Ski resort Gudauri (Georgia): photo, reviews

The name Gudauri belongs to the village - a small tourist center. A ski resort with the same name is located on the slopes of the Greater Caucasus Range (Georgia, Kazbegi Municipality). This place is located near the famous IOP (Georgian Military Highway), near the no less famous Cross Pass (its height is 2379 meters above sea level).

From Tbilisi to Gudauri about 120 km, which is about 2 hours drive.

The ski season starts here in December and lasts until April. In winter, the thickness of the snow cover in these wonderful mountain areas is 1.5 meters. The snow resort of Gudauri (Georgia) is quite widely known and popular with skiers.

Ski resort: photos

Skiing in Gudauri is a great pleasure. There are all conditions for lovers of winter active recreation: 7 lifts, slopes with a total length of about 57 kilometers, countless number of trails for lovers of virgin fields (freeriders).

The height of the resort is about 2200 meters, the length of the ski lifts is more than 3200 meters. Due to the location of the resort's slopes on the southern side of the mountains, sunny weather prevails here. Therefore, in the resort of Gudauri the winter season begins earlier and ends later than in other famous European resorts.

The trails are equipped with modern lifts. The lowest station is located at an altitude of 1990 m, and the upper one - 3307 meters (these are the highest points of the Sadzele and Kudebi mountains).

Gudauri attracts not only modern mountain trails. Georgia is famous for the remarkable ancient history of these places, which you can learn more about in this article below.

History

In different sources of the 18th and 19th centuries there are often references to Gudauri and the Cross Pass (in the works of A. Dumas, M. Yu. Lermontov, Nikolai Nefediev, etc.). They are connected with the passage in this area of the most important transport route back in those ancient times. Many literary critics believe that Gudauri is one of the possible sources of the rise of the name of Prince Gudal in Lermontov's "Demon".

There are also surviving photographs of the tunnel located on the Gudauri-Kobi section, the postal station Gudauri I.

There is also a picture made by Lermontov M. Yu. Under the name "Ruins on the shore of Aragva", with the image of a mysterious castle-fortress, in shape and description resembling a place in the upper reaches of the river. White Aragvi (the opposite side from Gudauri is the gorge). Serpentine Mletsky is described in the records of the great writer Alexandre Dumas.

Mountain resort Gudauri (Georgia) began to develop from 1975-1985. And gradually continues on today's days.

Infrastructure of trails

The trails here are very diverse and always in excellent condition, they are processed every day (ratrachat).

Gudauri (Georgia) is the perfect place for those wishing to learn to ride. To do this, there is a gentle slope (4th turn), which is the most suitable route for beginners and for children, and in general for lovers of easy skiing.

All lifts are high-speed with the presence of three and four seats (except for the older one, located in the first stage). There is also a gondola lift, the length of which is 2800 meters.

Especially good here when there is a fluffy large snow. I want to note that very pleasant sensations arise when at this moment you go in the closed cabin of the cable car.

Ski slopes

According to official data, the difference in altitude on the routes of Gudauri (Georgia) is about 1200 meters.

There is here, except for the usual, and a training slope with a small lift (rope). Its length is about 600 meters. The length of its descent is 7000 meters. For slalom fans, there are also remarkable trails: downhill, supergiant and giant slalom. And all the tracks are certified, they are often held competitions.

In total, Gudauri can accommodate up to 2,000 fans of skiing at the same time , the capacity of all existing cable cars is 4,000 people.

The main attraction of the Gudauri runs is that directly from the cable cars you can immediately get to the untouched and untrodted fairy-tale snowy fields. This can often be felt if you are not too lazy and go to the track early in the morning. And taking advantage of the guide's services, you can go to the backcountry (pedestrian climb to the top) and leave your mark where there are very few people.

Impression

About Gudauri (Georgia) reviews mostly positive and most enthusiastic. The only drawback, according to some tourists, is the high cost of living, while the cost of skiing on the routes is affordable.

Recently, a cushion for jumping (AirBag) is installed near the gondola lift. Several lines of the snow park are built under the third line: for pros with big-air and for beginners. There is also a great opportunity to enjoy the pleasure of paragliding with an instructor.

Thanks to such changes and improvements, the flow of tourists increases every year to the resort of Gudauri (Georgia).

How to get there?

In Gudauri you can get in two ways: on the Military Georgian road by car or by plane to Tbilisi. From Tbilisi and Vladikavkaz you can go by taxi, bus or private car.

Kazbegi is the first settlement in Georgia after crossing the border with Russia. There is such a not very good moment: from this place in the case of a closed pass to Gudauri it is impossible to get there. Therefore, the best way is to fly by plane to Tbilisi, from where you can always reach the mountains on any transport.