Georgia, Gudauri - ski resort: description, photos and reviews

From time immemorial, great poets and famous travelers were fascinated by the beauty of Georgian nature, the uniqueness of the culture of this people and the unique color of Georgian character.

The theme of mountain skiing in Georgia deserves a separate serious discussion. If someone ugorazdit "get sick mountain skiing", it's forever. To the services of the fans of this sport Georgia offers two international ski resorts: Gudauri and Bakuriani. Excellent opportunities for amateurs and professionals, as well as for snowboarders and paragliders, are provided by Georgia. Gudauri is a ski resort that eventually eclipsed Bakuriani, which in the Soviet Union was one of the few such facilities. Gudauri became famous due to the presence of ultramodern hotels, cable cars and international class ski slopes.

Georgia, Gudauri: ski resort

Those who have never once stood on skis and are planning to learn how to ride when traveling to Georgia, it is better to choose Gudauri for this purpose. The resort of Bakuriani (180 km from Tbilisi) and Khatzvali (located in Svaneti) have trails that are quite difficult for beginners. As for experienced athletes, and for beginners, each season opens a ski run of their resorts Georgia.

Gudauri is a ski resort located at an altitude of 2196 m on the slopes of the Greater Caucasus Ridge in the Kazbegsky district. The skiing season lasts from the last days of December to the beginning of April. Holidaymakers in Gudauri can go skiing, tobogganing and snowboarding. Especially popular in Gudauri is freeride - the so-called special descent from the mountain, carried out outside the road. At the rental building, those who wish can find the instructor's phones that teach the freeride. Freeride is the main attraction of the resort, thanks to which it became famous for its opportunities for winter sports in Georgia. Gudauri is a ski resort, the length of the freeride trails of which, according to tourists, is endless. In the district there is a large number of off-piste descents, suitable for those wishing to do heli-skiing or backcountry. On cross-country skiing and skating in Gudauri do not skate.

Trails

The total number of routes in Gudauri is 22. Their total length is 57 km. Every night 218 hectares of the road are treated by snowcatchers. 20% of trails are used by professionals, 80% are for amateurs. The first track is equipped with snow cannons.

The longest descent along the route is 7 km. The critical height difference is 1200 m. Sadzele mountain in Gudauri is considered to be the highest: it reaches 3268 m. The minimum height is 2050 m. The thickness of the snow cover in the resort usually reaches 1.5 m. Gudauri has trails on which children and beginners feel comfortable. There are slalom tracks and so-called "black", "red" and "blue" trails. All of them are located above the forest, so the beginner can not fly into the bushes or crash into a tree.

Lifts

The lifts of the resort are designed for simultaneous maintenance of 11,000 people. The height of the lower station is 1990 m, the upper one - 3307 m. The work of the lifts is carried out regardless of the number of skiers. The need to stop working occurs only in adverse weather conditions (very poor visibility or strong wind). Cableways are equipped with emergency diesels in case of power outages.

The schedule of work of lifts:

• In the winter: from 10:00 to 17:00.
• In the spring (in April and the end of March): from 9:00 to 15:00 (on weekdays), from 9:00 to 16:00 (on weekends).
• In the summer period (from 16.07): from 10:00 to 16:00 (daily).

Entertainment in Gudauri

Guests of the resort about staying in Gudauri respond with delight. The main entertainment here is snowboarding and skiing, for which, in fact, many here and strive. Since the lifts after five are already closed, and the tracks are not lit, you can not ride at night on your own. Therefore, the only thing that you can do in the evening, tell the rest - it's to bathe in the bath, spend time in a cafe, play bowling or taste local home wine. Near the ski lifts are several cafes. The cost of lunch for two here is 30 lari (690 rubles).

Infrastructure

In the village, according to tourists, there is a club. Near the ski lifts, free Wi-Fi is available, but according to the authors of the reviews, it works very poorly. There is a church, restaurants, Smart - a small supermarket where you can buy food and bakery (prices - Tbilisi). The supermarket has a free toilet, a currency exchange office, ATMs and payment terminals. The authors of the reviews share that in Gudauri there is nowhere to buy fruit and vegetables. But the supermarket can be purchased from local residents churchchelu, home-made wine (1 l worth 5 lari, or 115 rubles.), Cheese and souvenirs.

Gudauri: hotels

In the resort village are located in a large number of hotels, guesthouses, chalets, apartments of different price categories. In the season, apartments and hotels in Gudauri are twice as expensive as in the capital of Georgia.

The cost of a modest room in the guest house (or apartment): from 20-30 $ (1223.60 - 1835.40 rubles.). The cost of spacious apartments (rooms in the hotel): from 40-60 $. (2447,20-3670,80 rubles).

Residents of the resort advise those who plan to go to Georgia on their car and want to save, stop at Stepantsminde (33 km from Gudauri). Here the cost of housing is lower.

Rent of inventory

You can rent equipment in one of the hotels. In addition, in Gudauri before the ski lifts there is a rental building where you can get ski boots and everything else for use. Those who plan to ride for a few days, the authors of the reviews recommend buying their own equipment. It also makes sense, the vacationers are divided, to go in advance to one of the rental points in Tbilisi. Here the prices for rental of snowboards and other equipment are lower, and the choice is much greater. In the shop before the lift in Gudauri, you can also buy equipment.

Pricing

Equipment rental:

• Standard set (skis, ski boots, sticks): 30 lari (690 rubles.) Per day.
• If the equipment is rented for a period of more than 3 days: 25 lari (575 rubles).
• Snowboard rental and boots: 30 lari (690 rubles) for rent for 1 day.
• For a period of 3 days: 25 GEL (575 rubles).
• A set of "VIP" (skis for freeride, high-speed, etc.): 50 GEL (1150 rubles).
• Helmets, goggles and gloves: 5 lari (115 rub.)
• To fly for 10-15 minutes with an instructor on a paraglider costs about 150 lari (3450 rubles).

Services offered by the ski resort in Georgia (in Gudauri), prices in rubles:

• 1 lift for adults and children: 115 rubles.
• 3 lifts: 344 rubles.
• Ski school (for children): 275 rubles.
• For adults (1 day): 688-917 rubles.
• Night skiing: 229 rubles.
• Ski pass (for 1 day): 40 GEL (920 rubles). Discounts for children and teenagers are provided.

About medical insurance

Tourists who have repeatedly visited Gudauri advise to make medical insurance before going to the resort, as the services of a doctor in Georgia are not cheap. In Gudauri, medical insurance is not included in the cost of the ski pass. In case of injury, the insurance company will take care of many issues related to the organization of treatment.