Tusheti to Shatili Trek: Crossing the High Caucasus

Trekking: 12.7 km, 4 hours. Elevation: ↑ 560 m/ ↓ 640 m.

After breakfast, we set off on our adventure, trekking north towards the village of Dartlo. At the start of the trail, we'll make a brief stop at Keselo, a small 13th-century fortress located just above Upper Omalo. This fortress was historically used by locals to defend against invading Mongols and subsequent raids by Daghestani tribes.

In approximately two hours, we will arrive at the Ghele viewpoint, which sits atop the main ridge dividing Tusheti National Park. Historically, this spot served as a meeting place for community elders to discuss significant matters. From here, the path begins to descend into the valley of the Pirikita Alazani River until we reach Dartlo. Located around 1800 meters above sea level, Dartlo is considered one of the most scenic villages in Tusheti and is protected by UNESCO.

We will spend the night at a guesthouse in Dartlo.

Trekking: 16.4 km, 6 hours. Elevation: ↑1259 m / ↓999 m

We'll kick off our day with a challenging hike to the small village of Kvavlo, perched on a hill just above Dartlo. After a brief stop in Kvavlo to take in the scenery, we'll proceed to the nearby village of Dano and follow a trail that runs along a ridge overlooking the Pirikiti Alazani valley.

Eventually, we'll descend to the main dirt road right before reaching the village of Chesho. The final stretch of our trek will lead us along a narrow path by the cliffside, which will take us to Girevi, our destination for the day. We will spend the night at a guesthouse in Girevi.

Trekking: 14.1 km, Elevation: ↑803 m / ↓417 m

Once we’ve passed through the border police, we will begin our trek along the Atsunta-Alazani Gorge, passing by the deserted village of Chontio, which is the last inhabited village we will encounter.

We will then proceed to the Kvakhidi campsite, located at an elevation of 2400 meters. The trail ascends through stunning alpine meadows beside the river, offering breathtaking views and a beautiful landscape.

We will spend the night in tents at the Kvakhidi campsite.

Trekking: 15.0 km, ↑1207 m / ↓961 m

This section of the trek is the most challenging. We will follow the trail alongside the Kvakhidisitskali River, which we need to cross twice—first via a small footbridge and then by fording the river. After the second crossing, we'll head into the valley on our right and begin our climb up to Atsunta Pass (3431m).

Once we reach the summit, we'll be rewarded with breathtaking views of the nearby peaks and canyons in the Khevsureti region. We'll then descend to our campsite at 2400m for the night, where we'll sleep in tents.

Trekking: 19.5 km, ↑343 m / ↓1583 m

Begin your day early by taking the narrow path down into the Khonistskali River valley, then proceed towards the Mutso fortress. This impressive fortified settlement has served as a crucial stronghold in northern Georgia for centuries, overseeing the main roads and safeguarding the state border from incursions by northern tribes.

Since most people may be too fatigued to explore it on the same day, we will offer it as an "optional" visit, with the opportunity to return the following day if a reserve day is not needed (details below).

Here, we will be picked up and transported to Shatili for an overnight stay at a guesthouse.

We have purposefully added one reserve day to this itinerary to account for any adverse weather conditions in the preceding days that could render the crossing of the Atsunta pass unfeasible or too dangerous.

If you arrive in Shatili as planned, you can opt for one of the day hikes in the surrounding area (such as Mutso or Anatori) or simply enjoy a free day to relax and explore the mountain village.

Following breakfast, we will head back to Tbilisi. The route takes us over the Datvis Jvari Pass (2676m) and along the Aragvi Gorge until we reach the Zhinvali Reserve, where we will connect with the Georgian Military Highway.

We will drop you off in Tbilisi.