Gudauri Ski Resort: slopes, season and how to get there

Gudauri is Georgia’s leading and highest-altitude ski resort: wide, treeless slopes on the southern plateau of the Greater Caucasus at about 2,200 metres, and one of the longest seasons in the country, roughly December to late April. In winter people come to ski on- and off-piste, and at any time of year for the views of the snowy ridges that open up straight from the Georgian Military Road.

Why the resort is famous

Gudauri lies along the Georgian Military Road near the Cross Pass, about 120 km north of Tbilisi. It is the country’s largest ski centre. Its hallmark is its open, treeless slopes: handy both for groomed runs and for freeriding, which is why Gudauri is prized by those who like to ski off the prepared pistes. Paragliders also launch from here - the views of the Caucasus invite you to take to the air.

Open slopes of the Gudauri ski resort — The open, treeless slopes of Gudauri. Photo: rugbyxm / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

The ski season and slopes

Gudauri’s season runs roughly from 10 December to late April - one of the longest in the region, though exact opening dates depend on the snow. The runs are spread across slopes from about 2,000 to 3,300 metres, served by around 17 lifts, gondolas and chairlifts included. Some pistes are floodlit, so on Fridays and Saturdays people ski into the evening too.

What really defines Gudauri is who it suits. Most runs are gentle and wide, which makes it one of the best places in the Caucasus to click into skis for the first time; at the same time those open, treeless slopes give excellent freeriding just beyond the marked runs, and heliskiing operates all season. It is a rare resort that works for a complete beginner and for someone chasing fresh powder alike. Lift passes and rental are paid, and prices change noticeably from year to year - check before you travel.

Georgia’s other big ski resort is Bakuriani: lower, with gentler slopes, and more of a family choice. If you are weighing up where to learn or ride, Gudauri is about altitude, scale and freeride, Bakuriani about a smaller, family feel.

What to see and do

In winter the main thing here is the skiing: the lifts and runs operate roughly from December to April. But Gudauri is also worth a visit out of season. The Georgian Military Road opens up panoramas of snowy mountains, and a few minutes away is the Friendship of Peoples Monument, dating from 1983: a semicircular platform with a bright mosaic juts out over a precipice, making it one of the most striking viewpoints on the whole route.

Round platform of the Friendship of Peoples Monument with a bright mosaic — The Friendship of Peoples Monument: a round platform with a bright mosaic. Photo: Supanut Arunoprayote / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

Panorama of the gorge with the Caucasus mountains near Gudauri — View of the gorge and the Caucasus ridges from the viewpoint. Photo: Supanut Arunoprayote / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

What to keep in mind when visiting

The exact season opening dates depend on the snow and change from year to year - check them before you travel, along with the state of the road over the pass: in winter, with heavy snow and avalanche risk, the stretch of the Georgian Military Road can be closed. The altitude and weather make themselves felt even in summer

bring warm clothing.

Switchbacks of the Georgian Military Road in the mountains near Gudauri — The Georgian Military Road winds through the mountains near Gudauri. Photo: Alexxx1979 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Nearby

Gudauri sits on the Tbilisi → Kazbegi 2-day route: south along the same road lies Ananuri fortress, and to the north Gergeti Trinity Church. It is at Gudauri that the most spectacular stretch of switchbacks up to the Jvari Pass begins - for how to drive the whole route stop by stop, see the Georgian Military Road guide. The most convenient way to travel is by car - for how to rent one, see the car hire section; for more places, see the things to see section.