Why Georgia is one of the world’s most underrated skiing destinations

By Benjamin Kemper, CNN
5 minute read
Published 6:20 AM EST, Mon February 24, 2020
<strong>Undiscovered terrain:</strong> Georgia's snow-capped mountains are home to a number of magnificent skiing resorts.
Undiscovered terrain: Georgia's snow-capped mountains are home to a number of magnificent skiing resorts.
Mountain Resorts of Georgia
<strong>Glorious landscape: </strong>Covering 1,200 kilometers, the Caucasus Mountains spread across approximately 60% of Georgia's surface area.
Glorious landscape: Covering 1,200 kilometers, the Caucasus Mountains spread across approximately 60% of Georgia's surface area.
Andrey Borodulin/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Pristine powder: </strong>Georgia isn't necessarily associated with skiing, but more and more winter sports enthusiasts have been heading here in recent years.
Pristine powder: Georgia isn't necessarily associated with skiing, but more and more winter sports enthusiasts have been heading here in recent years.
Mountain Resorts of Georgia
<strong>Greatest asset: </strong>Switched on skiers head to the Caucasus in winter to take advantage of its non-existent lift lines and dazzling mountain scenery.
Greatest asset: Switched on skiers head to the Caucasus in winter to take advantage of its non-existent lift lines and dazzling mountain scenery.
Mountain Resorts of Georgia
<strong>Economical prices</strong>: The average cost of a lift ticket is around $15, which is significantly less than the Chamonix in the French Alps, where the price is around $61.
Economical prices: The average cost of a lift ticket is around $15, which is significantly less than the Chamonix in the French Alps, where the price is around $61.
Mountain Resorts of Georgia
<strong>Gudauri: </strong>Located around 120 kilometers from capital Tbilisi, Gudauri is Georgia's most popular resort by far.
Gudauri: Located around 120 kilometers from capital Tbilisi, Gudauri is Georgia's most popular resort by far.
Mountain Resorts of Georgia
<strong>Gudauri:</strong> It's the largest ski resort in Georgia, offering 56 kilometers of skiable terrain.
Gudauri: It's the largest ski resort in Georgia, offering 56 kilometers of skiable terrain.
Mountain Resorts of Georgia
<strong>Gudauri: </strong>The numerous activities on offer here include heli-ski, paragliding and night-skiing.
Gudauri: The numerous activities on offer here include heli-ski, paragliding and night-skiing.
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<strong>Accommodation options: </strong>The ski-in/ski-out Gudauri Lodge holds fabulous mountain views along with an indoor swimming pool and sauna and steam rooms.
Accommodation options: The ski-in/ski-out Gudauri Lodge holds fabulous mountain views along with an indoor swimming pool and sauna and steam rooms.
Courtesy Amber Group
<strong>Bakuriani: </strong> This low key resort lies two and a half hours west of Tbilisi and is positioned 1,700 meters above sea level on the northern slope of Trialeti Range.
Bakuriani: This low key resort lies two and a half hours west of Tbilisi and is positioned 1,700 meters above sea level on the northern slope of Trialeti Range.
Mountain Resorts of Georgia
<strong>Bakuriani: </strong>It's<strong> </strong>also a hit with families thanks to kid friendly activities such as an ice rink as well as a huge playground.<br />
Bakuriani: It's also a hit with families thanks to kid friendly activities such as an ice rink as well as a huge playground.
Mountain Resorts of Georgia
<strong>Bakuriani: </strong>The resort holds three interconnected ski areas spanning 18 kilometers of downhill slopes -- Didveli, Kokhta and Mitarbi.
Bakuriani: The resort holds three interconnected ski areas spanning 18 kilometers of downhill slopes -- Didveli, Kokhta and Mitarbi.
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<strong>Bakuriani:</strong> This former training ground for the Soviet Olympic Alpine ski team remains popular with professional skiers looking to escape the crowds.
Bakuriani: This former training ground for the Soviet Olympic Alpine ski team remains popular with professional skiers looking to escape the crowds.
Mountain Resorts of Georgia
<strong>Mestia: </strong>This tiny village in the region of Svaneti is renowned for its millennium-old tower houses and ancient, pagan-influenced mountain culture.
Mestia: This tiny village in the region of Svaneti is renowned for its millennium-old tower houses and ancient, pagan-influenced mountain culture.
Murad Orujov/Sputnik/AP
<strong>Rising popularity:</strong> Five times more skiers took to the slopes of Georgia's skiing resorts in the 2018 to 2019 season than five years before.
Rising popularity: Five times more skiers took to the slopes of Georgia's skiing resorts in the 2018 to 2019 season than five years before.
Mountain Resorts of Georgia
<strong>Mestia:</strong> Winter sports enthusiasts can choose between two small ski areas, Hatsvali (pictured) and Tetnuldi.
Mestia: Winter sports enthusiasts can choose between two small ski areas, Hatsvali (pictured) and Tetnuldi.
Andrey Borodulin/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Mestia: </strong>While this resort lacks the creature comforts of the likes of Gudauri and Bakuriani, its runs are far quieter.
Mestia: While this resort lacks the creature comforts of the likes of Gudauri and Bakuriani, its runs are far quieter.
Mountain Resorts of Georgia
<strong>Winter haven:</strong> Those who do visit are more than happy to keep the pillowy powder and dazzling mountain scenery to themselves -- for now.
Winter haven: Those who do visit are more than happy to keep the pillowy powder and dazzling mountain scenery to themselves -- for now.
Mountain Resorts of Georgia
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