Georgia: Trekking the forgotten valleys of Caucasus
The remote valleys of the Greater Caucasus hide behind the high ridges of the mountains. On the spot we will feel the power of beautiful nature and the spirit of ancient Georgian traditions.
Tusheti and Khevsureti are the only places in Georgia where the customs of shepherds are still preserved and cultivated today. Their savage and resolute approach to life can shock - such as keeping ancestral skeletons in their homes. That's why parts of the region have refused to accept Christianity, and in the village-fortress of Shatili - although Georgia is a very religious country - there is not a single church.
We will cover these two regions on foot. Local able-bodied horses will carry our luggage, and we will trek from valley to valley, from village to village through the romantic land of high passes and deep green valleys right on the banks of wild rivers. For those willing who pride themselves on their fitness, we suggest participating in the final climb to the summit of Mount Kazbek (5033 meters above sea level) - a beautiful extinct volcano, the mythical place of Prometheus' suffering.
ITINERARY:
DAY 1-2
Departure from Warsaw. Arrival in Tbilisi early in the morning. Drive to the Pankisi Gorge, inhabited by Muslim Kists. Purchase food and trekking supplies at the beautiful local market in Telavi. In the evening, a simple, traditional Chechen homemade dinner. A concert of Chechen and Tushetian music with a traditional dance show.
DAY 3
Drive on one of the most beautiful and dangerous roads of the South Caucasus. Along the main Caucasian ridge and over the Abano Pass (2960 meters above sea level), we will reach the capital of Tusheti - Omalo. An afternoon walk through the ruins of Tusheti defense towers.
DAY 4-5
Before we embark on a 3-day trek to Khevsureti on one of the most beautiful routes in Georgia, we will spend 2 days traversing the valleys and passes around Omalo. During this two-day warm-up, we will explore the rarely-used trails of Tusheti.
DAY 6
We abandon the feasting Omalo and first by off-road vehicles and then on foot we will head towards the Russian border. During the trip we will be accompanied by horses that will carry our luggage. The first day of the trek will take us through the Nakaicha Pass to the mountain settlement of Chesho, and further through the villages of Girevi and Chonshio, almost to the Atsunta Pass. We will spend the night in an camp in tents.
DAY 7
After conquering Atsunta, we will head downhill all the way to the semi-abandoned village of Ardoti located on the conventional border between Tusheti and neighboring Khevsureti. We are already near the village-fortress of Shatili, but it will take us another day to reach it. Overnight in tents.
DAY 8
We wave to the Georgian border guards and along the former freight trail we pass right by the "hut of the dead" - a building full of skeletons, where old ailing highlanders used to come to die. In the evening we will reach Shatili, passing a beautiful stone field and several shepherd's huts on the way.
DAY 9
An old Georgian song praises the beautiful maiden of Shatili - today we will try to find her among the last inhabitants of this gem of Caucasian settlements. The architecture of the town is astonishing, as the houses are so connected that they form a fortress. We will have a chance to see that the Khevsur people living here are considered the most polite and hospitable people living in the Caucasian mountains. In the afternoon, we get into our cars and head towards the highest peaks of the High Caucasus to the capital of the Khevi sub-region, Kazbegi, where the next leg of the journey will begin. We stay overnight at a family-run guesthouse in Stepantsminda.
DAY 10
We replenish our supplies at local stores. We set off on a hike towards the beautifully situated Tsminda Sameba Monastery (2170 meters above sea level). From there, we are already in for a several-hour hike to the glacier border. Overnight in a tent or in a shelter near the weather station (3650 m). Time: 7-8 hours.
DAY 11
Acclimatization and climbing to an altitude of over 4,000 meters (about 5 hours). Preparing to climb Kazbek surrounded by beautiful views of the glacier and surrounding rocks. Bird watching, sunbathing and other activities. Overnight in a tent under the glacier or a meteostation.
DAY 12
A group of volunteers will attempt to summit the peak under the supervision of a local licensed mountain guide. The trek will start early in the morning, we will go through the glacier to the plateau, from which we will face a steep climb to the summit of Kazbek. Return to the meteostation in the afternoon. Overnight in a tent or meteostation. The ascent and descent together take about 10-14 hours.
DAY 13
If the weather does not cooperate the day before, we will attempt the summit a second time. If we manage to climb the previous day, we will devote the day to a several-hour descent to Stepancminda (about 6 hours). Rest after the mountain action. For those who wish, we will share a traditional dinner - supra. Overnight in Stepantsminda.
DAY 14
Rest in the Stepantsminda area. For those interested, a visit to the Gveleti waterfalls, located on the edge of the remarkable Dariali Gorge, is scheduled (or descend from the mountains in case of a repeat of the previous day's summit attempt).
DAY 15
We leave the Caucasus, drive to Tbilisi. Sightseeing of the capital and possible concert of Georgian music. Overnight stay in Tbilisi.
DAY 16-17
Full day sightseeing tour of Tbilisi. We will visit the old city, Narikala Fortress, for those who are willing, we will have the opportunity to take a bath in the sulfur water baths. We will go to the antiquities market on Dry Bridge. We will also go to the "Art Nouveau district", located along the beautiful newly renovated King David the Builder Avenue. For those willing, an evening party in one of Tbilisi's many bars. Rest at the hotel. At night departure for the airport and return to Poland.
PRICE INCLUDES:
• a return flight ticket with airport charges
• checked baggage and carry-on baggage in accordance with the weight limit of the airline
• care of an English-speaking guide
• care of the local mountain guide
• Basic climbing equipment necessary to climb Kazbek (boots, crampons, check, helmet, harness with carabiners)
• transfer to and from Tbilisi airport, transport to and from the mountains, transfer from Shatili to Stepantsminda
• a horse carrying luggage in Tusheti, Khevsureti and Khevi
• two nights in a hotel in Tbilisi
• accommodation in Pankisi, Omalo, Szatili and Stepantsminda
• breakfasts and dinners in Pankisi, Omalo, Shatili and Stepantsminda
• breakfasts in Tbilisi
• information packages and maps
• obligatory insurance guarantee for the travel agency
• NNW and KL + insurance of luggage up to 200 Euro
• a mandatory fee for the State Tourist Guarantee Fund (TFG) for each person
• mandatory payment to the state Tourist Fund for Assistance (TFP) for each person.
• insurance against contracting the virus (COVID-19) while abroad
PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
• for those interested, renting horses to cross the road through Tusheti and Khevsureti (about 50 EUR for each part)
• food during trekking and in Tbilisi
• accommodation at the meteo station below Kazbek
• Covid-19 test (if applicable)
FLIGHT:
The place of departure is WARSAW. In case you wish to travel from another destination or book flights on your own, please contact us for price quotation for this trip.
ACCOMODATION AND FOOD:
Due to the inaccessibility of the areas to be visited, it is impossible to spend every night in guest houses. During some nights we will sleep in our own tents in encampments. In Tbilisi we will be accommodated in a hotel. With each night's stay in guest houses, dinner and breakfast are provided in the price. Other food on your own.
GROUP:
We travel in small groups. The minimum number of people on the trip is 6, maximum 14.
TREKKING DETAILS:
Trekking takes place without any load, our luggage is carried a horse. Good physical condition is required. There are no technically demanding hikes along the route, however, height changes and crossing streams will obviously occur. Most of the routes run through pastoral paths.
DETAILS ON THE SUMMIT OF KAZBEK:
When you ascent Kazbek (from Stepantsminda) you will be accompanied by a licensed guide. From meteorological station to the peak, you climb in four-person groups whose members are joined with a rope. In each group - four people go with one Georgian guide. The approach requires physical fitness (not technical skills). On the day of the summit climb, the camp is left at 3 a.m., the return is usually around 2-4 p.m. We provide the basic equipment necessary to climb Kazbek (suitable boots, crampons, check, poles, helmet, harness with carabiners), but its reservation must be made in advance, i.e. no later than 2 months before the trip. It is also mandatory to consult with the office about the high-mountain footwear you have. Not every shoe is accepted by local mountain guides.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
• The itinerary may change depending on the date of departure, weather and other factors.
• Learn more about general conditions of participation and find out how to sign up for a trip.
• Attention! In case of the introduction of restrictions that prevent the implementation of the tour, we will refund 100% of the money paid up to 7 days from the date of cancellation of the tour.
• The organizer of the trip is Active Travel Agency Barents.pl
