Bakuriani resort became famous as a place family vacation long before our days. Its history began at the end of the 19th century: members of the royal family went here in winter - to admire the snow-capped mountains and breathe the purest air. A worthy ski resort was built here in Soviet times. Well, now Bakuriani has to go through a new birth, and all the prerequisites for this already exist.
You don't ski but dream of trying it? Georgian ski resorts are a great place for the first steps: simple trails and low prices will become the key to success. This is one of the reasons why it is worth planning a vacation with children in Bakuriani. You will learn about the rest of the reasons from our review.
Bakuriani on the map of Georgia
The village of Bakuriani is the oldest ski resort in Georgia, located in the central part of the country, on the territory of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region, on the northern slope of the Trialeti range. Bakuriani is part of the Borjomi municipality (administrative center is the city of Borjomi). The distance from Bakuriani to Tbilisi is 185 km, to Borjomi - 26 km, to Kutaisi - 153 km, to Batumi - 297 km.
The first ski resorts in the places where Bakuriani is located, appeared almost 100 years ago. During the Soviet era, sanatoriums and recreation centers were built in the mountains of Georgia, and skiers came to conquer the local snow-covered slopes. The infrastructure that existed at that time has outlived its own, and now the resort is being built anew, acquiring modern lifts and comfortable hotels.
Vacation with children
Ski resort Bakuriani is often compared to another Georgian resort - Gudauri. In terms of the number of tracks, the first certainly loses to the second, but in terms of infrastructure and scenic views, it is not inferior to him.
Rest in Bakuriani is, first of all, a rest from the hustle and bustle. The most effective remedy is contemplation of the silent mountains, and skiing can be considered just one way to escape from the routine.
Alpine skiing at the resort is developing successfully. The main confirmation of this is the modern Doppelmayr lifts, launched in 2004-2015, and the construction of new tracks. Now you can safely come to Bakuriani with children who are just about to start skiing: the resort has excellent tracks for practicing basic skills.
Entertainment in Bakuriani is not enough for children. Mostly they will be walking in the fresh air, so the main thing to take is comfortable clothes for playing outside and suitable shoes for hiking in the mountains. You can go to the resort with an infant or a preschooler who does not yet need an active entertainment and educational program, or with a schoolchild who is ready to go on a long excursion. To relax with a child who wants to see more, choose a trip to Tbilisi.
When is the best time to go
Holidays with a child in the mountains of Georgia can be very successful if you choose the right time for the trip. Since the main activities in Bakuriani are skiing and hiking in the mountains, the weather should be favorable for this.
The ski season in Bakuriani begins in December. Usually, stable winter weather with frost and snowfall is established by this time. If you come to the opening of the season in Bakuriani, you can have an inexpensive rest and ride for your pleasure. Instructors in December are not overloaded with work, therefore, they reduce the prices for training.
During the period new year holidays and in February there are a lot of vacationers in the resort - if you want to relax in the mountains at this time, book your accommodation a few months before the trip. The excitement will subside only in the second half of March, and skiing will be possible until mid-April.
Optimal time for summer vacation begins in July and lasts until the end of September. In the second half of summer and early autumn, you can come with a baby to Bakuriani - it will not be hot at the resort, but warm enough for long walks with the baby. To make it clearer when is the best time to go to Bakuriani, we suggest you learn more about the climate of this resort.
Weather and climate
Ski resorts in the subtropical zone are not so rare. And yet it seems surprising to think that in winter you can ski in Georgia, where in summer they come to sunbathe in the hot sun. But it's a fact: in the highlands of the country in the cold season, a stable snow cover forms, and a light frost only provokes skiers.
Bakuriani's climate is exactly what is needed for successful skiing. Cold weather begins here in November: the temperature drops to almost zero, and light frosts occur at night. In December, real winter comes, with frost and snow. During the day, the air temperature is -3-4 ° C, and at night it drops to -7-8 ° C. By mid-December, the snow layer becomes sufficient to open the ski season.
In January and February, the colds increase. During the day, thermometers show -5-6 ° C, and at night the temperature drops to -10-11 ° C. If your whole family is avid skiers, then you cannot think of better rest in Bakuriani with children than rest at the end of winter. As a rule, the weather is calm and clear at this time. There is a lot of snow on the slopes, and heavy snowfalls every day give the powder that freeriders love.
The skiing season continues in March. The daytime temperature still does not rise above zero, and at night there is a slight frost, about -6 ° C. In April, the thermometers more and more often rise above zero, but the snow on the slopes still persists.
In May and June, Bakuriani rains, washing away the remnants of the snow and changing the color of the mountains from white to green. If you are planning a summer vacation in Bakuriani, choose July or August for your trip. These are the warmest months - during the day the temperature can rise to + 20 ° С, although the average temperature in the second half of summer is only + 14 ° С.
Also in Bakuriani you can relax in September. In autumn it gets noticeably colder in the mountains - during the day the temperature rarely rises above + 10 ° С, but dry and sunny weather favors hiking in the mountains.
Food
Organization of varied food in Bakuriani is somewhat troublesome. You can eat in hotels (usually they offer their guests "breakfast only" or "half board"), in restaurants (their choice is limited) or cook on their own (there are several grocery stores in the village and a small market selling local vegetables and fruits). If you are planning independent rest in Bakuriani with children who are not yet fed from an adult's table, you will have to bring the necessary mixtures, cereals or mashed potatoes with you.
Transport
The number of public transport modes in Bakuriani is unexpectedly large: there are buses and a train in the small village. True, the buses here are intercity, and the train connects Bakuriani with Borjomi.
The bus station is next to the narrow gauge station railroad, from here you can go to Tbilisi and Borjomi, and in high season - to Batumi. Several times a week there is a bus to Kutaisi. The timetable can be found at the bus station and at the resort's tourist information center. The cost of a ticket to Tbilisi is 10 GEL, to Borjomi - 3 GEL. Please note that there is no discount on tickets for children.
To move around Bakuriani, no transport is needed, since the entire village can be bypassed in an hour. But to go on an excursion, you can order a taxi. This is a rather expensive form of transport in Bakuriani: a trip to Borjomi will cost 25-30 lari. If you plan to rent a car upon arrival in Georgia, you can do this only in Tbilisi.
Bakuriani, remains impressed for a long time and dreams of returning here again. Staying here is not just skiing. Every tourist here has the opportunity to enjoy the national flavor, see local sights, and there are plenty of them here, as well as walk around the guests, because everyone knows that Georgians are the most hospitable people. While in the mountains, you can admire the beauty for hours mountain peaks, inhale the aromas of pine forests, enjoy the clean mountain air.
General information about the resort
One of the most popular places among lovers of winter sports is the Georgian ski resort Bakuriani. It is located in the Caucasus Mountains on the slope of the Trialeti Range. The famous resort of Borjomi, which has long been famous for its mineral springs, is located 37 km away. Bakuriani rises above sea level at 1700 m. Clean mountain air, beauty of coniferous forests in the 19th century attracted members of the imperial family to this region. The royal palace has been preserved here to this day. Mountain serpentine - a narrow-gauge road connects Borjomi and Bakuriani, it was built under the guidance of the French engineer Eiffel.
The ski resort attracts thousands of tourists with its many sunny days; the season here lasts for a long time. In Soviet times, these places were simply "Mecca" for politicians. In the 30s, one of the first to ski here was the party member A. Zhemchuzhnikov, after which all the elite came here to rest. Later, all Soviet alpine skiing teams trained at this base, the most famous athletes, Olympic champions, visited these places.
Nearby there is a rare beauty Botanical Garden, which belongs to the Georgian Academy of Sciences. Recently, the ski resorts of Georgia have been very popular among Europeans, Bakuriani is one of such places. What attracts extreme lovers here? Freeride - descents on uneven, rough slopes. At the Tskhratskaro pass there is a track for cross-country skiing, there are three ski jumps, as well as a sledding track.
Weather in Bakuriani
For all lovers of mountain recreation, skiing, the weather in the Bakuriani resort is simply ideal. The ski season begins here in November and lasts until March. Winter is snowy enough, but very mild. Georgia Bakuriani can always boast of an overabundance of sunshine, it is always light and joyful here, tourists are accompanied by an excellent mood. But when going to the mountains, do not forget to wear sunglasses. Among local residents this place is called the "Sun Valley". In the middle of winter, in January, the average air temperature is only -7 degrees. There are practically no winds, so it seems that it is always warm here. You can often find skiers riding in swimsuits on the slopes of the mountains. The snow cover reaches 60 centimeters. Snowfalls are common here, but avalanches are extremely rare. Summer at the resort is quite cool. The average temperature in July reaches only +15 degrees.
Ski resort of Georgia Bakuriani. Scheme of trails and cable cars
The main area for skiing is the slopes of Mount Kokhta. The height difference is from 1800 to 2850 meters. The resort has two functional ski trails. "Kokhta-1" is designed for skilled skiers, professionals in their field. The track is 1.5 km long with two steps. The first part of the route of 400 meters descends at an angle of 52 degrees, the second step (red) is flatter and has a length of 1 km. The track "Kokhta-2" (red and blue) stretches for 3 km, is also two-stage, has a variety of sections, both steep and gentle for easier skiing. For those who first stood on skiing there is a more gentle Plateau track. Its length is only 300 meters, and the angle of inclination is 10 degrees. They operate here The nearest mountain Didveli is developed in the resort, where the height difference is from 1780 m to 2670 m. There are black, blue, red tracks here. There are both gondola and chair lifts. The toboggan run in the resort is 1,350 m long.
Where to stay in Bakuriani?
Where better to stay for those who decided to visit the ski resorts of Georgia? Bakuriani, reviews of which all who have been here leave only enthusiastic, offers several comfortable hotels.
Bakuriani Hills". The hotel is located near the Bakuriansky Park and can accommodate 45 people. Three-storey cozy building. Includes all the amenities for a comfortable stay. It has its own bar, dining room, secure parking, drying and ironing rooms. The friendly staff creates home comfort and warmth.
« Premier Palace". Modern hotel for 225 guests. Has an Asian, European bar, Internet cafe, night club, children's room (with a nanny), table tennis, billiards. A ski instructor works, ski equipment rental.
« Eureka"... The hotel occupies a prestigious location near the pistes. At the disposal of tourists are 25 rooms of various classes. There is a winter garden, bar, conference room, sauna, swimming pool, billiards, gym, fitness equipment, jacuzzi. Excursions to Borjomi are organized, on other historical sites the edges.
Gudauri ski resort. Prices and reviews
Gudauri is a very young Georgian ski resort. It attracts skiers who like to master difficult tracks. According to tourists, the infrastructure here is not yet fully developed, but skiing itself leaves an amazing feeling. Nature, beauty, mountain clean air - all this is simply breathtaking. Some complain about the fact that it is far to get to shops, everything needs to be bought in hotels at a more expensive price. Those who are not strapped for funds do not notice this shortcoming. There are 12 hotels on the territory of the complex. The cost of living depends on the class, ranging from $ 50 to $ 200 per day. All hotels offer tourists the services of restaurants, bars. There are saunas, jacuzzi, swimming pools. All rooms are equipped with household appliances. For those looking for more economical accommodation options, there is a great option. A large company or family can rent a private cottage, the cost per day will be from 90 to 150 dollars.
Gudauri tracks
Every season the ski resorts of Georgia, Bakuriani or Gudauri, are visited by thousands of tourists. Romance and the desire to get your dose of adrenaline are attracted here. Gudauri tracks are special, they have different lengths. They lie on the slopes of the Sadzele and Kudebi mountains. Average length is from 2 to 3 km. The longest is 7 km. The difference in elevation is different, the most dangerous is 1000 meters. The tracks are mostly red and blue here. Their total length is 16 km. Doppelmayer was built here by Austrian specialists, there are 3 and 4 chair lifts.
Bakuriani is considered a ski resort , but many come to stay for a couple of days in the summer. You can not only breathe in the clean mountain air, but also take up active tourism. Especially should be enjoyed by families with children.
Distances to airports and public transport
Nearest airports:
- Kutaisi - 175 km
- Tbilisi - 200 km
- Batumi - 300 km
The village of Bakuriani is located 180 kilometers from Tbilisi and about 25 kilometers from Borjomi. You can travel between cities by train, bus, minibus or taxi.
Transfer from Tbilisi airport costs 5,000 rubles.
You can save and get to public transport... Not very convenient and comfortable. But budgetary.
From Tbilisi
- By minibus
- Runs every 30 minutes from 9.30 to 18.00 from Didube metro station
- Travel time is about 3 hours
- Cost about $ 6
- By train (with a change in Borjomi)
- Flight 618, 686
- Departures 6.45 and 16.35
- Travel time 4.25 minutes (to Borjomi)
From Borjomi
- By train (narrow gauge) from the Borjomi-Gruzovaya station
- Departures at 7.15 and 10.55
- Cost $ 0.50
- Travel time 2.25 hours
- By minibus
- Departures every 30 minutes
- By taxi
- Cost: 20-30 GEL
From Batumi
- By minibus
- direct route from December to March and in August
- departure from the old station at 10.00
- ticket price - about $ 6
- travel time - about 6 hours
- There is another option - with a change: from Borjomi to get to Khashuri, and from there to Batumi. Such a trip will cost about the same as a direct one.
Rental housing in the private sector
Almost every house in Bakuriani is for rent. Room, apartment, separate building.
Apartments are very different in terms of interior decoration, so it is better not to buy a pig in a poke and order apartments through Airbnb a little in advance.
Summer prices range from 130 to 300 GEL. In winter, it is 20-30% more expensive.
Prices directly depend on the interior situation and the view from the window.
Products can be bought in shops and at the market on the main street of the city. There are no problems with this.
Location of apartments on the map and prices
Best hotels
If you wish, you can rent a room in top hotels and get the maximum level of comfort.
- Mgzavrebi Bakuriani Hotel & Spa
- Hotel Crystal
- Best Western Plus Bakuriani
- Snow King Hotel
- Orbi Palace Bakuriani
- Bakuriani Hills
- Hotel Villa Palace
Cafes and restaurants
It is better to try traditional dishes of Georgian cuisine in places proven by tourists:
- "Marie"
- "De Novo"
- Kokhta Lounge.
- "Mimino" -
The latter institution is especially praised for khinkali, satsivi, khachapuri and shashlik.
There are also several bakeries in the village where you can buy lavash, pies, khachapuri.
We rest in Bakuriani in winter
- Height: 1700 m
- Official website: http://bakuriani.ge/ru/
Bakuriani is the oldest ski resort in Georgia on the northern slopes of the Trialeti Range.
This is one of best places for winter holiday in Georgia, if skiing itself is in the background for you.
Although even a bear will roll down the "blue" slopes of Bakuriani after 2 hours of training without the risk of breaking anything :) But in your free time you can drink mineral water, make snowmen, fool around and relax with your family at the hearth. The main thing is to have snow.
Ski slopes map
Bakuriani is equipped with:
- 2 black runs;
- 2 red slopes;
- 3 blue slopes;
- training trails in the valley;
- Toboggan track;
- 3 springboards 45, 70 and 90 meters long.
Delivery of skiers to them is carried out by 3 lifts (1 drag, 1 cable car and 1 chair).
It is better for beginners to enjoy winter recreation on a special track 300 meters long and with an incline of only 10-12 degrees in the center of "Joy Land", as well as on the blue tracks "Didveli-1" and "Didveli-2".
Experienced skiers are recommended to go down the slopes "Kokhta-1" and "Kokhta-2" with a length of 1500 and 3000 meters, respectively. On these slopes, the descent angle reaches 52 degrees. There is a special track for slalom fans in Bakuriani.
The cost of ski passes
Ski passes in Bakuriani are cheaper than in Gudauri, but the ski area is also smaller, as well as the height.
The entertainment center "Joy Land" is open here for children. In this establishment:
- skiing courses are held for children aged 4-14 years on special slopes
- there are trails for riding tubing (inflatable "cheesecakes")
- a special play area for kids.
In the central park of Bakuriani, children can go ice skating and horse-drawn sledging.
Many hotels in the resort have indoor heated pools, with compartments 30-60 cm deep, designed for children.
The hotels offer guests the services of professional animators and nannies.
Advantages and disadvantages of "ski"
- The presence of mineral springs and the ability to combine treatment and skiing;
- Mild climate with an average temperature of -6… -8 ° C;
- Healing mountain air, flavored with pine needles;
- Developed entertainment industry, which consists of several dozen establishments of various types.
disadvantages
- Short season (ends in March);
- a small selection of tracks (especially difficult ones);
- There may be problems with snow cover until February;
- low throughput of lifts and the formation of queues near them
Bakuriani in summer months
The weather in the summer months is excellent for hiking, active tourism... But it's better to come in June and July, when it is not so hot yet.
In early June, the air temperature during the day usually does not rise above + 22 ° С, and at night it rarely exceeds + 10 ° С. By the end of the month it becomes warmer - about + 25 ° С during the day and + 15 ° С at night. But June is one of the rainiest months, precipitation can last for 8 days.
In the first half of July, the temperature is about the same, and in the second it rises to + 30 ° С during the daytime. At night in Bakuriani it is always much colder than during the day - the thermometer at this time almost never reaches + 20 ° C. The hottest month, when temperatures are often recorded at + 33-35 ° С. The sunniest and warmest month in Bakuriani.
With the beginning of September it gets a little colder again; the average temperature for this month is + 22 ° C / + 5 ° C.
In July, August and September, it rains no more than 2-5 days.
What to do with children in summer
The children's amusement park "Joyland" in the summer is completely rebuilt for summer activities.
Together with children, parents can:
- jump on a trampoline
- shoot at the shooting range
- ride from slides and carousels;
- there is a play area for very little ones.
Children will also enjoy a horse ride through the picturesque surroundings of the village.
Currently, the resort is actively being built up - a water park is to open there soon. Many hotels have swimming pools.
Mountain bike rentals are very popular.
A couple of times you can ride a summer bobsled (toboggan)
Attractions near the city
In the northern part of the city there is a botanical garden, the exposition of which includes more than a thousand plants.
There is also something to see near Bakuriani:
- Lovers active rest can climb the mountains Kokhta and Sekvelomta, the height of which is more than 2 thousand meters.
- It is more difficult to get to the Borjomi and Bakuriani Tskali gorges, but there are very beautiful views.
- You can go to Mitarbi, see the ancient monastery complex of Timotesubani, hot springs in Tsikhisjvari and Lake Tabatskuri.
- In the village of Daba, which is located next to the Borjomi Gorge, there is an unusual chapel hidden in a cave.
- Visiting the city of Borjomi - see the Petre fortress and the house of Mirza-Riza-khan, walk along national park Borjomi-Kharagauli. Not far from the city is the Likan Palace, built at the end of the 19th century for members of the imperial family.
If you have your own car for 1-2 days, we recommend to go to Kutaisi or Batumi.
In winter, Georgia can offer quality tracks, stunningly beautiful and high mountains, the relative stability of the snow cover and its own national cuisine. The most modern equipment for laying tracks and lifts with a huge capacity were brought to the mountains. Only high-quality housing is lacking, which creates a lot of problems and negative reviews from those who are used to European service.
Today, there are four ski areas in Georgia.
All of them are located in different parts of the country, so you have to choose one of them or spend a lot of time on the road.
Gudauri
- Height: 2196 m
- Official website: https://gudauri.travel/
Gudauri is a young ski center in Georgia, which is located near the Cross Pass and the Georgian military road passes through it. The trails here are long and with a noticeable slope, so you should soberly assess the level of your skiing. If you do not know how to ski, be sure to sign up with an instructor, because it is very easy not to calculate your strength.
The village is perfect for a winter vacation with a company or with children, if everyone is already skiing. There are a lot of blue tracks here, which is why many amateurs come here who want to ride without extreme sports. And one of his main problems is overcrowding at peak season with the complete absence of the entertainment industry and problems with the service. But, let's be honest, in principle, you cannot go to Georgia with applications for the European level of service. Otherwise, the prices would be completely different.
Trails
In total, 22 tracks are equipped on Gudauri. Of them:
- 2 black;
- 3 red;
- 17 blue;
- 4 green;
On last year's maps, blue cards were listed as red, so you should not count on gentle slopes. You must ski with confidence or complete an instructed training course to ski safely. For zero beginners, only green tracks are suitable. But in a day or two of practice, you can safely ride on blue tracks, of which there are a lot.
The trails are served by five 3 or 4 chair lifts. The resort also has one cable car with 8-seater closed cabins. Near the ski lifts, there are ski pass sales offices, equipment rental points, cafes and restaurants. There is a first-aid post near the lower cable car station.
Ski pass cost
The Georgians themselves believe that the prices for skiing in Gudauri are greatly inflated. Probably this is so, but for those who rode in Slovakia, Austria or France, the cost of ski passes in Georgia will seem almost a gift for New Year... Current prices can be found on the official website. 
Hotels
Available for settlement in Gudauri:
- 6 hotels of 3 * category;
- 7 hotels of 4 * category;
- 1 hotel of 5 * class;
- 17 establishments without category;
- Over 120 private cottages and houses (available for rent through Airbnb)
| Facility category | |||
| Double | 3-seater | 4-seater | |
| Cottage | 63-98 | 71-125 | 75-188 |
| No category | 59-105 | 88-188 | 125-196 |
| 3* | 117-196 | 117-196 | 146-209 |
| 4* | 94-125 | 127-166 | 160-565 |
| 5* | 160 | 235 | 435 |
The only 5 * hotel belongs to the famous chain "Marco Polo" and has been operating in Gudauri since 1988. But there are more than enough options where you can rent a room or apartment for a family inexpensively.
Vacation with children
All conditions have been created here for families with children. The Skigudauri Ski School constantly organizes groups for kids from 4 years of age. Snowmobile courses for children are held at Seturebi Snowpark. Experienced skiers and animators lead the lessons. In New Gudauri, near the gondola, there is a tubing track. An escalator is installed next to it. The outlets and rental outlets of the resort's equipment offer children's skis, clothes and shoes, helmets, masks.
Many hotels have children's playrooms, which are served by experienced teachers. The hotels have nannies who know Russian and English.
Advantages and disadvantages
We tried to study the reviews of tourists about the rest in Gudauri and form a general opinion of tourists.
- if there is snow, then the season starts in December and closes in May (in fact, there were seasons when it was not even in February);
- Stunning views;
- Complete absence of stones and other obstacles on the slopes;
- Possibility of placement high in the mountains, next to ski lifts and slopes;
- The presence of a large number of accommodation establishments of all classes;
- Budget prices compared to the Alps;
- Long runs;
- overcrowding during peak season;
- low level of service in budget hotels and public catering;
- lifts work only from 9 am to 4 pm;
- absolutely nothing to do in the evening;
- instability of weather conditions;
Bakuriani is a city that claimed the 2014 Olympic Games
- Height: 1700 m
- Official website: http://bakuriani.ge/ru/
Bakuriani is the oldest ski resort in Georgia. The resort is famous for its picturesque slopes and healing mineral springs. Bakuriani is located on the northern slopes of the Trialeti Range, 38 km from Borjomi. This is one of the best places to relax if skiing itself is secondary to you. After 2 hours of training, even a bear will roll down the "blue" slopes of Bakuriani without the risk of breaking something for itself 🙂 But in your free time you can drink mineral water, make snowmen, fool around and relax with your family at the hearth. The main thing is to have snow.
Trails
Bakuriani is equipped with:
- 2 black runs;
- 2 red slopes;
- 3 blue slopes;
- training trails in the valley;
- Toboggan track;
- 3 springboards 45, 70 and 90 meters long.
Delivery of skiers to them is carried out by 3 lifts (1 drag, 1 cable car and 1 chair).
It is better for beginners to enjoy winter recreation on a special track 300 meters long and with an incline of only 10-12 degrees in the center of "Joy Land", as well as on the blue tracks "Didveli-1" and "Didveli-2".
Experienced skiers are recommended to go down the slopes "Kokhta-1" and "Kokhta-2" with a length of 1500 and 3000 meters, respectively. On these slopes, the descent angle reaches 52 degrees. There is a special track for slalom fans in Bakuriani.
Lift pass
Ski passes in Bakuriani are cheaper than in Gudauri, but the ski area is also smaller, as well as the height.
Prices for ski passes in georgian gel Hotels
In Bakuriani you will find:
- 1 hotel of 2 * category;
- 5 hotels of 3 * category;
- 5 hotels of 4 * category;
- 25 establishments without category;
- Over 130 private homes and cottages (via Airbnb).
| Facility category | Number of people per room and price in US dollars | ||
| Double | 3-seater | 4-seater | |
| Cottage | 29-63 | 38-71 | 41-84 |
| No category | 19-67 | 19-94 | 25-75 |
| 2* | 33-45 | 42-63 | 50-72 |
| 3* | 63-125 | 75-166 | 84-251 |
| 4* | 73-112 | 105-230 | 113-415 |
"Troikas" and "Fours" in Bakuriani hardly differ in the quality of service. You need to choose rooms in them based only on the convenience of the location and the landscape that opens from the windows of the apartments. Accommodation in a private house is suitable for those who want to know the real life of the highlanders and get acquainted with the customs of the Georgian people.
Vacation with children
Bakuriani is much more suitable for family recreation than Gudauri, since the infrastructure of the resort itself is more developed here and there is something to do besides skiing.
The entertainment center "Joy Land" is open here for children. This institution conducts ski training courses for children aged 4-14 years on special slopes, which are equipped with mini-lifts. It also has tubing trails (inflatable "cheesecakes"), and a special play area for kids. In the central park of Bakuriani, children can go ice skating and horse-drawn sledging.
Many hotels in the resort have indoor heated pools, with compartments 30-60 cm deep, designed for children. In the hotels of the health resort, guests are offered the services of professional animators and nannies.
Advantages and disadvantages
- The presence of mineral springs and the ability to combine treatment and skiing;
- Mild climate with an average temperature of -6… -8 ° C;
- Healing mountain air, flavored with pine needles;
- Developed entertainment industry, which consists of several dozen establishments of various types.
Hatsvali is a small ski resort 7 km from the city of Mestia, which is also called the land of a thousand towers. The town is located in Svaneti, but for now call it developed ski center can be done with great difficulty. This place is more suitable for those who are not looking for cool service, but simply want to go somewhere very far from civilization, where they can just walk in the mountains, breathe the air and ski.
Hatsvali's infrastructure speaks for itself:
- four-seater chairlift (1400 meters long)
- 2 drag lifts for beginners and children, 300 and 600 meters
- the total length of the tracks is only 2.6 km so far
But the lifts are quite inexpensive:
- Length of pistes: 13 km (the longest - 7 km)
- Ski area: 2390 m. - 1700 m., Vertical drop: 690 m.
- The cost of a daily ski pass is GEL 30 (USD 12), a weekly ski pass GEL 174 (USD 73).
The hotel fund in Goderdzi is only 120 people / beds, although the capacity cable cars - several thousand people per hour.
The best winter resorts in Georgia. Bakuriani or Gudauri? Which resort to choose?
We choose the best resort depending on the purpose of the visit.
Planning to travel to Georgia for skiing or snowboarding? Want to spend your Christmas holidays in the mountains? Can't imagine your vacation without snow and sports?
Today "Zagranichnik" will compare the most popular Georgian ski resorts: Gudauri and Bakuriani.
Bakuriani is the first place where Georgians started skiing, this resort is the oldest and largest ski resort in Georgia. Some are of the opinion that hotels in Bakuriani smell like "shovels", but in recent years new hotels, cafes and restaurants have been built. For many years, professional athletes have been training in Bakuriani; in Soviet times, the national team of the Olympic reserve of winter sports was based here, and in 2014 the resort claimed the venue for the Winter Olympic Games.
Gudauri ranks second in size after Bakuriani. It can be called a relatively young ski resort that does not have such a history as the previous resort. Even ten years ago, this particular resort could be recommended: new infrastructure, two-hour proximity to Tbilisi. Now - Bakuriani has restored his position and competitiveness.
Gudauri resort is located 120 km from Tbilisi on the Georgian military road, near Kazbegi... In Gudauri, you will not find anything except snow and trails. Any vegetation does not rise above 10 cm, because height of about 2000 meters - alpine zone. On the other hand, the season here lasts from mid-December to the end of March. Plus, there are artificial snow generators in Gudauri, which allows you to extend the season if the winter is not snowy.
Bakuriani is lower in height, this has its pros and cons... On the downside: the season in Bakuriana is much shorter: it starts at the end of December and ends in February. But this resort has an indisputable advantage: a gorgeous coniferous forest grows on the slopes, the mountain coniferous air is very useful for both adults and children, therefore families come to this natural sanatorium to heal. It is only 30 km from Bakuriani to the famous Borjomi and its healing springs, so skiing is often combined with complex health improvement. From Tbilisi to Bakuriani - 180 km.
Both resorts have a wide range of housing prices. But if you can come to Bakuriani without prior agreement, and find something inexpensive is quite realistic, then this number will not work in Gudauri. BigTripHostel can boast of the only inexpensive accommodation. Therefore, some are of the opinion that Gudauri is for the rich.
According to one professional skier, “ Bakuriani is a sanatorium, and Gudauri is a sport". And this opinion is supported by many: in Bakuriani, tracks are only for “beginners, children and the elderly”. But Gudauri is much more promising. Freeride, paragliding, mountaineering and helicopter riding are well developed here. There are very promising tracks in Svaneti and Goderdzi, but it will take another ten years before everything will be done there.
