Trekking in the Caucasus

This is one of the wildest and most adventurous European journeys we’ve ever offered! Our trek into the Caucasus brings us through soaring mountain landscapes, across hillsides knee-deep in wildflowers, and into stone-built villages lost in time. We focus on the Republic of Georgia’s Khevsureti and Tusheti regions, long isolated by their rugged terrain and virtually untouched by the outside world, with ancient Christian cultures kept vibrantly alive. There is a saying here that “guests come from God,” and in the hamlets we visit, we enjoy wonderful hospitality including evenings of feasting with the locals—Georgians are always ready to break into songs, poems, and toasts to welcome guests. We invite you to be among the first trekkers to experience this incredible realm.

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-3
Tbilisi / Shatili

We visit Georgia’s pretty capital for a chance to discover carpet shops, domed churches, tea houses, and the wares of Tbilisi’s famous traditional bakeries. We also visit Mtskheta, headquarters of the Georgian Orthodox faith and home to the 11th century Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and 6th century Jvari Monastery, both World Heritage Sites. In the afternoon of Day 3, we head out to the countryside for an overnight at the village-citadel of Shatili, a spectacular World Heritage Site whose 900-year-old defensive walls and mighty towers once kept invaders at bay. Our guesthouse here is in a renovated watchtower.

Days 4-9
Trekking in Khevsureti and Tusheti

Our trek begins in the Khevsureti Mountains, a green landscape inhabited by the traditional Khevsur people. With pack horse support, we hike into forests and along shepherds’ paths and visit the old tower-town of Mutso, the last village in Khevsureti before we reach the Tusheti region. Crossing Atsunta Pass (11,300') brings us into the wildflower meadows of Tusheti—a mountain world accessible by road for only three months of the year! In Tusheti’s beautiful Kvakhiki Valley, lush with wild blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries, we hike along the Alazani River, with its blue-green waters and trout pools, and visit isolated villages with 11th century stone watchtowers. On three nights of our trek, we sleep in tents, and on the other four, we stay in village guesthouses, a great way to meet the incredibly hospitable people of this region. Many of the village houses here are over 400 years old, built of stacked slate and adorned with fantastic wood carvings. The last stop on our trek, the charming village of Shenako, became accessibleonly in 2006, when a foot bridge was completed over the river. Here we’ll have a festive farewell feast with our Georgian mountain guides and villagers.

Days 10-13
Kakheti Wine Country / Tbilisi

The Kakheti region is full of mysterious churches and historical sites and it’s also ancient wine country, where every village makes its own wine. We have a chance to visit some unique local wineries en route to Tbilisi. Depart on Day 13.

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure

What the Trip is Like

The trip is Level 5+, or Strenuous. Trip members must be experienced mountain hikers in excellent physical condition. We hike from five to eight hours a day at altitudes between 7,000 and 9,000 feet, with several pass crossings. The highest pass is 11,300 feet. The hard part of the trek is that most of it is not on trails, so you need to be sure footed as we hike across grassy hummocks, scree, and boulder-strewn terrain. On the river-crossing sections, we wade through cold mountain streams that can be up to two feet deep.

We strongly urge you to “train up” for your trip. The best training for hiking is hiking, especially over hills or rough terrain. Next best are running, swimming, bicycling or other sports exercise (stair-climbing machines are excellent preparation for hiking uphill). It’s important to take time to build up muscle and endurance prior to your trip. Try to incorporate exercise into your daily schedule at least a couple of months before departure. Your feet should also be well prepared—make sure your hiking boots are sturdy and thoroughly broken-in.

Explanation of Trip Levels