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Geotour
The medieval stone tower houses of Shatili above the Argun River, Khevsureti
The ruined towers of Mutso on a rocky ridge above a green gorge at dawn, Khevsureti
Tour photo

Photos: Vyacheslav Argenberg (CC BY 4.0) · Moahim (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikimedia Commons

Shatili & Mutso: Khevsureti by 4x4 — 2-Day Private Tour

Shatili · Mutso

  • 2 days
  • Private, 1–8 travellers
  • Moderate
  • Late June–September

Overview

A private 2-day 4x4 trip from Tbilisi over the Datvisjvari pass (about 2,700 m) to Khevsureti, on the far side of the main Caucasus ridge. You sleep in Shatili, a village of stone tower-houses above the Argun river, and next morning climb to the fortress village of Mutso. Beyond Korsha the road becomes a narrow mountain dirt track, so the drive to Shatili takes at least 4–5 hours, with photo stops at the pass. You arrive in the early afternoon with time to walk the lanes between Shatili's towers. On day two you drive 12 km down the valley to Mutso, whose towers have been partly restored, and walk 20–40 minutes up a steep path; on the way back you see the stone burial houses of Anatori. Dinner and breakfast at a family guesthouse are included. The pass is open only in summer and early autumn, and we don't run this as a day trip: it would mean about 16 hours in the car.

Itinerary

2 stops: Shatili, Mutso

1

Day 1Over the Datvisjvari pass to Shatili

Tbilisi to Shatili is about 150 km and at least 4–5 hours; after Korsha it is a mountain dirt road.

  1. Pickup in Tbilisi in our 4x4

  2. Zhinvali reservoir; on via Barisakho and Korsha

  3. Datvisjvari pass viewpoints; picnic lunch (not included; we stop for supplies on the way)

  4. Shatili: walk through the tower village

    • ShatiliDay 1: over the Datvisjvari pass by 4x4 to Shatili, a cluster of joined stone tower-houses; an afternoon walk through the village and a night at a guesthouse with dinner and breakfast.

      Day 1: over the Datvisjvari pass by 4x4 to Shatili, a cluster of joined stone tower-houses; an afternoon walk through the village and a night at a guesthouse with dinner and breakfast.

      Shatili is a fortress village of about 60 joined stone towers and dwellings at about 1,400 m in the Argun gorge of Khevsureti, on the north side of the Greater Caucasus near the Chechen border. It is reached by 4x4 over the Datvisjvari pass (about 2,700 m), about 4.5–5 hours from Tbilisi, and only from early summer to autumn. You walk the narrow passages and ladders between the towers, visit the Anatori crypts and Mutso down the valley, and sleep in a family guesthouse.

      View destination details

  5. Dinner at the guesthouse (included)

  6. Overnight: Shatili (guesthouse, dinner and breakfast)

2

Day 2Mutso and Anatori, back to Tbilisi

About 5–6 hours of driving back.

  1. Drive to Mutso (12 km, about 45 min); steep 20–40 min walk up to the fortress village

    • MutsoDay 2: 12 km from Shatili, a steep 20–40 minute walk up to the fortress village of Mutso, then the Anatori stone crypts on the way back.

      Day 2: 12 km from Shatili, a steep 20–40 minute walk up to the fortress village of Mutso, then the Anatori stone crypts on the way back.

      Mutso is a largely deserted fortress village of slate towers and houses clinging to a steep ridge at about 1,880 m in the Ardoti valley of Khevsureti, about 11–12 km from Shatili near the Russian border. Its houses were built wall to wall so that the village itself formed a defensive wall. The dirt road from Shatili follows the Argun river past the Anatori crypts, then a steep path of 20–30 minutes climbs to the towers, restored with traditional dry-stone masonry.

      View destination details

  2. Anatori crypts

  3. Drive back over the pass; late lunch on the way (not included)

  4. In Tbilisi

Make this tour your own:Build your own tour

What's Included

  • Private 4x4 with fuel (up to 6 travellers per vehicle)
  • English-speaking driver-guide throughout
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off in Tbilisi
  • 1 night in a Shatili guesthouse, twin/double room, dinner and breakfast included
  • Bottled water

  • Lunches (about 25–40 GEL per person)
  • Drinks
  • Tips (optional)
  • Travel insurance (mandatory for visitors to Georgia from 1 January 2026)

Map

Good to know

Best Time to Visit
Late June–September (Datvisjvari pass open)
Physical Requirements
Moderate fitness level required. Includes longer walks, some uphill sections, and possibly uneven terrain.
Cancellation Policy
Nothing to pay now. Your quote includes the cancellation terms before you pay anything.
Cash
there are no ATMs in Khevsureti, so bring enough lari from Tbilisi for lunches and small purchases.
Road
the last few hours are on a narrow, unsealed mountain track with steep drops; if you get car-sick, bring a remedy.
Walking
the path up to Mutso is short but steep and loose; wear shoes with good grip.
Guesthouse
simple family rooms and home-cooked meals; don't count on Wi-Fi or a mobile signal.
Season
the pass usually opens in mid-June and can be blocked by snow or landslides even in summer; we check the road before you travel.
Categories:
Short trip (2–5 days)
Mountains

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