Two 4×4 vehicles cross the Abano Pass into Tusheti, loop through Khevsureti to Shatili and Mutso, then finish at Juta and Kazbegi over eight days.
- —Abano Pass, one of the highest drivable passes in the Caucasus, open only July to September and impassable the rest of the year
- —Dartlo's medieval stone tower houses, among the best preserved defensive architecture in Tusheti
- —Shatili and Mutso, Khevsureti's fortress villages, reached by the rougher Datvisjvari pass and far less visited than Svaneti
- —One night camping at Juta below the Chaukhi massif, with Gergeti Trinity Church and Kazbegi to follow
- —Two 4×4 vehicles with experienced mountain drivers, so you watch the road instead of driving it
- —A genuine mix of guesthouse stays and home-cooked Tush and Khevsur meals along a route most visitors never attempt
Map: OpenStreetMap · Road route and driving times: OSRM · Times exclude stops.
- ✓ Two 4×4 vehicles (Land Cruiser/Prado class) with experienced mountain drivers for the full route
- ✓ 7 nights accommodation: guesthouses in Tusheti, Shatili and Stepantsminda, plus one camp night near Shatili
- ✓ Camping equipment (tents, sleeping mats) for the camp night
- ✓ Daily breakfast and dinner at guesthouses, with home-cooked Tush and Khevsur dishes where available
- ✓ English-speaking driver-guide throughout
- ✓ All fuel, tolls and parking between Tbilisi, Tusheti, Khevsureti, Kazbegi and back
- ✓ Any Tusheti protected landscape permits required at time of travel (checked at booking)
- — International flights
- — Travel and medical insurance, recommended given the terrain and altitude
- — Lunches, except where taken together along the route
- — Personal hiking gear, trekking poles and a sleeping bag warm enough for a mountain camp night
- — Entrance donations at churches and monasteries along the way
- · This tour runs July to September only, when the Abano Pass is open; it is closed by snow the rest of the year
- · Roads in Tusheti and over the Datvisjvari pass are gravel with exposed drops in places; expect dust, slow speeds and some motion sensitivity on the switchbacks
- · Nights are cold even in midsummer, especially at Juta and the Shatili camp; bring warm layers and a good sleeping bag
- · Walking is moderate rather than technical, but trails are uneven and at altitude, so a reasonable level of fitness is expected
- · Phone signal and internet are patchy or absent for most of Tusheti and Khevsureti
- · Pack for both heat and cold: sun protection for midday, insulated layers for evenings and the camp night
Is this a self-drive trip?
No. You travel in two 4×4 vehicles, each with its own experienced driver who knows the Abano and Datvisjvari passes.
Can we do a shorter version of this route?
Yes. Our 4-day Tusheti Expedition covers Dartlo and the Abano Pass alone, and our Kazbegi tours cover Stepantsminda and Juta without Khevsureti; see https://gtour.ge/tours/ for both.
What happens if the Abano Pass is closed by weather?
We hold a buffer day in the itinerary where possible and will reroute via Kakheti and the Military Highway if the pass is unsafe; any change is agreed with you before departure.
What is the camp night actually like?
Tents and sleeping mats are provided near Shatili, with dinner either at a nearby guesthouse or prepared by your driver-guide; toilets are basic and there is no shower that night.
Prices are per person for two travelling together, in euros; solo travellers and larger groups are quoted on request. Every departure is private and adjusted to you. Hotels, wineries and restaurants on our routes are verified by GTour.
Medieval Mutso watchtower perched on a cliff above a dramatic Khevsureti gorge. · Photo: Moahim / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
| Group | Per person | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 traveller | €3,984 ≈ $4,442 · 11,531 GEL | €3,984 ≈ $4,442 · 11,531 GEL |
| 2 travellers | €2,490 ≈ $2,776 · 7,207 GEL | €4,980 ≈ $5,552 · 14,414 GEL |
| 3 travellers | €2,366 ≈ $2,638 · 6,848 GEL | €7,098 ≈ $7,914 · 20,544 GEL |
| 4–6 travellers | €2,117 ≈ $2,360 · 6,127 GEL | €8,468 ≈ $9,441 · 24,509 GEL for four |
Private tour: your own car and driver, guide and hotels as described. Conversions at today's National Bank of Georgia rate.
Free cancellation up to 7 days before the tour. Between 7 days and 48 hours: 50 % of the price. Less than 48 hours or no-show: no refund. If a mountain road closes and the tour cannot run, you choose a new date or a full refund.
20 % deposit confirms the booking. Deposit by card or bank transfer when the date is confirmed; the balance in cash or by card at the start of the tour. No hidden fees — fuel, parking, driver and guide are included; entrance tickets, meals and hotels are listed per tour.
Since 1 January 2026 every foreign visitor to Georgia must hold health and accident insurance with cover of at least 30,000 GEL — see our guide to the rule. Our vehicles carry passenger liability insurance; your travel policy covers you.
Full booking conditions · Terms of use · What "Verified by GTour" means
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