Gudauri

Gudauri is the youngest and most promising ski resort in the Caucasus, offering cheap lift passes and great Georgian food as an affordable alternative to Alpine resorts. The unique natural terrain provides excellent backcountry skiing opportunities with wide wild fields perfect for freeriders. Most tracks are rated blue, making it suitable for intermediate skiers, though expert freeride options abound off-piste.

The town is divided between two parts: New Gudauri, the newly built apartment blocks close to the gondola lift (officially called GoodAura), and Gudauri per se, a town along the highway where the upscale hotels are located. A chair lift connects the two parts. There are only a few lifts but many skiing options, with main pistes prepared by ratracks.

The Georgian Military Highway links Gudauri to Tbilisi (120 km, approximately 2 hours) to the south. Heading north, the road runs to Kazbegi, the Russian border, and then to Vladikavkaz in Russia's North Ossetia. Marshrutkas depart from Didube station in Tbilisi every hour and cost around 10 GEL.

Getting around Gudauri requires some effort. Be prepared to haggle with taxi drivers, take an uncomfortable walk on the road, or try hitchhiking. There is a chair lift between New Gudauri and the main highway area.

The ski season runs from December to March, with lifts operating from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the season. Lift passes cost as little as 50 GEL per day with discounts for multi-day passes (as of 2022). Summer months offer trekking opportunities in the Caucasus mountains.

Accommodation ranges from budget hostels like WildGuru Hostel (US$25 dorms) to upscale VIP hotels charging well above US$50 per night. Hotels with swimming pools, saunas, and all meals included range from 102-546 GEL per night. New Gudauri near the gondola lift offers convenient ski-in/ski-out options, while the highway area has more traditional hotel options.

Restaurants are affordable and serve delicious Georgian cuisine. Best options are clustered in New Gudauri near the bottom station of the gondola lift, handy for lunch on the slopes and dinner or apres-ski. Main dishes cost 20-30 GEL. Supermarkets with ATMs are available in both New Gudauri and along the main road.

The primary activity is skiing and snowboarding with 8 well-maintained lifts (excluding training lifts). A piste map is available on gudauri.info. Backcountry and freeride opportunities are vast on the wide wild fields parallel to prepared pistes. During summer, trekking and mountain exploration become popular.

A small accident and emergency clinic is located in Low Gudauri near the police station and petrol station, a 5-minute walk from the lowest terminal of Pirveli lift. They have an X-ray machine and in 2022 charged US$15 for a scan and splint. Multiple venues offer coronavirus PCR tests with travel certificates.

From Gudauri, Kazbegi is 30 km north for spectacular views of Mt. Kazbegi and Trinity Church. Tbilisi is 2 hours south by marshrutka. Mtskheta, Georgia's ancient capital and UNESCO site, is 1.5 hours away.