Georgia · Horse Riding

6-Day Horseback Riding Tour in Tusheti with Omalo and Bochorna

6 Days Round trip from Tusheti Moderate pace

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The journey

Trip highlights

01 Explore ancient fortresses and picturesque villages like Shenako and Diklo
02 Ride through stunning Tusheti landscapes from Diklo to Dartlo
03 Cross the Nakaicho Pass for panoramic mountain views
04 Visit Bochorna, the highest inhabited village in Europe

Saddle up for a six-day horseback riding adventure in Tusheti National Park. Explore ancient villages, historic fortresses, and dramatic mountain passes as you ride through one of Europe's wildest landscapes. Along the way, discover places such as Shenako, Diklo, Dartlo, Jvarboseli, and Bochorna, the highest inhabited village in Europe. This journey combines breathtaking mountain scenery with Tusheti's remote culture and heritage.

Saddle up for a six-day horseback riding adventure in Tusheti National Park.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 6 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Tbilisi, Tusheti

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Drive from Tbilisi to Omalo via Abano Pass

07:00 AM: On the first day, you will travel from Tbilisi to Tusheti through the Abano Pass. There will be time to rest and take photos along the way.
You will arrive at your guesthouse around 2:00 PM and have lunch. This will be your first day in Tusheti and will mostly be a day of rest.
After lunch, we will visit the visitor center. It is a 15-minute walk from the guesthouse to the visitor center.

Day 02

Horseback ride from Omalo to Shenako and Diklo

Breakfast: at 9:00 AM. Start at 11:00 AM. Our first day of the horseback tour starts from the village of Omalo.
We will visit the village of Shenako and its 19th-century cross-type church. In Diklo, we will explore the village and Old Diklo, including the fortress. The only access to this structure, fused with the rock and situated on a steep slope, is via a narrow path on the south side. Once a fortress and residence, very little of its old glory remains due to time and enemies. However, remnants such as walls, towers, and the fractured fence show that it was once a well-built and formidable structure. Its strategic location, guarding the gorge, made Diklo the most outlying village. The fortress, nearly impregnable because of its steep slopes, played a crucial role in guarding the gorge and facilitating communication with Dagestan, although this was sometimes contentious.
Around 2:00 PM, we will have lunch in Diklo at our guesthouse.
After lunch and a brief rest, we will visit the Old Diklo fortress.
Please ensure you have your passport, as Old Diklo is a border area with Russia and requires passes from the border guards.

Overnight accommodation and dinner will be provided in the village of Diklo at the guesthouse.

Distance:

From Omalo to Diklo: 13 km

From Diklo to Old Diklo and back: 3 km

Total distance: 16 km (4-5 hours)

Difficulty of the day: Medium

Day 03

Ride from Diklo to Dartlo through Chigo

Breakfast: at 9:00 AM. Start at 11:00 AM.
From the village of Diklo, the route to Chigo ascends along a trail.
Half of the trail passes through woods, and from the mountain peak, before descending to Chigo, there is a breathtaking view of Omalo.
From Chigo to the village of Dartlo, known for its unique architecture, the path follows the left bank of the Pirikita Alazani River.

Lunch: We will have lunch boxes and enjoy our meal in the woods.
Overnight accommodation and dinner will be provided in the village of Dartlo at the guesthouse.
Distance: From Diklo to Dartlo: approximately 14 km (5-6 hours)

Difficulty of the day: Medium

Day 04

Ride to Jvarboseli via Nakaicho Pass

Breakfast: at 9:00 AM. Start at 11:00 AM.
From Dartlo, the road follows the Pirikita Alazani. From Parsma, it climbs to Nakaecho Pass (2,900 m above sea level).
From Nakaecho Pass, the path drops down to the village of Dadikurta, one of the highest settlements in Tusheti at 2,350 meters above sea level. It is followed by the village of Verkhovani, from where the road goes to Tsovata. The return road passes through Verkhovani, where the highest tower in Tusheti is located (17 m). Then comes the village of Jvarboseli, from which an amazing view of the following villages can be seen: Vedziskhevi, Koklata, and Alisgori.

Lunch - we will have lunch boxes and eat near the trail.

Overnight and dinner in the village of Jvarboseli in the guesthouse.

From Diklo to Dartlo - around 17 km (6-7 hours).

Difficulty of the day - Hard.

Day 05

Ride from Jvarboseli to Omalo via Bochorna

Breakfast: at 9:00 AM. Start at 11:00 AM.
From the village of Jvarboseli to Omalo, the road follows the Gometsari Gorge. Along the way, we will have an amazing view of the villages of Dochu and Gogrulta, and visit Bochorna, the highest inhabited village in Europe (2,345 m). One man, Dr Irakli, lives there.
The road to the village of Bochorna gradually descends in the direction of Que-Omalo.
This is a long route, but it is easy.

Lunch - we will have lunch boxes and eat near the road.

Overnight and dinner in the village of Omalo in the guesthouse.

From Diklo to Dartlo - around 22 km (5-6 hours).

Difficulty of the day - Medium.

Day 06

Visit Upper Omalo and return to Tbilisi

Breakfast: at 9:00 AM. Start at 11:00 AM.
On the last day, we will visit Upper Omalo and return to Tbilisi.

Lunch - we will have lunch boxes and eat lunch at Abano Pass.

Where this trip takes you

Abano Pass, Omalo village, Nakaecho Pass, Bochorna

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Tusheti 2 cities · 6 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Transportation by 4x4 vehicle
Accommodation
Horse
Horse caretaker
Luggage transfer
Helmet
English-speaking Tusheti guide
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Snacks and alcoholic beverages
International flight tickets
Single room supplement

What to bring

Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Cap
Raincoat
Hiking shoes
Hiking sticks
Water bottle

Know before you go

According to Tushetian tradition, it is forbidden to prepare pork meat or any dish made with pork.
There are several places in Tusheti where women are not allowed. Ask locals when in doubt.
There is no ATM or currency exchange, but guesthouses can often arrange payment for services.
There is no pharmacy, and access to emergency medicine is often limited. Always bring essential medications.
There is only one hospital in Lower Omalo, with one ambulance, and critical transport can be arranged by the military via helicopter.
There are no petrol or car repair services in Tusheti, so if you decide to go with your own car, be prepared.
There is no supermarket in Tusheti. There are only a few small shops. Before you go to Tusheti, it is better to ask your host what you can buy in the nearest store.
If you have food allergies or restrictions, there are not enough food options. If you stay in a hotel or guesthouse, tell your host before you go.
If you are a hiker, be prepared before you go, as you cannot resupply in each village.
If you bring a water purifier, it is advisable to carry spare filters. Sometimes, on rainy days, the water is full of particulates.
You will need summer clothes and warm clothes as well. The weather is changeable and nights are cold - always carry layers.
Guesthouses have water heaters or solar panels, as well as wood stoves. Some hotels only have solar panels, and if the weather changes, there may not be hot water.
Georgia's mobile signal coverage is limited in Tusheti and only reaches about 40% of the 52 villages in the region.
Shepherd dogs guard flocks of sheep, shepherd shelters, and cattle. If you do not cross their territory, they are not aggressive and usually gather only to warn you, but if you cross their territory, they become very defensive. Avoid walking through their territory as much as possible. If you have no other choice and must pass through, show the dog that you are not afraid, defend yourself if necessary, and always get advice from locals on how to manage animal encounters.