15th to 25th May

5th to 15th June

26th June to 6th July

28th August to 7th September

18th to 28th September

9th to 19th October

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 in spring. 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 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, stopping 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 cars that will drive you back to Tbilisi. Dinner and night at your hotel in Tbilisi.

Day 11

Breakfast and transfer to the airport.

We are excited to help you plan the perfect horseback riding vacation! The booking process is easy. With most of the European countries, we work with exclusive partners. For long-term rides please contact our partner in your country

United Kingdom & Ireland – Ride Worldwide
Established in 1995, Ride Worldwide is one of the leading specialists in horse safaris and riding holidays globally. They offer independent advice drawn from years of hands-on experience, ensuring expertise, quality, and knowledge for every rider.

France – Randocheval
Since 1998, Randocheval has been a specialist in all kinds of horse trips: horseback riding, horse safaris, ranch stays, bivouac hikes, charming accommodations, language courses, dressage, and ethology. With over 50 destinations, there’s a perfect adventure for every rider.

Germany – PFERD & REITER Internationale
Founded in 1977, PFERD & REITER provides horseback holidays in around 50 countries across Europe, America, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Options range from one- and two-week trails to star rides, cross-country, and pack trips, suitable for beginners and advanced riders alike. Accommodation standards vary from rustic under-the-stars stays to luxurious castles.

Sweden, Norway & Finland – HorseXplore
Established in 1993, HorseXplore is a family-owned company specializing in riding tours worldwide. They cater to both Scandinavian and international riders and have become one of Europe’s leading companies for horseback adventures.

It’s 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. It’s full immersion and a chance to see this enthralling country as it really is.

Horses

The horses are Thoroughbred, Arab, Akhal-Teke & Kabardian crossbreeds, very suitable for hiking, reliable and lively.

They were raised and trained by our guide, who is known to have the best thoroughbred breeding in Georgia.

The saddles used are of very good quality. They are equipped with panniers. Over-soils are available on request.

Accommodation for the first two and last night is in the capital Tbilisi, usually at a comfortable guesthouse in the heart of Tbilisi old town and rooms here are all with en-suite bathrooms. Camping accommodation is quite basic but camps are often set up in quite stunning settings beside remote monasteries, or close to mountain streams or lakes. Small two man dome tents for sleeping are supplied with a back up vehicle carrying all the equipment and luggage. There is a big “mess” tent for cooking and eating, tables and chairs can be set up inside if the weather requires. You will need to take your own sleeping bag and ideally a thermarest / camping mattress. There are no shower facilities in camps and minimal hot water (some water can be heated for you on the fire) and loos are out in the open air! Some nights are spent in the homes of local Georgian families, all of which tend to be traditional Georgian houses and very basic. Bedrooms may be dormitory style or for two people and bathrooms are shared (usually only one per household) and may be some way from the bedrooms. Water and electricity supplies are both erratic. Loos are often outside (long drops with a hole in the floor which can be quite unsavoury!) If you are travelling alone we will do our best to arrange a single room but in many cases this is just not possible and this cannot be guaranteed.

The rides are run from set dates between late April and October when the weather in the area is best. During winter months (November to March) there is often 2 to 3 feet of snow on the ground! In spring and early summer the ground is scattered with wild flowers; in July, August and September the fields are harvested and the countryside is busy with people working the fields; then later in September and in October, the forests are full of colour with the changing leaves. Average daytime temperatures between April and October are roughly as follows - April 13°C; May 18°C; June 21°C; July 23°C; August 23°C; September 20°C; October 15°C - though it may be about 5 degrees hotter at midday and about 5 degrees colder at nightfall. In Tbilisi it can get hotter still in the summer. Rain is possible at any time of year so you need to be prepared for this.