The Intercultural Education Fund began to realise the ‘Promotion and development of agro-tourism in Pankisi’ project at the end of June, 2007. In the subsequent months, from July 2 to August 27, the leading experts from the Foundation together with members from their partner Kaukaz.Net Foundation, settled in Georgia, in the Pankisi gorge and regions bordering the area – Tusheti, Pshavi and central Kakheti. Polish experts in collaboration with members of the ‘Marszua Kavkaz’, a Georgian organisation, made an inventory of the region’s cultural and environmental resources, and collected information about the tourist centre in Pankisi. 

The results of the findings will soon appear on the website devoted to eco-tourism in Pankisi. During their stay in the Pankisi gorge, Polish experts visited most Kistebi’s homes that prepared their dwellings for tourists in the area. The Polish team also worked out 3 high-mountain tracks leading from Pankisi to Tusheti, and collected materials about places of interest in light of their historical and cultural significance in the Pankisi gorge and other areas in the vicinity. These included: an Old Mosque in Duisi, new mosques in Omalo and Birkiani, an Amphitheatre near Duisis, a fortification from the period of Queen Tamara – Baltagor, a Georgian Orthodox Church of St.George in Birkiani, the Orthodox Church remains in Chomi and Chorbalo, a Fort and Kakucy Colokaszwili castle, and a Georgian Orthodox Church of Jesus’ parents from the XVI Century in Matani.

A group of Tbilisi journalists from one of the best known Georgian television stations (Rustawi2) was also invited, and they prepared a program about the possibilities in expanding agro-tourism in the region.