Value for money – Best ski resort in Eastern Europe?
Located near Europe’s highest peaks of the Caucasus mountains, Gudauri has become one of Europe’s most exciting emerging ski resorts. Though relatively small by western ski standards, its fast pace growth, modern lift system, and snow cover from December through April, have made Gudauri a hot spot for ski lovers looking for a fresh experience.
Located near Europe’s highest peaks of the Caucasus mountains
In this Review, we will show you the most important things you need to know before booking a vacation in Gudauri. We will share with you some great tips that will help you make better decisions, save time and money and have an all and all more enjoyable vacation.
A hot spot for ski lovers looking for a fresh experience.
One of Europe’s most exciting emerging ski resorts.
The Ski Area
Gudauri’s ski area offers 80 km of groomed slopes, 14 modern lifts. The ski area extends from 2000m up to 3279m elevation with FIS-certified pistes for all difficulty levels for skiers and snowboarders in a ski season that lasts from early December until late April.
Gudauri offers the experience of 2 black runs , 4 red runs ,12 blue runs and 6 green runs. As to be expected, most of the blue runs are closer to the resort, but some near the mid-station just above New Gudauri are good to go in the late season too.
good to go in the late season too.
There is a range of runs that offer something for all skill ranges. From beginner runs that will teach you the basics, to intermediate and advanced runs perfect for honing your skills to expert off-piste skiing for those looking to test their limits. Gudauri is a modest ski resort that offers off-piste skiing for amateurs and freeriders. It’s the perfect place to transition from beginner to intermediate freerider.
the perfect place to transition from beginner to intermediate freerider.
Gudauri currently has 14 ski lifts. They offer 4 gondolas, 6 chairlifts, 3 T-bars lifts and 1 carpet. Gudauri, well known by the locals and Russians, has become more popular recently with Western skiers, mainly Brits and Israelis. There will be further improvements made to the site. Gudauri is quite manageable in terms of queues. While they can build up over the weekends and during local holidays, the new 6-seater chairlifts & gondolas are a big help to get you climbing up the mountain quicker than before.
Gondolas are a big help to get you climbing up the mountain quicker than before.
The runs are really well-groomed, but the signs are often missing. The terrain off the marked routes is also good, particularly for intermediates to experts. In fact, Gudauri is a slice of heaven for freeriders, Expert skiers and snowboarders who are looking for backcountry skiing opportunities, at Gudauri, they are practically limitless.
a slice of heaven for freeriders
The marked freeride areas on the map can be accessed from the chairlifts and are relatively easy to explore. If you are looking for an off-piste or backcountry course, there are lots of ski schools to choose from, Like Snowlab, which offers a 1 to 5-day freeride school that will cost you 50€ to 250€.
If you need to spice it up with a bit of fun, once there is a suitable base level of snow, there is a Snowpark in Gudauri, which is serviced by its own 3-person chairlift. The Snowpark has a series of medium-sized jumps, medium-sized rails and a box line for beginners.
Gudauri White Rabbit Snowpark. rails and boxes area
White Rabbit snow park has a designated chairlift
white Rabbit snow park. The best snow park we encountered in East Europe
Gudauri’s skipass is good value for money compared to Western European resorts. A 6-day ski pass for an adult should only cost you about 90 euros for an adult and half price for children under 18 years old! Children under 6 years old are free!. If you need to rent ski gear, a standard set will cost around 10 Euros per day & 20 Euros for a full Freerider set.
good value for money
Other activities
If you crave that extra fun and adventure, you can go paragliding. It will set you back 90-100€, but the breathtaking views will be worth it. The take-off is on Kudebi peak at 3006m, the glide is around 15 minutes, and the landing point is in New Gudauri at 2200m.
paragliding
Gudauri has free night skiing for ski pass on Friday and Saturday nights. It takes place on the illuminated green run next to the new 6- seater on the lowest part of the ski area.
After 5pm, you can rent a snowmobile for 220 Georgian lauri, which is around 65€.
If you want to play bowling, you can do so at Marco Polo hotel.
night skiing on Friday and Saturday nights.
Bowling, at Marco Polo hotel.
Where to sleep in Gudauri
Gudauri offers a relatively wide range of sleeping accommodations in terms of price, ranging from low to expensive – and location.
New Gudauri is probably the best place to stay. It has mostly New apartments with shops, bars, and restaurants clustered nearby and ski rental locations, which are just a few minutes’ walk from the new Gondola. In a way, it is reminiscent of places like the small villages in La Plagne, France. New Gudauri is well-placed and planned, but many developments and construction sites are still around.
New Gudauri is probably the best place to stay.
shops, bars, and restaurants clustered nearby
reminiscent of places like the small villages in Paradiski, France
many developments and construction sites are still around in New Gudauri
Gudauri extends from 2000m to 2300m along the main road, to some, it would feel a bit too far from the action, but it does have ski-in – ski-out hotels, like the Marco Polo, Gudauri loft and the only 5 stars hotel in the resort, Gudari lodge.
Gudari lodge. The only 5 star hotel.
A 6-seater dopplemayr chair lift will take you up the mountain in no time. If you plan to stay in Gudauri, carefully check the location of your hotel, as some are rather remote and require shuttles to get to the lifts. The right side of the road is the right side to book a hotel if you want to be close to the slopes.
Pirveli green run and the 6 seater chairlift.
APRÈS SKI & NIGHTLIFE
The Apres scene in Gudauri is slowly but steadily improving. A few mountain cafes, restaurants and bars have recently appeared, offering a nice space to hang out after a long day on the slopes. Music varies from chillout to dance; you only need to find your vibe. On Mountain, we recommend Vitamin Kudebi, the highest restaurant in the resort, on the top of Kudebi mountain. The view during the golden hours is breathtaking. Most restaurants have western and Georgian food and drinks at a low prices. A full meal at the top restaurant will cost you around 12€, and street food meals around 5€.
Vitamin Kudebi, the highest restaurant in the resort, on the top of Kudebi mountain.
Among the more popular places are the recommended Drunk cherry restaurant and the more cosy Black dog bar at new Gudauri. If you want to try a traditional Georgian restaurant, we recommend Taverna Khrkei at the lower part of Gudauri . There are several more to pick from and Hotel Bars for your choosing.You can get a taxi at your hotel that will only cost you 5 euros, so you can roam the area and see all the options available. Plus, feel free to ask the driver for his number so you can call to get back to your hotel after a good night out. ask your driver for tips.
Drunk cherry
Black dog bar
HOW TO GET TO Gudauri
The closest airport to Gudauri is Tbilisi International Airport. The drive should take about two and a half hours if you go by car. Transport services are available and transport for up to 3 people should cost around 60€.
Here’s a link to the best online flight engine.
Here’s a link to the best online car rental website.
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Pros
If nothing more, Gudauri offers Good value for money. There are affordable accommodations and the restaurants and rental services are very reasonably priced, with New Gudauri being a modern resort with everything you need
It is great for beginners and intermediates with so many Blue slopes to choose and a modern lift system that gets you there without queues.
Off-piste areas are very accessible so Freeriders have plenty of room to explore, making even a week’s vacation feel short
Uncrowded slopes
Long ski season
Freeriders have plenty of room to explore
Off-piste areas are very accessible
Cons
If resort charm is a priority for you, maybe Gudauri is not for you. Like any resort, it has its own vibe, but it does not have that quaint, traditional, old-school European vibe you find in classic Alpine ski resorts.
Because Gudauri has South facing slopes, they can get a bit slushy later in the season, so if you plan a vacation in Apr, be advised.
The Apre’s ski scene and Nightlife are developing fast, like the resort itself, but if party life is in your squad goal, your first visit to Gudauri can wait a couple of seasons.
The ski area is too small for intermediates and advanced skiers
can get a bit slushy later in the season
Who is Gudauri forBeginners will feel right at home in Gudauri. It has enough blue runs to fill up a week’s worth of learning how to ski. But those who will genuinely fall in love with Gudauri are the Freeriders.
Intermediates and advanced skiers will find this resort too small for a week’s vacation, but it could be a cheap alternative if you want to have a weekend with a beginner or to take your kids to learn to ski for a short holiday.
RATINGS/SCORES
So, just before we give you our insider tips, here are our ratings for Gudauri:
Beginners: 9
Intermediates: 6
Advanced: 5
Snowboarders: 7
Freestylers: 5
Freeriders: 8.5
Apre Ski: 5
Nightlife: 5.5
Resort Charm: 5
Value for Money: 9
Our total score for Gudauri is: … 5.8
INSIDER TIPS:
Check out the cover bands, and DJ sets at the Drunk Cherry.
And after that, go to the only club in town: Dididisco. The place is getting packed not before midnight, and kick ass until 3am. It is ok because the lifts are open only from 10am!
The most important tip is to book a table at restaurants because they get swamped during dinner.
Gudauri, with its 80 uncrowded km of ski runs, is a better ski resort than its main alternative for the ultra-cheap ski resorts in Europe, Bansko, although it falls short on the village vibe and nightlife. If you want to learn more about Bansko, we highly recommend reading our excellent review on Bansko.
