The Transcaucasian Trail (TCT) is a long-distance hiking trail under development in the

Caucasus The Caucasus () or Caucasia (), is a region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, mainly comprising Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and parts of Southern Russia. The Caucasus Mountains, including the Greater Caucasus range, have historically ...

through

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

and

Armenia Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification of world regions places Armenia in Western Asia; the CIA World Factbook , , and ''Ox ...

. It has been called one of the world's greatest places by

Time Time is the continued sequence of existence and events that occurs in an apparently irreversible succession from the past, through the present, into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequence events, to ...

in 2019. A

long-distance trail A long-distance trail (or long-distance footpath, track, way, greenway) is a longer recreational trail mainly through rural areas used for hiking, backpacking, cycling, horse riding or cross-country skiing. They exist on all continents excep ...

in the Caucasus has been a lingering idea for trekkers and hikers for many years since they started hiking remote parts of the region. Many sections of the TCT already exist, used by local community members and shepherds for centuries. These trails cross long valleys and traverse mammoth mountains to connect mountain villages together. In recent years many of these trails have fallen into disrepair, and while many trails are known to locals, they are difficult to navigate for visitors and tourists. In 2015, two former

Peace Corps The Peace Corps is an independent agency and program of the United States government that trains and deploys volunteers to provide international development assistance. It was established in March 1961 by an executive order of President John F. ...

volunteers, Paul Stephens and Jeff Haack, mapped and charted known routes in the Republic of Georgia. During this time they succeeded in locating many connections between known trails and publicizing the concept of a long-distance trail. At the same time, explorer Tom Allen began an attempt to hike the length of the Republic of Armenia, which was unsuccessful due to an absence of known routes and detailed maps. Allen devised a 'Transcaucasian Trail' project to remedy these problems, and discovered Stephens' shared vision when attempting to register the same

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, at which time the two decided to collaborate. In late 2015, Allen approached 4x4 manufacturer

Land Rover Land Rover is a British brand of predominantly four-wheel drive, off-road capable vehicles, owned by multinational car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), since 2008 a subsidiary of India's Tata Motors. JLR currently builds Land Rovers ...

and the

Royal Geographical Society The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers), often shortened to RGS, is a learned society and professional body for geography based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical scien ...

for funding to scout a potential route traversing the

Lesser Caucasus The Lesser Caucasus, also called Caucasus Minor, is the second of the two main mountain ranges of Caucasus mountains, of length about . The western portion of the Lesser Caucasus overlaps and converges with east Turkey and northwest Iran. It runs ...

through Armenia and southern Georgia, launching the 'Transcaucasian Expedition' in April 2016. In July of the same year, Stephens initiated the first

trail A trail, also known as a path or track, is an unpaved lane or small road usually passing through a natural area. In the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, a path or footpath is the preferred term for a pedestrian or hiking trail. Th ...

construction and maintenance project in Svaneti, Georgia, employing international volunteers to carry out the work. The Transcaucasian Trail Association

nonprofit organisation A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

and Transcaucasian Trail Armenia

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were formed later that year. In 2017, the volunteer trail building programme expanded to

Dilijan National Park Dilijan National Park is one of the four national parks of Armenia. Occupying an area of 240 km², it is located in the north-eastern Tavush Province of Armenia. It is known for its forest landscapes, rich biodiversity, medicinal mineral water ...

in Armenia and continued in the

Svaneti Svaneti or Svanetia (Suania in ancient sources; ka, სვანეთი ) is a historic province in the northwestern part of Georgia (country), Georgia. It is inhabited by the Svans, an ethnic subgroup of Georgians. Geography Situated o ...

region of Georgia. Today, over 400 km of the proposed route of the trail has been improved and marked in Georgia and Armenia. The long-term goal is to build two trail corridors of approximately 1,500 km each. The "northern route" would follow the Greater Caucasus Mountains through northern Georgia and Azerbaijan from the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, though parts of this route are problematic due to conflict zones. Meanwhile, a "southern route" will traverse the Lesser Caucasus Mountains through southern Georgia and Armenia, taking hikers from the Black Sea to the River Arax at Armenia's border with Iran.

References

External links

* {{official, https://www.transcaucasiantrail.org Hiking trails in Georgia (country) Hiking trails in Armenia Tourist attractions in Azerbaijan

References

Further reading

External links