The Gudauri ski resort is located on the Georgian Military Road south of the Cross Pass at a distance of 120 kilometers from Tbilisi and 80 km from Vladikavkaz, on the slope of the Greater Caucasus Range at an altitude of 2196 meters.
When is the best time to go to Gudauri?
The season in Gudauri starts in mid-December and lasts until the end of March, sometimes until mid-April. The last few years have had snowy winters in the Caucasus, and the season starts earlier than usual: for example, at the end of 2016, the lifts started working on December 10th. A stable snow cover usually falls in mid to late December, although for the past few years it has been full of snow as early as November.
Snow in Gudauri lies until the end of March - mid-April, at the height of the season its thickness is 1.5-2 meters. In December, Gudauri only “wakes up”, except for the ski lifts, almost nothing works; in January, a fun party begins - skiing in the evenings is replaced by Caucasian toasts with wine and chacha, in February-March, Gudauri calms down a bit and becomes a classic family ski resort.
From the end of March to mid-April, the infrastructure is slowly being phased out, and from April Gudauri goes into hibernation until December.
Gudauri: description of slopes and lifts
The total length of the ski slopes as of the beginning of 2017 is 57 km (excluding freeride spaces, which are immense and uncountable), the longest of them is 7 km. The minimum height (the lower station of the cable car near the Marco Polo Hotel) is 2050 meters, the maximum (the upper station of the cable car on the top of Mount Sadzele) is 3268 meters.
There are all types of pistes in Gudauri: green, blue, red and black. It is unlikely to run into a stone or a branch in Gudauri, since the resort is located above the level of the forest - skiing is very similar to it on some European glacier such as Kaprun in Austria. On the one hand, with thin snow, the branches do not scratch the skis, but on the other hand, I personally prefer tracks that at least partially pass through the forest.
The lifts are open from 10:00 to 16:00 (on Saturdays and Sundays until 17:00). According to information from the resort staff, there is free wi-fi near the lift stations. I didn’t need it, so I didn’t appreciate its quality and speed.
There are no cross-country skiing tracks in Gudauri, and there are no local ski rentals either.
In addition to skiing, snowboarding and sledding, in Gudauri you can go paragliding (paragliding with an instructor) from the peaks of Kudebe and Sadzele. More information about this fun can be found on the website of its organizer: flycaucasus.com
On the net, I have repeatedly come across the opinion that of all the ski resorts in Georgia (Gudauri, Bakuriani, Hatsvali and Goderdzi), Gudauri is the most suitable for children and beginner skiers. I can’t agree with this 100% - for me, Bakuriani is much better suited for beginners with its gentle slopes and separate ski areas for children.
Children's "track" in Gudauri
If you wish, you can hire an instructor in Gudauri (50 GEL for 1 hour) - you need to ask about this in special booths near the lower stations.
You can also go sledding in Gudauri:
Since July 2016, ski lifts have been operating in Gudauri in the summer (from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) - a 4790-meter downhill bike trail has been opened. One climb costs 5 GEL (Gudaura, Sadzele, Snowpark), a bike pass for 1 day costs 12 GEL, for the whole summer - 60 GEL.
Lifts in Gudauri:
All production lifts Doppelmayr And Poma.
"Gudaura"– 10-seater gondola lift, length 2800 meters.
"Pirveli"- three-seat open lift ("bench"), length 1053 meters. The track is equipped with snow cannons, there is artificial lighting.
"Soliko"- four-seat open, length 2295 meters.
"Kudebi"- three-seat open, 1063 meters.
"Snowpark"- three-seat open, 1104 meters.
"Shino"– new 6-seat lift (opened in December 2016), length 2800 meters.
"Zuma"– a training 600-meter slope with a rope tow.
There are also snow park for extreme skiing, tubing track and running track (SunKid people mover, 300 meters).
What is good, chair lifts in Gudauri raise seats (like in a cinema), which has a beneficial effect on the comfort of using them: there is less snow and ice on them than on ordinary ones. But I still recommend taking a special polyurethane foam seat with you - health is more expensive.
Prices for ski passes and rentals in Gudauri
Compared to traditional European ski resorts, prices in Gudauri are very humane: 
If you don't feel like bringing your skis and boots, you can rent them all on site.
Price list of car rental points in Gudauri (season 2016-2017):
Ski kit rental (skis, poles, boots): 30 GEL ($12) per day (from 10:00 to 18:00).
Rental of a snowboard + boots set: 35 GEL.
Sledge rental: 10 GEL.
When renting from 3 days, a 10% discount is provided.
You can rent separately skis, poles, boots, goggles and helmets - 10 GEL per unit per day.
Repair of skis, snowboards and boots: from 15 to 45 GEL.
Car rental in Gudauri
Where to live in Gudauri
Gudauri- a fairly young ski resort, although it has already become quite popular due to its proximity to the capital and low prices. The housing stock is represented by a couple of dozen hotels, guesthouses and numerous apartments freely scattered along the slope at various distances from the ski lifts. The best location for a 4-star hotel "Marco Polo": the lower lift station is located almost in his yard.
Marco Polo Hotel
As expected, during the season, places in hotels in Gudauri must be booked as far in advance as possible. For example, a month before the start of the 2016-2017 ski season, from the budget options for Booking there were only beds in common rooms for 2500 rubles. If you take care of booking at least a couple of months in advance, you can stay in a decent 3-star hotel "Edelweiss"(rating on reviews on Booking 8.2), in the winter of 2017 I lived in it for 2800 rubles / night for single occupancy - this price is relevant when booking by link via Booking, directly at the hotel a single costs about 100 dollars / night.
Hotel Edelweiss
Me in "Edelweiss" As a compliment, the hotel offered a glass of homemade wine and fruit: 
And they gave a great idea of what to do in Gudauri in the evenings after skiing in the absence of après-ski - drink wine!
A room at Edelweiss
I can also recommend these studio apartments(rating 9.1, price $37 per night) and a good guesthouse Gudauri with an amazing view of the mountains from the balcony (rating on Booking 9.0, price $57 per night).
Where to eat in Gudauri
At the height of the ski season, there are several cafes on the slopes with a decent quality of food and reasonable prices. But they all start working closer to the New Year - when I once arrived in Gudauri at the very beginning of the season, none of these establishments were open yet. Actually, at the beginning of the season, nothing works in Gudauri at all - except for the lifts. However, for many (including me) this is quite enough.
Cafe "Truso": at the moment this is the best place in Gudauri. The cuisine is exclusively Georgian with a very decent choice (kebab, khachapuri, khinkali, kharcho, etc.) and the quality of food and drinks (Rkatsiteli, Kindzmarauli, Saperavi…).
Apres-ski in Gudauri
If we compare Gudauri with the popular ski resorts of Austria and Italy, then as of 2017 there is almost no evening or night life in Gudauri. In fact, you have only three leisure options after skiing: a) drink Georgian wine in the evenings with friends and new acquaintances b) go to the bathhouse c) go to church.
For example, this situation with après-ski suits me quite well, because I'm not really a party-goer and generally an introvert. The less noise and people around, the better. And in general, after a whole day of skiing in the cold and in the fresh mountain air, I personally want to go to the bathhouse and sleep, and not sit in a bar.
Where to take a steam bath in Gudauri
I managed to find a sauna spa in a luxury hotel Tsar Bani Spa Resort(rating on reviews on Booking 9.3) in Upper Gudauri, but I didn’t have a chance to take a steam bath in it: remembering the wonderful spa centers of the Austrian Zell am See for 20 euros from the nose, I got to this Tsar Bani and was unpleasantly surprised by the price: 220 lari ($84!!!) for 2 hours for the whole bath, regardless of how many people will bathe there. If you come to Gudauri with a large company, then perhaps it will be acceptable for everyone, but I came there alone, and I considered it wastefulness to give almost a hundred bucks for a bathhouse :-) By the way, this bathhouse was the only exception to the rule “everything is cheap in Gudauri ". If, like me, you decide to go to Gudauri for a few days from Tbilisi, then it would be much more reasonable to return to Tbilisi and go there to one of the (“Bath District”), sung by Pushkin.
Impressions from Gudauri
First of all, you need to understand that Gudauri is not Austria or Italy, Georgian ski resorts still need to grow up to them. But in terms of price / quality ratio, Gudauri is one of my favorites.
First about the pros. The most important of them is amazing nature, mountain air, a lot of clean snow and prices. For example, in the 2017 season, a day ski pass for one adult cost 30 lari (about 690 rubles). The prices in cafes and restaurants are also very moderate. For example, a hearty lunch of soup and barbecue at the hotel restaurant "Edelweiss" lightened my wallet by only 13 lari (about 300 rubles). I propose to compare this amount with the price of a comparable lunch somewhere in Krasnaya Polyana - comments, as they say, are superfluous.
Very tasty soup
Another big plus: there are almost always few vacationers in Gudauri, I have never encountered queues for lifts there.
Here passed the snowcat
Now for the cons. Firstly, transport accessibility: Gudauri is connected with the outside world by the only Georgian Military Highway, which does not shine with the quality of coverage even in summer, and can be completely dangerous in winter.
Georgian military road in winter
It is impossible to get to Gudauri either by plane or by train, the nearest stations and airports are located in Tbilisi and Vladikavkaz.
Hotels and guesthouses are scattered all over the slope, and many of them take a long time to get to the ski lifts, which is not always easy and pleasant with skis and boots. There are no transfers from the hotel to the slope. There is only one relatively large store in the whole city - "Smart"(not counting small shops with honey, wine and churchkhela), and it is located in Lower Gudauri:
Shop "Smart"
So if you live in the upper part of the town, you will either have to take long walks, or eat at a hotel restaurant, or go on a diet. If the weather is calm and sunny - Gudauri makes a simply gorgeous impression - some landscapes are worth something, but if you happen to get there under heavy snowfall, then all the flaws of the Georgian service come out: there are few snowcats and at times they frankly do not have time to put the tracks in order under the snowfall, as a result, a banal descent along a marked blue track feels like an extreme freeride.
By the way, in December 2016, I just got under such a multi-day heavy snowfall (the Georgian Military Road north of Gudauri was closed for several days because of it, and it was impossible to drive from Vladikavkaz to Gudauri).
Schemes of trails and lifts are posted only at the lower stations, there is nothing at the top. And you have to either remember where and how to go down, or go wherever your eyes look - anyway, you won’t go further than the Georgian Military Highway.
Trail map in Gudauri
Gudauri is still a very young ski resort and is actively developing, so all of the above complaints can well be attributed to "childhood diseases" that will be corrected over time.
So,
Pros:
Gorgeous mountain scenery.
Interesting variety of tracks, endless opportunities for freeride.
Proximity to the Russian border.
Relative proximity to Tbilisi.
Low prices.
No crowds or lines.
Traditional Georgian hospitality, wine and cuisine.
Minuses:
Unpredictable weather in December.
Far from other large cities of Georgia (Kutaisi, Batumi).
Insufficiently developed infrastructure.
Difficulties with transport accessibility from Russia: Gudauri is located very close to the Russian border, but between it and the resort is the Cross Pass, which regularly fills up with snow in winter, which makes it impossible to get to Gudauri by car from Russia. We have to wait until the snow is cleared - and this can take from a couple of days to a week. Mudflow came down in 2014, which led to the closure of the Georgian Military Highway for three weeks.
In the mid-70s of the 20th century, near the highest point of the Cross Pass, the Gudauri ski resort was reborn. Winter sports such as skiing, snowboarding, ski touring, snowkiting, speedriding and freeride are the lot of active athletes who are not afraid to ride different types of equipment on steep mountain slopes. Such extreme types of recreation have only one drawback - the season in Gudauri cannot last all year round. Optimal weather in a ski resort is an important part of a successful holiday. What does the ubiquitous statistics say about the vagaries of temperature, sun and wind on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus Range?
The climate in any corner of the planet is primarily due to its geographical location. A brief description of the mountainous area in the area of the Gudauri ski resort can be characterized as follows:
- height above sea level 2150 m;
- distance from the capital of Georgia, the city of Tbilisi, 120 km;
- average snow cover thickness in winter - 1.5 m;
- the maximum height of mountain peaks is 3307 m;
- the number of sunny days in January is 6, in August - 16;
- the average annual temperature is 1.5 0 С;
- the average annual rainfall is close to 1000 mm.
The weather in Gudauri in summer and winter with good reason can be called cool and somewhat harsh. From the point of view of skiing in the mountains, the optimal period for winter sports here is the era that begins in December and ends at the end of April. Man has not yet learned to dictate his conditions to nature, which makes its own adjustments to this framework of limitations. Observations of meteorologists over the nuances of the weather for 30 years led to the conclusion: a wonderful time in terms of weather conditions will be a holiday in Gudauri in March.
Why the weather in March in Gudauri is considered optimal
At the end of the year, the 1st winter month, December has recently become more and more often surprises for tourists who are eager to get winter sports equipment out of the closet as soon as possible. Once upon a time, the long-awaited season of skiing on the snow-covered mountain slopes in Gudauri clearly began in the last week of the month. The first photos of happy travelers who decided to show nature who is the real master on the planet appeared on social networks. By the New Year holidays, the number of tourists grew exponentially, the guest houses and hotels of the ski resort were filled to capacity. The ski season was gaining momentum, but the whims of mother nature intervened in a bright kaleidoscope of adventures and unexpectedly sent heavy snowfalls or creaking frosts to the mountainous area.
Whether it's a softer and more comfortable March, when the snow cover pleases with density and thickness, and the number of sunny days can reach 14-15. It is tiring to spend the whole day on sports tracks, active recreation can be diluted with pleasant walks in the surroundings. The average daily temperature indicators are gentle: +1.2 0 C during the day and -6 0 C at night. In such weather, it's fun to play snowballs, it's interesting to make snow figures, and it's fun to go sledding. Even at the end of March, weather forecasts in Gudauri please with their stability and calmness. Mine rescue operations, which are not uncommon in the region due to the threat of avalanches, are more often carried out by Georgian specialists at the beginning and end of the season, when the weather is just getting better. Mart behaves with the guests of Gudauri more carefully, giving them the opportunity to enjoy their favorite sports activities to the fullest.
What to do in Gudauri in summer
After seeing skiers home in late April and early May, the era of restoration, repair and construction work begins in Gudauri before the new season arrives. Everyone is looking forward to the summer, when it is worth coming to Gudauri again, but for completely different impressions. Surrounded on all sides by mountains in the summer months, lowland Georgia languishes from heat and stuffiness. On the alpine meadows, covering the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus Range with a soft green carpet in summer, a cozy and cool idyll reigns. It is possible and necessary to visit the mountainous area in the area of the Gudauri ski resort for the following good reasons:
- prices in accommodation facilities plummet down;
- guest houses made of wood, of which the vast majority in the resort, are able to keep cool;
- the smell of flowering plants and spicy forbs is so thick and sweet that it can be "cut with a knife" or "drink in large sips";
- the local landmark, the village of Stepantsminda, also puts on a summer outfit, and a photo against the background of the handsome Kazbegi will decorate the cover of any magazine, and even a family album, even more so;
- lifts are working properly in Gudauri, tourists are subject to the beauty of the mountains, seen from the highest point of the resort - Mount Sadzeli;
- on the top of a snowfield mountain in the midst of the summer heat, magic is possible - here you can still play snowballs;
- Aragvi Gorge will entrust its secrets and secrets to the most inquisitive guests of Gudauri;
- cycling and hiking trails are laid in the Gudauri district, the most enduring travelers will be able to get to flowering meadows and weave wreaths from charming mountain inflorescences.
Holidays in Gudauri in summer are no worse and no better than in winter. He's just completely different. To say that you know everything and even more about Gudauri, you need to know 2 characters of a bizarre mountainous area and find your own zest in each of them.
If in winter Gudauri turns into the epicenter of winter active recreation, tourists from different countries, most of which are from Russia, flock here to ski and snowboard on snow-white slopes, hone their skills or try their hand at winter sports for the first time, then what is going on here in summer?
And in summer/autumn, there is a completely different picture here - sun-drenched green meadows strewn with fragrant flowers and herbs, fields, peacefully grazing cows, silence and absolute idyll! You can live in the bosom of nature and enjoy the views of the snowy peaks, inhale the coolness of the freshest air and hide from the bustling and sometimes stuffy Tbilisi. What we actually did 🙂
In this article I will tell and show how Gudauri looks like in summer, where you can go for beautiful views, and what else you can do in the Gudauri ski resort during the ski "off season" 🙂
And this, in fact, is a scattering of hotels and houses in Gudauri, the resort is located right on the Georgian Military Highway.
Most of the places that I will describe in this article can be seen as part of a 1-2 day trip from Tbilisi to Kazbegi, it is not necessary to stay here for the night, but we, for example, enjoyed spending half of our trip around Georgia in Gudauri. By the way, our friends, planning a 3-week vacation in Georgia, allocated a whole week to Gudauri and were also delighted.
In addition, from here you can ride to the village of Stepantsminda (Kazbegi) to look at Kazbek - a photogenic and capricious handsome man, a mountain of five thousand meters, and also go to the valley, and much more!
Where to live and how to get to Gudauri, I tell at the end of the article, and now - about what awaits you here!
Ski lifts are still operating in Gudauri in summer and early autumn,
which means you can climb to the very top - Sadzeli Peak, from where stunning 360-degree panoramas open up from a height of 3268 m.
In order to climb to the very top, you need to ride on 3 lifts. The cost of the 1st section is 5 GEL, a ticket for 3 lifts is 12 GEL, a subscription for the whole summer/autumn is 60 GEL. In summer, only 3 cable cars operate - gondola, Snow Park and Sadzeli.
You can also ride only on the 1st and 3rd lifts, and walk between them (this is the smallest, and at the same time gentle part of the ski resort), at the same time you can admire the herds of grazing sheep.
The third ascent is with the steepest slope, here the mountain is bald, and all the beautiful views open just from the chair lift.
In some places it is already breathtaking, especially when you consider that this is not a booth closed on all sides, but an open armchair.
From the top of Mount Sadzeli (3268 m) you can see the gorge and other snowfields,
And even in summer you can play snowballs here 🙂
In windy weather, despite the sun, it is rather cool upstairs,
but I don’t want to go down so quickly, because there is such beauty all around!
Moreover, the review here is on all 4 sides 🙂
- Gorgeous views of the mountains and gorges, which are not visible from below.
From the top of the Sadzeli one does not go trekking, it is essentially a giant block of stones, with a very steep slope, which can be skied down in winter or biked in summer.
In the summer, extreme cyclists come to the resort (a bike pass for the whole day costs 12 GEL). On weekends, mountain bike competitions are held here, but on any other day, you can climb with your bike, because the track does not go anywhere.
new church
We saw this church from the balcony of the Marco Polo Hotel,
so we certainly wanted to take a walk to her,
it is very close - a typical Georgian church,
new, built at the expense of a wealthy Georgian.
There is nothing special, but behind the church is the picturesque Aragvi Gorge
for a change, you can take a little walk along it,
the views are pleasant.
And how much there, and indeed in Gudauri, greenery and flowers ..
a completely different picture than in a snowy winter 🙂
Bike Lane
On one of the days, when there was a planned power outage and the lifts were not working, we went for a walk in the mountains right along the bike path, from the Alpina hotel, though we didn’t get on this path right away, and for some time we hobbled along the grader for cars ((
At the same time, it was a great workout for the leg muscles, with a nice picture for the eyes 🙂
All the way we were accompanied by this peppy puppy,
whose energy was over the edge, it feels like he sat up at the hotel, waiting for tourists, running alone in the mountains, apparently, is not so interesting)
You can walk along the slopes in Gudauri for a very long time, which is not a step, then a place for inspiration,
meditation,
or yoga 🙂
And from everywhere - a panoramic view of the green meadows,
sometimes with cows
and sun-drenched, flowery valleys.
This monument - an observation deck, was built back in 1983, as a sign of friendship between the Georgian and Russian peoples, in honor of the 200th anniversary of the pact on the accession of Georgia to Russia. The Arch of Friendship of Peoples is located at an altitude of 2384 m, just a couple of kilometers from the resort, up the Georgian Military Highway, if you go from Gudauri to Kazbegi.
The arch is huge and bright, it is hard not to notice it, it stands right on the side of the Georgian Military Highway.
In summer, life is in full swing at the Arch - all tourists traveling to Kazbegi definitely stop here, so here, by the way, there are stalls with churchkhela, Georgian souvenirs, knitted hats, hot corn, and other Georgian goodies.
The first thing that catches your eye at the entrance to the Arch is a huge colored mosaic panel, but this is not the main feature of the Arch, although it is very spectacular.
The main one is a disturbing view of the surroundings, the gorge and the round mountain,
from paths and balconies hanging over the abyss.
The views open up, the soul goes to the heels with delight, it's indescribable ..
There are several lookouts here.
and with each one you certainly want to take another shot.
Aragvi Gorge
The Aragvi Gorge is very picturesque, this is a view from the Upper Gudauri region, if you look closely, you can see a tiny Arch of Friendship of Peoples on the right.
From some hotels in Gudauri, the view just opens on this crevice in the valley.
Also, you can look into the Aragvi Gorge if you go for a walk along the ski slopes,
or decide to stop by a new church.
A picturesque road runs along the bottom of the gorge, you can get on it in front of the serpentine leading to Gudauri near the village of Kvemo Mleta, next to the starting point to the Lomisi Monastery, which I already wrote about in.
Down the Aragvi gorge you can drive to an artificial turquoise lake,
on the road along the river, though in this case you need an SUV.
Well, it’s best to just admire the lake in all its glory from the observation deck, which is located just above it - the Arch of Friendship of Peoples.
The most picturesque views of the Aragvi gorge from above open just the same from the Arch.
If you walk 300-500 m to the left of the Arch, you can feel the extraordinary atmosphere and enjoy the views, away from tourists and fuss.
And the most photogenic view of the Aragvi gorge from a natural observation deck is a stone on a ledge below, under the arch.
Paragliders, quads, horses
Do you like this kind of activity? Yes, all this is also in Gudauri.
Such activities can be booked both at the hotel and independently on the Internet, or you can take advantage of the offers near the Arch.
For example, for a 15-minute paragliding flight, they ask for 200-250 GEL (depending on whether you need a transfer to / from the hotel). There are longer flights for 25 minutes.
During this time, you can admire the mountains, snowy peaks in the distance, and fly over the picturesque Aragvi gorge.
Equally exciting is horseback riding.
especially if you agree on a longer and more interesting route through the mountains.
Well, quad bikes are more for an amateur, because in my opinion, enjoying the picturesque views while driving over potholes is completely inconvenient .. we saw a group riding, and the squeals were hardly from the beauties seen
Lomisi
A few kilometers down the Georgian road towards Tbilisi, in the village of Kvemo Mleta, there is a nature trail to the Lomisi Monastery, trekking of medium difficulty - 3.5 km one way with a climb of 1000 m. If you like hiking and trekking, then be sure to go here , you will not regret!
This is a very pleasant and atmospheric place, with stunning scenery both along the way and from the top.
Kazbegi / Chaukhi
Well, if you go from Gudauri up the Georgian Military Highway, you can visit the Sno valley and the Chaukhi mountain range (this is perhaps my favorite place in this mountainous region).
And of course, it is worth visiting the village of Kazbegi (Stepantsminda), from there, in clear weather, bombing views of the tall Mount Kazbek open up.
There, in this village, in the village of Gergeti, there is a popular attraction - the Trinity Church, the visiting card of the Kazbegi region, la and Georgia in general,
Where to stay in Gudauri?
Some hotels and restaurants are open only in winter, only a few hotels operate in summer, and what is convenient, most also work on a half board basis (breakfast and dinner), as in winter.
Very popular in winter apartments in New Gudauri, next to the gondola lift - here it is a small area, illuminated by the sun.
These apart-hotels also work in the summer, but alas, the huge supermarket located there is closed during the summer.
As a result, despite a dozen houses with cozy apartments, tourists who settled here in the summer find themselves without breakfast and dinner (which hotels can boast of). Yes, they have a kitchen in the room, but they are cut off from such an important part of the infrastructure as a store, alas, restaurants in the summer in this part of Gudauri also do not work.
The nearest large store is located a couple of kilometers below on the Georgian Military Highway, called Smart.
There are apartment options both on and in Bucking.
There are also several options in the apartment building, next to the panoramic hotel Hotel Club-2100, there are also these cool swings overlooking Central Gudauri.
You can see all hotels in Gudauri here.
If you love mountains as much as we do, now you know where to look for amazing mountain landscapes in Georgia - in Gudauri!!
For how to get there, see the next paragraph!
How to get to Gudauri?
By plane to Tbilisi (120 km to Gudauri).
- The most budget option- This is a minibus from Tbilisi. It costs 7 GEL, it leaves from Didube station, it takes 2 hours on the way, in my opinion they deliver it to hotels. At least on the way back from the hotel we were picked up. Departure times are at 9:00, 11:00, 13:30 and 17:00 (times subject to change). Return minibuses also run on schedule, starting from the old post office building.
- Can be reached by bus, which goes to Stepantsminda. In this case, you will simply be dropped off on the highway in Gudauri, and the cost will be 10 GEL.
- By taxi from Tbilisi- 60-80 GEL per car (more expensive in winter), the easiest way to look for taxi drivers is at the same Didube bus station.
- Transfer from airport- from 150 GEL.
- To hitchhike– in Georgia in general, and on the Georgian Military Highway in particular, it works well.
- Rent a car. Read more about all the details and intricacies of the lease in our article:
To Gudauri via Vladikavkaz.
You can get to Gudauri on your own from Russia, through Vladikavkaz and the Upper Lars checkpoint. But be sure to watch the weather forecast and especially, keep an eye on the condition of the road. During snowfalls, the road can be closed from a few days to a week, so you can get stuck both on the way there and back.
You can also fly to Vladikavkaz, by the way, there are very cheap tickets from Moscow, from 2000 rubles ()! Further, you can get to Gudauri by minibus (500 rubles).
Marks on the map
During the time spent in Gudauri, we fell in love with these places, and even got excited about coming here to ski in the winter, because this is the best (modern and largest) ski resort in Georgia, so in the next article I will tell you more about the possibility of winter holidays in Gudauri.
If you love skiing or snowboarding, check it out!
Among the amazing nature, at an altitude of 2,170 meters at the foot of Mount Kazbeg, there is a stunning ancient spiritual center of Georgia - the Holy Trinity Monastery, or as it is also called the Gergeti Monastery.
According to legend, the Most Holy Theotokos appeared to the shepherds and ordered to build a church on this site. People obeyed and began its construction, but when the construction was completed, there were not enough stones. One day, waking up in the morning, the builders saw a completely completed temple. According to another version, a black raven, who threw a bone on the peak of the mountain, “indicated” the construction site of the temple.
Archaeologists suggest that the construction of the temple was carried out under the leadership of the Imereti, Kakheti and Kartli kings, as a symbol of the spread of Orthodoxy in mountainous Georgia. Approximately the building belongs to the X century, this is evidenced by the characteristic architectural forms and fine ornament on the stone. Inside the temple there is a beautiful iconostasis of the 6th century depicting St. Nina Equal to the Apostles. The chronicle of the temple testifies to the preservation of the spiritual values of Georgia at the time of the Persian invasion. The monks kept the particles of the Nail and the life-giving Cross on which the Savior was crucified, the Cross of St. Equal-to-the-Apostles Nina.
Now pilgrims of the 21st century come to worship the famous Gergeti Icon of the Mother of God, painted on canvas in the 17th century. This miraculous icon could not be destroyed even by a fire that broke out in the 1930s at the whim of the communists. According to monks and local residents, thanks to this icon, healing and miracles occur.
Vashlovani National Park
Vashlovani National Park is located in the driest and most waterless region in all of Georgia, although the local climate is warm and dry.
The national reserve with pomegranate and pistachio forests, as well as with local residents, bears, lynxes and even hyenas, will not leave indifferent adults or children.
In addition to predators, you can also meet quite harmless animals here, such as a hedgehog and a hare, but, of course, there are also many wild wolves, jackals, and wild boars. Biologists will also be able to evaluate more than 600 species of plants that grow in their natural environment in these places.
The local relief is also noteworthy, which turns from the endless steppe into steep slopes leading to rocks and gorges.
If you visit the Vashlovani National Park in the spring, you can see two salty springs, but by the summer they dry up due to the climate.
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Cross (Gudaur) pass
In the most beautiful valley of the Aragvi River there is the Cross Pass, which got its name from a stone cross erected in 1824. It served to mark the point of the pass and passes through the main ridge of the Caucasus at an altitude of 2379 meters. The most picturesque road among the mountains follows the most ancient historical path, connecting the North Caucasus and Transcaucasia through the Darial Gorge.
At present, this is the Georgian Military Highway Vladikavkaz - Tbilisi. The 208-kilometer track is considered one of the most difficult in the world. For travelers, there is a danger of heavy snowfalls and unexpected avalanches. But at the same time, tourists can expect a stunning landscape and numerous historical sights.
You can relax after a long journey in cozy hotels of the same name. Tired travelers will be offered comfortable rooms of varying degrees of comfort and excellent Georgian cuisine. If you want to see the snow-white caps of the mountains, breathe in the healing air and get a lot of positive emotions, then go to these blessed places.
Gudauri Park is a young developing ski resort, located in the Kazbegi region of Georgia, 120 km from Tbilisi at an altitude of 2196 m, near the Cross Pass. From the second half of December to May, you can ski on all slopes. The lower lift station is located at an altitude of 1990 meters, and the upper one at 3307 meters.
The length of the tracks is from 50 kilometers, where the total number of tracks is 22. The lifts of the park can serve 11,000 people at the same time.
Freeride is considered to be the main attraction of Gudauri - the descent through the virgin fields, the absence of stones, deep snow cover, as well as avalanche danger make Gudari the mecca of freeride.
There are no stones around the resort, a huge number of off-piste slopes for backcountry and heli-skiing.
It is worth noting that skating for those born before 1949 is free!
The most popular attractions in Gudauri with descriptions and photos for every taste. Choose the best places to visit the famous places of Gudauri on our website.
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