Amazing Tusheti

Tusheti is a mountainous region in the northeastern part of Georgia. It is one of the most popular hiking venues in Georgia. The Locals are generally sheep and cattle herders. Omalo is the largest village and the main administrative centre of Tusheti. Tourists have an opportunity to observe various sources of mineral waters and the famous Tushetian towers.The towers date back to the middle ages and were used as fortresses to protect the population, their livestock and valuables from any invaders. 

There is also the Tushetian Ethnographic Museum of Keselo, in Omalo. The museum preserves traditional agricultural tools, household items and weapons used by the Tusheti people. Visitors should visit this place in order to learn more about the locals, their traditions and living habits, as the museum houses traditional Tushetian items which reflects the way Tushetians used to live in the old days.

Keselo is a medieval fortress in Tusheti. The area is surrounded by the Caucasus Mountains. The fortress was constructed during the Mongolian invasion in the 1230s. It has 13 towers and these towers were traditionally used to shelter themselves from the Mongolian invaders and then from the Daghestani tribes.

Tusheti Guda Cheese – Tushetian people are well-known for their way of producing guda cheese. The cheese (as a rule) should be aged in sheepskin sacks which gives the product its characteristic flavor. These days however sheepskin sacks are usually replaced with plastic bags but it is suggested that visitors try and find individuals who produce the cheese with traditional methods and to give it a try.

Tusheti National Park is located in Tusheti and aims to preserve and conserve the natural fauna and flora and to promote eco-tourism. The park provides different kinds of tours according to an individula’s preference e.g difficulty, duration and type of landscapes, type of transport (cycling, riding) they want to experience and/or use.