Tusheti

Tusheti is located in northeastern part of Georgia, on the northern slopes of the Greater Caucasus mountains, borders with Chechnya (in the north) and Dagestan (in the east), Pshav-Khevsureti in the west and Kakheti in the south. At present Tusheti is part of Akhmeta region, Kakheti province. Omalo is the regional center of Tusheti. Tusheti is one of the most ecologically unspoiled regions in the Caucasus. Visitors are impressed by the severity and the beauty of Tusheti Mountains, intact and wild nature, environment of traditional villages and delicious cooking, architectural monuments from past centuries that so closely intertwine in the beautiful nature and the landscape of Tusheti. These are the memories that Tusheti offers to its visitors. Mta-Tusheti (means mountainous part of Tusheti) was included in the Tentative World Heritage list (2007). This region is remarkable for the extraordinary beauty of its alpine landscapes and represents greatest importance as a habitat of numerous rare and endemic animal and vegetative species.

If compared to other mountainous regions of Georgia, the road to Tusheti is open only for three-four months a year, from May-July till mid September-November. The mountains of Tusheti are crossed by several passes: there is Sakorne pass (2835 m) on the main ridge connecting Kaheti (Pankisi Gorge) to Gometsari starting points; Samkinvrostsveri (3176 m), also connecting Tusheti to Pankisi Gorge; Abanosseri (2992 m), connected to Kaheti from the Khiso Alazani through the Stori gorge. There is a pass with the same name (3431 m) on Hatsunta Mountain connecting Pirikita Khevsureti (gorge of the river Arghuni) to Pirikita Tusheti. The gorge of the Pirikita Alazani is linked to neighboring Chechnya-Ingushetia with four passes: Tebulo (3342 m), Ukerecho (3023 m), Kerigo (3120 m), Kachu (3552 m). The passes of watershed Makratela mountain of Pirikita and Gometsari – Larovani (3317 m) and Nakle-Kholi (2903 m) connect Pirikiti and Gometsari, and Abebisghele (3168 m) connects Pirikiti and Tsovata.