Georgia Gudauri ski resort how to get there. Gudauri is a ski resort in Georgia. About health insurance
Last edited Aug 15, 2017 19:45
Minimum information you need to know before arriving at the Gudauri ski resort:
Highest point of the resort: 3258 meters above sea level;
Height difference: 1258 meters; 14 lifts (including 5 rope tows);
Length of ski slopes: more than 70 km;
Winter season: mid-December - end of April.
Gudauri - the best ski resort in Georgia
Gudauri is the largest and most modern ski resort in Georgia with developed infrastructure, the largest elevation difference and unlimited opportunities for freeride and backcountry (ski touring). The resort is the highest mountain settlement on the Georgian Military Road (the old name is “The Heavenly Gorge Road”), and is also one of the five highest mountain and permanently inhabited settlements in Europe - housing at the resort is located at an altitude of 2000 m - 2750 m above sea level . Gudauri attracts the attention of mountain lovers
6 chairlifts (Doppelmayr, Austria) and one gondola (POMA, France) make skiing accessible on the southern slopes (more than 70 km of certified trails of varying difficulty levels) at altitudes of 3258 m - 2000 m, with a height difference of 1258 meters.
Cost per day ski pass about USD 12, weekly discounts.
Off-piste skiing (freeride) is possible both along the slopes under the ski lifts and on the western and eastern slopes of the Chrdili and Bidara mountains adjacent to the resort and the northern slopes of Mount Sadzele in the Kobi Gorge).
View of the ski area of Gudauri resort, Georgia
In the center is Mount Kazbek (5047 m), on the right is the highest point of the resort, Mount Sadzele (3258 m).
Features of Gudauri
The alpine location of the resort and the dry climate allow snow to remain on the slopes for a long time;
- Huge opportunities for freeride;
- No queues at the ski lifts (except for holidays and weekends);
- Location of housing in the resort area;
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Finding a hotel room or apartment “upon arrival” is almost impossible - the resort’s room capacity is limited, especially in high season (December 25 - January 14 and February 10 - March 10).
Distance from the airport to Gudauri
Tbilisi Airport - 135 km (2.5 hours by car); Kutaisi Airport - 310 km (5 hours by car); Nalchik Airport (Beslan) - 170 km. (3 hours or more, depending on the condition of the road through the Cross Pass).Order an official transfer to Gudauri >>>
Accommodation prices in Gudauri
The average price for one person with two meals a day is USD 35-50 per day. Many hotels have access to the highway directly from the hotel, others are located within walking distance to the ski lift (5-10 min walk).
Après-ski and entertainment in Gudauri
In addition to skiing at the resort, you can ride a snowmobile, paraglid with an instructor, and on a free day from skiing, go skiing. They are working on the slope. In the evening you can spend time in one of Gudauri’s nightclubs.
Gudauri in summer
Three cable cars in Gudauri operate daily from 11:00 to 17:00 in summer - Gudaura (gondola), Snow Park and Sadzele. The cost of one climb is 5 GEL (one cable car), the climb to Mount Sadzele (3300 m above sea level) is 12 GEL (three cable cars: Gudaura, Snow Park and Sadzele). There are cycling trails (for downhill and downhill mountain biking). In summer, in the vicinity of Gudauri there are excellent opportunities for hiking, rafting, rock climbing and horse riding.
Address: Gudauri
Gudauri, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Georgia
Located in the North of the country, which will delight any tourist, it has begun to actively develop. Today it is recognized as one of the best ski resorts in the Caucasus. This territory has attracted investors with its unique topography and climate, which provide great opportunities for the development of active recreation and sports in the mountains.
Location
Gudauri is located on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus in the Kazbegi municipality. The resort is located on a plateau near the Cross Pass at an altitude of 2196 m above sea level. The Military-Guzinskaya Road runs along it, connecting Russia and Georgia.
Gudauri is located 120 kilometers from Tbilisi - the journey takes about 2 hours by car, and the distance from Gudauri to Mount Kazbek and the city of Stepantsminda is 43 km, to Vladikavkaz - 79 km.
Gudauri on the map of Georgia
Climate
Gudauri is characterized by a mild mountain climate and high, long slopes covered with snow. The average snow thickness in winter is 1.5 meters.
The ski season lasts from December to April. The snow cover at this time is stable and deep, and the weather is usually warm and sunny without strong winds. If the year is characterized by high snowfall, then the season opens in November and ends in May, and the slopes in the high areas of the resort are open for skiing.
In winter, the temperature ranges from -5 to -7 degrees below zero, in summer the air warms up to 20 degrees Celsius, and almost all the snow melts.
There is no vegetation on the mountain slopes of Gudauri. It is this feature of the resort that attracts fans of freeride - descent on virgin soil.
Infrastructure of Gudauri
The infrastructure of Gudauri is well developed: there are a large number of hotels, guest houses, cafes, restaurants and other facilities.
The settlement of Gudauri can be divided into 4 districts: Center, New Gudauri, Upper and Lower Gudauri.
The central part of this town has a very convenient location - close to all necessary infrastructure. In this part of the city you will find hotels, shops, gas stations, ATMs, currency exchange, police and other establishments.
Residential buildings in the new district of Gudauri
New Gudauri is a new area located far from the Georgian Military Road; its development began in 2011. There are several multi-storey residential buildings here.
The infrastructure of this part of the city is still poorly developed, but in the future it is planned to open bars, restaurants, a gym, etc. here.
Upper Gudauri is located above the main part of the city, up the Georgian Military Road. You can get to the center on foot in 15-20 minutes, along the ski slope in about 10 minutes, or by taxi.
There are about 10 hotels located here. This part of the city offers a very picturesque view of the mountains.
Lower Gudauri is a part of the city that is located below the central part along the Georgian Military Road. Walk to the center in 10 minutes. There are two hotels and several guest houses here.
Resort structure
Gudauri is a universal resort, it is suitable for both beginners and ski professionals. Its foundation began back in the 1980s by the Austrians, when the first hotels and ski lifts were built here.
In modern Gudauri there are only 22 trails: there are regular trails for beginners and amateurs and several extreme trails for professionals. Their total length is 57 km. The length of the longest descent is 7 km.
The slopes are equipped with five lifts. The lower station of the lift is located at an altitude of 1990 m, and the upper one - at an altitude of 3307 m. In addition to chairlifts, there is a gondola cable car and a training slope with a drag lift. At the same time, the resort's ski lifts can serve up to 4,000 people.
In the summer of 2018, the oldest and longest cable car was overhauled and the rolling stock was replaced.
Lifts to the slopes of the Gudauri resort
The main attraction of this resort is the freeride slopes up to 5 kilometers wide. There are also off-piste slopes for backcountry and heli-skiing.
The resort provides tourists with schools, skiing and snowboarding training programs and instructor services.
In addition to skiing and snowboarding, there are the following activities:
- freeride school;
- speedriding school - a type of extreme sport that combines skiing and paragliding, that is, skiing with a wing over your head;
- ski touring - taking a route on special skis to the top and descending from it;
- snowkiting - skiing, snowboarding, skating using the traction of a kite (kite);
- helicopter ride - heli-skiing;
- mountaineering.
Heli-skiing - skiing on virgin soil with a helicopter ride to the top
For tourists, the hotels have swimming pools, saunas, baths, tennis courts and bowling alleys. Wi-Fi is available free of charge throughout the resort.
Transport
The most convenient way to get to Gudauri is to fly to Tbilisi or Kutaisi, and then transfer from the airport to your destination. You can also save money and use public transport.
You can get there from Tbilisi by minibus, which departs from the Didube station. To get to the resort, you can take minibuses to the settlements of Kazbegi or Kobi. The fare will be approximately 7 GEL. There is no clear schedule for minibus departures.
All signs on minibuses are in Georgian, so you need to prepare in advance and learn the names of the necessary settlements. Or ask a passerby - in Georgia, anyone will be happy to help you.
Getting from Tbilisi to Gudauri by taxi will be expensive, but if this option suits you, then it is better to take a taxi not from Tbilisi airport, but from the Didube station, so the fare will be cheaper.
You can also order a private transfer when booking hotel rooms, which will provide transportation from the airport to the hotel and back.
The cost of the transfer will be from 70 to 350 dollars, depending on the capacity of the car. The only local transport is a taxi.
Where to stay in Gudauri
The resort has accommodations for different budgets:
- hotels of different levels of service;
- guest houses;
- hostels;
- apartment rent.
The most fashionable hotel in the resort is “Gudauri Marco Polo”, the level of service is 4 stars. Located in the very center of the resort next to the ski lift. In winter, the cost of a double standard room is $180, a four-bed luxury room is $740.
There are a large number of small cozy hotels on the resort; the cost per room ranges from 45 to 80 dollars.
Guest houses cost an average of $40 per person. They are located mainly in the Lower Town. A good example is the Sun House guest house.
The cost of the hostel is 30-35 dollars per person, depending on the location (the closer to the ski lift, the more expensive) and living conditions. It is rightfully considered the best.
You can also rent apartments for a holiday at the resort; the price will depend on the level of comfort of the apartment and on its location - Upper or Lower Gudauri.
Want to save money while traveling? Write to us! The Viva-Georgia project was created in order to make holidays in Georgia popular and affordable, so we provide discounts from 5 to 25% on and help you rent the best.
Hotel Gudauri Marco Polo
Gudauri is a young resort. However, it is already quite popular due to the unique terrain and good quality of service.
Do you want to come here? The Viva-Georgia team will organize an excursion or tour for you, create the optimal travel route and provide any other assistance during the trip.
Photo reviews about holidays at the Gudauri ski resort in Georgia: prices for ski lifts and equipment rental in 2017, prices for apartments and hotels in Gudauri, how to get from Tbilisi and from Russia via Vladikavkaz.
Winter in Gudauri
Gudauri, Georgia
Gudauri is a ski resort at an altitude of 2196 m on the slopes of the Greater Caucasus Range in Georgia, 120 km from Tbilisi near the Cross Pass.
The skiing season in Gudauri lasts from late December to late March - early April.
Gudauri on the map ( point B)
At the resort you can go skiing, snowboarding, and sledding. Particularly popular in Gudauri is freeride - downhill off-piste. If necessary, you can usually find the telephone numbers of an instructor near the rental building who will teach freeride.
There is nowhere to go cross-country skiing; there are no skate rentals or an ice skating rink in Gudauri.
Children's slide in Gudauri Gudauri trails
The total length of the tracks is 57 km
The longest descent on the highway is 7 km
Maximum height difference - 1200 meters
Maximum height (Mount Sadzele) - 3268 m
Minimum altitude - 2050 m
The length of freeride trails is endless
Snow cover thickness - 1.5 m
Gudauri trails There are tracks for children, beginners, slalom tracks, red, blue and black tracks. All tracks are located above the forest, so it is impossible for a beginner to crash into a tree or fly into the bushes.
If you have never skied and are planning to learn how to ski in Georgia, then it is better to choose Gudauri for this purpose. There is also the resort of Bakuriani, 180 km from Tbilisi, but the trails there are more difficult for beginners.
Children's slide 
Entrance to one of the ski lifts 
Apartments in Gudauri
On the territory of Gudauri there are many hotels, chalets, apartments and guesthouses of different price categories. Typically, during the season, hotels and apartments in Gudauri are twice as expensive as in Tbilisi.
Starting price - 20-30$ for a modest room in a guest house or apartment. Behind 40-60$ It’s realistic to rent a more spacious apartment or hotel room.
In the summer we stayed at a hotel in Gudauri. I can confidently recommend him.
If you are traveling to Georgia with your own car and want to save money, you can live in (33 km) and go for a ride in Gudauri. In Stepantsminda, housing prices are lower.
You can check prices and book apartments in Gudauri using the link (houses, apartments and apartments from the owners) ↓↓↓
Hotels in Gudauri
There are different hotels in Gudauri (about 100 options in total).
You can check prices and availability here ↓
Medical insurance in Georgia
Before traveling to Georgia, be sure to take out medical insurance, since medicine in Georgia is paid and expensive. Medical insurance Excluded included in the cost of the ski pass to Gudauri.
Today in Gudauri you can only get first aid, and after that you will have to go to Tbilisi on your own, look for a hospital, etc. When purchasing insurance, the insurance company will deal with your transportation and finding a hospital.
One of the most reliable ski insurance in Georgia currently on the market can be purchased from the company ☜ when ordering via the link 10% discount. This insurance company has direct contracts with clinics in Batumi and Tbilisi, Mondial assistance.
Prices in Gudauri, 2017
You can rent equipment at one of the hotels, as well as at the rental building in front of the ski lifts.
If you plan to ride for several days, then it makes sense to buy your own equipment or at least go to one of the rentals in Tbilisi in advance, where prices are lower and there is more choice. You can also buy equipment in Gudauri in the shop in front of the ski lift.
Equipment rental prices:
30 lari (13$ )/day - Standard kit (skis, boots, poles OR snowboard and boots)
25 lari per day when renting from three days
50 lari (21$ )/day — “VIP” set: speed skis, freeride skis, etc.
5 lari ($2.5)/ day for helmets, goggles and gloves (one piece of equipment)
Paragliding flights with an instructor - from 150 GEL ( 70$ ) in 10-15 minutes
Closed cabins in Gudauri 
There are open booths
Ski-pass prices in Gudauri
Ski pass for the day - 40 GEL ( 15$ ). There are discounts for children and teenagers, lifts for children 0-6 years old are free.
You can pay for your ski pass in cash or by card of any bank.
Below is a table with prices. In the first picture the prices are in rubles. Scroll through the slider to see prices in dollars and lari.
1$ = 2.66 GEL
1 lari = 23 rubles
1 lari = 10 hryvnia
Entertainment and infrastructure in Gudauri
The main entertainment is skiing and snowboarding. The lifts close at 16.00 (on weekends at 17.00), the slopes are not lit, so skiing at night will not be possible.
The only thing you can do after 17.00 is sit in a cafe, take a steam bath, play bowling or drink homemade wine.
The resort has several cafes near the ski lifts. The average price for lunch for two will be 30 GEL ( 13$ )
Outdoor cafe 
Soup kharcho 
Prices in one of the cafes
According to rumors, there is some kind of club there, one per village, but I don’t know for sure. There is free WiFi near the ski lifts, but it works only occasionally.
There is a church, several cafes, restaurants, a small Smart supermarket, where basic products and baked goods are sold at Tbilisi prices.
The supermarket also has a free toilet, currency exchange, ATMs and payment terminals. There is nowhere to buy fruits and vegetables, but near the Smart supermarket there are local residents with churchkhela and homemade wine for 5 lari/liter ( 2$ ), cheese and souvenirs.
Previously, all the stores were only downstairs in Old Gudauri, but now they have opened a store in New Gudauri.
Slide for adults How to get to Gudauri
You can get to Gudauri by land transport. The nearest airports to the resort are in Tbilisi (120 km), Kutaisi (310 km) and Vladikavkaz (80 km).
From Tbilsia airport you can take a taxi (about $70) or come to Tbilisi at the bus station at the Didube metro station. There you can find a minibus to Stepantsminda, Kazbegi or Gudauri. Costs 10 lari($4) one way. The road from Tbilisi will take no less 2 hours.
From Kutaisi There are also direct minibuses to Gudauri (or Kazbegi), but they run infrequently. You can take a minibus from Kutaisi to Tbilisi (230 km, 4 hours travel time, 12 lari per person), and then from the Tbilisi station to the Didube metro station, take a minibus going to Gudauri or Kazbegi (2 hours on the way, 10 lari).
We got to Gudauri from Tbilisi in a UAZ Patriot in 2 hours If you are traveling to Gudauri from Moscow and plan only to ski or snowboard without visiting other regions of Georgia, then it makes sense fly to Vladikavkaz on the Pobeda flight, and from Vladikavkaz get to Gudauri by minibus - it will be cheaper than flying to Tbilisi and going to Gudauri from Tbilisi.
The only caveat is that the Upper Lars crossing between Russia and Georgia, through which the road to Gudauri passes, is periodically closed in winter due to mudflows and landslides in the mountains. There is a risk of getting stuck in a traffic jam on the Georgian Military Road. However, the savings on tickets are significant, you can take a risk.
Calendar of low prices for air tickets to Vladikavkaz:
How I learned to ski in Gudauri
Those of you who follow my Instagram could watch my struggles and attempts to get on skis.
Once upon a time in college, I was quite good at cross-country skiing, and then I went to “Silichi” near Minsk, went downhill skiing, safely fell several times, hit myself painfully, tore the net and crashed into a tree.
The mistake was that then in Belarus I traveled with unfamiliar people and did not take an instructor, and such things need to be learned from professionals.
This time in Georgia, I didn’t plan to go skiing, but simply intended to go to the mountains with my friends and drink mulled wine while they were skiing. But the guys persuaded me to at least try.
Sveta showed me the basics and took me down the children's slide several times by the hand, for which I thank her very much. Now at least I can stand on my skis and move a little.
Sveta, who put me on skis. 
Then I was left alone, slid down the children's slide several times, and then fell into a hole between a snowdrift and a small lift.
Looking at other people and the pleasure they get from falling, it becomes clear that my time has not yet come. Those people want to learn, so they get up and try again. But I don’t care, that’s why nothing works.
At one time I did not know how to swim, but during the months spent near the sea I achieved great success. I also now know how to jump off boards and drive a scooter, although I thought I would never learn.
But biking and swimming are a necessity, and skiing is more of an entertainment, so there is no desire to go skiing again, take an instructor and learn to ski.
P.S. If after reading the article you have any questions or additions, please write them in the comments to this article.
Have an unforgettable holiday in Gudauri! Sincerely,
The Gudauri ski resort is located on the Georgian Military Road south of the Cross Pass at a distance of 120 kilometers from Tbilisi and 80 km from Vladikavkaz, on the slope of the Greater Caucasus Range at an altitude of 2196 meters.
When is the best time to go to Gudauri?
The season in Gudauri begins in mid-December and lasts until the end of March, sometimes until mid-April. For the last few years, winters in the Caucasus have been snowy, and the season starts earlier than usual: for example, at the end of 2016, the ski lifts opened on December 10. Steady snow cover usually begins in mid-to-late December, although the last few years there has been plenty of snow as early as November.
Snow in Gudauri remains until the end of March - mid-April; at the height of the season its thickness is 1.5-2 meters. In December, Gudauri is just “waking up”, except for the ski lifts, almost nothing is still working; in January a cheerful party begins - skiing in the evenings is replaced by Caucasian toasts with wine and chacha, in February-March Gudauri calms down a little and becomes a classic family ski resort.
From the end of March to mid-April, the infrastructure is slowly winding down and from April Gudauri goes into hibernation until December.
Gudauri: description of slopes and lifts
The total length of the ski slopes as of the beginning of 2017 is 57 km (excluding the open spaces for freeride, which are immense and cannot be counted), the longest of them is 7 km. The minimum height (the lower station of the cable car near the Marco Polo hotel) is 2050 meters, the maximum (the upper station of the cable car at the top of Mount Sadzele) is 3268 meters.
There are all types of trails in Gudauri: green, blue, red and black. It is unlikely that you will run over a rock or a branch in Gudauri, since the resort is located above forest level - skiing is very similar to that on some European glacier such as Kaprun in Austria. On the one hand, with thin snow the branches do not scratch the skis, but on the other hand, I personally prefer trails that at least partially pass through the forest.
The lifts operate from 10:00 to 16:00 (on Saturdays and Sundays until 17:00). According to information from resort employees, there is free wi-fi near the lift stations. I didn’t need it, so I didn’t evaluate its quality and speed.
There are no cross-country ski trails in Gudauri, and local rental shops do not offer these skis either.
In addition to skiing, snowboarding and sledding, in Gudauri you can go paragliding (paragliding with an instructor) from the peaks of Kudebe and Sadzele. More detailed information about this fun can be found on the website of its organizer: flycaucasus.com
I have repeatedly come across the opinion online that of all the ski resorts in Georgia (Gudauri, Bakuriani, Hatsvali and Goderdzi), Gudauri is the most suitable for children and beginner skiers. I can’t agree with this 100% - for me, Bakuriani is much better suited for beginners with its gentle slopes and separate ski areas for children.
Children's "track" in Gudauri
If you wish, you can hire an instructor in Gudauri (50 lari for 1 hour) - you need to ask about this in special booths near the lower stations.
You can also go sledding in Gudauri:
Since July 2016, ski lifts in Gudauri have also been operating in the summer (from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)—a 4,790-meter long downhill bicycle route has been opened. One climb costs 5 GEL (Gudaura, Sadzele, Snowpark), a bike pass for 1 day costs 12 GEL, for the whole summer - 60 GEL.
Ski lifts in Gudauri:
All production lifts Doppelmayr And Poma.
"Gudaura"— 10-seater gondola lift, length 2800 meters.
"Pirveli"— three-chair open lift (“bench”), length 1053 meters. The track is equipped with snow cannons and artificial lighting.
"Soliko"— four-seat open, length 2295 meters.
"Kudebi"— three-seat open, 1063 meters.
"Snowpark"— three-seat open, 1104 meters.
"Shino"— a new 6-chair lift (opened in December 2016), length 2800 meters.
"Zuma"— a 600-meter training slope with a rope tow.
There are also Snow park for extreme skiing, tubing track and running track (SunKid people mover, 300 meters).
What’s good is that the chairlifts in Gudauri have raised seats (like in a movie theater), which has a beneficial effect on the comfort of their use: there is less snow and ice on them than on regular ones. But I still recommend taking a special polyurethane foam “seat” with you - health is more valuable.
Prices for ski passes and rentals in Gudauri
Compared to traditional European ski resorts, prices in Gudauri are very humane: 
If you don’t want to carry skis and boots, you can rent it all on site.
Price list of rental points in Gudauri (season 2016-2017):
Ski kit rental (skis, poles, boots): 30 GEL ($12) per day (from 10:00 to 18:00).
Rental of a snowboard + boots set: 35 GEL.
Sled rental: 10 GEL.
When renting for 3 days or more, a 10% discount is provided.
You can rent skis, poles, boots, goggles and helmets separately - 10 GEL per item per day.
Repair of skis, snowboards and boots: from 15 to 45 GEL.
Rental point in Gudauri
Where to live in Gudauri
Gudauri is a fairly young ski resort, although it has already become quite popular due to its proximity to the capital and low prices. The housing stock is represented by a couple of dozen hotels, guesthouses and numerous apartments, freely scattered along the slope at various distances from the ski lifts. The best location for a 4-star hotel "Marco Polo": the bottom station of the lift is located almost in his yard.
Hotel Marco Polo
As expected, during the high season, hotel rooms in Gudauri must be booked as far in advance as possible. For example, a month before the start of the 2016-2017 ski season, from budget options for Booking There are only beds left in shared rooms for 2,500 rubles. If you take care of booking at least a couple of months in advance, you can stay in a decent 3-star hotel "Edelweiss"(review rating on Booking 8.2), in the winter of 2017 I lived there for 2800 rubles/night for single occupancy - this price is valid when booking by link via Booking, directly at the hotel a single costs about $100/night.
Hotel Edelweiss
I'm in "Edelweiss" as a compliment from the hotel they offered a glass of homemade wine and fruit: 
And they were given a great idea of what to do in Gudauri in the evenings after skiing in the absence of après-ski - drink wine!
Room at Edelweiss
I can also recommend these studio apartment(rating 9.1, price $37 per night) and a good guesthouse Gudauri with an amazing view of the mountains from the balcony (rating on Booking 9.0, price $57 per night).
Where to eat in Gudauri
At the height of the ski season, there are several cafes on the slopes with decent quality food and reasonable prices. But they all start working closer to the New Year - when I once arrived in Gudauri at the very beginning of the season, not one of these establishments was open yet. Actually, at the beginning of the season, nothing is working in Gudauri at all - except for the ski lifts. However, for many (including me) this is quite enough.
Cafe "Truso": at the moment this is the best place in Gudauri. The cuisine is exclusively Georgian with a very decent choice (kebab, khachapuri, khinkali, kharcho, etc.) and the quality of dishes and drinks (Rkatsiteli, Kindzmarauli, Saperavi...).
Après-ski in Gudauri
If we compare Gudauri with the popular ski resorts of Austria and Italy, then as of 2017 there is almost no evening or nightlife in Gudauri. In fact, you have only three leisure options after skiing: a) drink Georgian wine in the evenings with friends and new acquaintances b) go to the bathhouse c) go to church.
For example, this situation with après-ski suits me quite well, because I’m not much of a party person and generally an introvert. The less noise and people around, the better. And in general, after a whole day of skiing in the cold and in the fresh mountain air, I personally want to go to the bathhouse and sleep, and not sit in a bar.
Where to take a steam bath in Gudauri
I managed to discover a sauna spa in a luxury hotel Tsar Bani Spa resort(review rating on Booking 9.3) in Upper Gudauri, but I didn’t have a chance to take a steam bath there: remembering the wonderful spa centers of Austrian Zell am See for 20 euros per nose, I got to this Tsar Bani and was unpleasantly surprised by the price: 220 lari ($84!!!) for 2 hours for the entire sauna, regardless of how many people will be steaming there. If you come to Gudauri with a large group, then perhaps it will be acceptable for everyone, but I came there alone, and I considered it a waste of money to pay almost a hundred bucks for a bathhouse :-) By the way, this bathhouse was the only exception to the rule “everything is cheap in Gudauri " If you, like me, decided to go to Gudauri for a few days from Tbilisi, then it would be much more reasonable to return to Tbilisi and there go to one of the (“Bath District”), sung by Pushkin.
Impressions from Gudauri
First of all, you need to understand that Gudauri is not Austria or Italy; Georgian ski resorts still need to grow to them. But in terms of price/quality ratio, Gudauri is one of my favorites.
First, about the pros. The most important of them is stunning nature, mountain air, a lot of clean snow and prices. For example, in the 2017 season, a daily ski pass for one adult cost 30 lari (approximately 690 rubles). Prices in cafes and restaurants are also very reasonable. For example, a hearty lunch of soup and shish kebab in a hotel restaurant "Edelweiss" lightened my wallet by only 13 lari (about 300 rubles). I propose to compare this amount with the price of a comparable lunch somewhere in Krasnaya Polyana - comments, as they say, are unnecessary.
Very tasty soup
Another big plus: there are almost always few vacationers in Gudauri; I have never encountered queues for the ski lifts there.
A snowcat passed here
Now about the cons. Firstly, transport accessibility: Gudauri is connected to the outside world by the only Georgian Military Road, which even in summer does not shine with the quality of its surface, and in winter it can be completely dangerous.
Georgian Military Road in winter
It is impossible to get to Gudauri either by plane or by train; the nearest train stations and airports are located in Tbilisi and Vladikavkaz.
Hotels and guesthouses are scattered throughout the entire slope, and from many of them you have to walk a long way to the ski lifts, which is not always easy or pleasant with skis and boots. There are no transfers from the hotel to the slope. There is only one relatively large store in the whole city - "Smart"(not counting small shops with honey, wine and churchkhela), and it is located in Lower Gudauri:
Smart store
So if you live in the upper part of the town, you will have to either take long walks, or eat in a hotel restaurant, or go on a diet. If the weather is calm and sunny - Gudauri makes a simply gorgeous impression - the landscapes alone are worth it, but if you happen to get caught there in heavy snowfall, then all the flaws of the Georgian service come out: there are few snowcats and at times they frankly do not have time to put the trails in order under the snowfall, As a result, a banal descent along a marked blue track becomes similar to extreme freeride.
By the way, in December 2016, I was caught in such a heavy snowfall for many days (the Georgian Military Road north of Gudauri was completely closed for several days because of it, and it was impossible to travel from Vladikavkaz to Gudauri).
Schemes of slopes and lifts are posted only at the lower stations; there is nothing at the top. And you either have to remember where and how to go down, or go wherever you look - anyway, you won’t get further than the Georgian Military Road.
Route map in Gudauri
Gudauri is still a very young ski resort and is actively developing, so all of the above complaints may well be attributed to “childhood diseases” that will improve over time.
So,
Pros:
Gorgeous mountain landscapes.
Interesting, varied trails, endless possibilities for freeride.
Proximity to the Russian border.
Relative proximity to Tbilisi.
Low prices.
No crowds or queues.
Traditional Georgian hospitality, wine and cuisine.
Minuses:
Unpredictable weather in December.
Far from other major cities of Georgia (Kutaisi, Batumi).
Insufficiently developed infrastructure.
Difficulties with transport accessibility from Russia: Gudauri is located very close to the Russian border, but between it and the resort there is the Cross Pass, which in winter is regularly covered with snow, making it impossible to get to Gudauri by car from Russia. You have to wait until the snow is cleared - and this can take from a couple of days to a week. In 2014, a mudflow occurred, which caused the closure of the Georgian Military Road for three weeks.
New Gudauri, Upper, Central and Lower − these are the names of areas in the famous Georgian resort located on the Georgian Military Road. For those who have never been here, it is difficult to understand which area is better. Where to stay in Gudauri?
To begin with, you should get your bearings on the area in order to evaluate the pros and cons of places to live and not make a mistake with your choice of housing. For this, a map from the website http://www.gudauri.ru/map/ is useful. Here you can also see photos and prices of apartments, cottages, hotels and “hot offers”.
New Gudauri
The most popular area for many years now has been the area New Gudauri, located away from the main road, but attractive because the new houses are located near the gondola lift. No need to freeze in chairlifts. The cabins of the Austrian company can accommodate 10 people with equipment.
From New Gudauri it is easy to go up or down to other ski lifts up to lines 3, 4 and 5 or down to cable cars 2 and 1. There are restaurants and cafes at all lift stations.
The apart-hotel complex has been built by Red-co over the past few years. By 2019, the new Loft 1 building will be put into operation. This is what the complex looks like at the moment. All blocks are located in close proximity to the gondolas.
New plan of New Gudauri
The apartments are equipped with kitchenettes and differ in interior design and number of beds. Most apartments are studios, there are duplexes and very few triplexes. There are several more buildings under construction on the way, where studios are actively being sold.
Instead of the Redisson Hotel, a new Suite building has appeared; the hotel is being built in a different location.
Example of an apartment:
The complex has everything:
- Italian pizzeria;
- several cafes and restaurants;
- equipment rental points;
- shop;
- beautiful views.
In the second and fifth buildings there is a Spa, swimming pools and a gym.
Directly opposite the gondola cable car station is the Gudauri palace building.
MINUSES : in new Gudauri there is only one grocery store so far. The area is quite isolated and quite expensive due to the proximity of the gondola cable car. To move around Gudauri you must use the xi.
Central Gudauri
In central Gudauri there are a dozen hotels of different levels of comfort, from Marco Polo (4 stars declared) to hostels (guest houses) and apartment buildings, where 100 percent of the housing is rented. All of them are located at different distances from the slopes and ski lifts, in particular from the first stage of Pirveli.
Before choosing housing, you should make sure that the hotel or apartment meets the basic parameters. Most apartments are rented by intermediaries; if they are Georgian citizens, misunderstandings and “overlaps” are possible, so when corresponding, clarify the details and save screenshots.
There is a little more action here, cafes and restaurants, and it is easier to get to the Smart grocery store on the main road. The Supermarket has an exchange office, an ATM, a gas station and a toilet.
Upper Gudauri
Upper Gudauri is called so because it is located above the main buildings of all Gudauri, up the Georgian Military Road. From here to the ski lifts you have to drive down virgin soil or a highway, and then also return to the hotel or guesthouse, of which there are also quite a few here.
Owners of hotels and guest houses quite cheerfully take guests to cable cars, shops and restaurants. Just ask!
It is often colder here than in other places, and in April you can still catch fresh snow.
Lower Gudauri
Located below the gas station and Smart store. This is no longer Gudauri at all, although - depending on who..., the kind owners of a couple of hotels and several cottages and hostels will do everything to compensate for all the shortcomings associated with the location.
And they will feed you and take you where you need to go, and as much as you need. The atmosphere here is a little different.
CONCLUSIONS:
You can settle anywhere, the main thing is that you are satisfied with your time, skiing, and lucky with the hosts and with the weather.
We know of dozens of cases where, out of despair, people settled in remote hotels and guest houses in Gudauri, and then returned there year after year, despite the opportunity to settle in a more prestigious and convenient place.
Keep in mind that you can stay in a comfortable apartment in New Gudauri for the same, or even less money, than in all other areas of the resort. But here you will get comfort more similar to European and uninterrupted services.
View options and book apartments in New GudauriGudauri route map:
