Georgia Horseback Riding Week, Caucasus Mountains
Join a unique horseback riding adventure week in Georgia and discover the gorgeous landscapes as well as the local Georgian villages and traditions. Enjoy riding on a wide variety of terrains, participate in milking cows or shearing sheep, and end a fantastic week in the Caucasus with a delicious wine tasting in Kakheti.
Private
Caucasus
8 Days
Jun - Sep
High
Intermediate
Highlights
- Enjoy an 8-day horseback riding adventure in Georgia with a local guide.
- Explore local landmarks and villages and participate in regional traditions.
- Immerse yourself in the unique landscapes and culture of the Caucasus.
- Wrap-up an amazing week with a wine tasting at the Kakheti vineyards.
Description
Discover Georgia’s awe-inspiring landscapes and unique traditions on a 1-week horseback riding adventure. I will take you to some of my favorite spots and show you Georgia’s true colors as we pierce beautiful ridges, hilltops, and valleys, and stop at charming local villages.
Located in the Caucasus, between Western Asia and Eastern Europe, Georgia is a gorgeous country with much to offer its visitors. Picture-perfect landscapes for one, but also amazing traditions that are well-preserved in charming villages where locals welcome visitors with open arms. Historical landmarks and ruins, lovely vineyards, and delicious local cuisine make it a top spot for exploration.
On this 8-day tour, we will have the chance to experience the local charm and the stunning wilderness as we ride on horseback from one village to the next. As a local, I will be able to show you my favorite places as well as give you an insider’s perspective on our rich culture. Over the course of the tour, we will have the chance to sleep in local guesthouses, to meet the villagers, and participate in their customs and traditions. You might even get to do some milking! To wrap up an amazing week of horseback riding and exploration, we will enjoy a wine tasting in a family vineyard in Kakheti. You can find a detailed itinerary below with an outline of the distances we will cover and what we will see each day.
Keep in mind that we will be riding several hours per day and there will be some difficult stretches. Therefore, this adventure is for experienced riders with a good fitness level. If you would like to join an easier program, please don’t hesitate to contact me and we may be able to arrange a different itinerary.
So, are you ready to experience the beautiful landscapes and traditions of the Caucasus? Then contact me now and let’s start planning an unforgettable Georgia horseback riding adventure!
I also offer Hiking tours in Georgia!
Price includes
- Accommodation included
- Guiding fee
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Transport during the trip
- Porters
- Mules and horses
- Tents
- Sleeping pad
- Cooking utensils
Price details
- Tour price includes:
- Welcome dinner at the traditional Georgian restaurant in Tbilisi
- Full board during the tour (not in Tbilisi)
- Wine tasting in Kakheti on day 8
- All 4x4 transfers during the tour
- Pack horses during the hiking part
- Riding horses
- 5 overnights at the guesthouses
- 2 overnights in tents
- English speaking guide (1 guide for 8 people)
- Horse keepers
- Tents and camping equipment (sleeping tents & mats, kitchen equipment)
- Tour price excludes:
- Alcoholic beverages during the tour
- Sleeping bags
- Tips
- Souvenirs
Itinerary
Day 1: Tbilisi – Pankisi Valley – Jokolo
After a two hour drive we get to Pankisi Valley – probably the most misunderstood place in Georgia. After years trying to shake off an unwarranted bad reputation, the community is now embracing tourism as a way to set the record straight. As we get there we’ll have a traditional Kist lunch which is a great mix of Georgian and Chechen cuisine.
Overnight and dinner at a local family guest house.
Riding distance: 15km
Day 2: Pankisi Valley – Tbatana – Masara
After breakfast, we’ll be transferred to the village of Tbatana – summer pasture above tree level just an hour drive from Jokolo. Our tush horses will be ready and waiting for us, we will mount and head up to Rkinis Mta (Iron mountain) on the footpath. From time to time we’ll need to get off the horse and lead the horse.
Lowest elevation: 1900m
Highest elevation: 2980m
Total riding distance: 17km
Difficulty: Difficult
Day 3: Masara – Alaznistavi – shepherds’ hut
After morning preparation, we will lead horses down to the river for about half an hour and head up to Sakorno Pass (2850m) to descend on the Tusheti side into Alaznistavi valley via the alpine green grassland full of colorful alpine flowers.
Overnight at shepherds’ hut in Alaznistavi in tents. It will be possible to participate in milking cows or watch sheep shearing if wanted.
Lowest elevation: 1965m
Highest elevation: 2770m
Total riding distance: 16km
Difficulty: difficult
Day 4: Alaznistavi – Vestomta
From Alaznistavi we’ll continue following the river valley downwards until we reach Jvarbosli. After a nourishing lunch at the guesthouse, where we will spend the night, we’ll visit a small community of Tsovata 6km away from Jvarboseli (12km both ways). Participation in the second part is optional.
Overnight at the local Guesthouse.
Lowest elevation: 1965m
Highest elevation: 2770m
Total walking distance: 18km
Difficulty: difficult
Day 5: Vestomta – Jvarboseli – Baso
Starting from Vestomta we spend every night in guest houses and hotels. Tushetian villages are scattered on the ridges or rocky hilltops. During our ride in Tusheti we will visit several of them. Some of the most outstanding are Farsma and Dartlo etc.
Overnight at the most beautiful guest house in Baso.
Lowest elevation: 1860m
Highest elevation: 2820m
Total riding distance: 26km
Difficulty: difficult
Day 6: Baso – Darto – Omalo
We will continue exploring Tusheti villages. We’ll ride through 4 villages following the Piriqiti river valley until we reach the village of Omalo – the central and the biggest village of Tusheti, where we will spend the night in a hotel.
Lowest elevation: 1830m
Highest elevation: 2310m
Total riding distance: 26km
Difficulty: medium (mostly on the dirt road with some opportunities to canter)
Day 7: Omalo – Shenako – Diklo – Omalo
Shenako and Diklo are the villages located at the eastern border of Tusheti (Georgia). We’ll visit an old fortress of ancient Diklo at the border of Dagestan.
Lowest elevation: 1830m
Highest elevation: 2120m
Total riding distance: 24km
Difficulty: easy (on the dirt road)
Day 8: Transfer back to Tbilisi
We’ll be transferred to Tbilisi by 4×4 cars via Abano pass – the highest drivable pass in Europe.
After we get down to the lowland in Kakheti we’ll have lunch and wine tasting at the small family winery.
Equipment you will need to bring
Sleeping bag.
FAQs
What are some recommended accommodations near our adventure location?
About the guide
Tinatin
5.0
(10)
Hiking Guide
Hiking and horseback riding guide.
I'm Georgian, native Tushetian. As a girl, I lived in the main wine region of Georgia – Kakheti, spent every summer in Tusheti – outstanding and authentic mountain region for its location, ethno-culture and nature. In 2014 I became certified sightseeing guide and started guiding all over Georgia. The more I travelled and learnt about Georgia’s rich cultural landscape, the more I grew to love my home country.
In 2017 I got certifications in trekking and in 2019 in horseback riding guiding. My main purpose is to use my experience in adventure tourism and offer unpopular, least crowded and still least popular activities such as agro tours, equestrian trekking and many others. My passion is to share the many undiscovered and unspoiled regions that make Georgia so special, adventurous and worth to discover.
Languages
Georgian | English
Certificates
GMGA
What people are saying about this trip
Gillian
Tinatin was a brilliant guide. Always cheerful, well organised and professional, and also very knowledgeable about Georgia and it's history. She organised a memorable trip for us.
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