Biking

Cycling Expedition in Tusheti

Six days, endless climbs, and the gravel roads that link Georgia's remotest villages — a high-mountain cycling expedition beyond the Abano Pass.

From€850/ person

Tour type

Private

Duration

6 days

Start / End

Tbilisi / Tbilisi

Activity

Mountain Cycling / Gravel

Difficulty

Challenging — good fitness required

Accommodation

Family guesthouses (full board)

Overview

Discover Tusheti

Experience one of the wildest cycling adventures in the Caucasus on this high-mountain expedition into remote Tusheti. Hidden beyond the legendary Abano Pass — the only road connecting Tusheti to the rest of Georgia, and one of the most spectacular mountain roads in Europe — Tusheti is a land of medieval stone towers, dramatic ridgelines, deep river gorges, and untouched alpine valleys. Over six days you'll ride quiet gravel roads that link centuries-old villages, climbing hard toward Shenako, Diklo, and the fortress towers of Keselo, and pushing deep into Upper Tusheti toward Girevi and Bochorna — often called the highest permanently inhabited village in Europe. Expect challenging ascents rewarded by fast descents through pine forests and open meadows, panoramic Caucasus views, and nights in warm family guesthouses with home-cooked Tushetian food. It builds to a legendary finale: a morning transfer back to the Abano Pass and a massive descent from 2,826 m to around 550 m — one of the longest, most spectacular mountain rides in the region. This is our endurance-focused ride — a six-day gravel expedition about sustained climbing and culture rather than technical trails. If you're a confident, gravity-focused rider after shorter, more technical descents, see our sister trip, the 4-day Enduro MTB Expedition in Tusheti. Pricing is per person and scales with group size: €2,897 solo, then €1,440 / €1,145 / €997 / €909 per person for 2–5 riders, and from €850 per person for a group of 6. Tell us your group size and whether you need a bike when you enquire and we'll send an exact quote.

Trip highlights

Cross the legendary Abano Pass (2,826 m) and descend into Tusheti
Ride gravel roads between traditional villages — Shenako, Diklo, Dartlo, Girevi
Climb to the medieval Keselo Towers above Omalo
Reach Bochorna, often called Europe's highest inhabited village (over 2,300 m)
Big-climb, big-descent days with panoramic Caucasus views
Stay in family guesthouses with full board
Optional traditional Tushetian food masterclass
A final legendary descent from the Abano Pass (2,826 m → ~550 m)

Itinerary

Day-by-Day

Early pickup in Tbilisi and a scenic 4×4 transfer through Kakheti toward the dramatic Abano Pass (2,826 m) — the only road into Tusheti and one of Europe's most spectacular mountain roads. From the pass, begin an unforgettable high-altitude descent toward Omalo through waterfalls, sharp ridgelines, and vast alpine landscapes.

Distance30 kmElevation+515 mDrive4×4 transfer, 6–7 hoursOvernightOmalo (family guesthouse)

Ride quiet gravel roads linking traditional Tushetian villages, climbing toward Shenako and Diklo past stone houses and medieval defensive towers. Challenging ascents are rewarded with fast descents through pine forests and open alpine meadows with panoramic Caucasus views.

Distance20 kmElevation+1,000 mOvernightOmalo (family guesthouse)

Begin with a steep climb to the historic Keselo Towers overlooking Omalo — a medieval defensive complex that guarded Upper Tusheti. Continue on scenic gravel roads to Dartlo, one of Georgia's most beautiful villages, known for its preserved stone architecture and dramatic valley setting.

Distance18 kmElevation+630 mOvernightDartlo (family guesthouse)OptionalTraditional Tushetian food masterclass

Ride deep into Upper Tusheti along the Alazani River valley toward Girevi, one of the last permanently inhabited settlements before the high Caucasus border zone — narrow valleys, steep canyon walls, and wide alpine meadows. Distance can be adjusted to group fitness and weather.

DistanceFlexible distanceOvernightDartlo (family guesthouse)

A physically demanding but hugely rewarding day. Climb toward Bochorna, often considered Europe's highest permanently inhabited village (over 2,300 m), then continue through remote high plateaus and ridgelines back to Omalo via Dochu — steep gravel climbs, long descents, and endless mountain views.

Distance34 kmElevation+1,500 mOvernightOmalo (family guesthouse)

A morning transfer back to the Abano Pass, then a legendary downhill ride from 2,826 m to around 550 m — one of the longest, most spectacular mountain descents in the Caucasus, with massive panoramas, waterfalls, and endless switchbacks. Return transfer to Tbilisi.

Distance34 km (mostly downhill)DriveReturn transfer to TbilisiOvernightTour ends in Tbilisi

Tusheti, Georgia

Details

What’s included

Included

Transportation — 4×4 transfers, including over the Abano Pass
Accommodation in family guesthouses
All meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Experienced guide
Bike (mechanical) support on the road

Not included

Bicycle rental (own bike recommended; rental / e-bike available on request for an additional cost)
International flights
Travel insurance (adventure-sport / cycling cover recommended)
Personal riding gear
Personal expenses
Alcoholic drinks
Optional extras (e.g. food masterclass)
Tips (discretionary)

Accommodation

·Nights 1, 2 & 5 — Family guesthouse in Omalo
·Nights 3 & 4 — Family guesthouse in Dartlo
·Warm, authentic Tushetian hosts — all meals included (full board)

What to bring

·Your bike (or arrange rental / e-bike with us in advance)

·Helmet (essential)

·Riding gloves

·Padded cycling clothing

·Waterproof / wind layer

·Warm layers (high alpine)

·Cycling shoes

·Hydration pack / bottles

·Basic spares & tools

·Sunglasses and sun protection

·Personal medication

·Camera and a power bank

·Travel insurance documents (with cycling cover)

Best season

Jul

Aug

Sep

Excellent

Good

Mountain weather can change quickly — your guide monitors conditions and adapts the plan.

Gallery

Scenes from the trail

Riders on a gravel road between Tushetian villages

The cycling group on an open highland plateau

A rest stop by a high alpine lake mid-expedition

Arriving mud-spattered and grinning at a mountain village spring

Bikes loaded for the 4×4 transfer over the Abano Pass

FAQ

Common questions

Good fitness is essential. This is an endurance expedition with sustained climbing at altitude — up to +1,500 m of ascent on the biggest day, on gravel. You should be riding regularly and comfortable with long mountain days back to back. Day 4's distance flexes to the group.

Mainly endurance. The riding is on gravel roads rather than technical singletrack — the challenge is the climbing and the altitude, not bike-handling skill. If you want technical, descent-focused riding, the sister Enduro MTB tour is the better fit.

We recommend bringing your own bike. On-road bike (mechanical) support is included, but the bicycle itself is not — rental (including e-bike interest) can be arranged on request for an additional cost. Tell us your needs when you enquire.

An e-bike can make a climbing-heavy tour like this more accessible. We can look into e-bike options on request — flag your interest in the enquiry and we'll confirm availability.

The Enduro MTB Expedition is 4 days, gravity- and descent-focused, technical singletrack, for hard/experienced riders. This Cycling Expedition is 6 days, endurance- and climbing-focused, on gravel, more cultural, for fit riders who aren't necessarily technical experts. Same wild region, different style.

The Abano Pass (2,826 m) is the only road into Tusheti and one of the most dramatic mountain roads in Europe — steep, unpaved, and only open in the warm months. We cross it by 4×4, and the tour ends with a legendary descent from the pass down to around 550 m.

Bochorna, at over 2,300 m, is often cited as the highest permanently inhabited village in Europe. We climb toward it on Day 5 — the biggest day of the expedition.

Yes — all accommodation is in family guesthouses in Omalo and Dartlo with full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner). The optional food masterclass in Dartlo is extra.

Helmet (essential), padded cycling clothing, gloves, cycling shoes, a waterproof/wind layer and warm layers for the high alpine, hydration, and basic spares/tools. See the full list. Bring your own bike or arrange one with us in advance.

Travel insurance with adventure-sport / cycling cover and emergency evacuation is strongly recommended for this remote, high-mountain terrain. We can suggest providers — just ask.

Tusheti is high, remote alpine terrain and conditions can change fast. Your guide monitors the weather and can adjust the route or timing — Day 4 in particular flexes to conditions and group fitness. The Abano Pass is only reliably open July–September.

Yes — every departure is private, so it works perfectly for a group of riding friends, with pricing scaling by your group size (best value at 6 riders). Use "Request a Custom Version" in the enquiry form to tailor it.

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Biking