Skiing in Goderdzi: A Guide to Upper Adjara

Located at an altitude of 2,027 meters above sea level, the area is notable for its favorable ski conditions. Its proximity to the Black Sea ensures consistent, heavy, and high-quality snow, giving the resort a key advantage. Meanwhile, Goderdzi caters to both professional skiers and beginners, with a combination of challenging ski runs and designated teaching zones.

Goderdzi is one of the fastest-growing and most in-demand ski resorts in Georgia. While its popularity is increasing in summer as well, it is clear that, currently, it's primarily a draw in winter for ski lovers.

Goderdzi - Climate and Geography

Goderdzi Pass is located on the Arsiani Range, where Mediterranean subtropical and mountainous continental climate zones converge. The Goderdzi Resort’s highest point is 2,364 meters above sea level, with an annual guarantee of thick, stable, and high-quality snow cover. During the winter season, the snow depth averages 3–4 meters, and at its heaviest, it can reach up to 6–7 meters.

The region’s unique climate is influenced by its closeness to the Black Sea, ensuring consistent precipitation throughout the winter as well as larger and denser snowflakes, making Goderdzi’s ski runs especially appealing to off-piste skiers.

Goderdzi Resort Infrastructure

The first ski infrastructure at Goderdzi Pass was built in 2015, making it one of the ”youngest” winter resorts in Georgia. Although its scope is currently more limited than that of Bakuriani or Gudauri, it meets high modern standards and is rapidly developing and improving.

At present, Goderdzi operates two modern cable car systems – an 8-seater gondola and a 6-seater bubble lift - with a combined length exceeding 3.5 kilometers.

Despite its relatively small scale, Goderdzi’s ski runs are fit for skiers of varying levels of experience – the resort has both standard runs and freeriding zones, including areas within pine forests.

The total length of Goderdzi’s ski runs is approximately 8 kilometers. The most notable of these runs are "Zanka" (a 2,000-meter intermediate run), "Chanchakhi" (a 2,300-meter advanced run), and "Chanchakhi 2" (a 2,400-meter intermediate run).

For beginners, there is a separate 200-meter practice run and the 80-meter "MAGIC CARPET."

When it comes to accommodation, the selection is already fairly broad at both the resort itself and in the surrounding villages. Those wishing to stay within the resort’s territory are advised to book a cottage, which is currently the most popular and widely available option. The cottages are all equipped with all the necessary household appliances, central heating, and free Wi-Fi, while most of them also have special storage areas for skis.

Although winter vacationing in Upper Adjara isn’t yet as popular as it is at Georgia's other, better-known resorts, it should be noted that because Goderdzi is relatively small, it’s usually fully booked during high season. Courtesy of ongoing investment projects, there are plans to establish more accommodation options, but for now, the capacity is somewhat limited compared to demand, making accommodation within the resort’s territory relatively expensive during peak season. If traveling with your own vehicle, renting an apartment or a room in a family guesthouse in one of the nearby villages would be a much more affordable option. For example, the village of Danisparauli, located just 3 kilometers from the resort, already has numerous family guesthouses where prices tend to be lower and often include two meals per day.

Safety Standards at Goderdzi Resort

The resort has a designated rescue service staffed by professionals with modern equipment. A medical station operates on-site, equipped with all the necessary first aid supplies, and staffed with emergency responders. For safety, the ski runs are inspected every morning, and avalanche-prone areas are closely monitored. Visitors also have access to detailed maps and information boards, indicating the difficulty levels of each run.

How to Get to Goderdzi 

There are several routes through which to reach the resort, although some of them depend heavily on the season.

The distance from Batumi to the resort is approximately 109 kilometers, taking up to 3 hours during summer and up to 4 in winter.

There are two main routes from Tbilisi to Goderdzi: the first primarily follows the S1 Highway and then turns onto the Batumi-Akhaltsikhe road, while the second goes along the E691 Highway, and then also connects with the Batumi-Akhaltsikhe road. The approximate distance of both routes is about 250 kilometers.

Public transportation is available from Batumi to Goderdzi as minivans (marshrutkas) travel to the village of Danisparauli, from which local drivers offer private transfer services to the resort. In addition, buses run from Batumi to Khulo (6 GEL per person), but to get to Goderdzi from Khulo, you’ll need to hire a high-clearance vehicle (70–100 GEL).

Future Prospects for the Resort

Goderdzi Resort is one of the fastest-developing resorts in the country, with the total value of ongoing investment projects in the area exceeding 200 million GEL. Simultaneously, 28 different initiatives are underway, aimed at expanding the ski infrastructure, increasing accommodation capacity to meet growing demand, and developing additional services.

A particular emphasis is being placed on environmentally friendly and sustainable tourism. Relatedly, the architectural masterplan for Beshumi-Goderdzi has been finalized and should secure the area's eco-friendly development.

Since 2019, the resort has been supplied with natural gas, significantly improving the operational standards for hotels and dining facilities. In 2022–2023, the construction of a sewer network and a water storage reservoir were completed. Meanwhile, work on additional water facilities and a main water supply pipeline are underway to ensure the resort has an uninterrupted and sustainable water supply in the near future.

New cable cars and ski runs are also in the pipeline. These are expected to resolve some of the main issues at the resort and reduce the load on existing infrastructure. Once completed, Goderdzi will be able to accommodate and provide high-quality services to a larger number of both local and international visitors.