Gudauri, the ski wonderland perched on the Caucasus Mountain Range in Georgia, can be found in the Stepantsminda District, just near the Jvari Pass along the Georgian Military Highway. Chilling at a breezy elevation of 2,200 meters (7,200 ft.), Gudauri is like the high- altitude party pad only 120 km (75 mi) north of Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital.
This place is where the slopes are so high, they’re practically rubbing shoulders with the clouds, and don’t even worry about avalanches—Gudauri has got that all figured out. Skiing season kicks off in December and throws the coolest winter bash until April. Gudauri: where the mountains meet fun, and the good times never slope down! Here’s a guide to help you make the most of your visit to Gudauri:
How to Get there
There are several ways to get to Gudauri, it depends mostly on the budget and maybe a little about the comfort. If you’re heading to the ski resort from the capital, it’s a very short – roughly 1.5 / 2 hr ride.
You can get there by simply renting a car and driving there yourself, which would be the most expensive option, if you’re not planning on sharing the ride with a few others as well. A rental car would cost around 65-75$ a day and don’t forget about the gas prices…
You can also get there by ordering a taxi / minivan, which is a better option if there’s a group of you. The biggest minivan should be able to fit 8 people, so if you’re planning a group trip, this would be the ideal option. Minivans cost around 10-15$ per person, one way and the Taxi fares from Tbilisi to Gudauri, would be around 55$.
Last but not least, the traditional Georgian option of transportation – Marshutka. Marshutka is a van, which can be found on the station called ‘Okriba’, in Tbilisi. From this station, the vans take off into any direction, one of them being Gudauri. The average price for a ride per person is 10$.
Where to Stay
Gudauri offers a wide range of places to stay. Hotel, hostel, a cabin, an apartment? You name it. Some of the few famous stays are: Gudauri Marco Polo Hotel (150$ a night) https://marcopolo.ge/ , Hotel Carpe Diem (150$ a night) https://carpediem.ge/ , Khada Hostel (100$ a night) https://khadahostel.ge/ … You can find any kind of place to stay, the options range from the minimum of 25$ a night, to however high your budget can go. The stays can be found on booking.com and airbnb.com
Where to Eat
Depending on the kind of food you’re looking for, Gudauri is stacked with different kinds of cuisine.
You can find a lot of Georgian Restaurants that offer one of the best Georgian dishes, including Khinkali, which is really famous in this region of Georgia. One of the few Georgian places are: ‘Ati Ambavi Restaurant’ and ‘Magi Style Restaurant’. The prices could range around 10-15$ per person. Most of the Hotels, like ‘Marco Polo Hotel’ and ‘Hotel Truso’ also offer some amazing food, but are more one a pricier side.
If you’re looking for some alternatives, there’s other restaurants and bars, like ‘Powder Bar Gudauri’, that offers western style food and ‘Black Dog Bar’, that offers more American-style dishes. The prices here are not so different from the other restaurants, so depending on the meal, you’d spend around 10-15 $ per person.
Lastly, if you’re staying in a place with a kitchen and are looking to stock the fridge, you can find at least three markets (Spar, Nikora, Smart) in ‘Lower’ Gudauri and a few more in ‘Upper’ Gudauri. All of them offer some pretty decent pre-made foods and lots of products to choose from. If you’re going to Gudauri from the capital, keep in mind that the prices in the markets might be a bit more expensive.
Ski Gear:
Almost all of the Hotels in Gudauri, have their own Ski-Rentals, where you can get either skis or snowboards, with all of the equipment that you need (except the clothing). But, be sure to double check this with the hotel that you choose. If the hotel doesn’t offer the rentals, or you’re staying somewhere else, you can find lots of rentals right next to the ski lifts. The whole equipment costs around 20-25$ per day.
Where to Ski:
There are slopes of all difficulty levels and they are FIS certified. There’s total of 15 ski lifts and 80 km of groomed trails available. Make sure to inform yourself about the slopes and their complexity. All of the information about the ski lifts and slopes can be found on gudauri.com . If you’re feeling more adventurous and have the budget, you can try heliskiing. Heliksir offers a Powder Intro package for $575 per person which includes 3 runs in one day. Contact Info@heliksir.com for more information.
Lift Prices:
Daily tickets sell for around $25 for adults and $13 for children. Operating hours are 10:00 -17:00, with night skiing available on weekends, from 20:00 – 22:00. Working hours and availability are subject to conditions, holiday schedules, and specials.
Party / Fun:
What’s a ski resort without some good after-ski partying? Gudauri is one of the best places to be, if you’re looking for some fun time, may it be partying on the mountain, or after. There’s a few audience favorite hang-out places on the mountains, like the ‘White Rabbit’, ‘Drunk Cherry’, ‘Vitamin’ and ‘Khada-Hut’. Eating and drinking can always be more expensive on the slopes, so keep that in mind. If you’re looking for some after-ski partying, some of the favorites are: ‘Black Dog Bar’, ‘Drunk Cherry’ and ‘Marshall’.
Fines for Drinking and Skiing:
Skiing while under the influence is a crime and is not allowed. Not only can you injure yourself, but put others at risk as well. Save your partying for after your day on the slopes and enjoy your time responsibly.
In Case of Emergency:
The Gudauri Emergency Medical Unit has trained professionals and equipment allowing visitors to have peace of mind while enjoying their adventures on the mountain. If you find yourself, or someone else in an emergency, dial 112.
