A Caucasus Journey on the Breath of the Wind

  • Booking:
  • ---
  • Difficulty: 2
  • Accommodation: Hotel (Guesthouse) / Camp
  • Country: Georgia
  • Type of travel: Expedition
  • Start: 2026-08-19
  • End: 2026-09-03
  • Price from: 2,499.00€
  • Awards high ME Points
Gergeti Trinity Church
Ushguli

Undiscovered Georgia – Expedition Through the Heart of the Caucasus

A land nestled between sea and mountains, wild and ancient, Georgia is the ideal destination for true overland enthusiasts. In this two-week expedition, we'll navigate our off-road vehicles through diverse landscapes: from subtropical Adjara and the Black Sea, across rugged Caucasian passes, to windswept deserts, wine valleys, and medieval villages buried deep in the mountains. This is an explicit expedition tour, where we'll be testing a meticulously planned journey together. Therefore, deviations from the itinerary are possible.

Our adventure begins on the Black Sea coast in vibrant Batumi and concludes with our return through majestic Svaneti – home to ancient defensive towers and Europe's highest settlements. Along the way, we'll traverse challenging passes like Abano and Goderdzi, explore cave cities such as Vardzia and monasteries carved into rock, and visit the Tusheti and Truso regions, among the most isolated in the Caucasus.

We'll camp beside rivers and lakes, savor homemade wine in the heart of Kakheti, and meet incredibly hospitable people whose stories are deeply rooted in tradition. Georgia teaches us that true adventure isn't just found on a map, but in the unpredictable moments between planned points.

This expedition isn't merely a trip – it's an exploration of the soul of the Caucasus. This is a true expedition, as it's the first tour we've created based on two years of research and scouting.

Itinerary

  • The meeting point is the hotel in Batumi, where we will get acquainted and discuss the trip details during a joint dinner.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Batumi – Goderdzi Pass – Zarzma

  • Start in Batumi and drive towards the Goderdzi Pass.
  • Possible exploration of Adjara's green canyons and waterfalls en route.

Overnight stay – Wild camping

Zarzma – Vardzia – Paravani Lake

  • Off-road drive towards the spectacular cave complex of Vardzia.
  • Exploration of the ancient city carved into the rock.

Overnight stay – wild camping.

Paravani Lake – Tbilisi

  • Drive across the Javakheti plateau and along Paravani Lake.
  • Arrival in Tbilisi, evening tour of the Old Town.

Overnight stay – Hotel in Tbilisi

Tbilisi – David Gareja

  • Off-road drive, possible visit to David Gareja – a desert cave monastery complex on the border with Azerbaijan.

Overnight stay – wild camping

David Gareja – Sighnaghi – Alazani Valley

  • Visit to the Kakheti wine region.
  • Wine tasting at a local winery.

Overnight stay – Camping by the vineyard with wine tasting and dinner.

Alazani Valley – Tusheti

  • Beginning of the challenging ascent towards Omalo, the heart of the Tusheti region.
  • Drive over Abano Pass (2,850 m), one of the most dangerous off-road routes.

Overnight stay – accommodation in Omalo

Exploring Tusheti – Rest Day

  • Optional drive to the mountain villages of Dartlo and Shenako.

  • Optional hiking and enjoying the spectacular landscapes.

Overnight stay – accommodation in Omalo

Omalo – Pshaveli – Tsivtskaro

  • Descent from Omalo with challenging off-road driving.

Overnight stay – Wild camping

Tsivtskaro – Karkucha – Kazbegi – Ketrisi

  • Drive through plateaus and mountain meadows, with possible encounters with shepherds.
  • Visit to Gergeti Monastery.

Overnight stay – wild camping

Truso Valley – Jvari Pass – Ananuri – Uplistsikhe – Gori

  • Off-road drive through Truso Valley with mineral springs.

  • Ascent to Jvari Pass with a view of Mt. Kazbek (5,047 m).

  • Arrival in Uplistsikhe, an ancient cave city.

  • Arrival in Gori, birthplace of Joseph Stalin, possibility to visit the Stalin Museum.

Overnight stay – Hotel in Gori

Gori – Shaori Lake

  • Return south and drive through the Racha region.

Overnight stay – wild camping

Shaori – Ushguli (Svaneti)

  • Arrival in Svaneti, one of the most isolated regions of the Caucasus.
  • Drive to Ushguli, the highest permanently inhabited village in Europe (2,200 m).

Overnight stay – wild camping

Ushguli – Mestia

  • Off-road drive towards Mestia, the capital of Svaneti.
  • Optional visit to the museum and traditional defensive towers.

Overnight stay – wild camping

Mestia – Batumi

  • Return journey to Batumi through picturesque valleys.

  • Arrival in Batumi, relaxation on the beach or by the hotel pool.

Overnight stay – hotel in Batumi.

Tour details

This is an explicit expedition tour, where we'll be testing a meticulously planned journey together. Therefore, deviations from the itinerary are possible.

Accommodation and Meals

  • 6 x hotel stays with dinner and breakfast
  • 7 x camping
  • 1 x camping in wineyard (wineyard parking) including dinner, wine tasting and guided tour thru the wineyard 
  • Joint dinner at the start of the trip
  • Joint dinner at the end of the trip

Group Size

  • Minimum 3, maximum 8 vehicles

Kilometers and Terrain

  • Between 100 and 200 km daily, one day over 200 km
  • Gravel/asphalt 50/50
  • Predominantly gravel roads with asphalt sections in between, including some more difficult passages

Included in Price

  • 6 x hotel stays with breakfast
  • 6 x dinners at a restaurant
  • 1 x wine tasting and dinner with guided wineyard tour
  • All entrance fees
  • Tour leader who speaks Croatian, German, and English

Price

  • The price is per vehicle with driver 2490€.
  • Surcharge for co-driver: 600€
  • Surcharge for single room or room: 150€
  • A single room may not be available in Omalo. In that case, the surcharge will be reduced by the appropriate amount.

 

Difficulty

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