Ski Touring in Gudauri — Five Days in the Greater Caucasus
Five days of ski touring in Gudauri: no lift lines, no groomed runs, no crowds. Five peaks in the Greater Caucasus, with a comfortable hotel base every night.
- Region
- Gudauri
- Duration
- 5 days
- Max altitude
- 3,307 m
- Total ascent
- 2,400 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Season
- Late January – early April
Ski touring in Gudauri is where most people meet the Georgian Caucasus properly. Gudauri is Georgia's premier mountain resort, but this five-day programme ignores the pistes entirely: each day sends you into a different corner of the range, on skins, away from the lifts.
You'll climb past a working monastery, crest ridgelines above 3,000 m, and drop into valleys where the only tracks are yours. The week builds deliberately — two moderate days to find your rhythm, then Dedaena Ridge and a 1,400 m finale on Mount Narovani.
Every night you return to a hotel in Gudauri. No roughing it, no hut logistics — just hard-earned turns, Georgian food and a real bed. It is the most comfortable way to ski tour in Georgia without giving up any of the terrain.
Day by day
- Duration
- 3–4 hours
- Overnight
- Gudauri hotel
We meet in Tbilisi at 8:00 sharp and hit the road. The drive north along the Georgian Military Highway takes roughly two hours and is a trip in itself — river gorges, stone towers and snow-capped peaks one after another. Mount Bidara is the perfect introduction: a moderate tour to settle into your gear and find your uphill rhythm.
- Duration
- 4–5 hours
- Ascent
- +800 m
- Overnight
- Gudauri hotel
A short 30-minute drive brings us to Mleta, a quiet village tucked below the slopes. The objective is Lomisa — a small working monastery on the ridge above, one of those places that feels frozen in time. A handful of monks maintain the site year-round. Then we drop back down the same face, legs buzzing and minds quiet.
- Duration
- 4–5 hours
- Ascent
- +820 m
- Overnight
- Gudauri hotel
Same mountain, completely different experience. Today we approach Lomisa from the village of Arakhveti, about 40 minutes by car. Different angles, different snow, different lines — a reminder that familiar terrain can surprise you when you change your approach. We ski back down to Mleta on the opposite side.
- Duration
- 5–6 hours
- Ascent
- +900 m
- High point
- 3,300 m
- Overnight
- Gudauri hotel
This is the day you will talk about at dinner parties. Thirty minutes to Cross Pass, then roughly four hours of steady skinning to the crest at 3,300 m. The higher you go, the bigger the world gets — Kazbek appears, the valleys fall away. At the top we transition and drop toward the Jvari Pass side for a long, satisfying descent.
- Duration
- 5–6 hours
- Ascent
- +1,400 m
- High point
- 3,200 m
We save the biggest vertical day for last. A one-hour drive through Jvari Pass into the Narovani Gorge, then skinning from around 1,800 m to the summit at 3,200 m — 1,400 m of vertical in a single push. Demanding, exposed and absolutely magnificent. Afterwards we collect bags and drive back to Tbilisi, about 3.5 hours.
Group departures 2027
Join a scheduled group, or ask for private dates — the booking form takes both.
| Date | Participants | Duration | Deposit | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 – 24 Jan 2027 | 4–6 (Available) | 5 days | €150 | |
| 27 – 31 Jan 2027 | 4–6 (Available) | 5 days | €150 | |
| 3 – 7 Feb 2027 | 4–6 (Available) | 5 days | €150 | |
| 10 – 14 Feb 2027 | 4–6 (Available) | 5 days | €150 | |
| 17 – 21 Feb 2027 | 4–6 (Available) | 5 days | €150 | |
| 24 – 28 Feb 2027 | 4–6 (Available) | 5 days | €150 | |
| 3 – 7 Mar 2027 | 4–6 (Available) | 5 days | €150 | |
| 10 – 14 Mar 2027 | 4–6 (Available) | 5 days | €150 |
Deposit is per person and comes off the €900 trip price. Balance due before departure.
Questions, answered
You need to be a confident off-piste skier comfortable in variable and untracked snow. This is not a beginner program. If you can handle steep, ungroomed terrain in all conditions, you are ready.
Some experience is strongly recommended. You should know how to use skins, manage transitions and move efficiently uphill. If you have never toured before, consider a beginner course first.
Days 1–3 are moderate. Days 4 and 5 are demanding — especially Day 5 with 1,400 m of vertical gain. Regular cardio training in the weeks before the trip will make a big difference.
You stay in a comfortable hotel in Gudauri for all four nights. Private or shared rooms depending on your booking. Hot showers, real beds, solid food — a proper base camp.
Georgian cuisine is one of the highlights of any trip here. Expect hearty meals — khinkali (dumplings), khachapuri (cheese bread), grilled meats and fresh salads. Vegetarian options are available with advance notice.
Conditions vary by season and aspect. Lower elevations can have heavier, wetter snow, while above 2,500 m you will often find dry powder or wind-affected surfaces. March generally offers the best balance of snow quality and stable weather.
Late January through early April. February and March tend to be the most reliable months for snow coverage and weather windows.
Your guide monitors conditions daily and will adjust the route or cancel a day if the risk is unacceptable. Safety always takes priority over objectives.
Absolutely. If you want additional days, different objectives or a more advanced program, we can customise an extension. Just ask.
Yes. Private groups of 2–6 people can book with flexible dates. Contact us to discuss availability and pricing for your group size.
Maximum 6 guests per guide. This keeps the group tight, the pace manageable and the experience personal.
Coverage is inconsistent once you leave the resort area. Assume you will be offline during touring hours. Let someone know your plans before you go.
Your guide is trained in mountain first aid and carries emergency communication. In the event of a serious injury, evacuation protocols are in place. Make sure your insurance covers mountain rescue and helicopter evacuation.
Still unsure? Ask a guide directly.
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