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Gudauri is the biggest ski resort in Georgia. It’s located in the Greater Caucasus, 120 km (75 mi) north of Tbilisi (Georgian capital). Getting to Gudauri is not complicated, so enjoying this country's most modern skiing experience is relatively easy. Offering 75 km (46 mi) of slopes, 15 lifts, and snowmaking at an altitude between 2,000 and 3,279 m (6562 and 10,758 ft), Gudauri is still considerably cheaper by European standards. Some would say it is the best bang for the buck in the world. Gudauri ski resort covers the needs of a broad group of skiers, from beginners to advanced, apres skiers to backcountry enthusiasts. The lifts usually operate from late December to mid-April. Gudauri ski resort is developing its reputation from season to season, gaining status among skiers from the Middle East and European powder hounds.
Gudauri Ski Resort is located on the south-facing plateau of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range in Georgia. It is a part of the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region and Kazbegi municipality. In this northeastern part of Georgia, you will find mighty peaks that are also a part of the nearby Kazbegi National Park. 120 km (75 mi) north of Tbilisi, along the Georgian Military Road, Gudauri ski resort is 2,000 m (6,562 ft) above sea level.
Working at Gudauri for a whole season, I had several trips to the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi. Tbilisi Airport is 135 km (84 mi) from Gudauri and is the nearest airport to the ski resort. Kutaisi Airport is also an option with 296 km (184 mi) of distance to the west.
Although it seems trouble-free, the commute can get interesting with only one road option. Georgian Military road which takes you to Gudauri is the primary method of Russia - Georgia transit, sometimes resulting in endless queues of lorries mixed with stunt-performing taxi drivers.
Once you are at Tbilisi Airport, get ready to bargain. Of course, if you decide to stay in Tbilisi for a day or two (this is a perfect chance - the city is worth visiting) and have already booked a hotel, ask for an airport pick-up. If you want to stay in the city on a budget, we recommend hostels or Airbnb. To get to your place, we recommend the taxi app Bolt if you do not want to bargain at the airport and avoid overpaying a taxi without a meter.
From Tbilisi to Gudauri, you can jump in a Marshrutka (traditional minibus type of public transport), which you can find leaving for Gudauri every hour or so until 5 pm from Didube station. It should cost you up to 15 GEL (6 USD).
You can get a private taxi if you're traveling with your gear and worried about space. Bolt taxis are 150 GEL (60 USD).
Car rental is possible in Tbilisi with starting rates at around 100 GEL (40 USD). Keep in mind that the road is not well maintained, and monitoring the forecast is a smart way to prepare for the drive. You may need chains. If you plan to stay in New Gudauri, parking spots are tricky to find. There is only one free smaller parking lot, leaving you with next-to-the-road parking options. Streets in Gudauri need maintenance, a reason why you will see cars without front bumpers. Check if ice hangs from the roof when parking next to a building. Icicles can sometimes reach up to a meter before maintenance workers clear them. Avoid walking or spending time directly under rooftop edges because ice can seriously damage you or your vehicle.
Hitchhiking is common in Georgia, and solo travelers or small groups of backpackers can easily hitch a ride. Georgians can be very welcoming and warm, but caution is advised.
Once you are in Gudauri, it is good to know how the town infrastructure is divided:
Lower Gudauri
Visitors can find various accommodations in Lower Gudauri, from budget guesthouses to luxury hotels. Several restaurants and cafes serve Georgian and international cuisine. The neighborhood is also home to a small grocery store and a pharmacy.
One of the main attractions in Lower Gudauri is the nearby 7th-century Gergeti Trinity Church, which sits atop a hill overlooking the village. Visitors can hike up to the church or take a jeep tour to reach it. Overall, Lower Gudauri is a quieter and more traditional alternative to the bustling ski resort of Upper Gudauri. It offers a peaceful retreat for those looking to experience the beauty of the Caucasus Mountains and Georgian culture.
Upper Gudauri has hotels, restaurants, and a ski rental shop. You can easily reach the Shino lift by walking or skiing from most hotels. Thanks to the slower development, lift lines are typically shorter on weekends and holidays, and the rest of the resort is still very easily accessible. Upper Gudauri offers the best combination of cheaper accommodation and good lift access.
Gudauri Center surrounds the lowest elevation ski lift, Pirveli, which begins just behind Marco Polo Hotel. A few ski-in/ski-out hotels line the slopes and along the main road. Several rental shops, a ski school, and an overcrowded supermarket are located around the base of the Pirveli lift. The new high-speed 6-seater lift should handle the congestion around this area.
New Gudauri has become the center of after-skiing activities, located at the base of the Good Aura Gondola. A supermarket, several large apartment buildings, numerous restaurants, bars, spas, a snow tubing/sledding hill, and plenty of ski rental shops occupy this area. New Gudauri is the place for those who want the easiest access to everything Gudauri offers.
You can find Taxis all around the resort’s infrastructure. Mainly, there are two spots in New Gudauri for them to wait for the clients; in front of the supermarket and in Black Dog Bar. For the visitors of Gudauri Center who want to experience a night in New Gudauri, a 20 min walk on the road or a taxi ride is an option from next to Gudauri Lodge or Marco Polo hotel.
Although the resort sometimes opens at the beginning of December, Gudauri was not that lucky for the past two seasons. If you plan to visit this gem, the resort will definitely be open from late December or early January onward. Due to the lack of snow at the start of the winter, the resort tends to be quiet. Gudauri is busiest during the first ten days of January and from mid-February to mid-March.
The amount of snowfall in Gudauri varies from season to season. If needed, the ski resort operates snow-making machines to produce artificial snow on three slopes. A critical phenomenon to consider is Miracle March.
March is the best month to come freeride skiing in Gudauri because of the incredibly reliable snowfall. The snow in Gudauri is dry and of good quality, making skiing on and off-piste enjoyable. The resort doesn’t do the best job grooming the slopes, so I advise caution while blasting the pistes, especially in the busy weeks when many people try to learn how to ski independently.
In general, I have never experienced so many sunny days at a resort of such altitude. Even if you are a fan of goggle tan, don’t forget your sunscreen, especially if you like to spend most of your day at the higher lifts.
Compared to the US and European ski resorts with similar status to Gudauri (the country's main ski resort), Gudauri ski resort seems smaller if you only stick to basic information and look at the resort map. The vertical difference and the fact that the whole resort is above the treeline, skiable between most slopes, make Gudauri a unique ski resort. The view from New Gudauri (where the central infrastructure is) is pretty impressive too, a freerider’s dream.
Most of the lifts and slopes are south facing. A gondola called Kobi - Gudauri 1 at the top of the Shino chairlift or Gudaura gondola can take you up to the Kobi pass. From there, you can descend the resort's north-facing (backside) to the Kobi Valley and return with cable cars (popular for non-skiers too).
The easiest and most common approach to the lift infrastructure is from the New Gudauri (with the Gudaura gondola) or the Lower Gudauri (using the Pirveli chairlift).
Both locations have a beginner area at the bottom, but the best learning slope is up the mountain next to the Gudaura top station, under the Snowpark chairlift.
Important notice: If you decide to ski the resort's Northside to the Kobi valley, be aware of the closing times of gondolas that will bring you back (Kobi 1 and Kobi 2). Signs are in front of the Kobi-Gudauri 1 (Kobi Pass) gondola.
Toilet stations are placed at the top of the Gudaura gondola and Soliko chairlift. If you can handle it, visit some of the restaurants in New Gudauri. They don’t seem to mind if you go to the toilet without buying anything.
The resort marks levels of difficulty with the color scheme of green (very easy), blue (easy), red (intermediate), and black (advanced/expert). Color indication of slopes is accurate, except for the Pirveli slope (skiing to Gudauri Center), marked green but with a slightly steeper part where many people are struggling or even walking down. The resort should mark it as blue or bypass it with a mellower cat track. Also, like in other resorts, beginners often find themselves tricked by the blue slopes.
Be cautious of snowmobiles when spending time or learning how to ski in beginner areas. They have no rules about riding on the slopes. You can also rent one in New Gudauri.
Modern Doppelmayr and Poma lifts ensure the resort does not develop lift lines like in Europe, the US, or Canada. The lifts are fast and spacious. There are gondolas for ten people, as well as six-seater chair lifts. Of course, there are peak holiday weeks (holidays in Dubai or Israel) when lines form, but nothing too serious.
Other features and services
There are no official trails, but you can find some tour providers with guided snowshoe hikes. One is Vagabond Adventures (they also offer guided ski tours).
You can do tours in one day or multiple days, staying in alpine huts. You can head up to the third highest mountain in Georgia (Kazbek - 5,034 m / 16,515 ft), visit a nearby Lomisi monastery from the 9th century, or hike to the nearest valleys.
Backcountry and lift-accessible freeride skiing is one of the many reasons Gudauri ski resort is gaining popularity. You can easily find untouched lines if you are quick enough inbound (It is pretty easy, considering the lifts start at 10 am). Inbound lines are skied in a day after the snowfall, and without worrying about slides, you can have tons of good turns inboounds.
There is a ski patrol and police, but not much backcountry avalanche safety protocol. Every backcountry skier is responsible to know the conditions and manage their group.
For the ski touring crowd, this place is a paradise. The official resort map marks many of the freeride zones. Skiing the faces of Bidara, Sadzele, and Chrdili (Chrdili being the safest one) are all possible without a guide if you have previous experience. However, you will notice that this terrain is not completely avalanche-free, and you will have to be aware. I recommend spending the morning on Chrdili and Kudebi’s West face. Kudebi is a higher option and will get skied sooner than Chrdili because it is directly lift-accessible. For skiing Chrdili you can descend East a couple of hundred meters from the top station of the Soliko chairlift and then work your way up to the ridge with a nice view of New Gudauri.
Bidara mountain is on the looker’s left while taking the Kobi - Gudauri 1 gondola up to the Kobi pass. From there you can traverse and hike up to the ridge. A popular line to ski is the one back to the resort but when the conditions are right, the West face of the Bidara mountain offers great powder skiing. Before you go, secure a taxi number from one of the restaurants so you can return to the resort after your run.
The north side of the resort has off-piste options as well, including gullies and open runs. There is plenty to ski in a week, even when staying off the groomed slopes.
A ski pass is valid on both sides of the ski resort, and a 1-day adult pass costs 70 GEL (27 USD). Occaisionally in 2021/2022, there was a 30% discount if you bought the pass with Mastercard at the counter next to the Gudaura gondola in New Gudauri.
You can visit the Gudauri tourist information office in Tbilisi.
Georgian National Tourism Administration
4 Sanapiro street, 0105 Tbilisi, Georgia
Tel.: +995 / 32 / 2436999
Fax: +995 / 32 / 2436987
General inquiries: info@gnta.ge
Fast food places at the top of the Gudaura station are a great option for hungry skiers. You can also eat on the slopes at White Rabbit Snowpark, Soliko restaurant, and Vitamin Cafe (delicious tomato soup). If you want a proper sit-down meal, there are many dining options in Gudauri. Most restaurants are located in New Gudauri, where the Gudaura gondola bottom station is.
You can find Georgian traditional food such as Khachapuri and Khinkali in various places, but the most classic is the aptly-named ‘Georgian Restaurant’. Platforma and Friends are also good options.
For pizza lovers, Italian Restaurant Posticino is the best option and you don’t have to take a long break from the slopes. Black Dog Bar is an excellent dinner option, serving some tasty burgers, and the night there often escalates into a party. When you fancy a cocktail, Travel Bar is the place to go.
Spar supermarket in New Gudauri is usually very crowded in the afternoon and on the weekends. You should do your shopping during the day or on weekdays. Another supermarket is next to the Black Dog bar and down the hill across the road from the Police station.
For best access to the slopes, bars, and restaurants, stay in New Gudauri. Mostly there are private apartments. You can book them through Airbnb and Gudauri Travel. However, there is more affordable accomodation in Upper Gudauri and Lower Gudauri.
In Gudauri Center, the Marco Polo Hotel and Gudauri Lodge are popular and convenient for families who want to ski directly to the lift.
Georgians celebrate New Year’s twice! Georgia’s location between Europe and Asia results in unique traditions and customs, celebrating New Year on January 1st and the Old New Year on January 14th by the Julian calendar. Watching fireworks and partying is the story during the first two weeks of Januaryi.
Didi Disco and Black Dog Bar parties fire up every weekend in New Gudauri. Drunk Cherry is also known for its late nights with live music.
The Russia–Georgia Friendship Monument is on the Georgian Military Road between Gudauri and Jvarri pass. Built in 1983, this round stone monument is an excellent viewpoint overlooking the Devil's Valley and surrounding mountains.
If you’re willing to skip a day of skiing at the ski resort, keen hikers and ski-touring lovers can head up to Lomisa Monastery, an Orthodox church from the 9th century located on the mountain ridge between Ksani and Aragvi valleys. It is a pleasant cultural experience. The monk is very hospitable, showing you around the church and often offering you tea.
