Dartlo, Kvavlo and Parsma: Tower Villages of the Pirikiti Valley
A relaxed two-day walk through the best-preserved tower villages of Tusheti: up to the ruined fortress hamlet of Kvavlo above Dartlo, along the slope to Chesho and Parsma, and back down the Pirikiti Alazani. About 22 km and 800 m of climbing with guesthouse nights.
Keselo FortressPhoto: Alex Maisuradze, CC BY-SA 3.0The Pirikiti Alazani valley, north-east of Omalo, holds the finest cluster of slate tower villages in Tusheti. Dartlo is the showpiece, a group of restored stone houses with wooden balconies at the river confluence. Kvavlo sits on the spur above it, abandoned, with a tall defensive tower. Up the valley come Chesho and Parsma, smaller and quieter, each with its own towers and a handful of summer families.
This route strings them together without any pass or exposed ground. Day 1 climbs to Kvavlo, contours the hillside with views up the valley, and drops to Chesho and Parsma for the night. Day 2 returns down the valley floor to Dartlo. You can carry a light pack and sleep in guesthouses, or hire a horse to take your bag along the track.
The walk suits families with older children and anyone who wants Tusheti's villages and scenery without the remote multi-day treks. It is also the first two days of the Omalo to Shatili trek, so it works as a test of fitness before committing to the Atsunta Pass.
Highlights
- Dartlo's restored slate houses and its old open-air council stones
- The view down onto Dartlo from the Kvavlo tower
- Chesho's towers by the river
- A night in Parsma, one of the most remote summer villages in Tusheti
- Horses grazing in wide meadows along the Pirikiti Alazani
Trail facts
Last checked Oct 2026 by the Maspindzeli team. Mountain conditions change: ask us before you go.
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Stage by stage
| Day | From → to | Distance | Up | Down | Hours | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dartlo → Kvavlo | 3 km | +350 m | −0 m | 1.5-2 h | 2,180 m |
| 1 | Kvavlo → Parsma | 9 km | +300 m | −500 m | 3.5-4 h | 2,250 m |
| 2 | Parsma → Dartlo | 10 km | +150 m | −300 m | 3-4 h | 2,000 m |
01Dartlo up to KvavloDartlo → Kvavlo · 3 km · 1.5-2 h
Cross the bridge from Dartlo and climb the steep path in zigzags onto the ridge opposite. Kvavlo is a small ring of ruined houses around a restored tower, with Dartlo's roofs directly below and the valley opening in both directions.
01Kvavlo to Chesho and ParsmaKvavlo → Parsma · 9 km · 3.5-4 h
Follow the shepherds' path along the open slope north-east, gaining a little more height before the trail slants down toward the valley. Cross to Chesho with its towers on the riverbank, then follow the track upstream to Parsma, where several families still keep cattle each summer. Guesthouse night in Parsma (book ahead; there are only a few beds).
02Parsma back to DartloParsma → Dartlo · 10 km · 3-4 h
Return down the valley on the jeep track and riverside paths, passing Chesho again and the meadows where horses graze. Arrive in Dartlo by early afternoon, in time for lunch and a jeep back to Omalo if you wish.
Practical information
Getting there
First reach Omalo: minibus from Tbilisi to Kvemo Alvani (about 2.5 hours), then a jeep over the Abano Pass (4 to 5 hours). In 2026 a seat cost roughly 100-120 GEL (around $37-44) and a whole vehicle roughly 500-650 GEL (around $185-240). From Omalo to Dartlo is about 12 km of jeep track: walk it in 3 to 4 hours or pay a local driver about 60 to 100 GEL (about $22 to $37) for the car. The Tusheti road is usually open from June to October.
Getting back
The loop ends where it started, in Dartlo. From there walk or drive back to Omalo, then take a jeep over the Abano Pass to Alvani and a minibus to Tbilisi. Book your return jeep a day or two ahead in August, when seats are in demand.
Water
Village springs in Dartlo, Chesho and Parsma, and the Pirikiti Alazani with side streams along the valley path. The climb to Kvavlo and the traverse beyond it are dry for about 2 hours; take 1.5 litres. Treat stream water, since livestock graze everywhere.
Phone signal
Weak coverage in Dartlo in summer, often only near certain houses. Kvavlo and the high traverse may catch a signal; Chesho and Parsma usually have little or none. Guesthouses sometimes have Wi-Fi via satellite.
Nearest help
Guesthouse owners in Dartlo and Parsma can contact help by radio or satellite link. Omalo, about 12 km away by jeep track, has the protected areas office and a summer medical point. Serious cases leave Tusheti by helicopter. Dial 112.
Permits
No permit or fee for Dartlo, Kvavlo, Chesho and Parsma. Carry your passport anyway, as the upper Pirikiti valley is close to the Russian border and border police patrol it; registration in Girevi is needed only if you continue beyond Girevi toward the Atsunta Pass. The park rangers in Kvemo Omalo like to know your plan; registering with them costs nothing.
Gear and safety
What to bring
- Light hiking boots or sturdy trail shoes
- Day pack with rain jacket and warm layer; evenings in Parsma are cold even in August
- Sun hat and sun cream
- 1.5 litres of water and a filter
- Cash for guesthouses and drivers; Tusheti has no ATMs
- Torch, as village lighting is minimal
Stay safe
- Tush sheepdogs guard flocks near the villages and on the slopes. Walk slowly past, keep children close, and if a dog charges, stop and wait; the dogs usually back off when you stand still and the shepherd shouts.
- The slope path beyond Kvavlo is narrow in places; take the valley track instead in wet weather or fog.
- Thunderstorms build in the afternoon in July and August. Start early so you are off the open hillside by early afternoon.
- Respect the shrines (khati) found near villages: women should not approach them, and nobody should touch offerings. Ask your host if unsure.
- Help is far away. Dial 112 if you have signal, otherwise ask the nearest guesthouse, where owners usually have a way to call out.
- Day walk only: Dartlo to Kvavlo and back, about 6 km and 350 m up, 2.5 to 3 hours.
- One-day version: Dartlo to Parsma via Kvavlo with a jeep pickup in Parsma, about 12 km, 5 to 6 hours.
- Longer: from Parsma climb to the Nakaicho Pass and descend to Verkhovani in the Gometsari valley (about 5 hours), or continue to Girevi and the Atsunta Pass with a border registration.
- From Omalo: walk the jeep track to Dartlo (about 12 km) on day 1 to add a third day.
- Bad weather swap: stay low on the valley track, or walk from Omalo up to the Keselo fortress towers, a 30-minute climb.
Emergency number in Georgia: 112. Tell your guesthouse your plan before you set off.
Places on and near the route
Tours that include this trail
Dartlo, Kvavlo and Parsma: Tower Villages of the Pirikiti Valley: FAQ
How far is Dartlo from Omalo?
About 12 km by jeep track, 3 to 4 hours on foot or about 40 minutes by 4x4.
Is the Dartlo to Parsma walk hard?
No. It is a moderate walk with one steep climb to Kvavlo and otherwise gentle paths and tracks, suitable for most fit walkers.
Are there guesthouses in Parsma?
A few, open only in summer. Book through your Omalo or Dartlo host, as mobile signal is unreliable.
Do I need a border permit?
Not for Dartlo, Kvavlo, Chesho or Parsma. You only register with the border police in Girevi if you go further toward the Atsunta Pass.
Last checked Oct 2026 by the Maspindzeli team. Mountain conditions change: ask us before you go.
