Package | Trip Status | Price PP In a Group | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Confirmed Dates | Min.participant Number 3p / Max.particip Number 10p | 3 - 5 People Group | 6 - 9 people Group | 12-15 People Group |
04.03.2023 – 11.03.2023 | Bookable | €2215 | €1920 | €1560 |
01.04.2023 – 08.04.2023 | Bookable | €2215 | €1920 | €1560 |
06.05.2023 – 13.05.2023 | Bookable | €2215 | €1920 | €1560 |
21.10.2023 – 28.10.2023 | Bookable | €2215 | €1920 | €1560 |
Tour price includes:
- All car transfers from Tbilisi to Tbilisi
- The car for luggage during the tour
- All meals during the tour
- English/Spanish speaker guide/instructor
- Horses, saddles, and housekeepers
- Cook
- Tents and sleeping mats (not inflammable)
- 2 overnights at the guesthouses
- Wine tasting
Tour price excludes:
- Riders’ equipment (helmets, chaps, vest etc.)
- Alcohol drinks.
- Souvenirs
- Tips
Vashlovani Protected areas are located at the very south-eastern part of Georgia – Dedoplistskaro district. It’s called Georgian savanna, because of its semi-desert landscapes and vegetation.
Hills, canyons, and desert, what we visually see at present times, it was a sea bottom long ago. Scientists found lots of different seashell fossils as a poove of the theory. Supposedly, these seashells are 2 million years old.
The area is also special for its flora and fauna. There are more than 700 different rare plants and more than 46 different mammals registered, a huge variety of raptors, in fact, the area is their main eggery.
Following the Iori river in the opposite direction brings us to Takhtitepa mud volcanoes – the small mud craters are continuously bubbling out the mixture of natural gas and mud together with some drops of oil.
The following part is the Iori plateau and Sabereebi cave monastery cells with IX-X century frescos are one of the oldest in Georgia.
Day 1: Tbilisi – village Kasristskali
Early in the morning, we head to Dedoplistskaro, where we get registered at the visitors' center and buy some vegetables and products in the bazaar. After we get to the village of Kasristskali, we will have a short introductory ride for about 2 hours.
Dinner and overnight at the local guesthouse or homestay with very basic conditions.
Day 2: Kasristskali – Bughamoedani campsite
For our first riding day we head down to the southeast to Mijnikure bungalows of the Nationa Park, located at the Alazani riverbank.
On the way to Bughamoedani, we’ll pass the groves of hundreds of years old Pistacho & Juniper trees, get registered at the border police, and continue riding with the northern view of an unusual shaped chain of badlands of semi-desert and Greater Caucasus whitened Mountains behind them.
Overnight in tents at Bughamoedani campsite.
• Total distance - 28km
• Total riding time – 6 hours
• Difficulty - easy
Day 3: Bughamoedani – Pantishara campsite
In the morning we’ll head to the west towards Samukhi valley – a semi-desert area and the driest plain in Georgia. The Palin is used as winter pasture for Tush shepherds and every now and then we’ll pass farms, sheep herds and of course famous Caucasian shepherd dogs with them (not dangerous, horses are not afraid of them and they can’t jump on the horse).
Overnight in tents at Pantishara campsite
• Total distance – 35km
• Total riding time – 6 hours
• Difficulty - easy
Day 4: Pantishara campsite – campsite at Dali dam
The longest riding day because of lots of stops at the border police camps. The route goes alongside the river Iori, a natural borderline and the main water source for the area.
After 7 hours ride, we’ll reach the dam and guesthouse with an opportunity to take shower and enjoy dinner.
• Total distance - 47km
• Total riding time – 7 hours
• Difficulty - medium
Day 5: Dali dam – Takhtitepa mud volcanos – Dali dam
After late breakfast, we cross the river Iori and head to visit Tchatchuna Managed Reserve to see Takhtitepa mud volcanos – an inorganic natural monument – an area with lots of different size whitish knolls with flat tops that beat and bubble. Gas and mud are constantly released from the volcano holes.
Overnight at the guesthouse
Double and triple rooms with shared bathrooms
- Total distance - 30km
- Total riding time – 6 hours
- Difficulty – moderate
Day 6: Dali dam – Sabereebi campsite
Early morning we start riding west, towards Sabereebi monastery. During the first half of the day, we’ll ride alongside the river Iori and its groves. In the midday, we cross the river to the western side and continue riding in the dry semi-desert area until we reach our campsite near a rock-hewn Georgian-orthodox monastery complex ruins.
These areas also provide a great winter pasture ground and every now and then we’ll come across the huge herds of sheep.
We’ll pitch the camp in this beautiful environment and enjoy the last chance for night sky watching.
• Total distance - 35km
• Total riding time – 6 hours
• Difficulty - medium
Day 7: Sabereebi campsite – Village Udabno
Meet morning and sunrise in Sabereebi camp. We’ll visit the monastery complex to better explore the IX-x century frescos. We continue riding to the west. The ride is of moderate difficulty, wide and safe. Many nomad camp farms come across along the way. End of the way in the village of Udabno – a Soviet time village in the middle of the semi-desert area populated with eco-migrants from the Svaneti region.
Overnight in tents at the Dali dam
• Total distance - 42km
• Total riding time – 7 hours
• Difficulty - medium
Overnight at the local guesthouse
Day 8: Village Udabno – Mravaltskaro lake and hills – Tbilisi
In the morning we drive to Mravaltskaro lake and colorful hillocks to enjoy the last morning hours in the semi-desert. It is a dry area with extensive hillocks, plateaus, and steep slopes with sparse vegetation. It was named "Colorful Mountains" after the various colored hillocks formed with sedimentary rocks. The colored and striped mountains reflected in the nearby blue lake mirror create an amazingly impressive and exotic spectacle.
Arrival in Tbilisi in the late afternoon.