbilisi. Transfert to the hotel.

Overnight in Tbilisi.

2

Visit Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia

Walking tour of Tbilisi Old Town. Medieval Metekhi Church (13th century), Sioni Cathedral, Anchiskhati Basilica (6th century), Synagogue, Narikala Fortress (4th century), Mosque, Eastern District of the Sulphur Baths (17th century). Visit to the National Treasure Museum of Georgia: exhibition of gold from the 3rd millennium BC.

Overnight in Tbilisi.

3

Discover semi-desert area David Gareja

We drive to the Kakheti region, famous for its wines and vineyards.

Visit to the David Garedja monastic complex, a must-see site located in a steppe desert on the border with Azerbaijan. Garedja is the name of the region. Originally, David, one of the thirteen Syrian fathers, settled in a cave in this semi-desert region in the 6th century. Today, the complex is home to a dozen monks. Climb the hill on foot and visit the caves to discover the 9th-century frescoes.

Overnight in Telavi.

4

Departure for a Tushetian adventure

We drive directly to Tusheti (UNESCO), a mountainous and inaccessible region in eastern Georgia, on the northern slopes of the Great Caucasus. Via the splendid Abano Pass (2,900 m), we follow the road to Omalo, the central village of Tusheti. On this journey, we will enjoy magnificent views all around. We will have the opportunity to visit the Kesselos Towers Museum in Omalo.

Overnight in Omalo in a guesthouse.

Distance and journey time: 100km, 5h.

5

Discovery of the village of Diklo

We leave Omalo to visit the village of Shenako, a small village with typical old houses and a beautiful church a little out of the way. Continuing on to the village of Diklo, then Dzveli ("ancient") Diklo and the ruins of the fortress on the rocks from where we can see a beautiful valley and the Greater Caucasus part of Dagestan (Federation of Russia).

Return to Diklo.

Overnight in Diklo in a guesthouse.

Distance on horseback and on foot: 26km.

6

Explore the village of Dartlo

We head for the village of Chigho.

We then continue on to Dartlo, famous for its architecture and magnificent towers. If possible, we can visit the villages of Kvavlo and Dano.

Overnight in Dartlo in a guesthouse.

Distance on horseback and on foot: 23km.

7

Visit the village of Parsma

We continue our journey through a picturesque valley. We visit a beautiful Parsma village with small houses, watchtowers and sacred places, the latter are forbidden to women. In all the Tusheti, there are still cults and traditions derived from the pagan religion, which are celebrated every year in the summer months of July and August. We cross the Nakaicho Pass (2,903 m) and traverse through the village of Dadikurta. We stop at the village of Verkhovani or Djvarbosseli.

Overnight in Verkhovani or Djvarboseli, in a guesthouse.

Distance on horseback and on foot: 15km.

8

Reach Dochu village

This day, we visit another valley, Gometsari, and its villages: Iliurta, Vestomta, Gogrulta - giving the impression of being clinging to the mountain slopes. Today, we stop our journey at the village of Dochu, with its beautiful rock-brick houses.

Overnight in Dochu in a guesthouse.

Distance on horseback and on foot: 16km.

9

Blazing view from Bochorna

Our destination takes us to the village of Bochorna, the highest inhabited village in Europe (at 2345m), and without doubt, we'll have a dazzling panorama.

Continuation to Omalo.

Overnight in Omalo in a guesthouse.

Distance on horseback and on foot: 14km.

10

Return to Tbilisi

This is the day we leave Omalo and all the beauty of the Tusheti. We resume our long, magnificent journey over the Abano Pass at 2,950m. We descend to Alvani, a large village in the Tusheti region. Finally, we return to Tbilisi.

Overnight in Tbilisi.

Distance and journey time: 6h, 160km.

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