Tier 1: Basic Consultation
For independent hikers who want expert advice to plan a successful trip.
Price: $95
Need help planning your hike on the Transcaucasian Trail? Whether you’re eyeing a thru-hike or a shorter section, our team is here to guide you with practical, on-the-ground knowledge and personalized advice.
What’s Included:
- A 1-hour Zoom consultation with a member of the TCT team, tailored to your interests and plans.
- A follow-up summary with links to any relevant resources we discussed, such as:
- TCT CalTopo maps
- TCT trail notes
- GPX files and route ideas
- Travel blogs, packing tips, guidebooks, and more
How It Works
- Tell us about your plans: Fill out a short questionnaire to help us tailor the session to you.
- Choose your advisor: Book a call with a TCT team member whose experience matches your goals. Read the team bios below and click their Calendly link to schedule a consultation.
- Pay the consultation fee: Upon booking a call, we’ll send you an invoice. Your consultation fee supports trail building, maintenance, and protection.
- Meet with us: Join a 1-hour Zoom call to talk through your goals, itinerary, questions, and anything else on your mind.
- Get a follow-up: We’ll send you a short summary of the call and links to helpful resources discussed.
Meet the Team
Choose a team member based on your hiking goals and the regions you’re exploring:
Book a call with Meagan
Complete Pre-Consultation Questionnaire
Meagan Neal
Executive Director • Thru-Hiker • Cheese Fanatic
If you’re wondering what the trail is actually like, Meagan’s probably already walked it, mapped it, and/or run it as a fastpacking trip. Since 2018, she’s helped build and design multiple sections of the TCT in Georgia, thru-hiked the entire Armenia route, tested parts of the emerging trail in Azerbaijan, and created some of the Caucasus’ first thru-hiking resources to help you get out on the trail.
Meagan offers no-frills advice on how to pick the right section for you, plan a realistic itinerary, avoid common pitfalls, and get the most out of your hike—whether you’re going for two days or two months. She’s also happy to share cultural travel tips for Georgia (where she’s lived for over 6 years), including where to find the best cheese in the country, which cave monasteries are worth the detour, and where to celebrate your finish with a proper bottle of natural wine.
Ask Meagan About: Thru-hiking strategies, section hike suggestions, cultural travel & food in Georgia and Armenia, and which sections of the TCT are actually runnable.
Elizabeth Yancey
Chief Operating Officer • Logistics Pro • Packing List Mastermind
Elizabeth first came to Georgia in 2011 to teach English—and after a volunteer trail-building stint a decade later, she never really left the mountains behind. Now based in the U.S., she continues to help lead the TCTA’s operations and support new travelers setting out to explore the trail for the first time.
Elizabeth specializes in helping visitors prepare for their first adventure in Georgia: understanding transportation quirks, cultural expectations, what to pack (and what not to), and how to turn potential hurdles into part of the fun. Whether you’re planning a multi-day hike through Svaneti or simply trying to figure out how to get from Tbilisi to the trailhead without losing your mind, Beth can help you start your journey off right—with realistic advice, a sense of humor, and maybe a few extra recommendations for khachapuri along the way.
Ask Elizabeth About: Travel logistics for first-time visitors to Georgia, hiking routes in Svaneti and beyond, cultural tips, and how to make the most of your first days on the ground.
Giorgi Jmukhadze
Technical Manager (Georgia) • Trail Builder • Racha Loyalist
Originally from the mountains of Racha, Giorgi has been with the TCT since 2017—first as a volunteer, and now as the lead on trail design, construction, and logistics for the Georgia section. If you’re hiking any part of the TCT in Svaneti or Racha, there’s a good chance Gio helped scout it, design it, and probably built part of it by hand.
Gio studied sustainable trail building in Seattle with EarthCorps, spent six weeks volunteering on a trail project in Argentina’s Parque Patagonia, and still thinks there’s no better place than his hometown trails near Oni. He specializes in practical, real-world advice about hiking and traveling in Georgia: where the best trails are, how to handle travel logistics in the region, and why Racha deserves way more love than it gets.
Ask Giorgi About: Hiking and logistics in Svaneti and Racha, Georgian culture, trail conditions, and how to get around like a local.
Rima Beridze
International Program Coordinator (Georgia) • Cultural Navigator • Adventuring with Kids
Raised in Batumi and deeply rooted in Georgia’s traditions, Rima helps travelers navigate the cultural and logistical side of trekking across the Caucasus. With her background managing TCT Georgia’s international programs and communications, she makes sure the right plans, the right people, and the right spirit come together—whether you’re preparing for a solo adventure or traveling with family.
If you need help arranging local transportation, understanding the rhythm of village life, choosing family-friendly options, or preparing for the cultural side of your trek, Rima’s the one to talk to. She brings a warm, practical approach to trip planning—so you can spend less time stressing and more time exploring.
Ask Rima About: Georgian culture and language, trip logistics and planning, cultural etiquette, traveling with young kids, and how to turn a trek into a richer, more connected experience.
Nazrin Garibova
Trail Manager (Azerbaijan) • Route Mapper • Citrus Enthusiast
Born in Baku and raised in Virginia, Nazrin first stumbled onto the TCT while looking for hiking routes in the Caucasus—and ended up mapping out some of the first long-distance treks across Azerbaijan. She’s played a leading role in designing the TCT Azerbaijan route, writing trail guides, and figuring out how to navigate everything from backcountry ridgelines to rural guesthouses.
If you’re planning a thru-hike or section hike in Azerbaijan, Nazrin can help you choose the right route, understand local logistics, and navigate cultural differences along the way. She’s spent enough time scouting trails (and occasionally being saved by wandering mountain dogs) to know that every good hike starts with good preparation—and a few extra mandarins.
Ask Nazrin About: Azerbaijan trail options, hiking logistics, cultural etiquette, thru-hiking strategies, and why you should never underestimate citrus season.
Abuzar Aghazada
Program Manager (Azerbaijan) • Mountain Guide • Gear Guru
Born and raised in Baku but happiest in the mountains, Abuzar (Aboo) has spent years helping hikers explore the wilder corners of Azerbaijan. As one of the country’s friendliest mountain guides—and founder of Baku’s first outdoor gear shop—he knows exactly how to prepare travelers for the realities (and rewards) of trekking across the Caucasus.
Aboo helped map and test several key sections of the TCT in Azerbaijan, and now focuses on helping hikers navigate logistics (including the convoluted permissions system required for long-distance hikes in several parts of Azerbaijan), plan better routes, and understand the cultural rhythms of rural mountain life. Whether you need advice on packing for the region, picking the right trail, or finding the best coffee shop once you’re back in town, Aboo’s got you covered. Just don’t ask him to show off his dance moves.
Ask Aboo About: Hiking routes across Azerbaijan, getting permissions for protected areas and border regions, gear prep and packing, trip logistics, cultural tips, and how to make friends (and stay dry) when the weather turns wild.
Gunay Murshudova
Outreach Manager (Azerbaijan) • Mountain Guide • Logistics Whiz
One of Azerbaijan’s first female mountain guides, Gunay brings years of outdoor experience, cultural insight, and organizational expertise to the TCT team. Originally from Gusar—right along the trail she now helps develop—she combines her love of the mountains with a deep passion for building connections across communities.
Before joining the TCT, Gunay worked in human resources and management, honing her skills in trip planning, event coordination, and all the behind-the-scenes logistics that keep big adventures running smoothly. If you’re planning a trek in Azerbaijan, Gunay can help you with everything from cultural tips and trail recommendations to planning safe, welcoming itineraries for solo travelers and women. She’s all about making the trail more accessible, more inclusive, and more memorable for every hiker who sets out.
Ask Gunay About: Azerbaijani cultural insights, female travel tips, trip logistics and planning, local traditions, and how baklava can save the day on a cold mountain night.
Trails For Change (Armenia Team)
Local Experts • Trail Builders • Trip Planning Pros
In Armenia, we partner with Trails For Change, a nonprofit organization based in Yerevan that’s been leading the way in building, maintaining, and promoting the Armenian sections of the Transcaucasian Trail since the very beginning. Their team of hikers, trail builders, and cultural ambassadors knows Armenia’s landscapes and communities inside and out—and they’re here to help you plan a trek that matches your goals and interests.
When you submit a request, Trails For Change will match you with the best member of their team based on your hiking plans, travel style, and timing. Whether you need advice on picking the right section, arranging logistics, understanding local customs, or finding hidden cultural gems along the trail, they’ll help you prepare for an unforgettable experience in Armenia.
Ask the Armenia Team About: Route planning, logistics advice, trail conditions, cultural highlights, local customs, and everything you need to know before hitting the trail.
