Skiing Georgia

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Ski untracked powder in the wilds of Georgia. (Photo Powderproject.ch)
Ski untracked powder in the wilds of Georgia. (Photo Powderproject.ch)
Discover cat skiing at Bakhmaro & Adjara in Georgia
Discover cat skiing at Bakhmaro & Adjara in Georgia
Ride one the newest ski resorts in the world at Goderdzi, Georgia.
Ride one the newest ski resorts in the world at Goderdzi, Georgia.
Classic Georgia sidecountry skiing into a deserted mountain village near Goderdzi
Classic Georgia sidecountry skiing into a deserted mountain village near Goderdzi
Ski Georgia
Ski Georgia's largest resort at Gudauri.
Bakhmaro & Adjara are the snowiest parts of Georgia in the country
Bakhmaro & Adjara are the snowiest parts of Georgia in the country's southwest
Spend some time in Georgia
Spend some time in Georgia's fantastic capital city, Tbilisi
Visit ancient towns like Mestia when skiing Georgia
Visit ancient towns like Mestia when skiing Georgia
Ski and snowboard new resorts in Georgia like Tetnuldi (Photo: The Adventure Project)
Ski and snowboard new resorts in Georgia like Tetnuldi (Photo: The Adventure Project)
Stay in quality slopeside accommodation at Gudauri ski resort
Stay in quality slopeside accommodation at Gudauri ski resort
Ski powder in Georgia (Photo: The Adventure Project)
Ski powder in Georgia (Photo: The Adventure Project)
Check out the secret stash at Hatsvali near Mestia in Georgia
Check out the secret stash at Hatsvali near Mestia in Georgia
Bakuriani ski resort in Georgia has loads of tree skiing potential
Bakuriani ski resort in Georgia has loads of tree skiing potential
Find solitude at Goderdzi
Find solitude at Goderdzi
Join the masses at Gudauri ski resort, or ride alone in its sidecountry
Join the masses at Gudauri ski resort, or ride alone in its sidecountry
Powder pleasure in the Adjara region, part of the lesser (southern) Caucasus in Georgia
Powder pleasure in the Adjara region, part of the lesser (southern) Caucasus in Georgia
Gudauri ski resort has the most complete ski lift system in Georgia
Gudauri ski resort has the most complete ski lift system in Georgia
Ski touring is awesome in Georgia
Ski touring is awesome in Georgia's Svaneti where fortified village rule! (photo Lifetrek)
Ride powder in Adjara on Powderproject
Ride powder in Adjara on Powderproject's cat ski tours
Find your piece of snowy paradise in Bakhmaro Georgia
Find your piece of snowy paradise in Bakhmaro Georgia

Skiing Georgia

Ski & Snowboard Georgia

Everyone knows that the skiing in Georgia is awesome, right? "Is there skiing in Georgia" you ask? Of course, we aren't talking about the state of Georgia in the US! We are talking about the country of Georgia located in the Caucasus west of the Black Sea and south of Russia. Georgia is a land of high adventure, an ancient culture, more than a few challenges, and wonderful food & wine, but more than anything else, it has high mountains & loads of snow.

Skiing & snowboarding in Georgia is going through a period of rapid expansion. Entirely new ski resorts, lifts & piste infrastructure are creating new opportunities for powder hounds to explore this fascinating part of the planet. But the ski resorts are only a minor part of the ski Georgia equation, and some are in reality so poorly run they are probably best avoided until they work out how to be professional! To get a world-class Georgian ski experience it is the backcountry ski touring & cat skiing that will provide it. Replete with remote mountains, there are still a multitude of places that will never have been skied before. Reason enough to find out what it is like for ourselves, and so we did......

What we found was a mix of incredibly deep snow in the south-west, chaos on the roads, higher prices than anticipated, amazing food & wine, a fantastic capital city, badly managed & integrated ski 'resorts', stellar ski touring, amazing backcountry terrain, and some incredible people making their way in a challenging land. It is certainly an 'eyes wide open' destination. Whilst we travelled largely independently, if coming to Georgia for a short ski holiday experience, we highly recommend doing it with a guided tour group as it smooths out as many 'creases' as possible. And of course when in Georgia, spend a few days and nights in the fantastic capital, Tbilisi. You won’t regret it.

[AdListings collection="Georgia" category="Georgia Categories" subcategory="Georgia Tours"]

Georgian Ski Resorts

Located in the Caucasus ranges (the Lesser & Greater) south of Europe's highest mountain, Mt Elbrus (5,642m), ski resorts in Georgia have some impressive statistics. Georgia's largest & most popular ski resort is Gudauri in the Greater Caucasus, just north Tbilisi. Gudauri ski resort has a top elevation of 3,250m & a 1,250m skiable vertical. A modern lift infrastructure, 60km(ish) of piste, longest piste trail of 7km, massive side & backcountry freeride terrain & a reasonable lift ticket price make it a seemingly reasonable prospect. The reality is slightly different! Gudauri accommodation development is expanding exponentially but unfortunately with very poor integration with the already badly managed ski area.

Georgia can boast about having some of the newest ski areas in the world. One of them is a 6hr drive north of Kutaisi near the historic town of Mestia in the remote Svaneti region. Below the 4,858m Mount Tetnuldi, the Tetnuldi ski resort has long piste trails, brand new lifts, 950m of skiable vertical in high alpine terrain, a top elevation of 3,160m, abundant freeride powder & very few people skiing it. Whilst its remote location presents a variety of logistics issues to overcome (including of all things electricity interruptions due to cryptocurrency mining!), the main reason to come here is the backcountry ski touring from the resort & into surrounding valleys - it is epic & includes amazing villages with fortified tower houses like Ushguli. However the road to Tetnuldi is a shocker, lift operation is variable, and there is no accommodation near the ski lifts. Opposite Mestia is a tasty ski resort morsel called Hatsvali with fun tree skiing possibilities too, and often overlooked by visitors. The region seems to be a perfect recipe for an epic ski adventure.

To the south of the country in the incredibly snowy 'Lesser' (or 'Little') Caucasus, the resort of Goderdzi has new lifts servicing mellow (but luscious), alpine terrain and forests, plus a low-key cat-skiing venture too that explores old growth forests, deserted villages & remote mountains. Also in the south, Georgia's resorts are rounded out by the countries best kept secret, Bakuriani. Located more or less mid-way between Tbilisi & Kutaisi, it has modern lifts serving nearly 30km of trails on a decent 1,060m vertical coupled with superb powder riding in steep trees, the country's best 'learn to ski' slopes and a typically cheap ski lift pass. There is some awesome terrain here for anyone that takes the time to explore, but the actual ski 'resort' is so disgracefully managed that we recommend most people should avoid it. Bakuriani is also undergoing a massive spurt of over-development, with hotel & apartment construction already beyond the capacity of the ski infrastructure to cope.

Lift Passes

As all ski lifts in Georgia are managed by one agency, the Mountain Trails Agency (MTA), lift pass pricing is set centrally. Still quite cheap by western standards, daily lift passes are all under €25 (2024 prices). For anyone skiing for more than 10-days using ski lifts in Georgia, a well-priced Season Pass is available that is valid in all ski resorts (Gudauri, Goderdzi, Mestia - Tetnuldi/Hatsvali, Bakuriani).

Cat Skiing in Georgia

Way more exciting than the ski resort developments, is the cat skiing that has burgeoned in the southwest of the country in the Lesser Caucasus of incredibly snowy Adjara. Centred around the remote village of Bakhmaro and the ski resort at Goderdzi, cat skiing here has something for everyone.

The best operation that has established itself is at Bakhmaro. Run by a professional crew utilising fabulous local talent, Powderproject's Cat Skiing Bakhmaro delivers an exceptional experience for more adventurous skiers & snowboarders. Having run its first season in 2016/17, it has quickly come to terms with its superb terrain & is expanding every year. The sites are in the snowiest part of Georgia, almost guaranteeing untracked powder from late December to early March.

In season 19/20 a more remote cat-ski offering, perfect for expert riders, opened at a new high mountain base in nearby Adjara. The mountain hut is gorgeous and sits high on a mountain ridge with freeride powder direct from the door.

And just for the adventurous that want to be the first to ski in a new part of the world, for season 22/23 a new catski area called Project X opened. Come and discover its secrets and perhaps get to name your own ski run in the coming seasons as the terrain is further explored!

Driving past the turn off to Project X will see you eventually bounce your way up the road to Goderdzi ski resort. Goderdzi cat skiing is great for those just starting in this field of endeavour! See here for a Goderdzi Cat Skiing tour with our local partners.

Heli-skiing in Georgia

Heli-skiing is undertaken in Georgia at two main locations in the Greater Caucasus in the country's north. In the remote north-west the remote heliskiing in Svaneti above Mestia provides a vast, almost limitless playground on peaks nearing 5,000m altitude. In the north-east, the Kazbegi area has several well-established heliskiing operations that are able to be experienced as day trips from Gudauri ski resort.

Where is Georgia?

Georgia is in the Caucasus region on the east coast of the Black Sea, wedged between Russia to the north and Türkiye & Armenia to the south. It is about 3,000km east of Munich!

Main gateway airports are the capital Tbilisi (TBS) & the second largest city of Kutaisi (KUT). The airports are at opposite sides of the country, nearly 4hr drive apart (270km). Your final destination will dictate your choice of airport. For Gudauri & Bakuriani, Tbilisi is your best entry. For Bakhmaro & Adjara or Tetnuldi & the Svaneti, Kutaisi is the most convenient. Tbilisi is far & away the easier of the airports to fly to, with regular flights from most major European origins, but the drive west to go catskiing or visit Mestia will be tortuous until the highway upgrade to Kutaisi is finished. Flying to Kutaisi is somewhat more problematic. Flights are 2 to 3 times a week from a handful of major & several secondary European airports. Working the flights into a short duration itinerary is difficult, but certainly not impossible. We don’t recommend using the airport at Batumi (BUS) as flights are too often cancelled or delayed. If you do use Batumi, flights will likely come via Istanbul (IST), and require at least one overnight. Why not just stay in Türkiye and explore Cappadocia in winter & ski Erciyes?

Once in Georgia, getting around the country is not as easy as one would hope either. Buses, marshrutkas (minibuses), taxis, rental cars & even trains can be utilised in the country. Unless you are a sadist, trying to catch an overcrowded marshrutka whilst laden with ski gear & trying to decipher signs in the local language is a task best left to travel professionals and permanent residents. For the moment, the easiest mode of travel for mere mortals is with an organised tour or via a pre-arranged private transfer direct to a ski resort or town. It’s no surprise that all the listed tours for Georgia on Powderhounds have transfers included!

[AdListings collection="Georgia" category="Georgia Gudauri" subcategory="Gudauri Transfers"]

For more information on getting there, see the Getting To & Around Georgia page.

Accommodation in Georgia

Away from the big cities & towns (and parts of the largest ski resort at Gudauri),the most popular, accessible form of accommodation in Georgia is in guesthouses. Generally run by local families, the experience of staying in a rural guesthouse (or even one in a city!) adds layers to a journey through Georgia that one simply cannot get when staying in a hotel. And of course they are affordable & can present the most fabulous dining experiences imaginable.

For anyone looking to stay in hotels, they are certainly available and in places like Gudauri, can be great or abysmal depending on the location. Most travel into Georgia starts or finishes in either Tbilisi or Kutaisi and at some point requires an overnight stay in either city. We thoroughly recommend staying a few nights in and around the old town of Tbilisi. There is a lot to see, do, eat & drink! You can play it safe & stay in one of the high-end major hotels along Rustaveli Avenue (like the Biltmore or Radisson Blu), but the better options (and more affordable) are the vast number of smaller boutique hotels, guesthouses & apartments. One of our favourites is the Hotel British House set in a quiet, but fun, area in the old town. Search & book Tbilisi accommodation or Kutaisi accommodation.

[AdListings collection="Georgia" category="Georgia Categories" subcategory="Georgia Packages"]

When to Go

The best times to ski Georgia are dependent on the region. For cat skiing in the southwest at Adjara, Bakhmaro & Goderdzi, any time from mid-December to mid-March can be awesome. For the backcountry ski touring & off-piste at Gudauri, March to mid-April are best. for Mestia (Svaneti, Tetnuldi etc) February to mid-April should provide the goods. For Bakuriani, if are a beginner, late December to mid-March, for everyone else avoid it unless the snow is deep, and you are prepared to skin up for the best turns!

Reasons to Ski & Snowboard Georgia

For something completely different, ski and snowboard Georgia. It has great snow & terrain, is culturally intriguing, has awesome food, is still relatively cheap & retains that whiff of chaotic, high adventure that many of us crave. Throw in the delights of Tbilisi with a bit of cha-cha & wine and reasons to visit Georgia become obvious, but perhaps a little blurry as well ....

More Information & Reviews

The Powderhounds visited Georgia in February/March 2023. Yeh ok, we should have gone there years ago, but events have conspired against it ....... better late than never, right? Our opinion on the skiing is very mixed. In general, the ski resorts are poor, and the backcountry, ski-touring & cat skiing is awesome! Read the individual ski resort reviews for more.

See how the Georgian ski resorts compare on the Georgia ski resort ratings page or compare them to the European ski resorts on the Europe ski resort ratings page.

Follow Powderhounds Europe on Instagram to see where we are currently skiing. Follow our main Powderhounds page on Facebook to stay in touch with up-to-date info, tours, and discussions.

Tours in or near Georgia

Safari (Road Trip) Tours

Goderdzi & Svaneti Ski Safari
PRIVATE FREERIDE POWDER & CAT SKIING TOUR
9 Days | 8 Nights | 6 Ski Days
Ability: Intermediate to Expert
Combine wild adventure & luxurious comfort in the 2 snowiest & remote regions of Georgia on a 9-day ski safari. World-class freeriding, cat skiing, ancient culture & delicious cuisine await you in the Adjara & Svaneti regions. Private groups only. Get your crew together & book for your best dates & duration....
Price p/p Price based on twin-share, 9-day tour with a minimum of 8 people
Base/invoice currency is in USD$ inc. taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 2,350
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Svaneti Ski Tour
PRIVATE FREERIDE POWDER & SKI TOURING
7 Days | 6 Nights | 5+ Ski Days
Ability: Strong Intermediate to Expert
Ski through medieval villages surrounded by 5,000m peaks. Experience thundering glaciers, roaring celebrations & untracked powder. This is adventure Svan-style. Combining lift access & ski-touring, this tour is for private solos & groups only. Get your crew together & book for your best dates & duration ....
Price p/p Price based on twin-share, 7-day tour with a minimum of 4 people
Base/invoice currency is in USD$ inc. taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 1,800
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See all Safari (Road Trip) tours that visit Georgia here

Single-Base, Multi-Ski-Area Tours

Svaneti Freeride Powder Adventure Tour
GUIDED FREERIDE ADVENTURE, CAT & HELI-SKIING
8 Days | 7 Nights | 6+ Ski Days
Ability: Strong Intermediate to Expert
One week of high adventure chasing the best freeride lines & powder skiing across the Svaneti region of Georgia. Guided by a team of fun-loving locals that know all the secrets to having a great time in the region - both on & off the snow. Get your crew together & choose your best dates & duration.
Price p/p From price based on an 8-day tour with a group of 3 people.
Base/invoice currency is in EUR inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 1,296
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Georgia Mestia Ski & Ride Tour
GUIDED SKI ADVENTURE
10 Nights | 7 Days Skiing | Tetnuldi, Hatsvali & Backcountry
Ability: Advanced to Expert
Explore the amazing Svaneti region of Georgia from your hotel base in Mestia. Ski powder at Tenuldi & Hatsvali resorts plus the boundless backcountry. A fully hosted and guided 11-day small group program, including 7 days skiing with experienced local guides & 10 nights accommodation in Mestia & Tbilisi.
Price p/p From price based on twin/double-share room at Suntower Mestia Hotel, min 4 guests on tour
Base/invoice currency is in USD inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 3,735
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See all Single-Base, Multi-Ski-Area tours that visit Georgia here

Single-Base, Single-Ski-Area Tours

Gudauri Georgia Ski & Ride
GUIDED SKI ADVENTURE
10 Nights | 7 Days Skiing | Gudauri & Backcountry
Ability: Intermediate to Expert
Explore the resort of Gudauri & the many backcountry options in the Caucasus mountains of Georgia. A fully hosted 11-day program, with 8 nights staying at ski-in, ski-out accommodation in Gudauri, working with experienced guides. Join a fixed date tour ....
Price p/p From price based on 10 night, twin/double-share room, min 4 guests on tour (per person)
Base/invoice currency is in USD inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 4,245
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Gudauri Guided Freeride Day
GUIDED FREERIDE POWDER SKI TOUR
1 Day Fully Guided Skiing/Snowboarding
Ability: Strong Intermediate to Expert
Be guided to the best snow & terrain in Gudauri ski resort with a professional local guide on this fully customised private off-piste ski tour. Use the ski lifts to be shown amazing freeride powder in Gudauri's vast off-piste terrain. Go solo or get a group together & book in for your best dates & duration....
Price p/p Based on a 1-day tour with 4 people in group
Base/invoice currency is in USD inc. taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 78
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Gudauri Unleashed Freeride Tour Package
GUIDED BACKCOUNTRY SKIING
8 Days | 7 Nights | 6 Ski Days
Ability: Intermediate to Expert
Go beyond the boundaries in Gudauri with an 8-day freeriding & ski touring trip. Stay in comfortable ski-in-ski-out accommodation, enjoy hassle-free transportation, and let experienced guides lead you through the hidden gems of Gudauri’s backcountry. Book for your solo, couple or group's best dates & duration ...
Price p/p Based on twin-share, 8-day, 7-night package in a private group of 4 people
Base/invoice currency is in USD$ inc. taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 2,080
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See all Single-Base, Single-Ski-Area tours that visit Georgia here

Backcountry Skiing Tours

Gudauri Backcountry Ski Tour
GUIDED BACKCOUNTRY SKI TOUR
1 Day Fully Guided Skiing/Snowboarding
Ability: Strong Intermediate to Expert
Be guided to the best backcountry snow & terrain near Gudauri & Kazbegi with a professional local guide on this fully customised private backcountry day ski tour. Includes hotel pick-up & drop-off, plus transport to/from the destination. Go solo or get a group together & book in for your best dates & duration....
Price p/p Based on a 1-day tour with full group of 4 people
Base/invoice currency is in USD inc. taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 88
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Cat Ski & Tour Adjara
SNOWCAT ASSISTED SKI TOURING
8 Days | 7 Nights | 6 Days Snowcat Supported Ski Touring
Ability: Expert
The perfect backcountry mix of snowcat supported ski touring in the wilds of Adjara Georgia. Packages include airport transfers & ground transport, 7 nights accommodation, all meals, guides & 6 days of cat-supported freetouring.
Price p/p From price based on 7 nights in a 4 share room in a cosy mountain hut, 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
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Cat Ski & Tour Bakhmaro
SNOWCAT ASSISTED SKI TOURING
8 Days | 7 Nights | 6 Days Snowcat Supported Ski Touring
Ability: Advanced to Expert
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 ...
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
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See all Backcountry Skiing tours that visit Georgia here

Heli Skiing Tours

Svaneti Heli Skiing Day Tour
GUIDED HELISKIING DAY TOUR | SVANETI CAUCASUS GEORGIA
1 Heliskiing Day
Ability: Strong Intermediate to Expert
Heliski for a day amongst the incredible terrain of the Svaneti in places rarely touched by skiers & snowboarders. Big powder lines in the Greater Caucasus of Georgia with experienced local guides & transfers from Mestia. Get a group together and join a 'fixed date' day tour ...
Price p/p From price based on a fixed date, 1-day tour with 8 participants.
Base/invoice currency is in EUR incl taxes.
USD 1,188
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Svaneti Heli Skiing Packages
GUIDED BACKCOUNTRY HELISKIING SVANETI
7 Days | 5.5 Heliski Days
Ability: Strong Intermediate to Expert
Heliski the amazing terrain of the Svaneti in places that have never been touched by ski or snowboard. Limitless new powder lines in the Greater Caucasus of Georgia with wonderful local guides, lodging & hospitality in beautiful Mestia. Join a 'fixed date' tour or customise your own private heliskiing adventure ....
Price p/p From price based on twin share on a 7-day package.
Base/invoice currency is in EUR incl taxes.
Custom dates for groups of 6 or more only
USD 8,640
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See all Heli Skiing tours that visit Georgia here

Cat Skiing Tours

Cat Skiing Bakhmaro
GUIDED BACKCOUNTRY CAT SKIING
8 Days | 7 Nights | 6 Days Cat Skiing
Ability: Advanced to Expert
The ultimate European cat-skiing experience at Bakhmaro in Georgia. Includes airport transfers, 7 nights accommodation in the traditional village of Bakhmaro, all meals plus 6 days of cat skiing in the snowiest part of the Caucasus ....
Price p/p From price based on 7 nights in a budget (Base) twin or triple share base guesthouse room in low season.
Base/invoice currency is in Euro ex taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 2,592
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Catski Wolfsbed Hut Adjara
GUIDED CAT SKIING FOR EXPERTS
8 Days | 7 Nights | 6 Days Cat Skiing
Ability: Expert
A true European powder cat skiing adventure, Catski Wolfsbed Hut Adjara in Georgia & explores expert only terrain near the famous Bakhmaro. Tour includes airport transfers, 7 nights accommodation in a ski-in ski-out alpine hut, all meals plus 6 days of guided cat skiing in the snowiest part of the Caucasus.
Price p/p From price based on transfers, 7 nights in Wolfsbed Hut, all meals & 6 days guided cat skiing in low season.
Base/invoice currency is in Euro ex taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 2,592
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Cat Skiing Bakhmaro Women's Tour
WOMEN ONLY GUIDED CAT SKIING
8 Days | 7 Nights | 6 Cat Ski Days
Ability: Strong Intermediate to Expert
The ultimate European women-only cat-skiing adventure in the snowiest parts of the Causcasus. Cat skiing in Bakhmaro Georgia includes all transfers, 7 nights accommodation in a new lodge, all meals plus 6 days of cat skiing in an all female group. Join the fixed date tour or form your own group for a custom tour
Price p/p From price based on all transfers, 7 nights in a twin share room, full board & 5-6 days guided cat skiing.
Base/invoice currency is in Euro ex taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 3,348
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See all Cat Skiing tours that visit Georgia here