Over the Abano pass at 2,850 m to a region of shepherds, tower villages and no paved roads — open only three months a year.
Map: OpenStreetMap · Road route and driving times: OSRM · Times exclude stops.
How difficult is the road?
Unpaved, narrow and high. Our drivers do it every week of the season. Many guests call it the highlight.
Is there phone signal?
Patchy in Omalo, absent in the valleys. Consider it a feature.
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.
This is a 4-day, 3-night private expedition to Tusheti. Pickup is from your hotel in Tbilisi at 08:30, though the time can be adjusted since every departure is private. You return to your Tbilisi hotel on day 4 in the early evening.
Included are the 4x4 vehicle with an experienced mountain driver, an English-speaking guide, three nights in Tushetian guesthouses with breakfast and dinner, and border-zone permits where required. Lunches and horse hire for longer treks are not included, so budget for those separately.
The minimum age listed is 2, but this is a rugged mountain trip involving a long drive over the unpaved Abano Pass at 2,850 m and village walks, which is demanding for young children, people with limited mobility, or anyone uneasy on exposed mountain roads. The tour text specifically notes it is not suitable for those who fear heights on mountain roads, so older or less mobile travellers should consider the terrain carefully before booking.
The season is strictly late June to early October, since the Abano Pass closes once snow arrives and there is no other way in or out of Tusheti by road. Expect cool mountain air even in summer, with clear skies at night and the possibility of sudden weather changes typical of high-altitude terrain.
Bring sturdy footwear for the village walks and uneven ground, warm layers for cool mountain evenings, and a basic toiletry kit since guesthouses are simple with shared bathrooms in most cases. A camera is worthwhile for the towers, valleys, and notably clear night skies, and cash for lunches and any horse hire, as these are not included.
Yes, every departure is entirely private, with just your own car, driver and English-speaking guide. The quoted price of €1150 per person is based on two travellers going together; solo travellers or larger groups can get a quote on request.
The standard pickup point is your hotel in Tbilisi, where the guide collects you at 08:30 or a preferred time. Starting from Kutaisi or Batumi isn't mentioned in the standard itinerary, but it can likely be arranged on request, so it's best to ask when booking.
You stay three nights in Tushetian guesthouses, which are simple and clean but rustic, with shared bathrooms in most cases and no hotels available in the region. Breakfast and dinner are included at the guesthouses as part of the package.
The road to Tusheti is unpaved, narrow and high, crossing the dramatic Abano Pass, but the mountain drivers do this route every week during the season and many guests consider it a highlight rather than a hardship. Phone signal is patchy in Omalo and absent in the valleys, so plan to be largely disconnected during the trip.
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