Tusheti National Park

One of the wildest regions with no asphalt and no electricity, the Tusheti area is undoubtedly one of the premier adventure destinations in the Caucasus. A single-lane dirt road up to 3000m is the only way in and out of Tusheti, so you won’t see buses full of tourists lined up at the entrance to Omalo. Buckle up and get ready for some epic mountain adventure before you head to Tusheti.

Distance: 200km from Tbilisi (5-6 hours)
Best for: Hiking, Mountain biking, Offroad, Horseback
Best time: June – September
Addon: You can extend your trip by hiking/biking over Atsunta pass, towards Khevsureti region.

How to Get

Public Transport

There is NO public transportation to the Tusheti region, you will need to rent a private car or join a tour.

Private 4WD vehicle

Drive yourself only if you are an experienced driver, as the road to Tusheti is relatively challenging, with no asphalt and safety fences on the road. There are also places where there is no cell service, and the Abano Pass can be snow-covered even in mid-July.

Backpacking

One of the most famous routes to get to Tusheti National Park is via Atsunta Pass, which is mostly done by hiking, or even by mountain bike if you are an advanced rider. This route takes about 3 days and passes through one of the wildest places in the Caucasus Mountains.

Eat and Sleep

You can have some of the best meals in Tusheti, even in the remotest villages, as almost every settlement has a guesthouse and a small cafe that will be happy to cook local dishes for you. Still, you’ll need to bring snacks from Tbilisi (or Telavi city), as there are no supermarkets anywhere within the borders of Tusheti.

Tusheti has an abundance of water, and unless you are traveling on the high ridges, there are plenty of springs to drink from. Tap water is drinkable in all guesthouses.
During your hike, make sure that no animals (usually sheep or cows) are drinking above the spring, then consume the water.

At the time of writing, there is only one hotel in the entire Tusheti area, the Samzeo Hotel, located in the village of Omalo. Other than that, almost every settlement has some sort of guesthouse, even if it does not have a sign outside. Keep in mind that sometimes these are old houses that have been converted into guesthouses, so you might find yourself sleeping in a 12th century war tower.
You can pitch your tent almost anywhere, but make sure these are not sacred places. Just ask the locals and they will show you the best place to pitch your tent.

What to Do

Hiking

There are various hiking routes that you can tike within Tusheti National Park, some are relatively and short, others last for several days. 2 wildest routes are Pankisi – Tusheti hiking route or Khevsureti – Tusheti hiking route. These are both multi-day treks and require camping along the way.

From Omalo you can find several day hikes, including Oreti lake hike or Diklo village. You can see some of the hikes on the map at the top of this page.

Mountain Biking

Tusheti National Park is a prime mountain biking destination, with a variety of dirt roads leading to small mountain villages and little explored valleys. Crossing the Abano Pass is one of the most rewarding challenges mountain bikers enjoy, and all the downhill is absolutely worth it.
You can make several day trips from the village of Omalo, staying in Girevi and camping along the way.

If you are feeling really adventurous, you can cycle all the way to the Atsunta Pass and descend to the Khevsureti region, from where you can follow the road via the Datvijvari Pass towards Tbilisi. This is a tough route with some steep sections, but it has been done twice by our group from Germany.

Offroad

Whether you’re driving a 4wd vehicle, enduro bike or ATV, Tusheti National Park will leave you breathless with its terrain, the perfect playground to go full throttle. No asphalt in sight and few vehicles ensure that you and your group can enjoy the whole range of mountains just by yourself, while still exploring the local culture and scenery.
Keep in mind that there are no auto parts stores in the Tusheti area, so come prepared and be careful.

Horseback

One of the most common means of transportation in Tusheti is the horse. In fact, the Tushetians have their own breed of horse that is suited to the mountainous terrain. Explore the surroundings of the park on horseback.
Horseback riding is best booked in advance, as sometimes there is a shortage of horses for travelers to book upon arrival.