TREKKING EXPEDITION TO : The most beautiful trekking in Georgia – from through Shatili to Stepancminda through the magical and mysterious mountains of the Caucasus + expedition to Mt. Kazbek (5054 m) The plan of our expeditions

The most beautiful trekking route in Georgia, which leads through two of the wildest regions of the country: Tushetia and .

During this trekking, we will drive off-road ve- hicles along the most dangerous way in Geor- gia and the highest passable pass of the coun- try, namely the Abano Pass (2850 m), and then we will cross the Atsunta Pass (3431 m) and the Chaukhi Pass (3338 m) on our feet. On the trekking route we will meet the inhabitants of the region,mysterious shepherds, and we will get to know local beliefs and traditions. There will be no time to rest from the breathtaking views. What is more, we will look at the myth- ical Kazbek and rest in the Truso Valley, which will delight us with its colors. For a dessert we will climb Mt. Kazbek (5054 m.) EXPEDITION PLAN

In the morning (5:00 am – 6:00 am) we meet in Pass, which rises to a height of 2850 m!). Tbilisi (at the airport or in the city center). You By the way – shopping at the supermarket, need to get there on your own. Of course, we because Tbilisi is the last place where you can can help you in organizing a good air connec- find shops (there are no shops in Omalo). In tion and transfers from other parts of Geor- Omalo – accommodation in a guesthouse, gia. If you do not have your trekking equip- rest, free time to visit the Keselo Fortress and day ment with you, you can rent everything you relax in the Omalo countryside. In the evening need – sleeping bag, tourist cookers, trekking – dinner with wine. We spend the night in Om- poles etc. with us and we will deliver equip- alo in the guesthouse. ment to our meeting place in Tbilisi. In our office you can also buy gas for tourist cookers List of equipment needed during the expe- 01 and lyophilized products. Straight from Tbili- dition to Mt. Kazbek: HERE si, we drive to Omalo by off-road car (approx. 7 hours of travel, but on the way we see amaz- ing views that compensate for a long journey - we pass, among others, through the Abano Trekking Trekking Total Total day DISTANCE: TIME: CLIMB: DESCENT: 25 km 9 h 800 m 600 m

We leave Omalo after breakfast. We pass dinner with wine. Throughout the trekking 02 through the magical villages of from Omalo to Stepancminda the horses (including the amazing Dartlo!) And get to carry our main luggage. We carry only small Girevi, where we spend the night in the backpacks. During our trip there is always a guesthouse. It is possible to travel this part high mountain guide (who speaks Polish) and of the road on a horseback (for an additional leader of the expedition (Polish woman), as fee, the amount of which depends on the well as local guides who are responsible for number of people willing to ride). It is a looking after the horses and help during our great adventure, but above all – a peaceful possible ride on horseback from Omalo to ride under the guidance of guides (no prior Girevi. experience required). In the evening –

Trekking Trekking Total Total day DISTANCE: TIME: CLIMB: DESCENT: 15 km 7 h 1000 m 600 m

We leave Girevi after breakfast in the and guides, of course, help in the preparation 03 guesthouse. Today, we approach the Atsunta of meals, but in principle – we prepare them Pass (3431 m), from which we can admire on our own, so gas and tourist cookers will be beautiful views of the entire Caucasus. This necessary. day, we spend the first night in our camp, which we will set up (in tents). During the mountain part of the trip (that is from the today’ supper until breakfast on day five) we prepare all meals on our own – tourist cookers and gas will be necessary. Expedition leader Trekking Trekking Total Total day DISTANCE: TIME: CLIMB: : DESCENT: 17 km 9 h 1400 m 1170 m

04 Today we cross the Atsunta Pass and descend, so we spend the night in Khevsureti. We spend the next night in tents in the camp, which we set up ourselves.

Trekking Trekking Total Total DISTANCE: TIME: CLIMB: DESCENT: day 20 km 8 h 300 m 1500 m

Tonight we get to Shatili. Shatili is a unique balconies. The whole complex creates a monument from the late Middle Ages compact, spectacular fortress. On our way 05 (approx. 12th century). It is a perfectly to Shatili we pass beautiful Georgian towers preserved village-fortress, which rises in Mutso, shepherds’ huts, abandoned in the ravine of the river, just 4 km from villages and „houses of the dead”. We the border with Chechnya. This historic spend the night in Shatili in the guesthouse. complex consists of about 60 towers that In Shatili – free time to visit the Shatili are connectd with walls or piers. Towers Fortress, and in the evening – a traditional standing outside often have wooden dinner in a Khevsur family home. day Trekking Trekking Total Total DISTANCE: TIME: CLIMB: DESCENT: 18 km 8 h 1360 m 1290 m

06 After breakfast we leave Shatili and drive by in a celebratory farewell supra, during which off-road car to Roshka (2 hours). This day we we will make our own khinkali, learn to play go from Roshka through the Chaukhi Pass panduri and listen to Georgian songs. (3338 m! + a beautiful view of the Chauki mountain range) to Juta. From Juta, we drive an off-road car to Stepancminda (Kazbegi). We spend the night at the guesthouse in Stepancminda. In the evening we take part

day Breakfast and free time to prepare before mountain expedtion to Mt. Kazbek next day. In the evening (at 7:00 pm) we have a Georgian dinner together with all participants and Mountain Freaks team, as 07 well as we conduct a briefing during which we discuss the whole course of the mountain action and answer all your questions. Trekking Trekking Total Total day DISTANCE: TIME: CLIMB: DESCENT: 8 km 4 h 1000 m 100 m

At 8:00 am we eat breakfast. Then we now on. The estimated trekking time for this 08 go to the store where we can buy bread, day is 3 – 4 hours. After this time we set up water and other products needed during the first camp (tents) in which we stay for the the expedition. This is the last chance to night – 3100 m. Important: Horses with main replenish stocks. In our guesthouse you luggage go directly to the Meteo Station. can leave a deposit for the time of the peak You will not get there until the next day, so attack (everything that you will not need in in small backpacks you must have everything the mountains). Then (at 12:00 pm) we start you need during two days (the first day 3-4 our journey to the top of Mt. Kazbek. We hours of trekking + night in tents and the can get to the hill, where the church of the second day - 3-4 hours of trekking). During Holy Trinity is located and where the route to the trip we prepare all meals on our own Kazbek begins (2170 m) on off-road vehicles. (tourist cookers and gas will be necessary). Our main luggage will be packed there and transported straight to the Meteo Station. We will travel with small backpacks from day

Trekking Trekking Total Total DISTANCE: TIME: CLIMB: DESCENT: 09 8 km 4 h 650 m 0 m

We continue our journey towards the summit. spend the next days and from which we start That day we go through the first glacier on our our summit attack. way. The estimated trekking time for this day is 3 – 4 hours. Finally we reach Meteo Station A detailed description of the trekking route - 3650 m. We set up a camp (tents), where we from Kazbegi to the Meteo Station can be found: HERE day Trekking Trekking Total Total DISTANCE: TIME: CLIMB: DESCENT: 10 6 km 4 h 450 m 450 m Acclimatization day. As part of acclimatiza- tains. Then we rest in the base at the Meteo tion, we go on trekking, during which we sur- Station and prepare for the peak attack. pass the barrier of 4000 m. The expected time of trekking that day is 3 – 4 hours. After re- A detailed description of the acclimatiza- turn, we organize a training on the principles tion process at the Meteo Station can be of walking with a rope, assurance, using the found: HERE ice ax and general safety in the high moun-

day Trekking Trekking Total Total DISTANCE: TIME: CLIMB: DESCENT: 11 16 km 10-14 h 1400 m 1400 m This day we plan to stand on the top of the night in the base by the Meteo Station. Mt. Kazbek (5054). We begin the peak attack at 2:00 am – 3:00 am. The whole A detailed description of the summit action takes about 10 – 14 hours. After attack can be found: HERE return from the summit we rest and spend day Trekking Trekking Total Total DISTANCE: TIME: CLIMB: DESCENT: 12 16 km 5 h 0 m 1550 m We descent to Stepancminda (Kazbegi) in again. We spend the afternoon on resting the morning. The descent will take about after the mountain action. In the evening 5 - 6 hours. The off-road vehicle will take us (8:00 pm) we take part in a ceremonial supra from the Holy Trinity Church. Our luggage (Georgian party), during which we make our will return to the village on horseback from own khinkali, learn to play on panduri, listen the Meteo Station and during trekking we to Georgian songs and discover the secrets will only have small backpacks with us. In of Georgian toasts. Kazbegi we will stop in our guesthouse

day Backup day in case of bad weather conditions in the mountains. 13

At 10:00 am we eat breakfast and finish well as transport to Tbilisi/Kutaisi or other day our journey. Of course, we will help you to places in Georgia. 14 organize an additional stay in Georgia, as PRICE PER PERSON: 1590,00 EURO

Payments:

ST 390 EURO ST 1200 EURO 01 payable upon registration 02 payable 14 days before the start of installment to our bank account. installment the expedition to our bank account.

Payment for the rental of high-mountain equipment, gas purchase, lyophilized products, etc. – in our office, in cash (euro/dollars/lari) or with a card. XX care of the Georgian guide and the leader XX 1 x accomodation Omalo (guesthouse), 1 of the expedition (English-speaking) as x accomodation in Girevi (guesthouse), 1 x well as local guides responsible for caring accomodation in Shatili (guesthouse) - double, for horses during trekking in Tusheti, triple or quadruple rooms (in Tusheti and Khevsureti the tourist infrastructure is not very XX care of the English-speaking leader of extensive and the guesthouses are very basic, the expedition and high-altitude guides but there is always a normal toilet, bathroom during climbing Mt. Kazbek; one guide with hot water, delicious food, nice hosts, for three participants of the expedition during the mountain action, which XX all breakfasts and wine dinners mentioned guarantees maximum safety and maximum in the program (during the trekking, some chances of reaching the summit, meals are prepared individually from products bought by the participants during shopping XX help in preparing for the trip: consultations in Tbilisi – specified in the plan of the trip!), via e-mail and our Facebook profile regarding physical preparation, equipment purchase, XX 2 x Georgian gala dinners, including organization of flights to Georgia and one traditional supra with wine and every other matters related to the trip, traditional Georgian music,

XX access to a closed group on Facebook for XX tents needed during the expedition, participants of the expedition, where we will PRICE XX two-way ride by off-road vehicles to the talk, motivate ourselves, exchange advice etc., hill with the Holy Trinity Church, where INCLUDES XX training before the expedition (via the the trail to Mt. Kazbek begins, internet platform), which will help you to XX transport of the main luggage on horseback prepare for a meeting with the Caucasus, to the Meteo Station and back, XX horse rental for luggage transport on the XX payment for accomodation in tents at Meteo trekking route from Omalo to Stepancminda, Station (accomodation in Meteo Station XX 3 x nights in Stepancminda (Kazbegi) – a with additional payment 15 euro/1 night) double or triple room with bathroom, XX company gadgets as souvenirs of the trip: t-shirt, mug and magnet. ADDITIONAL

OPPORTUNITIES rental of a mountain equipment - according to the price list of our rental, check prices: HERE,

purchase of gas for tourist cookers – 12 € (large gas, 450 g),

horse rental for horseback riding from Omalo to Girevi on the first day of trekking – 30 euro (depending on the number of intrested persons),

transfer from the Tbilisi airport (or to the airport after a finished mountain action) – 100 € (for a car which can fit 1 – 6 people plus luggage), – 120 € (for a car which can fit 7 – 20 people plus luggage),

transfer from the Kutaisi airport (or to the airport after finishing the mountain action) – 120 € (for a car which can fit 1-6 people plus luggage), – 150 € (for a car which can fit 7-20 people plus luggage). Dates of open groups in 2020:

14.07.2020 – 27.07.2020 (lub 26.07.2020*) - NO PLACES! * Depending on the course of the mountain action the expedition will last 13 or 14 days. 18.08.2020 – 31.08.2020 (lub 30.08.2020*) One day is a backup day.

Details in the trip plan above. ENROLLMENT, ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, CONTACT: Whatsapp/Viber +995 593583596 e-mail: [email protected] • facebook: Mountain Freaks - Mountain Travel & Adventure Agency