Horseback riding at the end of the world in the pristine steppes and mountains of Vashlovani National Park – here you can gallop to your heart’s content and make friends with the Tushet shepherds and their animals.
Vashlovani National Park was established in 1935 by Georgian biologists Niko Ketskhoveli and Vasil Gulisashvili. The strictly protected area covers 84 square kilometers and the surrounding agricultural area is 251 square kilometers.
Rolling hills, black earth fields, African-like savannahs and the ancient wild pistachio trees characterize the typical landscapes of the Vashlovani National Park against the background of the four-thousanders of the Caucasus. If you add to this the mix of dry steppes and semi-deserts with deep reed belts and swamps on the meanders of the Iori and Alasani rivers, you understand the desire to protect this unique, species-rich habitat on the foothills of the South Caucasus with a national park.
Dry and wet biotopes offer a particularly attractive habitat for animals and plants with a wide range of plants and insects as a food source. In spring you can see many rare crocuses and orchids, wild pomegranate trees, juniper forests and animals such as porcupines, striped hyenas, jungle cats, wolves and gazelles. Even a population of around 20-30 specimens of the smaller subspecies of the light-colored Syrian brown bear lives here and in 2007 and 2008 the Persian leopard was also photographed here.
Tour dates:
24.03.-30.03.2024
Travel Information
Distance: about 200 km from Tbilisi/ driving time 4 hours
Riding time: 5-6 hours per day, ideal for cantering
Riding experience: You should be able to stay in the saddle for several hours and be confident in all gaits. This trip is not suitable for beginners.
Daily stages: 14 – 35 km
Overnight stays: on the way in huts of the national park and two nights in a tent camp.
Number of participants: 4-8
Tour leader: English speaking guide
Travel price per person: EUR 1499.00
Single supplement for Tbilisi: EUR 60.00
Highlights
- Galloping in the open landscapes of the National Park
- Small and agile horses of the Tushetian horse breed
- Nature experiences in the protected area of the pastoral culture
