4 - day horseback expedition. Ushguli. Route in the footsteps of the frames of the film "Dede".

Together with the Ushguli Horse Trails team, we would like to invite you to an amazing 4-day trip starting from Kutaisi! This is an ideal route for intermediate and advanced riders. You will ride our brave swanec horses, which are a mix of Caucasian breeds. You will be impressed by their fitness and how they tackle the trails of the High Caucasus! You will meet the Ushgul team and local horse guides Mose, Gela, Nuro. In Ushguli we will stay overlooking Georgia's highest peak, the Shkhara 5193 metres at the guesthouse of our friends, the Ratiani family.  We will reach Ushguli via a scenic route through the Zagaro Pass! Windows wallpaper-like views await you. You will spend 2 days on horseback! You will get to know the Svaneti and Ushguli region from the perspective of a horseback ridge. Steep mountain trails as well as routes for pleasant gallops await you. Our routes were inspired by stills from the film "Dede". The film was shot in Ushguli and the actors in it are the villagers (except for one character). Among them you will recognise our horse guides. The screening of the film in the medieval stone tower is an integral part of our programme!

Day 2 - Expedition to the Shkhara Glacier.
After breakfast, we will set off along a mountain trail to reach just below the Shkhara Glacier. We will drive through a picturesque valley, along the Enguri River, whose source is on the glacier. The route is wide and mostly flat. There are no difficult or steep climbs. There will be no shortage of sections to gallop! The last bit to the glacier has to be done on foot. Those wishing to do so will make the trek, which takes about 1.5 - 2 hours. Others can stay and savour the views of the Svaneti mountains by sitting in a cosy bar run by locals.

After a pop and a picnic we will return to our horses. Along the way there will be no shortage of good places for merry gallops. In the afternoon we will arrive in Ushguli, on the side of the 11th century Lamaria monastery, which we will also visit. Ushguli is a unique place, it is the highest village in Europe inhabited all year round, even in very harsh winters!

Manoeuvring between stone towers and local houses, we will arrive at our base. We will unsaddle our horses under the 11th century tower by the house of our horse guide Mose.

On a pleasant walk, passing the medieval towers and the winter residence of Queen Tamar on the way, we will return to our guesthouse. We will sit down to dinner, during which we will taste the characteristic dishes of Swanese cuisine.

We'll continue through vast glades as if from a Windows wallpaper, here we'll enjoy stretches of trotting and galloping. We stop for a rest at a mountain lake and enjoy the views. On the return journey part of the route will descend on foot. 

We will return to the guest house in Ushguli in the late afternoon and sit down to dinner to continue tasting the delicacies of Svaneti. In the evening, we will take those wishing to visit the local cinema, which is located in a 1000-year-old stone tower. We will see the film "Dede" about the life of the locals and their customs. The film was shot in Ushguli and the actors (except for one character) were the villagers, including our horse guides! Our horse trails are inspired by the very frames from this film! 

Requirements for the rally:

• Skills: walk, trot, gallop in the mountians .
• Weight: max 90 kg
• NThe tours are only for experienced riders