The picturesque village of Bakuriani is a recognized center for family winter recreation in Georgia. How to get to the ski resort? How long is the skiing season and how do tourists say about the popular complex? Trails, hotels and excursions, food prices, ski passes and equipment rental.
Bakuriani occupies a special place among the ski resorts in Georgia. The oldest Georgian winter recreation center is located 186 km from the capital of the country and is very popular with ski and snowboard lovers. Every year tens of thousands of tourists come to ride on the snow-covered slopes.
Currency exchange rate: 1 Georgian lari (GEL) ≈ 23 RUB.
Climate and weather in Bakuriani
Winter in Bakuriani is mild. The weather is usually good: there is always a lot of sun here, so you can see skiers in swimsuits on the slopes. The average temperature is about −6 ... −7 ° С. Because of the high mountains, there is no strong wind. The depth of the snow cover reaches 0.65 m. Snow is dense and avalanches are rare.
The skiing season starts at the end of November and ends at the beginning of April. February is the sunniest and most pleasant month to relax.
How to get there and how much does it cost
The closest airports to the winter resort are Tbilisi (181 km) and Kutaisi (158 km) airports. The road from the capital of the country is the most convenient, because most of the international flights arrive there. Look for tickets for Air Sales and Skyscanner.
From Tbilisi you can get to Bakuriani by minibuses or taxis. The journey takes almost 3 hours. Minibuses run from 7:00 to 18:00 from the bus station, located next to the Didube metro station in Tbilisi. The fare for them costs 18 GEL.
The dimensions of the minibus are not very convenient for transporting ski equipment, so most tourists order a transfer. A taxi will take you to the village in 2.5 hours. A trip in a car designed for several passengers costs 70-120 GEL, and an individual transfer costs 180-200 GEL.
You can get to the resort with a transfer in Borjomi. The journey by train from Tbilisi to Borjomi takes 4.25 hours, and the ticket costs 2 GEL. From here, taxis (20-25 GEL), minibuses (17 GEL) and trains go to Bakuriani.
Find out how to get to Georgia by car.
Old narrow gauge railway in Georgia... The ski resort of Bakuriani and the resort town of Borjomi are connected by an old narrow-gauge railway 38 km long. It was built at the end of the 19th century so that members of the royal family could easily come to their Georgian residence. It is noteworthy that the bridge over a deep mountain gorge was designed by Gustave Eiffel himself.
The vintage road continues to carry passengers today. A train runs along it, which consists of two carriages and a locomotive. Travel in 1st class costs 2 GEL, and in the second - 1 GEL. You can get to Bakuriani in 2.5 hours. It is convenient that the timetable of the narrow-gauge railway lines up with the electric trains that run to Borjomi from Tbilisi.
Trails
At the oldest ski resort in Georgia, Bakuriani, there are several ski areas with slopes of different difficulty levels. They are perfect for those who have just started skiing, and for those who love extreme sports.
"Plateau", or Twenty Fives - the shortest and simplest track, 0.3 km long, is located right near the village. Since a lot of beginners and parents with children ride on it, a gentle slope with a steepness of 10-12 ° is served by four lifts at once. Another lift is equipped for those wishing to ride a toboggan.
"Kokhta-1", or "Tatra", has 2 levels. The track stretches for 2.3 km along the slope and is served by one lift. Its lower section, 1.8 km long, is intended for experienced athletes, and the upper one is a black track with a 52 ° slope.
"Diveli" - the newest in the resort. It has a length of 4 km and is served by three lifts - with cabins, a sit-down and a drag. The difficult slopes at the top of the piste can only be tackled by experienced skiers, while the lower part is quite suitable for beginners. There is lighting here, so the track is available until 22:00.
"Kokhta-2" 3.4 km long leads to the top of the mountain at an altitude of 2850 m. There is only one lift. By the nature of the slopes, it resembles the Diveli track. However, "Kokhta-2" is shorter and on the lower 1.4 km is suitable for beginner skiers.
Tobogganing enthusiasts use the 1.4 km track. In addition, the resort has three ski jumps.
Route scheme in Bakuriani
Trails in Bakuriani
Ski pass prices
The cost of the ride is different. The highest prices are for New Years and weekends. Ski passes can be purchased locally or use a single multipass - it is valid in all ski centers in the country.
Children under 6 years old accompanied by adults are transported on the lifts free of charge. Children's tickets are sold to young skiers from 6 to 16 years old. A daily ski pass for adults, depending on the route chosen, costs 20-25 GEL at the beginning of the season and 40 GEL at the peak of the winter season. Skiing from 17:00 to 22:00 costs 10 GEL, and a one-time rise - 1-5 GEL.
Learn about your holiday in Gudauri.
Equipment and clothing rental prices
The rental point is open in front of the exit to the ski lifts. The rental of a ski set (skis, poles and boots) costs 10 GEL per hour, 15-20 GEL per day. When renting a complete ski set, a helmet and a mask are given free of charge. To rent a snowboard kit (snowboard and boots) for a day, you need to pay 25-30 GEL. Sledges cost 3 GEL per hour and 10 GEL per day.
Instructor's services will cost 30-50 GEL per hour. The lowest prices are in the Twenty Fives ski area, designed for beginners. In Bakuriani itself, you can find cheaper ski and snowboard sets - for 15 GEL per day.
Hotels in Bakuriani
2.5 thousand people permanently live in the resort village. During the ski season, due to tourists, the number of residents increases several times. There are many hotels here. These are hotels rebuilt from Soviet times, modern guesthouses and luxury hotels.
Prices for a double room in Bakuriani hotels in the winter season:
| Hotel 1 * | 25$ |
| Hotel 2 * | 30$ |
| Hotel 3 * | 60$ |
| Hotel 4 * | 70$ |
| Hotel 5 * | 80$ |
For $ 20-35 at the resort, rent an apartment or apartment in the private sector. It is easy to find accommodation with full board for 40-45 $. Many tourists like private accommodation, as they offer a service that is tailored to the individual needs of guests.
Look for accommodation with discounts on Airbnb and Skyscanner Hotels. Here are the main rules for finding hotels.
Prices for food in cafes and restaurants
Most small hotels and guesthouses provide accommodation with three meals a day. The hosts are always interested in when tourists plan to return from the slopes and set the table at the agreed time. It is very convenient! Larger hotels that offer a pool and gyms usually include breakfast only.
At the cable car stations, there are cafes serving hot tea, coffee, homemade mulled wine and pastries. At the resort you can taste delicious Georgian cuisine - boat-like Adjarian khachapuri, khinkali, barbecue and lobio. The national delicacy - churchkhelu - is sold for 1-3 GEL.
The average bill in an inexpensive establishment for two is 25-30 GEL excluding alcohol, and with alcoholic drinks - 35-45 GEL.
Prices for selected meals and drinks in Bakuriani cafes and restaurants:
- salad 5-10 GEL;
- potatoes or rice for a side dish - 2-5 GEL;
- khachapuri - 5-10GEL;
- kebab in pita bread - 9 GEL;
- khinkali, 1 pc. - 0.5-0.7 GEL;
- lobio - 4 GEL;
- barbecue, portion - 10-20GEL;
- wine, 1 bottle - 15-40 GEL;
- sweet carbonated drink - 2-3 GEL;
- tea - 3-8 GEL;
- coffee - 3-5 GEL.
In the store you can buy lavash - 0.6-0.8 GEL, delicious suluguni cheese - 10-15 GEL per 1 kg and ground coffee - 2 GEL per 100 g.
Excursions and entertainment
Bakuriani, a popular ski resort in Georgia, has a fairly varied après ski program. There are a couple of streets in Bakuriani with nightclubs, bars, casinos, saunas and billiards. A cinema has been opened, where films are shown in Georgian and Russian. The ticket costs 7-10 GEL.
Ice skating in the park of the village and next to the Edem Hotel is popular among the active entertainments in winter. Young people enjoy riding snowmobiles and snowmobiles in the hills that surround the resort. Parents and children take horse-drawn sleigh rides or visit Joyland Tubing Park. For fans of cross-country skiing, there is a 13 km track.
Many sights in Bakuriani and its surroundings are easy to explore on your own. Tourists gladly go to the ancient fortress-city of Vardzia carved into the rock, the Timotesubani monastery of the 10th century, the Chitakhevo monastery of St. George and the temple of the Assumption in Kvabiskhevi.
People come to the neighboring town of Borjomi to look at the picturesque palace of the Romanov royal dynasty. Now it is under restoration, after which it is planned to open a museum in the old building. In Borjomi there is a park of mineral springs, a museum of local lore and an openwork house "Firuza", erected in 1892 by the consul of Iran.
Local travel agencies offer different excursions for vacationers. The most demanded of them:
- travel along the Georgian Military Highway, full day - $ 43;
- trip to Batumi - $ 50;
- Two capitals of the country: Tbilisi and Mtskheta - $ 27.
Reviews of tourists and tips
Vacationers at the best ski resort in Georgia celebrate positive aspects of Bakuriani:
- Skiing on the slopes is easy to diversify with other outdoor activities, fun in the tubing park and sightseeing excursions.
- The resort's infrastructure is convenient for families with children.
- The tracks are designed for skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels.
- In November and April, thanks to special equipment, a good quality of snow cover is maintained.
Disadvantages:
- Large crowds during high season. To get to the most popular lifts, you often have to queue for 30-40 minutes.
- Some experienced skiers complain that the difficulty of the slopes is too high.
- It takes 5 minutes to get from the center of the village to the ski lifts by taxi (7 GEL).
Advice experienced tourists:
- Holidays in Bakuriani are perfect for groups of friends, where not everyone likes to ski.
- There is not enough budget accommodation during the peak season, so the rooms you like should be booked in advance.
- If you want to save on food, stay in small hotels and guesthouses with full board.
