Arrival in Pankisi | Preparation for the Wild

• • Altitude: 400 m → 450 m
  • Ride time: —
  • Transfer from Tbilisi to Pankisi Gorge, entering the starting point of the expedition.
  • Expedition briefing upon arrival, covering route, terrain, safety, and riding conditions in high mountain environment.
  • Individual horse selection based on rider experience, balance, temperament, and expedition demands.
  • Final preparation phase before entering remote highland terrain.
  • Last comfortable evening before the expedition begins.
  • Dinner together as a team.
  • Gear check and final adjustments.

  Overnight: Guesthouse in Jokolo / Pankisi

Into the Mountains: Khadori Valley to Lamazuri (2,500 m)

• • Distance: 25–30 km
  • Ride time: ~6 hrs
  • Altitude gain: 450 m → 2,500 m
  • The expedition begins with a continuous climb from the valley floor into the high mountains.
  • We follow the Khadori Valley, riding river bends and forest trails as civilization quickly disappears behind us.
  • The route tightens inside Kochadali Gorge, with dense forest and the sound of rushing water shaping the ride.
  • Lunch is taken in the trees near the river.
  • The ascent toward Mount Lamazuri begins – steep, sustained, and technical, with long switchbacks.
  • At 2,500 meters, the terrain opens into high alpine space.
  • The first high-altitude camp is set on an exposed mountain shelf.
  • This is where the expedition truly begins.

Overnight: High mountain camp

Ridgelines & Exposed Traverses — Rkini (Iron) Mountain to Masara

• Distance: 20–24 km
• Ride time: 5–6 hrs
• Altitude: 2,500 m → ~2,900 m → 2,600 m
• The day unfolds on high ridgelines with steep drop-offs on both sides.
• We ride through open terrain where the full scale of Tusheti’s mountains becomes visible.
• At Rkini Mountain (Iron Mountain), we stop for lunch at nearly 2,900 meters.
• A technical section follows – a narrow cliffside path carved into the mountainside.We dismount and lead the horses carefully through the exposed passage, step by step.The focus is absolute: balance, control, trust between rider and horse.
• In the afternoon, we descend toward Masara.
• Camp is set near a cold mountain spring flowing directly from the rock.

Overnight: Wild camp near Masara

Wild Valleys – Alaznistavi & Rangers’ Hut

• Distance: 18–22 km
• Ride time: 5–6 hrs riding + hiking sections
• Altitude: ~2,800 m high point → ~2,350 m
• We descend into Alazani Gorge, a steep and rugged section where terrain becomes technical and demanding.
• River crossings, rocky slopes, and unstable paths require careful riding and occasional dismounting.
• The route climbs again toward Saqorni Mountain (2,800 m).
• Lunch is taken at one of the widest panoramic viewpoints in the region.
• From the ridge, the trail drops sharply toward Alaznistavi – one of the most remote and rarely visited areas of the journey.
• We finish near the Rangers’ Hut, deep inside the protected wilderness zone.

Overnight: Expedition camp near Rangers’ Hut

Forgotten Settlements — Alisgori

• Distance: 18–25 km
• Ride time: 5–6 hrs
• Altitude: ~2,300 m → ~1,850 m
• A cultural immersion day, still fully within rugged mountain terrain.
• We ride through remote and rarely visited places such as Sajinchevle, Langiskhovi, Vedziskhevi, and Koklata.
• The route passes abandoned stone towers, collapsed structures, and high summer pastures.These are settlements most travelers never encounter or even hear about.The landscape gradually softens as we descend toward lower elevations. By evening we reach Alisgori.
• Warm food and a bed feel noticeably comfortable after several nights in the wilderness.

Overnight: Family guesthouse

Nakaicho Pass – High, Remote, Demanding

• Distance: 22–30 km
• Ride time: 6–7 hrs
• Altitude: up to ~3,000 m
• One of the most demanding days of the expedition.
• A long, sustained climb toward Nakaicho Pass, where altitude, wind, and full exposure define the ride.The landscape feels completely untouched and increasingly remote.
• From the pass, we descend toward Par Sma, Baso, and Girevi, moving through shifting terrain between open alpine zones and narrow shepherd tracks.
• Arrival in Girevi, one of the most iconic and remote villages in Tusheti.

Overnight: Guesthouse in Girevi

Tower Villages – Girevi to Dartlo

• Distance: 18–24 km
• Ride time: ~6 hrs
• Altitude: ~2,000 m
• A visually striking day riding through the historic tower villages of Chesho, Dano, and Kvavlo.
• The route follows ancient paths linking medieval defensive settlements above the valley.
• Stone towers, terraced slopes, and abandoned hamlets define the landscape throughout the day.
• The ride remains remote and technical in places, using trails far beyond vehicle access.
• The final approach to Dartlo is the highlight — iconic stone towers rising above green alpine slopes.
• Arrival feels like entering a living museum of mountain architecture and history.

Overnight: Guesthouse in Dartlo

Tutareki Pass & Old Diklo – Over 3,000 m

• Distance: 18–25 km
• Ride time: 6–7 hrs
• Altitude: ~3,000–3,200 m
• A fully exposed high-mountain day, climbing toward Tutareki Pass above 3,000 meters.The air thins and every breath becomes deeper and more deliberate. The terrain turns stark and severe — wind, altitude, and vast open space dominate the ride.
• We reach Old Diklo, one of the most remote historical settlements in Georgia. Few travelers ever stand in this place; it feels suspended between past and landscape.
• The descent toward Diklo village brings relief, but also a strong sense of accomplishment after the highest section of the expedition.

Overnight: Guesthouse in Diklo

Diklo to Shenako to Omalo

• Distance: 15–22 km
• Ride time: 5–6 hrs
• Altitude: ~2,000 m
• A rolling high-mountain ride with wide, open views across Tusheti’s valleys. We pass through the historic village of Shenako, with its iconic church set against the surrounding peaks.
• The landscape gradually opens and softens as we approach the main valley. Arrival in Omalo, the administrative center of Tusheti — still remote, rugged, and deeply connected to mountain life.

Overnight: Guesthouse in Omalo

Oreti’s Lake & Remote Valleys

• Distance: 20–28 km
• Ride time: 6–7 hrs
• Altitude: ~2,600–2,700 m high point
• A long ride toward Oreti Lake, crossing silent alpine grasslands and remote high valleys. The terrain feels open and cinematic, with wide horizons and flowing mountain rivers. This is a day defined by space, silence, and continuous high-altitude riding. We move far from main routes, deeper into isolated mountain terrain.
• Arrival near Shtrrolta, a remote area away from settlements and roads.

Overnight: Camp or remote stay near Shtrrolta

Vestmo – Deep in the Backcountry

• Distance: 18–25 km
• Ride time: ~6 hrs
• Altitude: ~2,000 m
• We link remote mountain settlements including Sabue, Gogrulta, and Vestomta Sachigholo.
• The route moves deep into the backcountry, far from any main trails or infrastructure. Terrain remains fully wild, with long stretches of silence and isolation.
• Arrival in Vestmo for a true off-grid mountain camp experience.
• Nights are defined by firelight, distant horse bells, and complete stillness.

Overnight: Wild camp

Nakarobi → Ortskhali → Abano Pass → Tbilisi — Final Descent

• Distance: 10–15 km riding
• Ride time: 3–4 hrs + vehicle transfer
• Altitude: ~3,200 m high point → 400 m
• Final mountain section from Nakarobi toward Ortskhali, marking the last hours on horseback.
• The route climbs and transitions toward Abano Pass (2,926 m), the gateway in and out of Tusheti.
• Final descent and vehicle transfer toward the lowlands. The landscape changes rapidly as altitude drops from high alpine terrain to valley floor.
• Leaving Tusheti National Park feels emotional after crossing nearly the entire region on horseback.
• Return journey to Tbilisi completes the expedition.

End: Tbilisi (accommodation not included)