Answers
Answers to the questions people ask about skiing in Georgia
Getting there
Arriving at Tbilisi Airport at night — how do I get to Gudauri?
A pre-booked transfer from Tbilisi Airport (TBS) to Gudauri is the only reliable late-night option — public marshrutkas stop around 22:00 and taxi drivers at the airport often refuse the Jvari Pass without winter tyres.
How to get from Tbilisi to Gudauri
The fastest Tbilisi → Gudauri option in winter is a private transfer (about 2 h 15 for 160 GEL in a sedan); a shared marshrutka from Didube takes 2 h 40 and costs 15 GEL, but doesn't wait for your flight.
Can I drive to Gudauri myself in winter?
You can drive yourself to Gudauri in winter in a 4×4 with proper winter tyres and chains, but if you have never driven alpine switchbacks in snow, a 160 GEL transfer is safer than any insurance deductible.
How long does Tbilisi → Gudauri take in winter?
In good weather Tbilisi → Gudauri is 2 h 15 min; expect 2 h 45 on a chain-up day and up to 3 h 30 if the pass runs a one-way convoy.
How to get to Mestia / Tetnuldi in winter
The cheapest Mestia route in winter is the overnight train to Zugdidi (35 GEL) plus a 3-hour shuttle (250 GEL private, 30 GEL shared); the fastest is the Natakhtari airstrip flight when weather permits.
Conditions and road
Is the Jvari Pass open today?
The Jvari Pass road is open today, with the live status shown above and chains required above Kobi — but closures happen fast on avalanche days, so our status is refreshed by drivers on the pass every hour.
Is Gudauri open today? Are the lifts running?
Gudauri's base lifts open from mid-December through mid-April; wind on the Sadzele ridge closes the top lift intermittently, in which case the beginner and intermediate zones usually keep running.
Prices
Gudauri lift pass prices for 2026/27
The 2026/27 Gudauri day pass is 90 GEL (confirmed with the resort office, 5 Oct 2026); the week pass is 470 GEL and children under 6 are free with a paying adult.
How much is a taxi from Tbilisi to Gudauri?
A street-hailed taxi from Tbilisi to Gudauri usually quotes 150–200 GEL in a sedan, but the real seasonal price with winter tyres and chains is 160 GEL — booked ahead so the driver does not haggle on arrival.