Ski Touring in Kazbegi: Gudauri to Mount Kazbek
Six days of ski touring in Kazbegi, from Gudauri to the Ortsveri Pass at 4,100 m beneath Mount Kazbek — skinning through silence, sleeping in mountain huts.
- Region
- Kazbegi
- Duration
- 6 days
- Max altitude
- 5,054 m
- Total ascent
- 4,200 m
- Difficulty
- expert
- Season
- January – April
Ski touring in Kazbegi is the classic introduction to the high Georgian Caucasus. This six-day trip runs from Gudauri north to Mount Kazbek (5,054 m), combining serious vertical with monasteries, mountain huts and landscapes that stay with you long after the trip ends.
From the moment you leave Tbilisi the world shifts. The Georgian Military Highway climbs through gorges and past crumbling watchtowers until the silhouette of Kazbek fills the sky. What follows is six days of skinning through silence, sleeping at 3,020 m, and earning every single turn.
This is backcountry skiing in the country of Georgia — the Greater Caucasus, not the Alps and not the American South. Expect untracked snow, four to five hours on skins most days, and a high point of 4,100 m at the Ortsveri Pass.
Day by day
- Duration
- 3–4 hours
- Overnight
- Gudauri hotel
We gather in Tbilisi at 8:00 and head north along the Georgian Military Highway — one of the most scenic drives in the Caucasus. Two hours later we reach Gudauri, drop bags at the hotel and head straight out. Mount Bidara is a straightforward but satisfying tour that lets everyone dial in their gear and find their rhythm.
- Duration
- 4–5 hours
- Ascent
- +800 m
- Overnight
- Gudauri hotel
A 30-minute drive south to the village of Mleta, then skins on from there. The destination is a working monastery perched on a mountainside, home to a small community of monks who have kept the flame alive for centuries. Time to sit and take in the atmosphere before dropping back down the same line.
- Duration
- ~4 hours climbing
- Ascent
- +900 m
- High point
- 3,200 m
- Overnight
- Gudauri hotel
Cross Pass is the launchpad. From the road we skin roughly four hours up to the Dedaena Ridge at 3,200 m. The climbing is steady, the scenery enormous, and the payoff comes at the top looking down the other side toward Jvari Pass.
- Duration
- 3 hours + afternoon session
- High point
- 3,300 m
- Overnight
- Alpine Hut “Deka”, 3,020 m
One hour by road to Sameba Church, then climbing from 2,200 m. Three hours of skinning brings us to Alpine Hut "Deka" at 3,020 m, our base for two nights. After lunch we push out for an afternoon session on the Gergeti Glacier, reaching 3,200–3,300 m before returning for dinner.
- Duration
- 4–5 hours
- High point
- 4,100 m
- Overnight
- Alpine Hut “Deka”, 3,020 m
If one day defines this trip, it is today. We leave the hut and skin directly onto the Gergeti Glacier, climbing through a world of ice and rock with the walls of Kazbek above. The air gets thinner and the silence gets louder. At 4,100 m we reach Ortsveri Pass.
- High point
- 3,700 m
Our final day in the mountains. We skin up to Arsha Pass at 3,700 m, enjoy one last descent and link back down to Sameba Church. From there it is a 3.5-hour drive to Tbilisi. You will arrive tired, sunburned, and already thinking about coming back.
Group departures 2027
Join a scheduled group, or ask for private dates — the booking form takes both.
| Date | Participants | Duration | Deposit | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 – 25 Jan 2027 | 4–6 (Available) | 6 days | €150 | |
| 27 Jan – 1 Feb 2027 | 4–6 (Available) | 6 days | €150 | |
| 3 – 8 Feb 2027 | 4–6 (Available) | 6 days | €150 | |
| 10 – 15 Feb 2027 | 4–6 (Available) | 6 days | €150 | |
| 17 – 22 Feb 2027 | 4–6 (Available) | 6 days | €150 | |
| 24 Feb – 1 Mar 2027 | 4–6 (Available) | 6 days | €150 | |
| 3 – 8 Mar 2027 | 4–6 (Available) | 6 days | €150 | |
| 10 – 15 Mar 2027 | 4–6 (Available) | 6 days | €150 |
Deposit is per person and comes off the €1,000 trip price. Balance due before departure.
Questions, answered
Expect 3–5 hours of uphill travel per day at elevations up to 4,100 m. You do not need to be an athlete, but you should be comfortable with sustained physical effort at altitude. If you can hike for 4+ hours with a pack, you will manage.
You must be a solid off-piste skier. We are talking variable snow, wind-affected surfaces and potentially steep terrain. Resort-only skiers will struggle. If you can handle black runs in all snow conditions, you are in the right ballpark.
Not really. This is an intermediate-to-advanced backcountry trip. If you have never skinned before, start with a shorter introductory tour or a skills course before committing to this one.
Alpine Hut "Deka" is functional, not luxurious. Think shared rooms, basic facilities and incredible views. It is warm, it is dry, and the food is hearty. Bring a sleeping bag liner.
January through April offers the most reliable snowpack. March tends to be the sweet spot — longer days, more stable weather and good snow quality.
Your guide makes the final call on all route decisions. If avalanche risk is high or weather closes in, we adapt. The mountains will always be there.
You should know how to use your transceiver, probe and shovel. You do not need a formal certification, but basic companion rescue knowledge is expected. Your guide handles the big-picture decisions.
Limited rental options exist in Gudauri, but availability is not guaranteed. We recommend bringing your own gear or arranging rental well in advance. Let us know if you need help.
In Gudauri, yes. At the hut, signal is spotty to nonexistent. Consider this a digital detox.
Send us your preferred dates and group size. We will confirm availability, answer any remaining questions and get you locked in.
Still unsure? Ask a guide directly.
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