Trekking from Omalo to Shatili Category: Trekking Grade: Difficult-Medium Duration: 9 days Hiking Length: 74 km Driving distance: 652 km Season: July-September Short itinerary: Great 5-days trekking trail, connecting some of the nicest mountain areas of Georgia and crossing 3431 meters high Atsunta pass. Difficulty Level: Medium to Hard A long trek in the wild mountain area without a single settlement until reaching the final destination (village of Shatili). It also involves fording several small rivers and passing 3431m Atsunta pass – which can be quite demanding for inexperienced hikers. ITINERARY DAY 1: Tbilisi - Arrival Arrival in Tbilisi. Transfer from the airport to Tbilisi hotel. Overnight in Tbilisi hotel. Day 2: Tbilisi – Omalo Driving distance: 190 km, appx. 6 hours. Drive from Tbilisi to Tusheti region. Breathtaking and long off-road ride, crossing the main Caucasus – 2926 m Abano pass. Arrival at the village Omalo. Explore the area around upper and lower Omalo, with beautiful views of the Chagma valley. Visit the Keselo fortress and ethnographical museum of Tusheti. Overnight in Omalo at Guesthouse. Day 3: Omalo - Shenako - Diklo – Omalo Trekking time: 11 km, 5 hours; Elevation: ↑649 m / ↓400 m Start at 9:00 am. After breakfast in hotel we will start exploring the surrounding villages of Tusheti. The first village on our way is Shenako - one of the few still populated villages of Tusheti, overlooked by Mount Diklo, with Georgian traditional dwellings and a medieval Trinity church. Next comes the tiny village of Diklo and ruins of the old Diklo fortress. At the end of our trip we will be picked up and drive back to the Omalo guesthouse. Day 4: Omalo – Dartlo – Chesho – Parsma – Girevi Trekking: 14.1 km, 5.5 hours. Elevation: ↑493 m / ↓243 m Breakfast at the Guesthouse. Start at 8:00 am. First, we drive to Dartlo, explore the mountain village and start trekking along the Alazani river in the direction of Girevi. Pass through the medieval villages Chesho and Parsm. In Girevi you will be asked to complete registration forms for trekking in the border area. Camp near the village of Girevi. Day 5: Girevi – Kvakhidi Trekking: 14.1 km, 7 hours. Elevation: ↑803 m / ↓417 m Start at 8:00 am. We first continue trekking along the Hatsunta-Alazani Gorge, passing the abandoned village of Chontio – the last inhabited village we’ll see on our way. Continue towards the Kvakhidi campsite at (2400m). During the day you will be checked by border guards twice, the first time halfway along the valley, the second time towards the evening. The path goes up through the beautiful alpine meadows along the river, with panoramic views and picturesque landscapes. Overnight in Tents. Day 6: Kvakhidi - Khidotani ridge Trekking: 15.0 km, 7 hours. Elevation: ↑1207 m / ↓961 m Start at 8:00 am. This is the most demanding part of the trek. The trail goes up by the Kvakhidisitskali river, that we’ll have to cross twice, the first time on a small footbridge, the second time we’ll have to ford it. After the second crossing, we will continue into the valley to the right and start the ascent to the Atsunta Pass (3431m). From the top we have amazing views of the surrounding summits and canyons of Khevsureti province. Descend to our campsite at 2400m, overnight in Tents. Day 7: Khidotani ridge - Shatili Trekking: 19.5 km, 8 hours. Elevation: ↑343 m / ↓1583 m Start early morning – no later than 7 am. Descend by the narrow path into the valley of Khonistskali river and then continue walking towards Mutso fortress. After exploring the fortress, continue down the dirt road towards Anatori – “House of the Dead”, from there it's only 30 minutes to the Shatili fortress. Overnight in Shatili at the Guesthouse. Day 8: Shatili – Tbilisi In the morning, after breakfast sightseeing around the Shatili complex and then closer to the afternoon, we drive to Tbilisi. The road first crosses Datvis Jvari Pass (2676m) then follows the Aragvi gorge to join the Georgian Military Highway. Continue all the way to Tbilisi Overnight in Tbilisi at the hotel. Day 9: Tbilisi Breakfast at the hotel. Check out 12:00 Transfer to Tbilisi Airport for departure SHORT ITINEARY 1 Tbilisi -/-/- Tbilisi hotel 2 Tbilisi - Omalo B/PL/D Omalo Guesthouse Omalo - Shenako - Diklo - Omalo B/PL/D 3 Omalo Guesthouse 4 Omalo – Dartlo – Chesho – Parsma – Girevi B/PL/PD Girevi Tent 5 Girevi – Kvakhidi PB/PL/PD Kvahidi Tent 6 Girevi - Khidotani ridge PB/PL/PD Khidotani ridge Tent 7 Khidotani ridge - Shatili PB/PL/D Shatili Guesthouse 8 Shatili - Tbilisi B/PL/- Tbilisi hotel 9 Tbilisi – Airport B/-/- PRICES PER PERSON: ADULTS IN THE GROUP 2 4 6 8 10+1 SS GBP 980 815 780 715 695 58 ADULTS IN THE GROUP 2 4 6 8 10+1 SS EUR 1090 905 865 795 770 65 ADULTS IN THE GROUP 2 4 6 8 10+1 SS USD 1275 1060 1015 930 905 75 Note: Prices are given per person. SS - single supplement. Additional cost in case of request of single room at the hotels is 55 EUR. 1 person is free of charge in case 10 or more people book the tour. PRICES INCLUDE: PRICES EXCLUDE: 2 x transfer from Tbilisi International Airport on days: 1 & 9 Airplane tickets Transportation: Travel insurance a/c comfortable car – days 2, 3, 4, 8 Visa fees Horses – for carrying luggage during trekking (1 horse per 2 Single room accommodation travelers for gear & food) – days 4, 5 ,6,7 Alcoholic beverages Other personal expenses Staff: Trekking gear such as*: sleeping bags, trekking poles, Professional trekking-guide service – all days backpacks, personal water storage. Professional driver service – days 2, 3, 4, 8 Additional cook (from 6 people group and up) – days 2-8 *Additional trekking gear is available for rent upon Catering: special request. 8 x breakfasts (days 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,8) 7 x lunch picnics at (days 2-7) 3 x dinners at hotel/guesthouse (days 2,3,8) 3 bottles of mineral water per person per day Overnights: 2 x overnights in Tbilisi hotel 3* (days 1, 8) 2 x overnight in Omalo Guesthouse (day 2,3) 1 x overnight in Shatili guesthouse (day 7) 3 x overnights in Tents (days 4, 5,6) Other: Excursions and entrance fees per program Souvenir Map of Georgia Trekking equipment: tents, sleeping pads .