When summer ends in Tusheti, the mountain air turns crystal clear, birches glow yellow on the slopes, and the sound of bells drifts along the trails. Autumn transhumance has begun: the seasonal movement of sheep from high alpine pastures to winter grazing in the lowlands. For travellers, it is a rare chance to witness a living tradition and walk the same routes on foot.
The heart of this journey is Tusheti, one of Georgia's most scenic regions. In summer the flocks graze alpine meadows, and as autumn arrives the shepherds lead them down. The road over the Abano Pass, at roughly 2,850 metres, links Tusheti with Kakheti. It is considered one of the country's most dramatic mountain roads, and hikers prize its views of Greater Caucasus ridges and deep gorges.
It is easy to begin on the Kakheti side. The Alazani Valley is known for vineyards, monasteries and traditional winemaking, and beyond it the landscape transforms: vine terraces give way to forests, then open slopes. In a few hours you travel the same path shepherds take with their flocks. In Tusheti itself, look for villages such as Omalo, Dikhlo, Shenako and Dartlo, with their stone towers and slate-roofed houses.
Tusheti's pastoral culture is also a culinary one. Guda, a sharp cheese traditionally matured in sheepskin, is the region's famed speciality. You can taste it, along with fresh bread, khinkali and home cooking, in local guesthouses. Hosts are happy to talk about the flocks, the weather and the old trails, and their warmth is part of the experience.
Plan carefully for an autumn trek. Mountain weather changes quickly and the pass is not open all year, so allow flexible time, pack warm layers, sturdy boots and a waterproof jacket, ask locals about road conditions, and consider hiring a guide. Give animals space, avoid startling the flocks, and ask before photographing people.
Autumn transhumance is more than a route; it is an encounter with a Georgia where nature, work and tradition are inseparable. When you are ready to walk it, build your itinerary with the YourGeorgia.travel route planner(https://yourgeorgia.travel) and follow the shepherds from Kakheti's vineyards to the heights of the Caucasus.