Location
One of the most beautiful parts of Georgia – Tusheti is located in the Northeast part of Georgia on the slopes of East Caucasus, between the northern latitude of 42032/-42022/ and eastern longitude of 63017/-63022/. It is one of the administrative parts of Akhmeta District. Tusheti is 1650-4493 meters above sea level and settlements are located from 1900 meters to as high as 2400 meters above sea level.

Tusheti is bordered by Dagestan and Chechnya from east and north and Khevsureti and Kakheti from west and south.

Tusheti is all surrounded by high mountain ranges and picks that are heavily eroded by the multiple gorges of rivers. Those rivers feed two major rivers in Tusheti: Pirikiti Alazani and Tusheti (Golertsi) Alazani rivers.

These two Alazani rivers join close to the village Shenako and the headwater flows beyond Georgian territory. It crosses Dagestan and flows into the Caspian Sea. 

Tusheti is divided into four communities: villages located up from Pirikiti Alazani River gorge are called Pirikiti Community, villages in Gomertsi Alazani gorge are grouped into Gomertsi Community, villages in the basin of Tsuata Tskali River are called Tsova Community and the last community – Chagmis Community is located in the basin of confluence of two Alazani rivers and the administrative center of Tusheti – Omalo, also belongs to this community.

The road to Tusheti starts from the village Pshaveli in Kakheti and it goes through the Abano Pass (2926 m.), which is the highest point on Georgian road map, to Omalo. Abano Pass is only open for few months year-round and even for this period it needs constant repairs from landslides and clean-ups from falling rock pieces and stones.         

You need a 4WD vehicle to travel to Tusheti.

• Tbilisi – Telavi 160 km.
• Telavi – village Pshaveli 32 km.
• Tbilisi – Akhmeta 170 km.
• Village Pshaveli – Omalo 72 km. (it takes 4-5 hours to drive 72 km road from Pshaveli to Omalo)
• Tbilisi – Kvemo Alvani 190 km.
• Telavi – Kvemo Alvani 22 km.
• Akhmeta – Kvemo Alvani 16 km.
• Kvemo Alvani – Omalo 90 km.

Climate
Average temperature in January-February is +3-8 C. The lowest temperature is –13-15 C. Snow lasts for 5-6 months and average temperature in July-August is +14-15 C.

Annual precipitation rates vary from 450mm to 900mm, with an average of 770mm. 69% of total level of precipitation falls from the period of April to September and the rest 31% lasts for the rest of the year as snow, or ice. Maximum depth of snowpack is 2 m and the minimum -- 0.3m.

Climate in Tusheti is Continental. Average number of cloudy days per month is 5,5. Although hail is very uncommon, sleet is quite usual. Tusheti is not windy, soft breeze is most common. Average speed of wind is 7-14 MPS and wind blows only 10% of time in year.

Hydro resources
Tusheti has two major rivers: Gomertsi (Tushetian) Alazani River and Pirikiti Alazani River. They join close to the village Shenako and the headwater continues to flow across the State border to Dagestan, where it is called “Andis-kous” and terminates in the Caspian Sea. Gomertsi (Tushetian) Alazani River originates from the Mountain Borbalo, 3000 meters above sea level, while Pirikiti Alazani River starts eastern slope from Atsunta-Tebuo Range (3000 m.).

Most of the tributaries of Gomertsi (Tushetian) Alazani River (length – 53km) are from the right side. Major tributaries include Shavstkali, Vakisdziri Khevi, Ortshakli (with its tributories – Vestmos Khevi, Sakharisi, Shavkldis Khevi, Samertskliis Khevi, Sabuis Khevi) and Khisos (Chanchakhovanis) Alazani with its tributaries (Ormotgoris Khevi, Phitsris Chala, Alatovanis Khevi, Enchos Khevi, Khisos Khevi and Nakhiduris Tskali). The only tributary from the left side is Tsutis Khevi.

Left side tributaries of Pirikiti Alazani River include Tursiris Khevi, Chotiosis Khevi, Girevis Khevi, Parsmisis Khevi, Cheshos Khevi, Tsirbevis Khevi, Tsiskvilebis Khevi, Kvavlos Khevi, Danosis Khevi and Chigos Khevi. Larovanis Tskali is another tributary of Pirikiti Alazani River from the right side.

Rivers in Tusheti partially freeze during winter.

There are multiple small-size lakes in Tusheti of different origins. In sub-alpine zone (where Ortskali River originates) there are glacial lakes. Lakes in this group are very small in size and none of them is larger than 20 meter in diameter. Similar lakes are also found at the origins of Shavikldis Khevi and Vebus Khevi (rivers). Up to the origins of Khalovani Khevi there is one subglacial lake (also originated from glacier melt but covered with ice all year round).

On one of the slopes of Chanchakhovani Range there is a very deep lake. It is 12-15m long and 5-6 m wide. Close to the ruins of village Hegho there is one more lake with a significant outflow and it is 200 m long.

There are number of swamps on the territory of Tusheti that were formed as a result of evaporation of small-size lakes. Swamps are found in alpine as well as sub-nival zones and close to inhabited areas. For example, swamps in the adjacent areas of villages Shenako, Omalo, Diklo, Tursiekhi and Khakhabo are formed as a result of ground waters being too close to the surface.

There are numerous natural mineral and therapeutic waters in Tusheti. “Chogis Tskali” (Tskali -- water) is very salty with high concentration of chlorine. At the bottom of Vedzi Hill there are two springs of drinking water with an acerbic taste. Close to villages Khiso, Shanko, Parsma, Nasoplari and Chontio there are number of alkaline-salty springs and three similar types of springs are also found close to the village Omalo. In the adjacent areas of villages Dochu and Khakhabo there are springs with high iron concentration.