GUDAURI - plan you ski trip to the best Georgian ski resort

Winter holidays in Gudauri - one of the highest and pristine ski areas in Europe (2000 m. - 3300 m. AMSL). The cheapest ski passes in Europe, no queues at the ski lifts

Big mountains, one of the highest and pristine ski areas and the cheapest ski passes in Europe. Just in a couple of hours of flight from you. Since 1987. Recommended by CNN, National Geographic, InTheSnow Magazine, Prime Skiing Magazine, and Outside magazin.

When to go

Despite the fact that winter season in Gudauri resort usually begins on the first weekend of December in case there is snow, snow conditions sufficient for guaranteed high-quality freeride and access to one-day ski-tour routes appear in the second half of January and last until mid-April. Time from mid-April to the end of May is the best time for ski-tour in northern cirques, located at high altitudes (Chaukhi, Khorisar, Mepiskalo, Sherhota) and glacier travel in the area of Kazbek mountain. The best season for multi-day backcountry camping is March-April.

Getting There & Back

Tbilisi Airport, the nearest to Gudauri, is located in 125 km, 2 hours’ drive from the resort.
Cost of a taxi from the airport is 60-120 USD per one way for a 3-seater car (often without winter tires). The cost of the preordered transfer is from 65 USD (for a 3-seater 4x4 car with winter tires) to 120 USD (for a 20-seater minibus). Transfer offers...

Getting Around

Taxi within the resort costs 10-20 GEL (about 3-7 USD) per car, taxi to the beginning or end of ski-touring routes costs 50-150 GEL per car, depending on the distance. Taxi can be ordered from any hotel or found near food stores.

Sleeping

1. Official accommodation booking service at the resort: www.gudauri.com
2. Accommodation in the apartments on New Gudauri area: www.gudauri.travel/en/
Cheaper than on booking.com, instant reservation and support of your reservation.
3. Services booking.com & airbnb.com as well.

Best restaurants

Upper Gudauri: “Dariali” (on the road, near the “Edelweiss” and “Retro” hotels);
New Gudauri: “Mta Vartsla”, “Drunk Cherry”, Gamarjoba;
Gudauri center: Gagieti, Truso;
Lower Gudauri: Khreki.

Drinking

Best après-ski: Travel Bar, Drunk Cherry, Black Dog.

Sights

Ananuri fortress, Mleta Descent, Lomisi Monastery, Russia-Georgia friendship monument and Cross Pass, Sameba church, Kazbek Mt., Sno fortress, Stone Heads of Sno valley, Chaukhi mountains, Georgian traditional feast – read details...

Money

All hotels, restaurants, and bars accept payments via VISA&MasterCard. Cash is useful for ordering taxi and buying souvenirs. ATM is available in the New Gudauri opposite the Travel Bar and in the Gudmarket store, and in the Central Gudauri - in the Smart hypermarket, outside the Gagieti cafe, and in the Marco Polo hotel. You can change cash at the TBC Bank in the Marco Polo hotel (from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except weekends) or across the street from the Smart hypermarket in the Gudauri Center. In the Smart hypermarket and in all exchange offices of New Gudauri, the exchange rate of cash currency is less favorable.

Rental with ski touring equipment

Ski-tour equipment is available only in a few points of equipment rental in the Gudauri resort New Gudauri: Burusport hotel (skis, splitboards, climbing skins, boots, avalanche equipment); Сarpe Diem hotel (skis, climbing skins, boots).
Central Gudauri: Gudauri Hut hotel (skis, climbing skins, boots).

Mountain safety

There is no avalanche service in Gudauri. Information on the state of slopes and the level of avalanche danger can be obtained at Travel Bar www.gudauri.bar
Resque Gudauri: 112
Helicopter: +995 32 2243 503, +995 595 350 900, +995 595 404 606

Maps

Trekking Map # 4: Khevi, Mt. Kazbegi, Gudauri, Truso (1:50 000)
Topographic maps of the region can be bought at Travel Bar www.gudauri.bar
Unofficial information on the state of slopes and the level of avalanche danger can be obtained from local guides in the evening at Travel Bar www.gudauri.bar