Skiing in Gudauri

Gudauri: high Caucasus skiing two hours from Tbilisi, with Kobi on the far side

Plan Gudauri skiing in Georgia: 25 named pistes from the operator map, Kobi gondolas, MTA pass rules, Tbilisi transfers, New vs old Gudauri, best snow months.

Slopes listed by Georgia's tourism administration

20

Top lift altitude (m)

3276

Skiing & terrain in Gudauri

Gudauri and the Kobi side, as drawn on the Mountain Trails Agency (M.T.A.) piste map: 25 named pistes, one named ski way and four beginner/terrain-park areas. Freeride and heli-ski terrain is not listed.

Slopes listed by Georgia's tourism administration

20

Top lift altitude (m)

3276

Named pistes on the operator map (this table)

25

• Green pistes in the table: 2
• Blue pistes in the table: 17
• Red pistes in the table: 4
• Black (expert) pistes in the table: 2

Names and colours come from the operator map (legend: green beginner, blue intermediate, red advanced, black expert). The map does not publish per-run lengths, and no official per-piste length list was available on 18 October 2026 (the operator's status site returned an error), so every length is left blank. Do not use lift lengths or third-party run tables as piste lengths. Georgia's tourism administration counts 20 slopes; the map labels some sections separately (for example Goodaura, Goodaura 1 and Goodaura 2), which is why this table has 25 rows. Published total-kilometre figures also differ between tourism pages (37 km of groomed slopes on the resort page, 70 km on an overview page), so no total is quoted here.

Gudauri pistes: Soliko, Goodaura, Kudebi, Sadzele and the Kobi gondolas

The main slopes form a broad blue bowl above New Gudauri: Tatra, Soliko, Sportuli and Goodaura runs fan down between the Soliko, Shino and Goodaura lifts. Higher up, the Kudebi chairlift serves three red runs, and the Sadzele chairlift (top station 3,276 m on the map) serves red Sadzele 3 and the black, expert-graded Sadzele 1 and 2. Kikilo, Khada and New Goodaura give a quieter blue sector on the east side.

From the Kobi Pass area the Firni and Kobi gondolas take you over to the Kobi side, where the blue Kobi runs descend along the line towards the Truso gondola and the valley floor. MTA's 2025–26 opening list named the Pirveli, Soliko, Gudauri, Kobi, Firni and Truso lifts, so check which lifts are running before planning a crossing.

Gudauri's off-piste reputation is real, but it is not part of this table. Georgia's tourism administration describes freeride descents such as the north side towards Kobi and Mount Bidara, and heli-skiing, and advises freeriding only with a certified local guide and avalanche kit.

Gudauri for beginners: Pirveli, Zuma and the Baby area

The operator map shows three marked beginner areas with their own short lifts: Zuma near New Gudauri, Bombora at the foot of the Kudebi sector and Baby beside the Snow Park chairlift. Pirveli, the green run beside its own chairlift in old Gudauri, is also marked for night skiing; MTA lists Gudauri night skiing on Friday and Saturday, 20:00–22:00, sold as a separate pass.

After the first days, the wide blue runs between Soliko and Goodaura are the natural next step. Many Gudauri runs are above the tree line, so in flat light or fog stick to marked pistes and agree a meeting lift station in advance. A lesson from a local school helps you read the open terrain.

Getting to Gudauri: Tbilisi airport, the Georgian Military Road and Kutaisi

Gudauri has no airport. The usual gateway is Tbilisi International Airport (TBS); Georgia's tourism administration puts Gudauri about 120 km from Tbilisi and roughly two to two and a half hours by road, mostly on the E117 past the Zhinvali Reservoir and Pasanauri, then up a serpentine climb. Kutaisi (KUT) can be a lower-fare gateway, but the tourism board gives about 4 hours 35 minutes by road to Gudauri.

Private transfers and shared minibuses (marshrutkas) run from Tbilisi; the tourism board says minibuses leave several times a day in high season. Its pages name different Tbilisi departure stations (Didube and Okriba), so confirm the current stop and ask the driver to drop you at your part of the resort, since old and New Gudauri are spread along the road.

The road over the Jvari Pass towards Kobi is the stretch most often restricted in heavy snow or avalanche risk; restrictions can apply to trucks only or to all vehicles. Check the Roads Department's restrictions page on the day of travel, and leave slack before a flight home.

Gudauri with kids: ski school ages, beginner zones and lift-pass categories

MTA's pass rules make children under 6 free on the lifts; Child covers ages 6–12 and Junior 13–18, and a seasonal Junior pass needs a physical ID or birth certificate. The map marks a Kids Park near the Kobi Pass/Snow Park area, plus the Baby, Zuma and Bombora beginner zones.

As one example, the Ski Gudauri school in New Gudauri runs three-hour morning kids' groups (10:00–13:00) for children over 5, with up to six children per instructor and private lessons for ages 3–4; its adult groups advertise English-speaking instructors. Confirm the teaching language, meeting point and whether a lift pass is needed before booking any school.

A non-skiing parent can ride lifts up for the views, according to the tourism board. Agree a base-station meeting point, because the slopes are wide and open and it is easy to come down to the wrong side of the resort.

Where to stay in Gudauri: New Gudauri, old Gudauri or a quieter base

New Gudauri is the most convenient base: the tourism board notes that most lifts start there, and the map places the Goodaura gondola, New Goodaura chairlift and Zuma beginner area by the apartment blocks. The trade-off is more apartment-style lodging and resort prices; check the walk from the building to the lift with boots and skis.

Old Gudauri, lower down along the main road around the Pirveli chairlift and the Shino/Alpina area, is usually more affordable, but the tourism board warns you may need transport to the main lifts. It suits Pirveli lessons and night skiing; for days on the upper runs, check whether your host runs a shuttle or how much local taxis cost.

Stepantsminda (Kazbegi), about 32 km away beyond the pass, is quieter but depends on the road that closes most often in storms. MTA lists parking at several bases (Pirveli, Shino, Truso, Carpe Diem and the Redco Neo/Loft buildings) if you drive. The Booking search starts in Gudauri; filter by the lift you will use.

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Gudauri ski pass 2026–27: MTA categories, where to buy and price status

Lifts are run by the state Mountain Trails Agency (MTA). As of 18 October 2026, 2026–27 Gudauri prices were not published in a verifiable form (the operator's price page returned an error), so no price is quoted here; check MTA before you travel instead of relying on older third-party figures.

MTA sells daily and seasonal passes in Adult, Child (6–12), Junior (13–18) and Pensioner categories; night skiing is a separate pass. Buy at the Gudauri ticket offices, the Marco Polo hotel, Smart supermarkets in Tbilisi, Gudauri and Zhinvali, or online via SKIPASS.GE, TKT.GE, Super App and Biletebi. You need the physical card at the gates, as QR codes are not accepted, and passes are non-refundable.

The rechargeable MultiCard works across Georgia's state resorts (Gudauri, Bakuriani, Goderdzi and Mestia's Hatsvali and Tetnuldi), which helps if you combine Gudauri with another Georgian resort on the same trip.

Best time to ski Gudauri: snow history, season dates and road checks

For the best snow window, aim for January to March. Georgia's tourism administration calls January and February the prime months, and a third-party archive (Snow-Forecast.com, built from about two decades of model data rather than station records) shows average weekly snowfall rising through winter to a March peak. Late December and April are shoulder months: early on, runs open gradually, and by April the tourism board notes less consistent snow, especially on lower and sun-exposed slopes, though north-facing slopes hold snow longest. Historical averages never guarantee a given season.

MTA has not yet announced 2026–27 dates. For reference, recent seasons opened on 21 December 2024 and with lifts running from 27 December 2025, and ended on 17 April 2025 and 19 April 2026. The New Year period is the busiest and most expensive; the tourism board advises booking about two months ahead.

Before you go, combine the mountain forecast with the Roads Department's restrictions and the operator's lift updates. Fresh snow is also when avalanche risk and road restrictions are most likely.

Gudauri ski partners: share the transfer, the lessons or the freeride guide

Gudauri works well for solo skiers who share costs: a private transfer from Tbilisi, an apartment in New Gudauri or a certified freeride guide is easier to arrange as a group. On SkiPair, post your dates, level and base (New or old Gudauri) and say whether you want piste days, lessons, or guided off-piste.

Agree in advance how you will handle a road closure, who carries avalanche gear on freeride days and which lift station is the fallback meeting point. Partners at different levels can still share mornings on the blue runs and split in the afternoon.

Ski pass prices for Gudauri

Check the operator’s current prices for your ski dates, ticket duration, age group and the area covered by the pass.

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Weather and snow

A clearer view of the snow in Gudauri: recent snowfall, what is forecast next, and an outlook for your dates.

Snow and temperature are model estimates. They do not confirm that lifts or pistes are open. Further-ahead dates show seasonal patterns rather than a weather forecast.

Flights & getting to Gudauri

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Recommended airport for Georgia: Tbilisi (TBS).

Gudauri is better with your kind of people

A destination in common is a good start. Find skiers and snowboarders whose dates, ability and idea of a great day match yours.

A glimpse of Gudauri

Archive photos · cropped for display

Questions about this resort