18 Day Caucasus Walking Tour Multi-Country Tours in Caucasus Overview Caucasus Walking Tour 18 Days/17 Nights This is an expedition that will take you ‘off the beaten path’ to explore the remote villages of the Caucasus region, along with less frequented panoramic mountain trails through dramatically beautiful landscapes. We visit three capitals, relax among vineyards to taste high-quality Georgian wines. Meet winemakers, artisans, and farmers who will tell us something of their lives and traditions. We visit local families and share meals and cookery activities. This fully escorted hiking tour is an unforgettable adventure for anyone who wants to know the real Caucasus. Tour details Code: CWT-01 Starts from: Baku Max. Group Size: 15 Adults Duration: 18 Days Prices Group size Price per adult 2-3 people € 3139 4-5 people € 2329 6-7 people € 2151 8-9 people € 2109 10-11 people € 2067 12-13 people € 2015 14-15 people € 1963 Online booking deposit*: € 300 The above prices (except for solo) are based on two people sharing a twin/double room accommodation. Additional charge for a single room ("Single Supplement") is: € 177 1 person from the group will be FREE of charge if 10 and more adults are traveling together Child Policy 0-1 years - Free 2-6 years - 982 € 7 years and over - Adult *This deposit will be deducted from the total tour price. As for the remaining sum, you can pay it with one of the following methods: Bank transfer - in Euro/USD/GBP currency, no later than two weeks before the tour starts VISA/Mastercard - in GEL (local currency) in Tbilisi only, before the tour starts, directly to your guide via POS terminal. Additional card service fee +3% Cash – GEL only, directly to the nearest TBC Bank office or TBC Bank Cash terminal no later than the beginning of the tour. For a larger group or custom itinerary please contact us at travel [at ] georgianholidays.com Tips for booking procedure: How to know which “Operator” to select? You only need to select the Operator name if you have previously communicated with one of our sales agents via phone or email, otherwise please leave it at default. Sights to Visit Tusheti National Park Tbilisi Holy Trinity Cathedral Shilda Winery Mta-Tusheti Gremi Tbilisi Historic District Lagodekhi Itinerary DAY1: BAKU ARRIVAL Arrive in Baku airport. Transfer to Hotel. DAY 2: BAKU - GUBA- KHINALUG - GALAYKHUDAT – GUBA Driving distance: 280km, appx. 5 hours. Trekking: 9 km, 3 hours, ?349 m / ?425 After breakfast, drive to the Guba region of Azerbaijan which is located 169KM north to Baku. Start your day by visiting Khinalug Village. Khinalug is one of the most isolated villages in the world with the total population around 2000 people. The village itself is located on 2350 Meters above the sea level. On the way also they will see a lot of local villages and farms. The main method of the farming is Sheep farming, especially for meat. The scenery from Guba to Khinalug is breath-taking, the car will drive through the slopes of the mountain and you will reach the village. After exploring the village, you will have a traditional lunch in the house of a local farmer from the village. After lunch, take a hike from Khinalig to Galaykhudat Village. This trail takes around 3 hours and covers 9kms. Our hike terminates at an asphalt road where transport will be waiting to take us to Guba. In Guba, we will visit the Handmade carpet factory and Red Settlement. The red settlement is a 100% ethnically Jewish village in the heart of the religious Sunni Muslim city Guba. The Jewish community have lived here in in peace since the 18th century. Overnight in Guba. DAY 3: GUBA – SHAHDAGH – SHEKI Driving distance: 510 km, appx. 6.5 hours. Trekking: Optional After breakfast we drive to the Shahdagh Mountain Resort near the city of Qusar (50 min drive from Guba). The resort offers many outdoor activities including: hiking, mountain bike tours, Segway’s, scooters, quads - bikes, bob-kart, zip line and horseback riding. Guests can choose to take part in any of these activities, we will arrange tickets for you on spot. After visiting Shahdagh, drive to Sheki (approx. 5 hours’ drive) for overnight. DAY 4: SHEKI – BALAKAN BORDER CORSSING- LAGODKEHI – KVARELI Driving distance: 155 km, appx. 2.5 hours. After breakfast, start your tour in Sheki by visiting local Bazaar. Afterwards, we continue to the Sheki Khans Palace, 18th-century administrative building of the king of Sheki. We will make a stop in the Craftsmen's Shop in Dheki to see Shabaka window making. Last destination in Sheki will be the Kish Albanian Church. After Dheki, we drive to Balakan and the Georgian border. We cross the border and drive to hotel for overnight. Overnight in Kvareli DAY 5: KVARELI – SHILDA – OMALO Driving distance: 120 km, appx. 5 hours. In the morning we start our journey towards the Tusheti region. Our first stop is at the 16th-century Gremi fortress, one of the most iconic sites in the Kakheti region. On our way we break the journey with a visit to the small winery in Shilda village, to taste Georgian traditional red wine (Saperavi). After Shilda we leave the road for an exhilarating 4x4 drive to the village of Omalo. This breath-taking off-road trail crosses the main Caucasus Mountain Range via the 2926 m Abano pass. After Exploring the area around upper and lower Omalo, and it’s beautiful views of Chagma valley, we will visit the Keselo fortress and ethnographical museum of Tusheti. Overnight in Omalo Guesthouse DAY 6: OMALO - SHENAKO - AGEURTA – DIKLO Driving distance: 7 km, appx. 20 min. Trekking time: 11 km, 5 hours; Elevation: ?649 m / ?400 m After breakfast we will start exploring the surrounding villages of Tusheti. The first drive takes us to the Shenako village, one of the few remaining inhabited villages in Tusheti. Shenako is a small settlement of Georgian traditional dwellings and the pretty medieval Trinity Church. After a visit to Shenako’s ancient brewery we continue to the much smaller Diklo village and the ruins of Diklo fortress. Overnight in Diklo. DAY 7: DIKLO - SANARA PASS - CHIGHO - DARTLO Trekking 18 km, 8 hours. Elevation: ?965m / ?1169 m We have an early start today is going to be a long hike, this is a full day covering 18 km. On the way we will be crossing the Sanare pass at an elevation of 1911 m. First dwelling on our route is the ancient village of Chigho where we stop for short a lunch and continue trekking to Dartlo village. Situated about 1800 meters above sea level, Dartlo is perhaps one of the most picturesque villages in Tusheti and is recognised by UNESCO. Overnight in Dartlo . DAY 8: DARTLO - KVAVLO - DANO – DARTLO Trekking: 6 km, 2 hours. Elevation: ?350 m / ?350 m Today you will have a chance to explore Dartlo in full details and enjoy by the views of the Pirikiti valley. Located at 2000 m. asl - Dartlo is one of the largest villages of Tusheti. Among other things, it used to be place of local court proceedings (Georgian: Sabcheo). Even today one can see 12 stones placed in semi- circle for the members of Jury with another in the middle for a defendant. Make a short day hike to village Kvavlo and Dano located up above Dartlo. Free time to relax in the village. Overnight in Dartlo. DAY 9: DARTLO - PARSMA – NAKAECHO PASS – VERKHOVANI Trekking: 22.0 km, 8 hours. Elevation: ?1122 m / ?1234 m After an early breakfast we head towards the Pirikiti valley. From Dartlo follow the road which runs along the right bank of Pirikita Alazani River until we arrive at the village of Chesho. From here, we continue walking to Parsma. After lunch break we cross the river Alazani by a small bridge and start hiking up to Nakeacho pass. The scenery here is magnificent, the pass offers one of the most beautiful views of Tusheti at elevation of 2903m. From here the trail descends into the Gometsari valley. Along the way you pass through the villages Dadikurta and after arrive to Verkhovani. Overnight in Verkhovani. DAY 10: VERKHOVANI - JVARBOSELI - DOCHU – OMALO Trekking: 22 km, 6 hours; Elevation: ?815 m / ?633 m After breakfast, we descend to the river bank, cross the bridge follow the main road downstream. After one hour the road crosses a river again and climbs up to Beghela village, here the road climbs upwards and into forest. After another hour of walking we should see the beautiful village Dochu right below us on the slope. After passing Bochorma village our road joins main the Omalo – Dartlo route and leads us back to our starting point. Overnight in Omalo DAY 11: OMALO – ATSKURI – TBILISI Driving distance: 186km, appx. 6 hours. After breakfast, we drive towards Atskuri village near Akhmeta. Make a short stop near 11th century Alaverdi Monastery, visit Satavado winery and restaurant, where we have lunch and taste delicious “Qvevri wines”. Continue driving to Tbilisi – capital city of Georgia. Overnight in Tbilisi DAY 12: TBILISI – CITY TOUR Explore the old part of the city. Ride up to Narikhala Fortress by the aerial cable car and enjoy the views of the city from the top. In the evening have a big Georgian dinner with traditional music performance. Overnight in Tbilisi DAY 13 : TBILISI – SADAKHLO BORDER - SANAHIN – HAGHPAT – DILIJAN Driving distance: 210 km, appx. 4.5 hours. After breakfast we drive to the border between Armenia and Georgia. Visit two unique monuments of Armenian architecture of 10th-14th centuries: the monasteries of Sanahin and Haghpat which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.