Gudauri Kar Tahmini

Just back from 5 days in Georgia, 3 of which spent at Gudauri but don't miss the opportunity of a night in Tblisi!! Skiing: conditions on and off-piste were superb with blue skies everyday. It says 55km of piste and that's about right. Nothing challenging so great for intermediates. It is the easy access to the two bowls right and left of the top lift that make it for inters though. Subject to the avalanche warnings (notably absent!) give them a go. What really makes the resort though are the two Freeride areas on huge ridges left and right of the pistes. For a short 30-40min boot/skin you have access to relatively safe slopes that hold the snow. Just pick a line. Touring paradise too, just hire the local guides to show you around. Lifts: not great. All but the gondola and central chair are slow by Alpine standards and if not blessed by good weather you will get cold and little return on time spent on uplift. They are also building a new Raddison Hotel complex at mid-level. Once that is finished they will really need to invest in lifts to compensate for increased numbers. Not crowded during the week but busy at weekends. Lift Pass £8 per day. Ski Hire: plenty of options and they looked good. We took own gear. Instruction: 1 on 1, just pick up your instructor at the lift. Didn't appear to be any group lessons or a need to book in advance. Equally as many Paragliding Pilots on hand too. Hotels: plenty of choice but would recommend the family run pensions for best service/value. We stayed at the "Good Inn" and could not have asked for a better experience. Even watched the 6 nations on Georgian TV. £35pppn Half Board. You will need to walk for 5-10 mins from hotel to base station but can ski back. Apres: mainly hotel based but Token Bar at the bottom of the base lift was our top pick. Beer £1.20 a pint and Wine £7-8 a bottle in bars and hotels. Transfers: about two hours from Tblisi. We arranged private transfer through hotel: $60 for a vehicle, not pp. If you're not touring or freeriding then a two day stay is enough. Otherwise, 5 days will satisfy your powder desires.