Caucasus peaks soaring high into the sky, endless plains of untouched powder, and prices that will make your head spin compared to the Alpine resorts. Georgia is no longer just a summer destination for wine lovers and mountain hikers. In recent years it has become a genuine winter paradise that lures skiers from all over the world with huge helpings of snow and gorgeous, wild scenery.
The local ski resorts have undergone massive modernization. You’ll find modern chairlifts, luxury hotels with pools, and slopes so wide you won’t be squeezed in with anyone else. And what’s more, skiing in Georgia offers absolutely unbeatable freeride opportunities that draw pros from across Europe. Where else could you ski at an altitude of over three thousand metres and, after dark, drop into a cosy restaurant for hot cheesy khachapuri for a couple of euros?
Let’s dive into a complete guide to skiing in Georgia so you know exactly where to head, what to watch out for, and how to get the absolute most out of this winter holiday. The currency is the Georgian lari (GEL), and as a rough guide 1 GEL is about €0.33, though the rate obviously fluctuates, so it’s always best to double-check prices before you travel.
TL;DR
- Best resorts: Gudauri is the flagship for advanced skiers and freeride fans, Bakuriani is ideal for families with kids and beginners.
- When to go: The season runs from late December to mid-April, with the best snow conditions usually in January and February.
- Prices: Among the lowest in Europe. A full-day lift pass in Gudauri costs around 70 GEL, in Bakuriani 55 GEL.
- How to get there: Ideally fly to Tbilisi for Gudauri (2 hours away) or to Kutaisi for Bakuriani. From the airport, use GoTrip transfers or local marshrutka minibuses.
- Who it’s for: Complete beginners on gentle slopes, experienced skiers, and adrenaline junkies chasing heli-skiing will all find their thing here.
- Accommodation: From cheap guesthouses to modern ski-in/ski-out resorts with wellness.
Why go skiing in Georgia
The Georgian mountains have huge appeal that the groomed but often overcrowded Austrian or Italian Alps struggle to match. The main draw is clearly the best value for money in Europe. A day lift pass at the top-tier Gudauri resort costs just 70 lari, which is roughly a third of the price of Alpine resorts. With the money you save you can treat yourself to much better accommodation, or pay for a freeride guide — yet another huge reason to come here.
The Caucasus offers absolutely spectacular powder plains where you won’t be bothered by any trees or rocks, because many resorts sit high above the tree line. People say you can experience some of the best off-piste runs in the world here, and experienced freeriders can’t get enough of it. On top of that, you won’t run into the kind of crowds you get in Western Europe, so you’ll skip the endless lift queues and the churned-up afternoon moguls. Add legendary Georgian hospitality and amazingly cheap, hearty food, and you’ve got the recipe for a perfect winter holiday.
When to go skiing in Georgia
The Georgia ski season usually kicks off in late December and stretches until mid-April. If you want a guaranteed proper winter wonderland, go in January or February, when snow conditions tend to be most stable and temperatures keep the snow in perfect shape. These months are ideal for deep-powder hunters and off-piste freeride lovers.
March, on the other hand, is made for those of you who prefer sunny days, sunbathing on the terraces of mountain bars, and spring firn. The days are getting longer, the sun has real power, and accommodation prices start slowly dropping. 💡 Tip: The weather in the Caucasus can be very unpredictable and snowfall varies from year to year, so you definitely can’t count on two metres of snow lying here from December. Always check the current webcams before buying flights.
You also have to reckon with the logistical pitfalls of the winter Caucasus. The Georgian Military Road in particular, which you’ll take from Tbilisi, is often tested by avalanches and heavy snowfall in winter. The worst stretches over the Jvari Pass are actually beyond the resort towards Kazbegi, and full closures rarely affect the actual arrival into Gudauri. Still, I’d recommend checking the official portal roads.ge before you set off, so you don’t get stuck in traffic jams.
How to reach the Georgian ski slopes
The easiest and cheapest way to Georgia is by air, and your destination airport should depend on exactly which resort you’re heading for. If your goal is the flagship Gudauri ski centre, I recommend looking for flights to the capital Tbilisi, from where it’s just a two-hour drive into the mountains. If family-friendly Bakuriani or the more distant resorts appeal to you more, the airport in Kutaisi will serve you much better — Wizz Air flies there very cheaply from a range of European airports. For cheap flights, low-cost carriers like Wizz Air, Ryanair and easyJet are worth comparing across your nearest hubs.
From the airport you can get up to the mountains in several ways. For the trip from Tbilisi to Gudauri, the most popular option is a shared marshrutka minibus that departs from the Didube bus station, and the ride costs roughly 15 GEL per person. If you’re travelling in a group, with lots of luggage, or you like your comfort, it’s worth booking a private transfer through the GoTrip platform, where the trip costs around 150 to 180 lari and the driver picks you up right at the airport at a time you choose.
You can easily reach Bakuriani by marshrutka via the popular spa town of Borjomi, or by train. The historic “Kukushka” narrow-gauge railway with a bridge by Eiffel himself, which is often mentioned in old guidebooks, sadly hasn’t run since the covid pandemic, so today it’s more of a photogenic historical curiosity. If you want to rent a car (for example through RentalCars or DiscoverCars) and drive yourself, be very careful, make sure you have a 4×4 vehicle, and snow chains in the boot are an absolute must in the winter months.
Where to stay
💡 Tip for accommodation and experiences: We prefer to look for accommodation on Booking.com, which usually has the best cancellation terms. Tickets, tours and activities are then worth comparing and buying through GetYourGuide.
Choosing the right mountain accommodation is often the most important decision of the whole trip. Before picking a resort, think carefully about what you expect from your stay. Experienced riders and couples often look for more luxurious accommodation right on the slope — so-called ski-in and ski-out hotels, where in the morning you slide out in your ski boots straight onto the lift. Families with kids will appreciate quieter guesthouses away from the noisy après-ski bars, while a group of students will probably go for cheaper apartments in the lower parts of the resort.
In Gudauri you’ll find accommodation of every kind and the infrastructure here is enormous. Be very careful of old names and misinformation online, though — the famous “Rooms Hotel Gudauri” you’ll occasionally read about actually doesn’t exist at all; the Rooms chain has hotels in Kazbegi and Tbilisi.
Among the best accommodation options is the legendary Hotel Marco Polo Gudauri, a huge ski-in/ski-out resort with excellent facilities, or the modern Gudauri Lodge with a beautiful wellness centre and pool, where you can perfectly warm up your muscles after skiing. If you’re after the best views of the valley and don’t mind walking a bit, the Monte Hotel is amazing. Fans of minimalist design will surely fall for the peaceful Quadrum Ski & Yoga Resort, which is built entirely from shipping containers. If you prefer to cook for yourself, check out the huge apartment complex New Gudauri.
If you’re heading to Bakuriani, focus on cosier, family-friendly hotels. A great choice for families with kids is Crystal Hotel & SPA, which offers an indoor pool and playrooms. Right on the slope you’ll find the popular Kokhta Bakuriani Resort, which will especially please those who want to be first on the hill. More luxurious apartment accommodation in wooden cabins is offered by the beautiful Villa Mtashi, and if you’re looking for something really cheap for a budget holiday, travellers often praise the cosy guesthouse Edelweiss Bakuriani.
💡 Tip: Whatever apartment you stay in from private owners (especially in Gudauri), I strongly recommend checking for a carbon monoxide (CO) detector. In 2024, sadly, there were tragic poisonings due to poorly ventilated generators during power outages, so don’t underestimate safety.
Gudauri: the flagship resort
When people say skiing in Georgia, most automatically picture Gudauri. This modern and hugely spacious resort sits at an altitude from 1,990 up to a staggering 3,279 metres above sea level on Mount Sadzele. Around 35 kilometres of properly marked slopes await you (marketing materials sometimes tempt you with up to 70 kilometres, but they count freeride routes into that figure), served by roughly fifteen fast, modern Doppelmayr lifts.
The slopes here are absolutely ideal for intermediate riders — a full 56% are beautiful wide red runs and 31% are steeper black slopes, while blue runs for complete beginners are more of a minority. Since the slopes face south, you’ll enjoy plenty of sunshine, and thanks to the absence of tall trees there’s no risk of hitting some unexpected root in the open terrain. Gudauri is famous as a freeride paradise, and the sections beneath the Chirdili, Kudebi and the aforementioned Sadzele peaks draw adventurers from all over the world. 💡 Tip: The Sadzele summit is fairly often closed due to strong wind, so if you see the lift running, don’t hesitate and head straight up.
For the ultimate connoisseurs there’s even a once-in-a-lifetime experience in the form of heli-skiing. Companies like Heliksir will fly you by helicopter onto untouched alpine plains from around €550 per day and treat you to three unforgettable runs in absolute solitude. A full-day classic lift pass costs roughly 70 lari here, and a six-day pass 340 lari. On weekends the resort even switches on great night skiing.
Bakuriani: family-friendly and cheaper
While Gudauri is a symbol of adrenaline, Bakuriani — tucked away in a forested area at an altitude of 1,641 to 2,702 metres — is considered an oasis of calm made for a family holiday. You’ll find around 29 kilometres of slopes here, and the profile of the hills is much gentler, making it an ideal place for complete beginners and children taking their first steps on skis. There are even special children’s parks with magic carpet lifts.
The resort is divided into several zones. The best-known and highest is modern Didveli, which has a snowmaking system and also offers popular night skiing. Experienced skiers usually head for the Kokhta and Mitarbi zones, which provide steeper slopes, and in 2023 the resort even hosted the Freestyle World Championships. Prices here are noticeably friendlier: a day pass costs a pleasant 55 GEL and a seven-day pass will set you back just under 300 lari.
Goderdzi and Mestia: for adventurers
If you’ve already skied the Alps every which way and you’re looking for something truly fresh, then your steps should lead to the more remote resorts. Goderdzi, hidden in rugged Adjara near the Black Sea, is renowned for its incredible amount of snow. It gets an average of three to four metres of precipitation, and the local “japow” powder resembles conditions from the famous Japanese resorts. They only have a few lifts and seven kilometres of groomed runs here, but the huge draw is the extremely cheap cat skiing, where a snowcat takes you up onto ridges you couldn’t even dream of in Europe.
Another gem is historic Mestia in the breathtaking Svaneti region. Here you can ski at two resorts: the smaller Hatsvali, with a beautiful view of the majestic twin peak of Ushba, and the more modern Tetnuldi. Although it’s sometimes mistakenly claimed that Tetnuldi is Georgia’s highest resort, with its top station at 3,160 metres it holds a solid altitude average and stands out more for its dramatic scenery of ancient defensive towers scattered across the valleys below the slopes. A visit to these areas often pairs with a trip to the famous Ushguli and Svaneti, which are definitely worth seeing.
Gudauri or Bakuriani?
So where should you head in the end? If you love huge endless plains, want to try your luck in the open terrain, enjoy fast modern lifts, and don’t mind the slightly busier atmosphere of a big resort full of modern buildings, Gudauri is the obvious choice for you. It’s more easily accessible from Tbilisi airport and guarantees fantastic skiing for intermediate and advanced riders, who also get the legendary evening après-ski life.
Bakuriani, on the other hand, will win you over if you’re travelling with family, small children, or friends who have only been on skis for a short while. The mood here is far more authentic, village-like, and calmer, full of tall pines. Prices for accommodation and food are noticeably lower, and for beginners the zone surrounding Bakuriani with its gentle little hills is much friendlier than the steep high-altitude plains of Gudauri.
How much skiing in Georgia costs
The budget for a ski holiday in Georgia is very pleasant, and compared to countries like Austria, Switzerland or France you’ll save a lot of money. We’ve already mentioned the lift pass prices, which range from 55 lari in Bakuriani to 70 lari a day in Gudauri. If you don’t have your own gear, don’t worry — there are plenty of quality rental shops on site. For a complete ski or snowboard set you’ll pay around 50 GEL a day, and for a helmet rental budget roughly 10 to 15 lari.
If you want an instructor, a private lesson costs roughly 100 to 120 lari. More experienced skiers can rent an avalanche set (transceiver, probe and shovel) for about 35 lari a day. So the daily budget of an average skier — including a lift pass, meals on the slopes, an evening out, and any gear rental — comfortably fits within 160 to 180 lari a day. When you realise that just a lift pass and ski rental in the Alps can easily run to €600 to €700 for a week over winter, Georgia comes out of this comparison as the absolute winner. All prices are of course for the 2025/2026 season and may change slightly depending on inflation.
What to do off the slopes
When you want to take a break from carving turns all day, the mountains offer plenty of other experiences too. Gudauri is known as an international hub for winter paragliding, where you take off from the mountaintops and enjoy a breathtaking bird’s-eye view of the snowy Caucasus. These tandem flights start at around 419 lari. You can also pay for snowmobile tours here, or try adrenaline-fuelled snowkiting on the treeless plains. 💡 Tip: It pays to leave your apartment early in the morning for the first lift — the popular accessible off-piste stretches around the slopes get skied out fairly quickly during the day.
Plenty of skiers also come to the mountains for great fun, and there’s no shortage of après-ski bars. In Gudauri the legendary Black Dog Bar is famous, where after dark instructors and visitors alike gather for a chilled local beer (around 13 lari) and live music. Travel Bar or the Drunk Cherry venue are also very popular. If you’re craving some recovery, remember that outdoor thermal springs aren’t available here in winter, and you’ll have to look for wellness in the form of heated pools and saunas inside the more luxurious hotels.
Safety on the slopes and freeride
Safety should always come first, especially in the high Caucasus. The mountains here are huge, unpredictable, and the weather can change literally from minute to minute — from bright sun to an impenetrable whiteout in which you can’t see a step ahead. Gudauri doesn’t have its own professional Alpine-style avalanche service, so if you head anywhere off the marked slopes, you always do it at your own risk and you should absolutely carry full avalanche gear. Ideally, always hire a certified IFMGA guide for off-piste tours.
In case of any problem, call the emergency line 112, but be aware that mountain rescue here isn’t quite at the Swiss level yet. People sometimes recall the terrifying accident from spring 2018, when a lift on the Sadzele slope failed and the machinery began reversing downhill at huge speed. Fortunately no one died and only 11 people were injured; the investigation showed it was purely human error while switching to the generator after a power outage. The lifts themselves are of good quality and are constantly being modernized.
An absolute must before travelling to Georgia is quality insurance. From 2026 basic travel insurance will even be required by the authorities, with minimum coverage of around 30,000 lari. 💡 Tip: For skiing, however, ordinary insurance tied to your payment card won’t be enough — always make sure your policy explicitly covers winter sports, high-altitude hiking, and above all any search and rescue by helicopter (Search and Rescue). Travellers have had good experiences with the global policy from SafetyWing, which can easily be extended with these adrenaline packages.
What to taste after skiing
Skiing at huge altitudes exhausts you incredibly, and that’s exactly when you’ll appreciate how brilliant Georgian cuisine is. It’s literally made for refuelling, and for vegetarians it’s an absolute dream come true, because meat definitely doesn’t have to play the leading role here (the locals do enjoy meaty shashlik in the slope-side restaurants, but you’ll choose from dozens of other options). The absolute staple is the famous Georgian dumplings khinkali, served here in great varieties filled with potato, delicate sulguni cheese, or fresh mushrooms. Remember that khinkali is always eaten with your hands — you grab it by the firm stalk, carefully bite in, suck out the hot broth inside, and then eat the rest; the tough stalk (the knot) is left on the plate.
After a whole day in the cold, you’ll be wonderfully warmed by the famous khachapuri adjaruli — a boat of fluffy dough filled with melting salty cheese, into which a raw egg is cracked and a good chunk of butter dropped just before serving. Also excellent is the traditional bean soup lobio served in a clay pot, the cornbread mchadi, the thick cheese porridge elarji, or the Svan chvishtari, a flatbread stuffed with cheese right inside.
On the slopes you’ll find plenty of stalls and cabins where they’ll happily serve you a mug of hot mulled wine (glintvein), coffee, or fiery chacha spirit to warm you up. Compared to prices in Tbilisi, the slope-side restaurants in Gudauri are understandably about 40 to 60 percent more expensive, and you can even get Italian vegetarian pizza and pasta here, but by Georgian standards these are still very affordable amounts that won’t ruin your wallet. And to help you tackle another hill the next morning, the popular natural mineral water Borjomi or the sweet herbal lemonade Natakhtari will save you from a hangover.
Where to go next in Georgia
If you’re planning to extend your winter holiday and see other corners of this fascinating country, we’ve prepared more practical articles that are sure to come in handy:
- Coming to Georgia for the first time and want an overview of everything essential? Read our main article Georgia Holiday.
- If you’re flying to ski in Gudauri, you’ll probably land in the capital. Discover everything that Tbilisi has to offer.
- If you’re travelling via the famous Military Road, definitely check out tips for the area of Kazbegi and Gergeti, which lie just beyond the slopes.
- More drawn to the distant resorts of Mestia and Hatsvali? Get inspired by our guide to rugged Ushguli and Svaneti.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to ski in Georgia?
It depends on your experience and preferences. Gudauri is absolutely top-notch for lovers of endless freeriding, long wide slopes and more advanced skiers. However, if you’re traveling with family and small children, or standing on skis for the first time, the quieter and cheaper resort of Bakuriani with its gentle hills and children’s parks will suit you much better.
When is the ski season?
The season typically starts at the end of December and runs until mid-April. The best and most stable snow conditions with huge piles of powder are in January and February, while in March you’ll enjoy more sunshine, spring corn snow and emptier slopes.
How much does a ski pass cost?
Prices are very reasonable and rank among the best in Europe. In Gudauri you’ll pay around 70 lari for a full-day ski pass, which is approximately €25. In family-friendly Bakuriani, a full-day ticket will cost you 55 lari.
Is skiing in Georgia safe?
On marked slopes yes, the infrastructure is modern and the lifts undergo regular maintenance. However, if you head off-piste for freeriding, you need to be aware that the mountains don’t have an avalanche rescue service at Alpine standards. You should definitely have an avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel, and ideally take a local professional mountain guide with you.
How do you get to Gudauri from Tbilisi?
The journey takes approximately two hours by car. Shared marshrutkas depart regularly from Didube bus station and cost around 15 lari per person. Alternatively, you can book a comfortable private transfer through the GoTrip service directly from the airport for around 150 to 180 lari for the entire car.
Who is Gudauri for and who is Bakuriani for?
Gudauri with its huge southern slopes and altitude up to 3,279 meters targets more experienced riders, lovers of deep powder and fans of active après-ski fun. Bakuriani, surrounded by pine forests, on the other hand offers a friendlier hill profile for families and beginners.
Can you ski as a beginner?
Absolutely yes. Especially in Bakuriani you’ll find zones specifically designed for people taking their first steps on snow, with no shortage of children’s carpet lifts or the option to hire a local instructor (for approximately 100 to 120 lari per hour). In Gudauri there are slightly fewer blue runs, but beginners can also have a great time at the lower lift stations.
Do I need special insurance for skiing in Georgia?
Yes, standard travel insurance usually doesn’t cover injuries from winter sports. You need to make sure your policy explicitly includes coverage for winter skiing, high-altitude sports and especially Search and Rescue, which would cover the cost of a rescue helicopter intervention in the high mountains if necessary. Specialized packages from companies like SafetyWing are a good choice.
Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation
Don’t Overpay for Flights
Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.
Book Your Accommodation Smartly
The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.
🚗 Car rental on the roadVerified rental cars in GeorgiaSearch with the DiscoverCars comparison engine — it compares prices from dozens of local and international rental companies, and most bookings come with free cancellation.
Compare car prices in Georgia →Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.
Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).
Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.
Find the Best Experiences
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!
