About this tour
When Ngaio from the crew tackled this three-day 4x4 mission into Tusheti, she crossed the Abano Pass — Georgia's highest motorable pass at 2,926m — and landed in a cluster of stone villages that genuinely feel forgotten by time. Omalo, Dartlo, Kvavlo and a handful of others sit tucked into the mountains, each with its own towers and trails. You're crammed into a Mitsubishi Delica with five strangers over three days, sleeping in family guesthouses where dinner and chacha flow freely, and the road itself becomes the whole point. Only open June to September, this isn't a tour — it's a gauntlet.
Highlights
- Abano Pass hairpin bends with clouds below, no guardrails, pure adrenaline
- Stone towers and untouched villages — genuinely isolated mountain settlements
- Family guesthouse dinners where you eat what locals cook, drink what they pour
- Crew bonds form fast: five strangers arrive, friends leave after three days
- No phone signal, no electricity sometimes — genuine disconnect from everything
- Mitsubishi Delica 4x4 proves its worth on rough, steep, unforgiving terrain
- Weather shifts fast; snow possible even July — mountain reality, not drama
What to expect
Day one hits hard: the drive up Abano Pass takes hours of hairpin concentration. The road is rough, steep, often rough-sided — motion sickness is real and expected, not a problem to fix. You'll feel the altitude immediately once you crest into the Tusheti basin. Villages appear suddenly — low stone buildings, defence towers, paths worn deep by centuries of feet. Your guesthouse is basic but clean; dinner is communal and genuine, cooked by your host, shared with the small group. Breakfast comes early.
Days two and three shift into a rhythm of short 4x4 hops between villages, modest walking (fitness needed), and absorbing the sheer remoteness. There's no card payment, no signal, limited water and electricity. Weather changes in minutes. The whole experience reads less like a curated tour and more like you've actually landed somewhere difficult to reach — which is precisely why people go.
What travellers say
- Genuinely remote villages untouched by mass tourism
- Small group, shared meals, real bonds form fast
- Road itself is the story — earned arrival at altitude
- Mitsubishi Delica purpose-built for unforgiving terrain
- Local guide and driver know every hairpin intimately
- Abano Pass rough, steep, no guardrails — motion sickness common
- High altitude and rustic living demand moderate fitness and flexibility
- Limited medical help and unpredictable weather — need good insurance
- Only June–September; booking early essential, schedule can shift last-minute
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This is Georgia's hardest-to-reach corner and it shows — stone villages feel genuinely untouched, not performed for tourists. The small-group format (five travellers plus crew) means intimate conversations and fast friendships. Your host cooks real food; chacha flows. The Delica is built for this road; your driver and guide know it intimately.
The Abano Pass is legitimately rough and claustrophobic — hairpins, sheer drops, no safety rail. Motion sickness is common; bring your own tablets if prone. Altitude (1,800–2,900m) affects some travellers badly; consult a doctor beforehand. Accommodation is rustic — limited electricity, sometimes no hot water. Weather is unpredictable; snow hits even in July. You'll need moderate fitness for walking and the climb. Medical facilities are sparse; travel insurance is essential. Bring cash — no card payments. Peak season is June–September only; book early. Tell someone at home your itinerary.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original Global Hobo summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.