What You Should Know Before Visiting Gudauri in Winter

Notably, Gudauri is home to the highest-altitude adventure tourism school in Europe. The school trains mountain, alpine, ski, and trekking guides, and issues the internationally recognized IFMGA certificate, highlighting the high standard of the resort’s services.

The Specifics of Winter Season in Gudauri

The ski season in Gudauri begins in early December and lasts until mid-April. During this period, snow depth averages 1–2 meters, which is ideal for all types of skiing and snowboarding. The quality of snow is particularly high on the resort’s northern slopes, where the season lasts longest, starting earlier and ending later. Skiing opportunities on both the northern and southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range are accessed via the Kobi Pass.

January and February are considered the best months to visit Gudauri due to the stable snow cover and optimal weather conditions. If planning to visit during this period, it’s crucial to take care of the logistics — transportation, accommodation, and activities — well in advance, as the resort experiences a significant influx of tourists at this time. However, the end of December and the first half of January are the busiest times due to the New Year holidays, with visitor numbers reaching their annual absolute peak. If you want to celebrate New Year in Gudauri, you should book at least two months ahead and be prepared for significantly higher prices. For a more affordable experience, consider visiting later in the season, such as in late March or early April, when prices drop, albeit the snow quality tends to be less consistent during this time.

Gudauri’s Skiing Infrastructure

Gudauri is the highest ski resort in Eastern Europe. The base of the resort sits at an altitude of 1,989 meters above sea level, and the ski lifts reach as high as 3,276 meters. Helpfully, a modern, unified lift system covers most of the resort.

Since the resort’s infrastructure was upgraded, Gudauri has attracted increasing numbers of skiing enthusiasts not just from the nearby region but worldwide. The total length of the ski runs here is 37 kilometers, and these are marked according to European standards: green for beginners, blue for intermediate skiers, red for advanced, and black for professionals. The resort also has a sprawling “Snow Park” designated for freestyle skiing enthusiasts, at an altitude of 2,720 to 2,845 meters.

How to Get to Gudauri

It usually takes around 2–2.5 hours to reach Gudauri from Tbilisi by car. Most of the road is in good condition and it is regularly maintained and cleaned. A large section of the route runs along the E117 Highway, a key transit route for about ten countries, meaning that the road rarely closes, even during severe weather conditions.

However, you need to pay careful attention to the final stretch of the journey. Indeed, the serpentine road leading to the alpine zone is challenging even during summer and can be particularly dangerous when covered in heavy snow.

Other than driving yourself, alternative transportation options are available from Tbilisi, including private transfers and minivan (marshrutka) services that depart several times daily from the city during high season.

Safety Rules in Gudauri

Since 2016, ski patrols and trained rescue teams have been regularly present on Gudauri’s slopes. The resort has also a fully equipped medical station and an emergency response service. However, visitors should keep in mind that standard travel insurance often does not cover skiing activities, so double-check and make sure to purchase an appropriate insurance package before your trip.

Adhering to general safety rules is mandatory in Gudauri such as wearing a helmet, sticking to speed limits, paying attention to signs on tracks, and monitoring weather conditions. Special attention should of course be given to avalanche warnings. A dedicated service monitors weather conditions and issues alerts if necessary - don’t ignore them!

Winter Activities and Standard Services

In addition to skiing, Gudauri is popular for snowboarding, freestyle skiing, and heli-skiing (off-piste downhill skiing on unmarked runs, with skiers transported to the mountaintop by helicopter).

Several ski schools operate at the resort, offering individual and group lessons taught by experienced instructors. Standard rental services for mountain resort equipment are also available, with prices more affordable compared to other high-altitude European resorts. Daily rental for sets of skis, boots, and poles costs about 50 GEL while snowboarding equipment costs around 70 GEL.

Aside from classic winter sports, other activities are available, such as riding snowmobiles, ice skating, and paragliding. However, paragliding is highly weather-dependent and may not be available during peak season if there has been heavy snowfall and/or there is poor visibility.

Accommodation and Additional Tourism Services

Gudauri is a relatively newly developed resort: tourism infrastructure only began being built here in the late 1980s with the opening of the first hotel, Marco Polo. However, development significantly picked up in the 2010s, leading to a sharp increase in mid-range and high-end hotels. Today, accommodation options are diverse, from budget family guesthouses to private apartments to premium hotels.

When choosing a place to stay, proximity to the ski lift stations should be one of the primary criteria. In this regard, New Gudauri is more convenient, as most ski lifts are located there. If staying in Old Gudauri, you may need additional transportation to reach the ski lifts.

Over the past decade, the number of eateries in Gudauri has also sharply increased. However, expect prices to be higher here compared to the rest of Georgia, especially in recreational zones. Most establishments operate only during the winter season, driving up service costs. The options in Old Gudauri tend to be more affordable but not necessarily cheap. 

The resort also boasts several supermarkets, banks, pharmacies, and other stores. Tourists are advised to purchase a local mobile operator's SIM card, as the connection can be unstable in high-altitude zones for non-local services. That said, overall, internet connection is usually fairly consistent, albeit of a lower quality than in main cities.