Cattle drive Tusheti

Our driver will pick you up at your arrival time and take you to the hotel
The overnight stay from the day of arrival to day 1 is included in the travel price

10.00 a.m. Sightseeing of the picturesque Georgian capital Tbilisi (Tbilisi), city tour of the old town. Free time in the afternoon. Welcome dinner in a typical Georgian restaurant. Overnight in hotel 3*.

Departure from Tbilisi to Eastern Georgia via the Gombori Pass to Zemo Alvani in Kakheti. Driving time approx. 2 hours. Coffee break and transfer to 4WDs at the home of our lovely driver Zaza. Adventurous drive along deep gorges over the Great Caucasus and the highest motorable pass in Georgia, the Abano Pass from 2926m to Tusheti over 90 km. Picnic at the pass and drive on to the picturesque village Chesho and overnight with our host.

Exploring the village in its impressive surroundings and visiting a shepherd camp. We get to know the simple and hard way of life of the Tusheti shepherds of their animals. We make preparations for the cattle drive and you will get to know interesting events from the eventful Tuschetian history. 10-km hike along the Pirikiti-Alasani river to the now almost deserted villages of Parsma and Girevi. In Girevi we stop at friendly shepherds if possible. In the afternoon they prepare as a crispy shashlyk barbeque on the campfire. There is ample time for picturesque landscape shots. Picnic in Parsma or Girevi. Overnight in Chesho

The cattle drive begins early in the morning with sheep counting. The herds run separately according to groups. The horses and cows run separately. We accompany the herds on foot. The pace is not particularly fast but brisk. On request we can also organize riding horses with saddles at an additional cost. The shepherds’ dogs are livestock guardian dogs and you have to learn to get along with them.

The trail follows the river along the village of Dartlo via Old Omalo to Omalo through scenic stretches of unique beauty. The luggage vehicle accompanies us and prepares the picnic. Arrive in Mirgvela in the evening. Hiking distance approx. 18-20 km

After breakfast we drive through wild gorges through Central Tusheti. The route is not too long on this day so that the herds are not too exhausted before crossing the pass. Overnight in Omalo. Hiking route approx. 15 km

Today the Abano Pass of 2926 m is crossed on foot. Depending on the weather, this can be very nice, hard and exhausting when it rains or even snows. Behind the pass it goes downhill in many serpentines to the Abano thermal baths at about 2000 m altitude. We say goodbye to the shepherds and drive another exhausting two hours by vehicle back to our host Zaza in Alvani. Drive through Kakheti to Telavi, where the return to civilization will be celebrated in the evening. Hiking route approx. 18 km

Sightseeing program in the region of Kakheti. Return to Tbilisi via Gombori Pass. Arrive in Tbilisi around 3:00 p.m. Leisure.
Overnight in Tbilisi

Transfer to the airport or individual extension of your stay in Georgia