Tusheti Road Closed Between Km22 and Km72 After Early Snowfall

By Nino Gelashvili, Travel News Editor · 17/10/2026

Georgia’s Roads Department closed the Pshaveli-Abano-Omalo road between the 22nd and 72nd kilometre marks on 4 October 2026, citing heavy snowfall and ice that made the route dangerous for all vehicle types. The closed section includes Abano Pass, the main link between lowland Georgia and the mountainous Tusheti region.

The first 22 kilometres of the road, as far as the village of Pshaveli, remain open with normal traffic. Abano Pass is one of the highest and most difficult mountain crossings in the country and is typically closed from late autumn until early summer. This year’s closure came earlier than usual, reflecting an early onset of winter conditions at high altitude.

The Roads Department has urged drivers not to attempt crossing the pass and advised tourists currently in Tusheti to contact local tour operators or guesthouses to arrange alternative routes out of the region. The pass will not reopen before an official announcement, likely no earlier than next summer.

What it means for travellers

Anyone currently in Tusheti should coordinate with their guesthouse or tour operator on exit plans. Travellers planning a trip to Omalo or other Tusheti villages by car cannot currently pass km22 and should check official road updates before departing; the region is effectively inaccessible by this route until next season.