Georgia
Adventurous 10 night rides exploring central Georgia, staying in simple camps, basic village houses and hotels. Available May to October. Suitable for fit, experienced riders.
Where North east of Turkey, bordered by the Great Caucasus Range and west of The Black Sea, Georgia has been described as a cross roads between east and west. The meeting place is the capital Tiblisi in the east, then you ride a place-to-place route, looping to the south west.
What is it like Alpine meadows, ancient forests and magical, abandoned monasteries overgrown with wild flowers which are only accessible by horse or on foot. Georgia is the land of the Golden Fleece, invaded throughout history by races such as the Greeks, the Romans, the Turks, the Mongols and the Russians. A blend of cultures, it also boasts many remarkable archaeological sites, known to the local rural population who continue to live a subsistence life, farming goats and sheep, but seldom visited by foreign tourists.
Who does it suit Its definitely not for sissies! You must go with a sense of adventure. You should take each day as it comes, be resilient to bad weather and able to face logistical hiccups and late changes of plan with good humour. You should also be comfortable with service that can be rough around the edges - and most definitely, should be fit! After a night in Tbilisi, rides follow a circular route to the south west, taking you off the beaten track. The route heads into the hills, across high pasture and rivers, along dusty tracks, past summer encampments of shepherds and small rural villages. The riding pace is often fast, you'll live country life as it is, camping at night or staying in basic houses with local families who live without mod-cons. Its full immersion and a chance to see this enthralling country as it really is.
Why do we love it Its easy to count on one hand the countries in which one can ride long distances, across country, without the restrictions of town barriers, roads, cars and fences. In very few of those can you really move, covering ground that is meant for horses on a horse that is meant to cover ground! These rides in Georgia offer just that - fast riding on athletic TB type horses, through untouristed countryside with miles of open, rolling pasture. You'll get tired, the ride is a challenge in all sorts of ways but that's part of the whole appeal.
SUMMARY
Riding: 4-6 hours a day
Horses: TB, Akhal Tekhi and Arab crosses
Pace: moderate to fast
Riding ability: confident intermediate riders and above
Weight limit: 85 kg (13st 5lbs)
Accommodation: hotels, local b&b's and 3Δ camps
Group size: max 8
Season: May to October
Price: 10 night trails from £1890 per person
HORSES & RIDING
Horses: The horses used are locally bred thoroughbreds, crossed with Arabs and Akhal Tekhi. They are generally between about 14.2 and 16hh, are responsive and forward going to ride but also adaptable and well suited to the terrain. Russian military saddles are used which, although adequate and safe, are locally made and quite basic. Saddle bags are provided. The horses are mostly ridden in snaffle bits.
Hours: 10 night trips include 8 days riding generally with between 4 and 6 hours in the saddle each day, broken up with breaks to rest and for lunch, although riding time does vary, particularly as the routes are little used and unexpected detours can be required.
Pace and experience required: Rides are aimed at experienced, confident riders. The riding pace is moderate to fast overall, with opportunities for trots and long fast canters, over different terrain. Your guide likes to move on and cover the ground, and you are expected to cope and keep up. You should be comfortable cantering downhill, around bends, on rough, undulating ground and confident that you can deal with whatever comes up on the route ahead. The horses are sensible and well schooled but they have a generally lively temperament, suiting capable, relaxed and confident riders.
ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation for the first two and last nights is in a comfortable hotel or guest house in the capital Tblisi. On other nights accommodation is in simple camps, set up along the route by back up staff. Camps are quite basic although often located in quite stunning settings. Small two man dome tents are used and you sleep on mats with sleeping bags. There is a central mess tent in case of rain, but no shower facilities and only minimal hot water when camping (some water can be heated for you on the fire). Loos are out in the open air! Some 'B&B' accommodation is also used during the ride, staying with local rural families in traditional Georgian houses that are basic, often with dormitory / shared bedrooms. These houses also usually have an outside loo, and a shared showeroom(s) a short walk from the bedrooms.
RATES & DATES
|
Rates 2024 |
10 nights - £1890 |
|
Dates 2024 and 2025 |
11th to 21st October 2024 |
ITINERARY
| Itinerary in brief | |
| Day 1 | Arrive Tbilisi and transfer to hotel. |
| Day 2 | A full day in Tbilisi to visit the old town. Own arrangements for lunch & dinner. Night at hotel in Tbilisi. |
| Day 3 |
Breakfast and an hour or so drive to meet the horses. Set off riding through hay meadows full of wild flowers. Camp is set up near the village of Gudarekhi with its 16th century tower. |
| Day 4 |
Ride up through ancient beech forest to the 12th century Gudarekhi monastery, then on to high summer pastures. A picnic lunch in the woods before riding on to the village of Ivanovka where you stay with a local family. |
| Day 5 |
Set off riding to the village of Dumanisi and then on, climbing steeply across open ridges with views of the southern Caucasus. Ride down from the ridge to Pitareti, another 12th century monastery. Camp is set up nearby. |
| Day 6 |
Leave Pitareti, crossing the Khrami river and on over the crest of the hill and stop close to the Azerbaijan village of Darbasi for lunch. In the afternoon ride on to Patara Dmanisi. Dinner and night with a family in the village. |
| Day 7 |
A chance to explore the fort and archaeological site of of Patara Dmanisi. In the afternoon ride on into the hills. Camp is set up near the village on Ukangori. |
| Day 8 |
Breakfast in camp, then ride on through woods to the summer pastures of the Azeri shepherds and on towards Bolnisi Sioni. Camp is set up close to the ruins of St Tevdore church. |
| Day 9 |
Ride on to the Bolnisi Sioni and stop for a picnic lunch in the gardens of the 4th century church. In the afternoon ride on to camp by the Khrami river. |
| Day 10 | Breakfast in camp and after crossing the Khrami river ride across the plains to Assureti village. Leave the horses at the stables and meet the cars that will drive you back to Tbilisi. Dinner and night in a hotel. |
| Day 11 | Breakfast and transfer to the airport. |
| Contact us at info@rideworldwide.com or on tel (+44) (0)1837-82544 / 825440 for further information, detailed itineraries, dates and answers to questions. |
TRAVEL
The meeting point for the ride is Tbilisi airport. There are no direct flights from London to Tbilisi, but there are several options via Europe, eg with KLM, Lufthansa and also with Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, KLM/Air France via Amsterdam/Paris and Aegean via Athens. For flights budget around £550 to £800 plus taxes depending on time of year and availability.
