Kakheti / Tusheti · Georgia
Abano Pass
M44Zemo Alvani to Omalo
One of the world’s most extreme mountain drives: an entirely unpaved Soviet-era track climbing to 2,826 m with no guardrails, opening the ancient highland province of Tusheti for about 16 weeks a year.
The M44 leaves the Alazani Valley at Zemo Alvani and begins a relentless ascent on a graded gravel track, no tarmac on the whole route. Tight switchbacks and cliff-edge traverses lead to the Abano Pass at 2,826 m, one of the highest drivable passes in the Caucasus, before dropping into the remote Tusheti highland of medieval towers and stone villages. A bulldozer opens it in late May; it closes with the first October snows. High-clearance 4WD required.
An entirely unpaved Soviet-era track to the medieval towers of Tusheti, regularly ranked among the most dangerous roads on earth and open barely sixteen weeks a year.
Why we picked it
Scenery
Best seasons
In these collections
In these Grand Tours
In these guides
Abano Pass on the map51.2 mi · point to point
Navigate to the start: Apple Maps · Google Maps
Character
More hairpins than 9 in 10 roads · steeper than 9 in 10 roads here in the catalogue.
Corners
busiest around mile 21Elevation
under 4%4–8%over 8%422.9 – 2,865.1 mPoints of interest3 stops
- Abano PassViewpoint33 mi in
- Keselo TowersViewpoint50 mi in
- Pshaveli Fortress ComplexLandmark8.3 mi in
Hazards
- No guardrails
- Deep drop-offs
- River fords
- Rockfall
- Mud and loose gravel
- Closed October to late May
- 4WD mandatory
Is Abano Pass open? Typical season and live summit weather ›
Sources
“Clinging to cliff sides and carving along the bottom of deep gorges at the foot of towering cliff faces, the road is a combination of a rough and unpredictable surface, seemingly endless tight turns, steep climbs, no guardrails, deep gorges, and gushing waterfalls.”
Verified route: mapped from real road geometry and fact-checked by a human editor. How roads get checked
Driving the Abano Pass: quick answers
How long does it take to drive the Abano Pass?
How difficult is the Abano Pass to drive?
When is the best time to drive the Abano Pass?
Is the Abano Pass fully paved?
Nearby roads
The closest great drives to Abano Pass.
