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Cat Ski & Tour Bakhmaro

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Cat Ski & Tour Bakhmaro Enquire
Price p/p From price based on 7 nights in a twin share room, full board, transfers, 6 days guided snowcat supported ski touring
Base/invoice currency is in Euro ex taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 2,106

SNOWCAT ASSISTED SKI TOURING
8 Days | 7 Nights | 6 Days Snowcat Supported Ski Touring

Location: Europe | Tour Focus: Guided | Terrain Focus: Backcountry
Ability: Advanced to Expert
Price p/p From price based on 7 nights in a twin share room, full board, transfers, 6 days guided snowcat supported ski touring
Base/invoice currency is in Euro ex taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 2,106
The perfect backcountry mix of snowcat supported ski touring in Bakhmaro Georgia includes airport transfers & ground transport, 7 nights accommodation, all meals, guides & 6 days of snowcat supported ski touring. Join a fixed date tour in December or March ...
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Custom Booking Period: Mar 09 - Mar 31, 2024
Min Days: From 8
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Cat-Skiing & Ski-Touring Bakhmaro Packages

Overview

Cat Skiing in Bakhmaro is one of Europe's best ski adventures. Packages includes return airport transfers, 7 nights of accommodation in the traditional village of Bakhmaro, all meals at Bakhmaro plus 6 days of guided snowcat supported backcountry ski touring. The ski touring explores areas beyond the reach of the snowcats & up to the highest peaks in the region. Each day can include around 3 hours of time in the snowcat to get to the most interesting backcountry locations. Each night you will return to the comfort of the base in the quiet village of Bakhmaro. The lodge's food, sauna & hospitality provide a wonderful end to an adventurous day.

More adventurous expert freeriders can opt to stay in the Adjara Mountain Hut and explore more remote terrain on a cat ski & tour trip[. Check out Adjara Cat Ski & Tour Packages here.

Anyone looking for full cat ski only tours should see our Cat Skiing Bakhmaro page.

Snow & Terrain

The terrain includes great tree skiing and high alpine terrain between 1,900m and over 2,700m elevation in the snow laden Little Caucasus of southern Georgia. High amounts of snowfall, especially at the beginning of the season provide generally excellent conditions. Tree runs with names like "Big in Japan' indicate the quality of the ski experience here. In early December and March during the Cat Ski & Tour programs, snow conditions can vary from deep powder to early Spring corn and everything in between! Regardless of the conditions, exploring the area by snowcat & ski/splitboard is definitely worth the journey. The amount of skiing done is dictated by the weather & the fitness/will of the group.

Vertical, Fitness & Ability

The tour explores the neighboring valleys of Bakhmaro. The mountains rise up to 2,755m altitude and since the base is already at 1,900m, the groups will go up to 800m in altitude per ascent. There are also some interesting circular tours with 2 or 3 ascents and with an altitude of 1,500m or more. One of them is the high valley of Meria Keli with its beautiful alpine village, or the backside of Buksieti with the alpine village of Zoti Keli with its old steel bridges.

An advanced ability to skin for several hours a day and ski descents in varied terrain and snow is required to ensure full enjoyment of the tour. Please be honest about your ability - both up and down!

Snowcat Supported - How It Works

With the lodge location already in the mountains, groups can start the tours right from the front door. However, it is also possible to take the snowcat to an interesting starting point, or the cat drivers can pick the group up at a more secluded location after the tour.

The snowcats are available to the group every day to reach more remote areas, organize a pick-up in the valley or even go for a day of pure catskiing when there is fresh snow.

On days with fresh snow, the group will use the Snowcat for a freeride day to draw as many lines as possible in the untracked snow.

If visibility is poor or the wind is stronger, the forest is used. The beech forests in particular offer unforgettable tree runs. Depending on the snow and weather conditions, the group can also use the Snowcat in the morning and take part in a half-day tour in the afternoon.

The Snowcat is also available for single trips on tour days. In this way, the guide can significantly increase the range of the tours. They are of course always available as a back-up and of course also offer additional security for the groups.

To see how a week on tour looks, see our Itinerary tab.

Lodging & Food

From season 21/22, accommodations at Bakhmaro are in either in a newly built lodge called 'The Pioneers' or (for a lesser fee) in a budget-style mountain cabin with bunk rooms. The Pioneers Lodge has 10 twin & triple rooms with modern ensuite bathrooms, a large living and ding space plus sauna. Food is a highlight of any trip to Bakhmaro. All meals are included and no one goes home disappointed. For more information, see the Lodging & Food page.

Getting There

For more information on how to get to Georgia & the gateway airport of Kutaisi (KUT), see our Bakhmaro & Adjara Location page. You will be met at the airport by the cat ski hosts for transport to Bakhmaro by minivan and snowcat.

Safety

The operation is run by a reliable and professionalism German / Swiss organization, where quality and safety management is paramount. Several snowcats are available at any one time, ensuring the groups safety when far from the base.

Tour groups are led by a local guide from the professional Georgian Mountain Guides Association overseen by a professional guide from the Alps.

Below is a short video of the Cat Skiing Bakhmaro experience courtesy of whitehearts.de......

Make a booking inquiry here.

Typical Itinerary

Day 1 - Saturday

Arrival Kutaisi (KUT) airport, Georgia
Pick up at the airport & transfer to Bakhmaro (2 hours with the minibus and then 1.5 hours with the Snowcat).
[There may be an overnight stay in the vicinity of the airport depending on flight arrival.]

Day 2 - Sunday

Brunch, introduction, start skiing around noon.
Every evening, sauna available for use.

Days 3 to 7 - Monday to Friday

Cat Skiing and snowcat supported ski touring in the mountains around Bakhmaro.

Cat Skiing Bakhmaro Package
Cat Skiing Bakhmaro Package
Cat Skiing Bakhmaro Package

Day 8 - Saturday

After breakfast transfer to the airport.
[If due to the weather situation, the transfer has already been carried out the previous evening, overnight is then near the airport.]
Departure Kutaisi (KUT).

Option to spent the last night in Kutaisi. Option to extend the stay and visit Tbilisi or the Great Caucasus. Ask for more information.

Bakhmaro Lodging & Food

Cat Ski & Tour packages at Bakhmaro now stay at the newly built 'Pioneers Lodge', providing a level of comfort not previous seen in the region.

Accommodations

Bakhmaro is an isolated village in winter (hence the 1½hr transfer by snowcat from the nearest road). Accommodation has changed alot since the first days of operation. In its first season, Cat Skiing Bakhmaro was based in two rather spartan local village huts. Whilst it added to the adventure, the challenges were great & the comfort was ....... not! From season 2017/18, a heavily modified cabin and a purpose built ablutions block was successfully utilised. Thankfully, a newly constructed, multi-storey lodge called 'The Pioneers' (more like a hotel!) has been completed for season 2021/22.

All 10 rooms in 'The Pioneers' lodge have a modern ensuite bathroom, a balcony and come in twin or triple bed configuration. A small number of rooms have double beds, but one needs to specifically request them. Meals are taken in a shared lounge & dining room large enough for all guests to enjoy the fantastic cuisine. A sauna is located in the basement.

Cat Skiing Bakhmaro Accommodation
Cat Skiing Bakhmaro Accommodations
Cat Skiing Bakhmaro Lodging

Food

Full board with an extensive breakfast, a simple lunch snack and a Georgian dinner is provided whilst at Bakhmaro. Due to the remote location, the supply of fresh goods is only partly possible, however, given the challenges, the quality of the meals is unparalleled. A local team of chefs and kitchen helpers prepare the food fresh every day.

Georgian cuisine is very well known for its quality and great taste across Eastern Europe. It is quite heavy with meat, fish, vegetables side dishes, bread and cheese. For breakfast, there is, next to the obligatory khachapuri "small chicken" - eggs as omelette or fried eggs, freshly baked bread, muesli, fresh fruit, and local specialties. At lunchtime, there will be a simple takeaway lunch box to maximize ski time during the day and on bad weather days it is always possible to come back to the lodge for hot soup. In the evening, Georgian cooking is at its best with lashings of delicious local delights, including lobio (traditional bean stew in a clay pot), khinkhali (meat dumplings), tolma (stuffed wine or cabbage leaves) and the famous khachapuri (cheese bread). And, of course, you can look forward to the famous BBQ in the snow ...

Cat Skiing Bakhmaro Food
Cat Skiing Bakhmaro Cuisine
Cat Skiing Bakhmaro BBQ picnic

Rates & Inclusions

Rates (March 2024)

All transfers, accom, full board, 6 days guided snowcat supported ski touring/splitboarding - €1950

Inclusions
  • SNOWCAT SUPPORTED SKI TOURING: 6 days of guided cat-supported freetouring (3hr of snowcat/day)
  • ACCOMMODATION: 7 nights in double, twin or triple rooms with private bathroom
  • MEALS: Full board (all meals) at Bakhmaro
  • TRANSFERS & GROUND TRANSPORT: All transport from Kutaisi to Bakhmaro & return
  • SMALL GROUP: 8 to 10 guests/group
Add-ons
  • SKI RENTAL: Freeride skis & poles €200 per week (subject to availability)
  • SINGLE ROOM: Single room supplement - €250 per week (subject to availability)
  • AVALANCHE SAFETY EQT: ABS pack, beacon, probe, shovel for duration of trip - €100 (subject to availability)
  • FULL DAY CAT-SKIING: Price on request
Not Included

Booking Conditions

  • All Rates are in EUR funds.
  • Travel, medical and trip cancellation / interruption insurance is highly recommended and can be purchased here