National park · Georgia
Tusheti National Parkტუშეთი ეროვნული პარკი
Enter Tusheti for a 2‑3 day trek: take the blue Omalo‑Shatili route (73 km (45 mi)) in July–September, or the green Omalo‑Diklo day trek in June; pay the 4WD fee and bring a guide for long treks.Enter Tusheti for a 2‑3 day trek: take the blue Omalo‑Shatili route (45 mi (73 km)) in July–September, or the green Omalo‑Diklo day trek in June; pay the 4WD fee and bring a guide for long treks.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
More
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
1,200 km² (463 sq mi)463 sq mi (1,200 km²)
approximate
Established
2000
Best months
Jul–Sep
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 8The Armenia–Azerbaijan and Armenia–Türkiye land borders a…Georgia treats entry to Abkhazia or South Ossetia from Ru…Do not plan travel to Abkhazia or South Ossetia
- Caucasus ↗The Armenia–Azerbaijan and Armenia–Türkiye land borders are closed; any route that crosses them is not a route, however short it looks.
- Caucasus ↗Georgia treats entry to Abkhazia or South Ossetia from Russia as illegal; entering that way can mean arrest or a ban when you next reach Georgia proper.
- Georgia ↗Many passports enter visa-free for a long stay; if yours needs a visa, apply only on the official e-visa portal.
- Georgia ↗Do not plan travel to Abkhazia or South Ossetia: crossing their boundary lines from Georgian-controlled land is treated as illegal entry, and many governments advise against it.
- Georgia ↗In Orthodox churches women cover their heads and shoulders and wear a skirt or a wrap; men remove hats and avoid shorts.
- Georgia ↗Carry Georgian lari in small notes for minibuses, markets and the metro card; cards work in most Tbilisi cafés and shops but not everywhere outside the capital.
- Kakheti ↗Wineries and monasteries sit off the main roads; a hired car with driver is the practical way to string 3–4 stops in a day.
- Kakheti ↗Small wineries often cannot sell bottles to visitors directly; call ahead and expect a nearby official shop.
At a glance
- Country
- Georgia
- Area
- 1,200 km² (463 sq mi)463 sq mi (1,200 km²)
- Area around 1,200 km²; figures vary by source (check).
- Established
- 2000
- Best months
- Jul–Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
Tusheti National Park in north‑east Georgia protects remote alpine valleys, stone‑tower villages and high passes such as Abano (2,850 m) and Atsunta (3,400 m). The park is accessible only by a seasonal 4WD road (May–October) and offers long treks, horseback rides and cultural stays in villages like Omalo and Dartlo.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 2000.
Size and age
1,200 km² (463 sq mi)463 sq mi (1,200 km²) · national park since 2000
Area around 1,200 km²; figures vary by source (check).
Why go
- Remote high‑land villages and stone towers.
- Long alpine hikes with dramatic passes.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarAvoid
- AprCaution
- MayCaution
- JunGo
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepBest
- OctCaution
- NovAvoid
- DecAvoid
- JanSnow, roads closed.
- FebSnow, roads closed.
- MarUnpredictable snow.
- AprLate snow possible.
- MayRoad may open late.
- JunRoad open, cooler.
- JulStable weather, full access.
- AugStable weather, full access.
- SepStable weather, road still open.
- OctRoad closure begins.
- NovSnow, road closed.
- DecSnow, road closed.
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine flora, marmots, golden eaglesJun–Sep | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Omalo hub | Visitor centre, guesthouses, guide office. | Open year‑round, reachable by 4WD. |
| Mountain trails | Blue, green, red, brown routes across passes. | Guided or self‑guided (must have guide for blue route). |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
5 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates are approximate centre points from official park map.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4WD hire from Telavi/Alvani to Omalo | GEL 200 | vehicle | Price from official park website (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry no permit
Guided long trek permit or guide
Park rules
- Camping
- Allowed, but prefer near villages; no fires.
- Guides
- Required for long treks and for any route crossing passes.
- Drones
- Not allowed without park permission.check
Where to stay
Near the park
Omalo guesthouses
Rooms in village centre.
Near the park
Dartlo homestays
Traditional stone‑tower houses.
Safety
Road accidents on Abano Pass high
Rapid weather change medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Visitor centre reachable by car; trails are steep and not wheelchair‑friendly.
Visiting lightly
- Use shared 4WD rides to reduce traffic.
- Stay in locally run guesthouses.
- Do not litter; pack out all waste.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Tusheti?
There is no formal entry fee; the main cost is the 4WD hire (≈200 GEL) from Telavi or Alvani to Omalo.
What are the best hikes in Tusheti?
The blue Omalo‑Shatili (73 km, 3–4 days) and the brown 2‑3‑night round trek (53 km) are top routes; for a day, try the green Omalo‑Diklo trail.
When is the best time to visit Tusheti?
July to September offers stable weather and open roads; June and early October are possible but with higher risk of road closure.
Do I need a guide?
Guides are mandatory for the long blue route and any trek crossing high passes; day hikes can be done independently if you stay on marked trails.
Can I camp in the park?
Camping is allowed, preferably near villages; fires are prohibited.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Sources
Ask about Tusheti National Park
Loading…
Was this useful?