Do you want to get such a mass of positive emotions, overwhelming drive, and emotional impressions in just a week of vacation that they will last for a year? Come to Georgia! The sun, mountains, air, gastronomic delight, intellectual leisure – all this, and to the most excellent degree, awaits you here.Of course, Georgia is good at any time of the year, but especially in winter, because in addition to all of the above, excellent snow is also added, which means skiing.
Where to sharpen skis
Just a couple of hours from the Tbilisi airport, circling along the fantastic serpentines of the Georgian Military Highway, you find yourself in the Caucasus ski paradise with excellent slopes, ski lifts, hospitable guesthouses, and hotels.
Gudauri
This is one of the highest resorts in Europe (2196 m) and the largest in Georgia (more than 70 km of slopes). What is good about Gudauri? Many.
- Firstly, all resort hotels are located near the ski lifts or within walking distance.
- Secondly, there is avalanche safety, there are no stones either on the tracks or on the virgin lands, and the deep and stable snow cover lasts from November to May, and reaches a thickness of two meters.
- Thirdly, the main attraction of Gudauri is the possibility of off-piste skiing, descent through virgin fields, freeride. Numerous lovers of free skating prefer Gudauri even to Alpine resorts, calling it. Mecca of freeride. In addition, there are a huge number of off-piste slopes for backcountry and heli-skiing around the resort.
Bakuriani
The village of Bakuriani itself is located at an altitude of 1700 m above sea level. The maximum ski lift in the resort is 2850 meters. Winter here is moderately cold, windless, and sunny. The average January temperature is minus 6-7 °C.
Skiers ride on the slopes of Mount Kokhta (the literal translation of the name is “beautiful”). Two trails of varying difficulty and length descend from its top. One, 1.5 km long, two-stage: the upper 500 m of the slope up to 52 degrees, the remaining kilometer is a red section. The second route, 3 km long, is also two-stage, red and blue. Here steep descents give way to gentle sections for relaxed skiing. Its length is 3 km.
For those who like it hot, there are three ski jumps, 45, 70 and 90 meters high, and a luge track (1350 m).
Beginning skiers also have a place to roam. For example, the Plateau track is 300 meters long: its slope is only 10-12 degrees. In addition to it, there are several more simple short runs. And lovers of cross-country skiing can sharpen them on a 13-kilometer track to the Tskhratskaro pass (ascent to a height of 2780 m).
There are several lifts in Bakuriani: a double chairlift (1200 m), a yoke (1400 m), and a Tatra cable car (1600 m). Another four rope tows are for children.
Among other things, in Bakuriani Park you can ride snowmobiles and skates to your heart’s content, as well as get unforgettable impressions of snow-covered landscapes from a bird’s eye view by trying your hand at paragliding.
Well, at your leisure, why not go to Borjomi on a wonderful little train, which is popularly called the “cuckoo”. The trip itself in this unusual vehicle is already an adventure, but the narrow-gauge railway route adds emotions: the road winds through the mountains, giving its passengers the opportunity to admire stunning views.
Leisure is serious business
But these places are famous not only for wonderful skiing. In general, choosing how to spend your leisure time is not an easy task, everything is so tasty … Moreover, this should be understood both in the literal and figurative sense of the word.
I don’t belong here?
Firstly, of course, Georgian cuisine, which does not need advertising, but it is impossible to resist and not say at least a couple of words. So, they feed here as if you are not a tourist, but the dearest and dearest guest from a hungry land. You need to be ready for this, and when ordering dishes, try not to be led by the hospitality of the hosts and the brutal appetite after a day of skating. The portions are large and satisfying, but there is no strength to say “stop” to yourself until you eat everything and lick your fingers. Khachapuri, khinkali, several types of phali, spicy soups, kebabs, wine, chacha… In Georgia, it’s unthinkable to get up from the table with a slight feeling of hunger, as the healthy lifestyle recommends.
And if we are talking about wine, then we need to mention the company ” Khareba Winemaking “. To buy excellent wine (and not only it), you don’t have to go to Tbilisi, you can do it just by going down the mountain: for example, in Stepatsminda, a very small village, there is also a Khareba shop.
And now for food for thought…
Secondly, returning to the figurative meaning of the word “delicious”, now about interesting leisure. In short, there are so many options that there will be no time left for food or skiing. And vacation is not enough.
For example, you can go to Borjomi, take a walk in a wonderful park (it is full of entertainment for children), drink there the most natural Borjomi right from the source. And, of course, take a dip in the hot mineral water in the outdoor pool. You can admire the picturesque Lake Tabatskuri, visit the Timotesubani Monastery (XX century), wander around the medieval cave city-fortress Vardzia – more than 250 rocky rooms have been preserved here. You should definitely make a stop on the way to the Krestovsky Pass: you can’t miss the panorama from the observation deck … But there is still Mtskheta, Sighnaghi, Tbilisi … In a word, you need to go to Georgia! And don’t limit yourself to just one!
