Period of travel
March-April-May-November. Individual booking and private group on request
Horseback expedition
Horseback
Transhumance
Special conditions
SEMI DESERT GEORGIA
Ideally located at the entrance of the semi desert ecosystem and one hour drive from Tbilisi, the wintering pastures of our herd of horses offer some beautiful riding possibilities.
We start our horseback trekking at the edge of a patch of natural reserves and national parcs. This 6 days winter trip offers spectacular sceneries, hidden paths and monasteries dating back the 6th century.
You probably meet some shepherds on your way on their wintering territory and some monks who inhabited the caves dweller city. You ride through the desert, the eroded cliffs, the reddish mountains, visit some very ancient caves, cross some huge plateau and ridges, see some ghost soviet collective farms. You discover everyday some new surprising landscapes. You ride the Tush horses, the local bred from the Caucasus Mountains.
You are mostly away from touristic trails.
Itineraries :
• From 1 day to 6 days expedition
• Transhumance, driving the horses back to the winter or summer pastures, from 12 to 25 days
Place :
Semi desert, Southern East part of Georgia at the border with Azerbaijan
Tusheti, Great Caucasus Mountains, Georgia and Eastern part of Georgia
Glimpse on desert rides itineraries:
Ride in the semi desert area, discover the eroded cliffs, the reddish mountains, the salty lake, the cave dweller cities & monasteries dating back the 6th century.
Glimpse on the Transhumances:
The “transhumance” is a seasonal migration when we drive all the horses back to the winter pasture or to the summer pastures. They take place respectively in October and in May/June. Each of them are composed into 2 parts. The entire transhumance last about 25 days. You have the possibility to stay with us during the whole trip or enjoy the mountains part either the eastern crossing, each of them last around 12 days. This unique experience takes you across 3 ecosystems, some incredible landscapes from the high Caucasian summits to the desert and its hidden monasteries dating back the 6th century without forgetting the vineyards in the Alazani valley and the beautiful Gombori range. You ride and meet shepherds, discover some unsuspected treasures and experience a lot of unforeseen adventures.
For all of our trips : On our way to and from Tusheti you visit some places of interests which tell a lot about the Georgian culture heritage, gastronomy, wine production.. . We end up in Tbilisi the energetic main city called the « New Berlin ».
Time: March-April-May-November
Riding competencies:
From 2 days to 6 days expedition : Average.
Transhumance: Good riding capabilities requested.
Beginner welcome: we will be glad to put you in a soft contact with the horses and give you riding competencies towards the autonomy.
Pratical details:
Min : 4 riders
Max : 8 riders
Transhumance from 1 rider
Privatize / Customise a group from 5 riders and build your own itinerary. Customized group from 5 riders. We cook everyday. Local and fresh food & cuisine. Overnight during the trek: Tent. (double tent and a big tent). Other overnight: Guesthouse and hotel located in the very center of Tbilisi. riders.
The Tush are born on a horse. Before being able to walk they ride. They are horsemen, breed their horses which play an important role in the Tushs’ way of life as well as in the pagan traditions. It is not only a mean of transportation -as packhorse- when the semi nomad are driving their flock of sheep down to the winter pastures and up to the summer pastures or -like a mop- when galloping from one village to another but also it is part of a very old pagan ritual called Doghi. The Doghi is a horse race to commemorate one year’s death of a Tush. It helps the dead person to gain a social rank in the « second world, the world of the deceased ». The Tush mountain horses are middle size, very well balanced, calm, rustic and very smart. They know how to spare their energy to climb the mountains. The horses you will ride are belonging to Audrey. She breaks and trains them. The foals are following their mother on our itineraries from 2,5 months. They learn how to put their feet and find their balance on the rocks, small pathways and deep rivers. They are all living in herd and free all the year without any fences. During the winter (from November to May) they are resting as they have to resist to the climate and be strong and ready for the summer. During each horseback expedition they have 1 week off.
Entry Formalities:
No visa requested for European country citizens. Passport with a validity over 6 months when leaving the country is normally enough. For more and accurate information, check at the Georgian embassy in your country of residence.
Main City : Tbilisi
Language : Georgian, caucasian language, kartvelian group.
Money : Lari GEL. 1 euro=2,9 GEL
More info : https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Géorgie_(pays)
ATTENTION : all products derived from Codeine molecules are strictly forbidden in Georgia. Please consult http://www.rs.ge/en/5982 as well as http://www.incb.org/ documents/Psychotropics/guidelines/travel-regulations/2013-travellers-update/ GEO_26_August_2014_Original_travellers_II_-_LTR_-_table.pdf MY TIPS : Do not even try to bring such drugs into Georgia. (codein/ tremadol)
To consult the guaranteed departures
Schedule of departures / availabilities
To get the detailed program day by day
