HORSEBACK EXPEDITIONS IN TUSHETI

HORSEBACK EXPEDITIONS

Horseback Riding in Tusheti – Immersion in the Heart of the Great Caucasus

In Tusheti, our mountain horses take you beyond high ridges and mountain passes over 3,000 meters in altitude, to discover the spectacular panoramas of the Great Caucasus Mountains in Georgia. Riding on horseback, we cross vast and wild ancient glacial valleys before reaching small mountain villages clinging to the slopes, crossing mountains torrents and high plateau at 3000m high.

The Wild Tusheti expedition and the transhumance are carried out in full autonomy. Logistics are ensured by pack horses.  Nights are spent either in traditional Tush houses and in tents (double tents provided), fully immersed in nature. There is no running water and no electricity. Water comes from the village fountain, and washing is done with cold water, as locals do. During self sufficient treks, mountain rivers become bathing spots.

Every day, we prepare fresh Georgian meals using local products. Here, authenticity is not a concept — it is everyday life.

 “The Tush villages” itinerary is the horseback ride with the highest comfort. We overnight in some beautiful and authentic guesthouses. Keep in mind that the Tusheti area remains very secluded so don’t expect luxury or 3* hotel comfort. You are in the Mountains to discover the beauty of remote region. Some guesthouses have shared bathrooms and hot water, others no. There is (unfortunately) Wifi in every guesthouse.

Outside Tusheti, accommodation in Georgia is with local families, and in Tbilisi in a comfortable hotel. In Kakheti, you stay with Tush families, sharing their daily life, meals, and rhythm. You live with them and like them.

You are fully immersed in the life of the Tush people, among the last semi-nomads of Georgia. Comfort is therefore simple: shared bathrooms with hot water (bania), and rooms for 2 to 4 people. In return, you discover a generous family cuisine, made from garden produce and traditional Tush recipes.

These horseback expeditions in the Caucasus favor off-the-beaten-track routes and meaningful encounters with local communities. Audrey will introduce you to the cultural, historical, and gastronomic heritage of the regions crossed, to better understand their traditions, ways of life, and unique identities.

THE ENVIRONMENT: TUSHETI

Tusheti, at the Edge of the Great Caucasus

Tusheti lies in the heart of the Great Caucasus range in Georgia.
The only access to this remote mountain region is via a high pass reaching nearly 3,000 meters, snow-covered for more than seven months a year. A single road, built during the Soviet era in World War II, allows vehicle access only from June to October.

Over time, many Tush families migrated to the lowlands to spend milder winters. Until then, they lived in complete self-sufficiency, relying on hunting, fishing, cheese-making, and dairy products, without running water or electricity, without rulers or chiefs, but with legendary heroes — the most famous being Zezva Gaprindauli.

There were two major migration waves to Kakheti: the first around 1830, and the second, much larger, in 1950.

A Mountain Enclave of Many Influences

In this Georgian enclave, interactions with neighboring ethnic groups — Chechens, Avars, Lekebis, Ingush, and Khevsurs — were frequent until the 19th century, especially with peoples from the North Caucasus.
The Tush people were long considered simply as “mountaineers,” a name that alone frightened city dwellers until the early 20th century. Not because they were bandits, but because the reputation of some had spread throughout the Caucasus.

Communication between Caucasian communities was extremely difficult. Beyond the rugged terrain, the existence of nearly 120 distinct dialects often prevented understanding, sometimes even between villages in the same valley. Despite this linguistic isolation, these mountain communities shared common beliefs rooted in Caucasian paganism.

Between Sedentary Life and Transhumance

Today, only a handful of people live year-round above 2,000 meters. Another minority — the semi-nomads — continues a way of life shaped by seasonal transhumance.

This pastoral population winters in southern Georgia, near the Azerbaijani border, in a semi-desert region known as Vashlovani (Chiraki). From late April onward, shepherds gather their herds and prepare for a journey of nearly 300 kilometers to reach the summer pastures of Tusheti.

A Lived Experience, Guided by Horses

For over twenty years, Audrey has shared her life with semi-nomadic communities and takes part in this ancestral seasonal movement. Together with her horses, she crosses three ecosystems, reaching the lush summer pastures of Tusheti and, in winter, the quiet hills of Vashlovani.

In this mysterious Tusheti, time seems to slow down.
Days follow the sun and Elia, the god of weather, while life follows the rhythm of the seasons. Money has little value here. And even if the harsh environment sometimes reminds us of reality, the simplicity of life, the grandeur of the landscapes, the constant invitation to contemplation, the depth of traditions, and the Tush people’s respect for their land deeply move those who take the time to discover them.

OUR HORSES

Horses of the Great Caucasus Mountains

The horses of the Great Caucasus Mountains are small in size but exceptionally strong. Shaped by centuries of life at high altitude, they are known for their outstanding balance, sure-footedness, and ability to move confidently on steep, rocky, and unstable terrain.

Calm and composed, they move with all four feet firmly grounded, always attentive to their surroundings. Their mindset reflects the mountains themselves: stable, thoughtful, and reliable. These are horses that are mentally balanced, rarely startled, and capable of remaining calm in demanding conditions.

Brave and enduring, they develop a strong bond with humans, showing natural trust and generosity in their effort. We work with ethological methods and kindness, where benevolence is the foundation of training. A horse is the mirror of the person who cares for it.

Riding our Caucasian mountain horses provides a rare feeling of safety and constant balance, almost instinctive. They may not impress by size, but by their intelligence, precision, and extraordinary adaptability to life in the mountains.

More info go to Horseback Expedition Desert Georgia  or Horseriding-georgia