The path of raids - from Pankisi to Omalo

From Omalo (Pankisi) to Omalo

Trail: Omalo (Pankisi Valley, 753m a.s.l.) - Mt. Oritsveri (2,930m) - saddle beneath Didgverdi (3,117m) - saddle Samkinvrostsveri (3,167m) - Oritskali Valley - village of Gogrulta (1,859m) - Dochu - Bochorna - Omalo (Tusheti)

Duration: 5-6 days

This trail is an option if you want to get to Tusheti without a car. It is more demanding as to orientation because you have to traverse several pases and ranges (GPS highly recommended). The first day starts in Omalo in Pankisi Valley (do not confuse with Omalo in Tusheti) leading you through the woods and later in meadows and on scree up the ridge. The second day you will continue along the ridge, ideally to get to the foot of Mt. Didgverdi. This part of the trail requires good orientation skills. On the third day the trail follows to the saddle of Samkinvrotsveri, the gate to Tusheti.

Further on, the trek gets more comfortable regarding orientation. It brings you to the valley of the brook Ori Tskali ("Two Waters"), past a summer sheep pen. On the fourth day, you could reach the village of Vestomta or Gogrulta. The fifth day you need to get to the village of Dochu (the bridge was pulled down, you will have to wade through a strong stream, hard but possible in case of low water, ask in Gogrulta for actual situation, you can hire the horse for the ford) or continue from Vestomta to Iliurta. From either Dochu or Iliurta you can reach Verkhovani - Omalo road. Optionally, you can get to the village of Khakhabo from Gogrulta following red marks through the pass and continue to Lower Omalo.

The orientation map (Maps Google)

For the information and GPS coordinates I am grateful to the web https://www.kozlak.cz/gruzie.html

From Omalo (Pankisi) to Omalo

Trail: Omalo (Pankisi Valley, 753m a.s.l.) - Mt. Oritsveri (2,930m) - saddle beneath Didgverdi (3,117m) - saddle Samkinvrostsveri (3,167m) - Oritskali Valley - village of Gogrulta (1,859m) - Dochu - Bochorna - Omalo (Tusheti)

Duration: 5-6 days

This trail is an option if you want to get to Tusheti without a car. It is more demanding as to orientation because you have to traverse several pases and ranges (GPS highly recommended). The first day starts in Omalo in Pankisi Valley (do not confuse with Omalo in Tusheti) leading you through the woods and later in meadows and on scree up the ridge. The second day you will continue along the ridge, ideally to get to the foot of Mt. Didgverdi. This part of the trail requires good orientation skills. On the third day the trail follows to the saddle of Samkinvrotsveri, the gate to Tusheti.

Further on, the trek gets more comfortable regarding orientation. It brings you to the valley of the brook Ori Tskali ("Two Waters"), past a summer sheep pen. On the fourth day, you could reach the village of Vestomta or Gogrulta. The fifth day you need to get to the village of Dochu (the bridge was pulled down, you will have to wade through a strong stream, hard but possible in case of low water, ask in Gogrulta for actual situation, you can hire the horse for the ford) or continue from Vestomta to Iliurta. From either Dochu or Iliurta you can reach Verkhovani - Omalo road. Optionally, you can get to the village of Khakhabo from Gogrulta following red marks through the pass and continue to Lower Omalo.