Svaneti was, until a few years ago, a classic ski touring region and has remained so to this day. The construction of a second, small ski area also made the area interesting for freeriders. In addition to the Hatsvali ski area, there is the new area directly in Mestia at the foot of Mt. Tetnuldi. The Tetnuldi is a beautiful mountain and with 4858m about 50m higher than Mount Blanc. The "Resort", which was newly opened in 2016, is not big, but brings freerider lift-assisted to a height of almost 3200m. If the conditions are right, the area is good for 2 great freeride days. The lifts in Hatsvali can be reached on foot from our partner hotels in Mestia and is the bad weather option. These 2 areas ensure that we can offer not only cat - skiing and ski touring but also cat - skiing and freeride weeks. The prices are the same and we only need the information from you in which direction to go. Even for the most die-hard ski tourers, it can be worthwhile to spend a day in the ski area with the right snow conditions and enjoy the powder without long ascents. Conversely, a small ski tour in Svaneti is always a rewarding thing even for the most die-hard freerider ... So to make things not too complicated, there are 3 packages that we have put together for you.

2 days cat skiing + 4 days freeride and / or ski tour

1 day cat skiing + 5 days freeride and / or ski tour

For our "traditional" package without Cat Skiing (Skitour + Freeride) visit:   www.kaukasus-freeride.com 

Our service begins before you book. After you have contacted us and we know when and from where you want to start your freeride adventure, we will help you finding the ideal flight. This does not necessarily have to be the cheapest one that a flight booking portal suggests. The duration (stop over times) of the trip, baggage regulations (skis or snowboards must be with you and there are sometimes very complicated and airline-dependent regulations) and arrival time on site in order to have as many days of skiing as possible are decisive. Departures are usually Friday, Saturday or Sunday and the return flight is 7 days later. This results in 6 full days of skiing. Most of them are direct flights with the Hungarian Wizz Air. We have a lot of experience with the airline and help you with questions about ski luggage or avalanche backpacks. There are constant changes here, but we are always well informed and are happy to share our experiences with you. This is pure service and we don't earn anything at all.

We only work with small, family-run hotels. Even if everything is different than in the Central European Alps, the accommodations are very cozy. Everything is very clean and what is particularly important and by no means a matter of course: warm. The rooms are twin rooms. On request we can try to organize single rooms. A bathroom is always available in the room, WiFi is provided. We spend a lot of time in our partner hotels ourselves and always feel well looked after. The food is hearty, the Georgian cuisine is not exactly low in calories, everything is freshly prepared every day, only products from the region are used. Most of the time there is both breakfast and dinner in buffet form and

there is always more than enough to fill your stomach. Regardless of your arrival times, there is always either breakfast or, if you arrive later, dinner. Drinks have to be paid by yourself, but this will not break the bank. A chilled beer for dinner costs around 1 €. The accommodations are all centrally located in the city center, you can end the evening in a cafe or small restaurant. One of our partner hotels has a small sauna, but we can organize a sauna evening on the mountain with an incredible view. Those looking for wellness areas and indoor pools will not find what they are looking for in Mestia!

On the last day of your trip you will be picked up from the hotel in good time and you will return to Kutaisi.

Getting around in Svaneti in winter is only possible with four-wheel drive vehicles. Most of them are Toyota Delica buses that are available for our groups. No matter what is on the program, the transfer is always included!

No matter if you have a day of cat skiing, lift-assisted freeriding or a day of ski touring, a guide is always with you! Our experience has shown how important this can be in the mountains around Mestia. On the one hand, this is about your safety on the mountain, on the other hand, everything runs more smoothly if you have a local guide at your side. Small organizational problems can lead to lengthy delays, the guides know everything and everyone and always find quick solutions.

Our guides are all from Svaneti, grew up in the mountains around Mestia and know every stone on their playground. All are GMGA (Georgian Mount. Guide Association https://ifmga.info/) certified, some speak English very well, but all can communicate security - related contend more than enough. For all mountain activities with a guide, a maximum group size of 6 people per group applies. Our snow groomer can carry a maximum of 12 guests, so there will be 2 guides. With a homogeneous groups there is a head and a tail guide, with different levels of performance and / or condition we can split the group with one guide each. In most cases, a driver is required in addition to the guide, because the starting points for the freeride variants and the ski tours are not the same as the end of the tours. Our packages also include transfers to the starting points and collection at the end of the day of skiing, as well as transfers to and from the garage of our snow groomer.

We are always there for you! Personal on-site support is one of the most important reasons why you should plan your freeride adventure with us. From our own experience, we know that ski trips like the ones we offer can be organized with a lot of research and courage by yourself. Sometimes everything works out as it should, but sometimes it doesn't ... Unforeseen little things cost a lot of nerves and, above all, time you lose on the mountain. Taxis that do not come, reserved rooms that are not available, or ATMs without money. Little things that are uncomfortable, especially when the sun is shining and the powder is waiting.

Georgia is a unique travel destination, precisely because many things are completely different than at home.

"Ati Ts`uti" = ten minutes, you will hear one or the other time, an elastic term in Georgia .... Every now and then you have to leave your comfort zone and get involved in the Georgian way of doing things. Sometimes everything takes a little longer, but in the end everything will be fine! Although not too far from home, you enter a completely different world with people often acting not the way you expect them to. 

We are also not immune to breakdowns and possible problems, but we can react immediately and find solutions based on our contacts and personal experience on site.

Ushguli is where the road ends! 41km away from Mestia is the tiny village of Ushguli at 2200m above sea level. The place, at the foot of Shchara, the highest mountain in Georgia with 5201m, is, like Mestia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The partially decayed settlement is a unique experience in winter. Endless ski touring options and an incredible panorama. The Elbrus, the Ushba, the Tetnuldi and of course the Shkhara are within reach. Fantastic, practically always untouched slopes even days after the last snowfall in one of the wildest and most untouched areas of Eurasia.

Only a few ski tourers make it out there, this is due to the fact that the place is very, very difficult to reach in winter. The road leading there is narrow, winding and steep and we are glad that we have our careful and experienced drivers who will take you there safely. For the 41km our drivers need almost 2 hours. Ushguli is suitable for all those who are able to / want to climb about 1000 verticals. For the Ushguli option, your physical condition should be good and if we do Ushguli, then only with an overnight stay in the mystic village. When selecting our partner hotels, we also made sure that warm twin rooms and excellent food were available. You don't have to check out at the hotel in Mestia, of course, and just pack what you need for one night. We have not integrated the "Ushguli Option" into our packages as a fixed component, it makes no sense to go to Ushguli two days if the weather does not match. Due to the exposed location at over 2200m there is little forest and therefore no bad weather alternatives. But if the weather and snow conditions are good, you should not miss this unique experience! Information about the price for the "Ushguli Option" can be found a few lines below.