Tusheti, a small historic region located in eastern Georgia, lies on the northern slopes of the Caucasus Mountains and covers an area of 796 square km. The area is one of the most ecologically pure regions in the Caucasus. The extraordinary beauty of Tusheti National Park and it’s mountainous landscapes, architecture and castle-like inhabited buildings caught the attention of UNESCO who placed it on its World Heritage List in 2007.
The region is bordered by the Russian republics of Dagestan from the East and Chechnya to the North. The area is 2,800 – 4,500 meters above sea level, which means the winter season for at least seven months. Spring comes late, autumn early and it often snows in September, while summer is short and breezy.
A Look Back at Tusheti History
Due to the climate in the mountains, gardening and agriculture have never actually developed. Traditionally, Tushs are sheepherders and famous for their goat’s cheese.
Each family in Tusheti possessed hundreds of sheep and was rich in wool. Therefore, the knitting industry became one of the most important parts of the culture. Over time, embellishments appeared on the products – geometrical ornaments were replaced with floral, animal and human-like shapes.
The population used to be divided by their family names and had their villages. Each household used to have their ancestral tower which served as a shelter during invasions. The tradition is still present in some areas, but a significant percentage of Tushs live in lowlands today.
How to Get to Tusheti
Getting here is quite challenging. The road lays on slopes and goes up to 3,000 meters over gorges of Tusheti. It is one of the most dangerous roads in the world.
The only way to get there is via a 4×4 car from Kakheti through Abano Pass. The road is so narrow that sometimes the wheel of the vehicle is in the air and one careless maneuver can be dreadful. Just a glimpse from the window down the gorge is enough to feel your heart miss a beat.
The road is full of gravestones or simple crosses to honor those who died here due to different reasons. I had counted at least 20 of those before we hit the end of the Pass.
The weather, both on the road and villages varies, one minute the sun is shining, the next, you are covered in dense fog and cannot see a thing. Evenings here are quite cold, so be well prepared.
Must-See Villages of Tusheti
The villages here are 2000 meters above sea level, presenting some impressive views over the most beautiful grass valleys of the Caucasus. The most significant community is Omalo, from where you can take three different directions depending on where you want to go. Here you will come across Keselo fortress dating back to the 18th century. It now serves as an ethnographic museum and offers visitors various products and treasures indigenous to the region.
During our Jeep Tour, we stayed in Shenaqo village east from Omalo, where you will stumble upon one of the prettiest towns in the area. Stone houses with wooden balconies, breathtaking landscapes and only functional Orthodox Church in the region is here.
Diklo village, just 4 kilometers east from Shenaqo, is home to the old fortress overlooking the spectacular valleys.
One of the most remarkable and my favorite of all is Dartlo. Located 12 kilometers east from Omalo, the village has ancient defensive towers visible far from the road. Have a small hike towards the upper town to have even more breathtaking views over the valley.
The road continues until the border of the Khevsureti region, but the villages get less and less populated, with Girevi being the last one. From here, there is a trekking route that takes you to Khevsureti and takes about 2-3 days. When I master trekking skills, I want to do this for sure!
Know before you go!
Tusheti has a long history and proof of the old animistic religion. You can find stone shrines almost everywhere. Women are not allowed to come closer or even be in the vicinity of it. So be very cautious where you step.
As “a picture is worth a thousand words,” enjoy the scenery from your device for now. I hope you will make it to Tusheti one day.
Prepare for the trip
To ease your travel planning, check out all the posts about Georgia travel. Additionally, here are some of the websites and services I use when preparing for my next adventure anywhere in the world.
– Book affordable flights on Kiwi.com, a platform that shows the best routes and flight deals to your destination. There’s a money-back guarantee if you miss the flight!
– Check iVisa to see if you need a tourist visa to visit Georgia, how to apply online if applicable, or where’s the nearest embassy or consulate
– Find budget-friendly deals on all sorts of accommodation types on Booking and Agoda, or find a cool apartment on Airbnb!
– Pre-book a private car transfer from Tbilisi Airport to your hotel
– Buy the most flexible and budget-friendly travel insurance, SafetyWing, to cover all sorts of health problems on the road
– Pack your copy of Lonely Planet’s Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan guide. Alternatively, buy Rough Guide to the Caucasus
– Book in advance some of the best city walks, cultural experiences, and day tours to maximize your stay and experience here
20 comments
Wow!! This place definitely sounds challenging to get to. I love all the sheep and it definitely looks like a special place….
Wow, talk about off the beaten path… sounds like an experience just getting there! It is interesting to hear about the history of the area…. never knew it was there.
This was an amazing journey! The video of the road that had to be traveled..ummm..no way, I would of turned around. Oh wait, you can’t turn around! Fantastic article!
Thank you Sherrie, glad you liked it
I had never heard of Tusheti national park before this. Glad to have come across this post! Not sure how I feel above women not allowed near the shrines. Need to know more as to why! The landscapes are stunning.
Some stunning pictures you have here. Such a wonderful landscape. The little villages are adorable.
That seems like a lovely park! The road there is quite scary though! An experience you won’t be forgetting soon I imagine! ;-)
Wow it looks amazing. Though I don’t envy the crazy road.
The place looks stunning. It landscape definitely looks like that in Leh, India.
Looks amazing and what an experience. Looks very much old world and untouched. It great that UNESCO can keep these places stay authentic
What an incredibly remote destination. That road through the Abano Pass is a real heart-stopper of a journey. Great post
Wow! Had no clue this existed in Georgia! I would love to visit one day. It looks beautiful! Thanks for sharing! :)
Absolutely breathtaking! Thanks for sharing – never heard of this place before. And getting there seems to be the most exciting part!
Truly beautiful landscape. Driving on that road would be exhilierating! But also terrifying at the same time. It seems like we stumble upon such beautiful untouched landscape once in a while and it is truly remarkable. The colors the houses and landscape provide are incredible.
Interesting place with a lot of history. It’s so important to learn about and respect the cultures of others. I’ve never thought about visiting Georgia, but I think my kids would be interested.
I was blown away by the looks of this beautiful National Park until I read about women not being allowed touching or going near stone shrines. Is it because of their regressive ideologies or is there any theory to it?
This place looks stunning and it reminds me of a very popular village in my country Galichnik.
Woa this is just the kind of trip I like! And the state of the roads… this seems to be a pretty adventurous undertaking :-) Loved every bit of your post and will definitely keep this destination in my mind for our next road trip! Cheers.
this place looks like coming out from another era! it seems so wild and untouched. The road is so scary, I don’t think I’d feel to drive over there :)
Amazing scenery it could very well be a fitting Game of Thrones shooting location