Bakuriani ski slopes. Ski resorts in Georgia - Bakuriani, Gudauri and Mestia. Sights and entertainment in Bakuriani

Bakuriani is considered a ski resort , but many come to stay for a couple of days in the summer. You can not only breathe clean mountain air, but also engage in active tourism. Families with children should especially like it.

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 money and get there by public transport. Not very convenient or comfortable. But on a budget.

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 No. 618, 686
  • Departure 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
  • Departure every 30 minutes
• By taxi
  • Cost: 20-30 GEL

From Batumi

• By minibus
  • direct route from December to March and August
  • departure from the old station at 10.00
  • ticket price – approximately $6
  • travel time – about 6 hours
• There is another option - with a transfer: from Borjomi go to Khashuri, and from there to Batumi. Such a trip will cost about the same as a direct one.

Renting housing in the private sector

Almost every house in Bakuriani is for rent. Room, apartment, separate building.

Apartments vary greatly in interior design, so it’s better not to buy a pig in a poke and book an apartment through Airbnb a little in advance.

Prices in summer – from 130 to 300 GEL. In winter it is 20-30% more expensive.

Prices directly depend on the interior furnishings 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

Top 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 trusted by tourists:

• "Marie"
• "De Novo"
• Kokhta Lounge.
• "Mimino" -

The latter establishment is especially praised for khinkali, satsivi, khachapuri and shish kebab.

The village also has several bakeries where you can buy lavash, pies, and khachapuri.

Relaxing in Bakuriani in winter

• Altitude: 1700 m
• Official website: http://bakuriani.ge/ru/

Bakuriani is the oldest ski resort in Georgia on the northern slopes of the Trialeti ridge.

This is one of the best places for a winter holiday in Georgia if skiing itself is in the background for you.

Although even a bear will slide 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, build snowmen, fool around and relax with your family by the fireplace. The main thing is that there is snow.

Ski map

Bakuriani is equipped with:

• 2 black tracks;
• 2 red slopes;
• 3 blue slopes;
• training trails in the valley;
• Luge track;
• 3 springboards 45, 70 and 90 meters long.

Skiers are transported to them by 3 lifts (1 rope tow, 1 cable car and 1 chairlift).

For beginners who like winter recreation, it is better to ride on a special track 300 meters long and with an inclination of only 10-12 degrees in the “Joy Land” center, as well as along the blue routes “Didveli-1” and “Didveli-2”.

Experienced skiers are recommended to go down the “Kokhta-1” and “Kokhta-2” slopes, which are 1500 and 3000 meters long, respectively. On these slopes the angle of descent reaches 52 degrees. There is a special track for slalom lovers in Bakuriani.

Ski pass prices

Ski passes in Bakuriani are cheaper than in Gudauri, but the ski area here is smaller, as is the altitude.

Prices for ski passes in gels

How to entertain a child in winter

Bakuriani is much more suitable for family holidays than.

An entertainment center “Joy Land” is open here for children. In this establishment:

• skiing courses are conducted for children aged 4-14 years on special slopes
• there are trails for tubing (inflatable cheesecakes)
• special play area for children.

In the central park of Bakuriani, children can go ice skating and horse-drawn sledding.

Many resort hotels have indoor heated swimming pools, with sections 30-60 cm deep, intended for children.

The hotels offer guests the services of professional animators and nannies.

Advantages and disadvantages of "alpine skiing"

• Availability of mineral springs and the ability to combine treatment and skiing;
• Mild climate with average temperature -6...-8°C;
• Healing mountain air, flavored with the aromas of pine needles;
• A developed entertainment industry, which consists of several dozen establishments of various types.

Flaws

• Short season (ends in March);
• small selection of trails (especially difficult ones);
• There may be problems with snow cover until February;
• low capacity of lifts and formation of queues near them

Bakuriani in the summer months

The weather in the summer months is perfect for hiking and active tourism. But it’s better to come in June and July, when it’s not so hot.

In early June, the air temperature during the day usually does not rise above +22°C, and at night rarely exceeds +10°C. By the end of the month it becomes warmer - about +25°C during the day and +15°C 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 approximately the same, and in the second half it rises to +30°C 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°C. The sunniest and warmest month in Bakuriani.

With the beginning of September it becomes somewhat 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

In the summer, the children's amusement park "Joyland" is completely rebuilt for summer entertainment.

Together with their children, parents can:

• jump on a trampoline
• shoot at the shooting range
• ride slides and carousels;
• For very young children there is a play area.

Children will also enjoy horseback riding through the picturesque surroundings of the village.

The resort is currently being actively developed - a water park should open there soon. Many hotels have swimming pools.

Mountain bike rentals are very popular.

A couple of times you can ride the summer bobsled (toboggan)

Attractions near the city

In the northern part of the city there is a botanical garden, the exhibition of which includes more than a thousand plants.

There is also something to see near Bakuriani:

• Fans of active recreation can climb the Kokhta and Sekvelomta mountains, whose height is more than 2 thousand meters.
• Getting to the Borjomi and Bakuriani Tskali gorges is more difficult, but there are very beautiful views there.
• 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.
• Visit to the city of Borjomi - see the Petre fortress and the house of Mirza Riza Khan, take a walk in the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park. Not far from the city is the Likansky Palace, built at the end of the 19th century for members of the imperial family.

If you have your own car, we recommend going to Kutaisi or Batumi for 1-2 days.

Address: Bakuriani

Bakuriani, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Georgia

Bakuriani ski resort is a cozy village located high in the Caucasus mountains.

Bakuriani translated from Georgian means “calm, comfortable mountain,” which is explained by the location of the village. The population is 2.5 thousand people.

Geographical position

Bakuriani is part of the Borjomi municipality, located in the center of Georgia. The village is located high in the mountains, in the north of the Trialeti mountain range, at an altitude of 1.7 km above sea level.

Bakuriani on the map of Georgia

Climate and weather Bakuriani

The climate of the mountain village is continental. Winters here are mild, sunny and snowy. The average temperature in winter is 6-7ºС below zero. Winds do not blow often, since the town is protected on all sides by mountains. There is a lot of snow in winter - usually the average snow cover height exceeds 60 cm. This allows stable skiing in the mountains.

Winter in Bakuriani

Summer in Bakuriani is moderate, not hot, but very sunny. Temperatures in July (the warmest month of the year) usually do not exceed 20ºС. The period when the weather is sunny in Bakuriani exceeds 210 days a year.

Summer in Bakuriani

Ski resort

Bakuriani is one of the most visited ski resorts in Georgia. The mountain skiing season lasts six months - from November to March. Both experienced skiers and beginners who started skiing for the first time come here. To do this, tourists are offered several trails of varying degrees of difficulty to choose from.

Ski resort

For experienced skiers, there are routes “Kokhta-1” and “Kokhta-2”, which begin at the top of Mount Kokhta. The name of the mountain is translated from Georgian as “beautiful”. Indeed, snowy landscapes at a bird's eye view and the indescribable sensations of skiing remain for a long time in the heart of everyone who visits this magnificent place.

“Kokhta-1” is a two-stage track with a total length of 1.5 km. The first 400 meters at the beginning of the descent are quite difficult, they have a steep decline, the angle of inclination in this section reaches 52º.

“Kokhta-2” is a two-stage route, the total length of which is 3 km. Steep slopes here give way to gentle sections.

The Plateau route has been laid out especially for beginners. Its length is 300 meters. This is a flat, comfortable route, the angle of inclination does not exceed 12º.

The total length of the ski slopes is 5 km.

The ski resort is equipped with lifts to the mountains, including a double chairlift (1.2 km), a rope tow (1.4 km), a Tatra cable car (1.6 km) and 4 children's cable cars.

Lift

For luge lovers, 3 springboards have been erected at the Bakurian resort, the heights of which are 45, 70 and 90 meters. For those who prefer cross-country skiing, there is a 13 km long track that leads to the famous Tskhratskaro Pass (the climb exceeds 2.5 km).

Hiking

The location of Bakuriani at the intersection of geographical zones has made the nature of the village extremely diverse and attractive to tourists. There are mountains and gorges, deciduous and coniferous forests, lakes and springs here.

As part of a walking tour, you can climb Mount Kokhtu (over 2 km), Mount Sekvelomtu with a hike to Lake Tabatskuri, visit the ancient (11th century) Timotesubani monastery and much more.

Near Bakuriani there is the beautiful Borjomi gorge. On the way to it you can visit the ancient village of Daba; look at the small wooden chapel located in the cave; see an ancient yew tree, which is over 2000 years old.

Borjomi Gorge

We recommend visiting the Tskhratskaro pass, to which a cross-country skiing trail leads. The indigenous people called it the Pass of 9 Springs. It’s not easy to climb, but the magnificent, enchanting panoramas that open from the top of the pass are worth it. Here is the Mitarbi mineral water spring, which is in no way inferior in healing properties to Borjomi. Mineral water is bottled in containers at the Tsagveri plant.

Mitarbi mineral water is used to treat various forms of gastritis, ulcers and other gastrointestinal diseases.

Mineral water Mitarbi

The picturesque Botanical Garden of the Georgian Academy of Sciences is located in Bakuriani. The garden has more than 1000 beautiful plants. Alpine flora occupies one of the places of honor in this natural complex.

In the 19th century, Bakuriani was the favorite vacation spot of the Romanov royal family. This is confirmed by the palace preserved in the village.

How to get there

It runs from Bakuriani to Borjomi, built at the end of the 19th century. The width of the railway is 90 cm and the length is 38 km.

The films “Flower in the Snow” and “Don’t Cry!” were filmed on the Borjomi-Bakuriani narrow-gauge railway.

Narrow gauge railway

The distance from Tbilisi to Bakuriani is 190 km. You can get there by taxi or bus in 3-4 hours.

Where to stay

Bakuriani has a large selection of hotels, boarding houses and private guest houses. The average cost of a small room with amenities in a hotel is $50 per night. The cost of a room in hotels with luxurious service and extraordinary design can reach $150 per night. The price of accommodation in private guest houses starts from $35 per night.

Bakuriani is a great place to relax in summer and winter with the mesmerizing beauty of nature. The city has an atmosphere of happiness and joy. The impressions you get from staying in this picturesque corner will remain forever in your heart.

Do you want to come here? The Viva-Georgia team will organize an excursion or tour for you, create the optimal travel route and provide any other assistance during the trip.

One of the most affordable and worthy resorts in Georgia, which is not inferior in quality to its European counterparts and is aimed at both outdoor enthusiasts and professional athletes. Located just 2-2.5 hours drive from Tbilisi and Kutaisi, Bakuriani is a great place to relax, regardless of the time of year. By choosing Bakuriani, you will be able to fully enjoy the crystal-clear mountain coniferous air, which will have a healing effect on your body, and thanks to the developed infrastructure and a large selection of entertainment, your vacation will be remembered for a long time! Cable cars, jumps, ski slopes, cross-country skiing, horse rides, horse-drawn sleighs and snowmobiles, rides on snowmobiles and ATVs, paragliding and helicopter flights, casinos and night bars, bowling and SPA complexes: all of the above can be found in Bakuriani!

Holidays in Bakuriani: Ski season and infrastructure

Kokhtagora and Kokhtagora-2 are the so-called spine of Bakuriani: two-stage slopes are located at an altitude of 1770 - 2155 - 2270 m with a total length of the cable car of 4500 m and are served by a double chairlift and a drag cable car. There are 4 cable cars for children, the largest of which is 450 m. Both slopes are divided into two parts according to difficulty level: red and black slopes are located at the top (slope of almost 52 degrees) and are intended for experienced and professional skiers, followed by intermediate slopes difficulty and in the lowest part, on the Plateau with a slope of 10 - 12 degrees, there are blue trails intended for beginners and children.

Didveli - newest and modern track , located on the picturesque slopes of Mount Sakvelo. After the construction of the third cable car in 2012, the elevation difference here ranges from approximately 1800 to 2700. The longest route stretches about 4 km. Tourists are provided with the services of a gondola cable car for 8 passengers, moving at a speed of 6m/sec. Advanced skiers can ski on very steep and challenging red and black runs located at the very top of the mountain.

25-meter - advanced skiers and extreme sports enthusiasts have nothing to do here! The route with minimal incline is intended exclusively for children and beginners. Experienced instructors will always come to your aid in mastering skiing. Here you can find rope tows and “plates”, as well as rent a sleigh with horses and take a romantic walk around the surrounding area.

Holidays in Bakuriani: Apres-Ski and other types of recreation

Holidays in Bakuriani are not limited only to winter sports. The resort has a wide range of entertainment infrastructure. There is a cinema, a library, many bars and restaurants offering the best dishes of national Georgian cuisine, clubs and discos, baths and saunas.

In autumn and summer, Bakuriani attracts trekking and mountaineering. From the nearest one-day routes you can choose climbing Mount Kokhta (2155 m), climbing Sakvelo, visiting Lake Tabatskuri, hiking to the Timotesubani monastery complex (XI century), to the mineral springs in Mitabari, to the hot springs of Jvari.

Extreme climbers can visit the Bakurianitskali gorge. The bottom of the 300-meter gorge is dotted with giant hexagonal crystals 20-30 m high, and thickets of wild blackberries grow on the steep slopes. The location of Bakuriani and the Borjomi Gorge is also suitable for paragliding, rafting, jeeping, as well as hunting and trout fishing.

The surrounding area of ​​Bakuriani is also interesting. You can take a one-day jeep tour along the Borjomi Gorge, visit the city of Borjomi with a narrow gauge railway on a retro train called “Cuckoo”, or take and feel the spirit of ancient culture in the medieval one. Georgian cuisine, wine and chacha tasting by the fireplace, reading, playing billiards or table tennis are ways to relax after an active day on the slopes.

Are you dreaming? Who said you can't kill two birds with one stone? Members of the paragliding club in Bakuriani will make your dream come true. You can get a high dose of adrenaline by flying over forests on modern paragliders. The flight is completely safe, as it is carried out directly with the instructor: all you have to do is enjoy and soar in the sky like a bird!

Holidays in Bakuriani: Review prices

Transport links between Tbilisi and Bakuriani are well developed. Guests have access to buses, minibuses that depart from the Didube metro station, as well as an electric train to Borjomi and a railway. If you are on a limited budget, we recommend using a group transfer: it is convenient and will help save both time and money.

Taxi fare from Tbilisi - 160 -195 GEL

Taxi fare from Bakuriani to Borjomi - 25-30 GEL

In recent years, the resort has been continuously enriched with new hotels, boarding houses and private houses. Here you can find accommodation for every taste and budget. A comfortable hotel room with all amenities and breakfast will cost 100-120 GEL. 4-star hotels that meet European standards will cost about 200-250 GEL with quality three meals a day included in the total price. And finally, you can rent private houses and cottages and negotiate the price right on the spot!

from Tour Operator MyGeoand enjoy a wonderful and unforgettable vacation!

Gudauri resort is a fairly young ski resort and is located in the Kazbegi region of the country. The ski season begins in December and lasts until April, but there are a number of slopes where you can ski even in May. In Gudauri you can ride not only on special trails, but also beyond them. If you have extra money, you can book a helicopter flight and see the beauty of these places from above (there are areas where no human has ever set foot). For beginner skiers there is the easiest route. It is better to rent skis in Tbilisi, as it will cost you 20-40 percent cheaper there. The longest ski slope at this resort is seven kilometers. There are often avalanches at this resort, so when going to this resort, take at least basic equipment such as a shovel and a probe, especially this equipment may be useful to you if you are going to ride off-piste. Don't forget about insurance, because you can't do without it. If something happens to you, then in Gudauri you will be given only first aid, and then sent for treatment to Tbilisi.

Another good ski resort is Bakuriani. As for me, this resort is better than Gudauri, but this is my personal opinion (there are so many people, so many opinions, and everyone chooses what they like best). Bakuriani, this ski resort, applied to host the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, but as you know, the Russian resort of Sochi received this right. At one time, the Russian royal family lived in these places and the royal palace has survived to this day. At one time, the USSR ski team trained at this resort. Now not only Georgians and Russians vacation here, but also Austrians, Germans and representatives of other European countries (they also have places to ride, but the price decides everything). This resort is located 180 kilometers from Tbilisi, there are no problems with transport. Locals call it Sun Valley. Borjomi springs originate in these places. At a distance of 30 kilometers there are wells with mineral water. For skiing, the weather here is very comfortable, in winter the average temperature is 6-7 degrees below zero, there is practically no wind, and the snow depth is more than 60 centimeters. Believe it or not, in warm weather you can see such a sight as skiers in swimsuits. Here you will have the opportunity not only to ride, but also to buy various interesting excursions. This area is quite popular among hiking enthusiasts. I repeat - this is my personal opinion, but for me this resort is more acceptable.

The Georgian ski resort of Bakuriani is the oldest among the Caucasian resorts. It emerged as a sports and recreational area at the end of the 19th century. In those days, the Imperial family came here, who liked this picturesque region not far from Borjomi.

Thus, clean, healthy mountain air, saturated with pine aroma, turned Bakuriani into an imperial winter residence. Engineer Gustave Eiffel built a connecting bridge between the mineral resort of Borjomi and snow-capped Bakuriani. Now the resort is celebrated as an excellent ski resort for friendly and family holidays.

Where is?

Weather in Bakuriani

The altitude above the sea in Bakuriani is 1700 m. Due to the fact that the region lies in the subtropical zone, the winter season here is windless, sunny and moderately frosty.

In January, the average temperature remains at -7°C. The height of stable snow cover is about 65 cm.

The ski season in Bakuriani starts in November and closes by the end of March.

On a note! The optimal time to visit the resort is February, when the weather creates the best conditions for skiing.

Characteristics of the Bakuriani ski resort

General indicators:

• highest point of ascent - 2850 m;
• the average altitude of the region is 1700 m;
• the total length of the routes is more than 5 km;
• springboard heights: 90, 70 and 45 meters (but unfortunately they have not functioned since Soviet times);
• length of the toboggan run - 1350 m;
• the length of the ski slope for beginners is 300 m (10-degree slope of the slope);
• the total length of the trails for experienced ones (“Kokhta-1”, “Kokhta-2”) – 4,500 m;
• there are FIS trails;
• there are luge tracks (also not yet operational);
• an uphill running track to the Tskhratskaro pass, 13 km long and 2,780 m high;
• paragliding;
• open skating rinks in Bakuriani Park, closed skating rinks at the Eden Hotel;
• snowmobiling;
• freeride.

Ski slopes

Basically, all slopes are located on Mount Kokhta (2,200 m). The Didveli peak, adjacent to Kokhta, is in the process of development.

“Kokhta” has 2 popular trails among experienced skiers: “Kokhta-1” with a length of 1.5 km, and “Kokhta-2” with a length of 3 km.

The first route is two-stage. The slope of the upper 500 meters is 52°, and below there is a “red” ski section. Professionals ride here.

On the second track, those who are fairly confident on their skis can have fun. It also consists of 2 steps, but simpler.

The first section is red, the second is blue.

For beginners, it is advisable to start with the “Plateau” route; it is short and flat. There are also some simple and short descents.

There are 3 main ski lifts in Bakuriani:

• “Tatra” is a 1600 m long cable car;
• rope tow (1,400 m);
• double chairlift (1,200 m).

There are 4 safe rope tows for children.

Road to Bakuriani

From Tbilisi airport to the resort it is approximately 180 km. As with any trip, the most comfortable, fastest and carefree way is to order a transfer, but this is not economical.

Therefore, you can use budget public transport: taxis, minibuses, bus or train.

A taxi from the Tbilisi Didube metro station to the doorstep of the hotel in Bakuriani costs on average 165-200 lari (GEL).

You can travel by train only with a transfer. That is, in Tbilisi we take the train to Borjomi, there we change to a train to Bakuriani.

The train runs 2 times a day. If you are late, you can take a taxi to Borjomi. It will cost about 30 lari.

On a note! Exchange rate between the Georgian lari and the ruble: 1 ruble is equal to 0.04 lari. 1 lari – 27.5 rub.

Accommodation at the resort is possible in boarding houses, private rental houses and, of course, hotels.

A comfortable small hotel room costs approximately 100-130 GEL (7-8 days), European level 4-star rooms cost 200-250 GEL (per week).

The room price includes three good full board meals a day. When renting a house, the owners promote a personal approach to guests.

Hotel map

Entertainment and "interesting"

Apres ski services at the Bakuriani resort are poor compared to European ones.

The region has several restaurants, taverns and bars, tennis courts and a library, club and cinema.

But this modesty is compensated by the surrounding excursion tours through the most picturesque and rich natural beauties.

Interesting excursion trips include:

• tour to the clean mountain lake “Tabatskuri”;
• visit to the ancient Georgian temple “Timotesubani”;
• visit to the mineral healing regions “Tsagveri” and “Mitarbi”;
• tour to the famous resort and medical city “Borjomi”;
• a visit to “Vardzia” - a cave monastery of the medieval era, where the only existing lifetime fresco of the legendary Georgian Queen Tamara was preserved;
• an extreme hike to the gorge with huge “Bakurianitskali” crystals, similar to a fairy tale.

On a note!

• Risky tourists will enjoy jeeping, rafting and paragliding from the Borjomi gorges.
• Off-piste skiing from the Caucasian slopes is also popular among extreme tourists.
• Fishing connoisseurs often visit the local reservoirs and mountain rivers, where there are quite a lot of trout.
• Don't forget about the amazing and traditional Georgian cuisine! Traveling gourmets note the talent of local chefs for preparing meat dishes.
• How can you not try Georgian wine in Georgia?!? Be sure to try Khvanchkara. Here, in its homeland, this ruby ​​drink acquires a special taste.

Ski pass prices

The cost of a ski pass ticket to Bakuriani depends on the ski area. In general, the pricing system is as follows: