Tusheti National Park, National park in Kakheti, Georgia

Tusheti National Park is a protected area in the Greater Caucasus range in northeastern Georgia, covering alpine meadows, glaciers, rivers, and dense forests. The terrain moves from deep gorges to rocky high peaks, with old stone villages sitting in between.

The area was designated a national park in 2003 with support from the World Bank and the Global Environment Facility. Long before that, it had been home to mountain communities living in relative isolation for centuries.

The villages of Tusheti are known for their old defense towers, which BudgetTravel cited in 2011 when naming the park one of the "12 best places you've never heard of", alongside the local cuisine and folk culture. The park administration also works to support the interests of 50 nomadic communities and to conserve the linked historic monuments.

The only road into the area crosses the Abano Pass and is generally open from June through October, depending on snow conditions. A high-clearance vehicle is strongly recommended, and it is worth checking road status before setting out.

The park protects the only intact habitat of the endangered wild goat (Capra aegagrus). A pilot project by NACRES, an IUCN member, with local partners Tusheti Guide and Friends of Tusheti Protected Areas, set up monitoring and trained guides and rangers so visitors can watch the goats while poaching is curbed.