Goderdzi Ski Resort

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Goderdzi ski resort Georgia
Goderdzi ski resort Georgia
Classic Goderdzi ski terrain
Classic Goderdzi ski terrain
Goderdzi ski terrain (photo: Giorgi Nakashidze)
Goderdzi ski terrain (photo: Giorgi Nakashidze)
Skiing the
Skiing the 'Enchanted Forest' at Goderdzi ski resort
The gondola & 6-seater chairlift were installed in 2012 at Goderdzi (photo: Giorgi Nakashidze)
The gondola & 6-seater chairlift were installed in 2012 at Goderdzi (photo: Giorgi Nakashidze)
Goderdzi backcountry ski terrain (photo: Giorgi Nakashidze)
Goderdzi backcountry ski terrain (photo: Giorgi Nakashidze)
Goderdzi powder skiing
Goderdzi powder skiing
Goderdzi ski resort tree skiing terrain (photo: Giorgi Nakashidze)
Goderdzi ski resort tree skiing terrain (photo: Giorgi Nakashidze)
Goderdzi backcountry skiing
Goderdzi backcountry skiing
The new ski-in Ambassadori Goderdzi hotel is just opposite the gondola station
The new ski-in Ambassadori Goderdzi hotel is just opposite the gondola station
Hotel Meteo at Goderdzi Pass is away from the ski resort village
Hotel Meteo at Goderdzi Pass is away from the ski resort village
Piste trail on the the upper mountain at Goderdzi ski resort (photo: Giorgi Nakashidze)
Piste trail on the the upper mountain at Goderdzi ski resort (photo: Giorgi Nakashidze)
Goderdzi tree skiing in powder
Goderdzi tree skiing in powder
Gondola at Goderdzi ski resort Georgia (photo: Giorgi Nakashidze)
Gondola at Goderdzi ski resort Georgia (photo: Giorgi Nakashidze)
Goderdzi ski terrain (photo: Giorgi Nakashidze)
Goderdzi ski terrain (photo: Giorgi Nakashidze)
Highest lifted point at Goderdzi is 2,364m (photo: Giorgi Nakashidze)
Highest lifted point at Goderdzi is 2,364m (photo: Giorgi Nakashidze)
Heading out for a day of cat-skiing at Goderdzi from Hotel Meteo
Heading out for a day of cat-skiing at Goderdzi from Hotel Meteo
The new sauna at Ambassadori Goderdzi Hotel overlooks the gondola station
The new sauna at Ambassadori Goderdzi Hotel overlooks the gondola station
Goderdzi untracked ski terrain
Goderdzi untracked ski terrain
Ski Goderdzi Georgia
Ski Goderdzi Georgia

Goderdzi Ski Resort

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Goderdzi

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Georgia Ski Areas

Adjara & Bakhmaro
Bakuriani
Gudauri
Hatsvali
Tetnuldi

Goderdzi Maps & Stats

     Goderdzi Ski Trail Map
  • Goderdzi Ski Trail Map
  • Vertical (m)
    1,724 m - 2,364 m (640 m)
  • Average Snow Fall
    10 to 15m
  • Lifts (4)
    1 Gondola
    1 Chairs
  • Opening Dates & Times
    Late December to mid-April
    10:00am to 5:00pm
  • Terrain Summary
    Runs - 9km
    Longest run - 5km+
    Advanced - 20%
    Intermediate - 12%
    Beginner - 68%
  • Ski Lift Pass Price
    Day Ticket 23/24
    Adult - 30GEL (€10.50)
    Child (6 to 12yr) - 15GEL (€5.25)
    Child u/6yr - Free

    Season Pass (valid in Gudauri, Goderdzi, Bakuriani & Mestia)
    Adult - 650GEL (€226)
    Child - 325GEL (€113)

Goderdzi Ski Resort Georgia

Goderdzi ski resort in Georgia is known for its mellow terrain, abundant snow, delightful tree-skiing in the 'Enchanted Forest’ and cat skiing! If you don’t expect steep, but appreciate deep & cheap, Goderdzi could be the place for you. Annual snowfall here is alleged to be from 10 to 15 metres; that is as good as the best powder ski areas in the world and more than enough to pique a powder hounds’ interest.

Pros & Cons for Goderdzi Ski Resort

Pros

  • The snowiest ski resort in Georgia.
  • Good skiable vertical of 645m.
  • Broad off-piste ski areas, including glades.
  • Deep snow, low avalanche danger.
  • Modern ski lifts.
  • No crowds.
  • Extremely cheap lift pass (€10/day).
  • Cat skiing available.
  • Excellent ski-in ski-out accommodation available at a new 5-star hotel.

Cons

  • Mellow terrain - snowboarders beware of the deep snow/mellow slope combo!
  • Very limited piste trails (<10km).
  • Quite remote and not easy to get too on your own steam.

Pro or Con (depending on your perspective!)

  • A ski area perhaps best visited on a hosted/guided tour due to potential logistics difficulties.
  • A quiet ski area that might not have much of a vibe, but solitude and fresh tracks are all but guaranteed.
  • Limited commercial accommodation (but some good quality options) and one of them is only accessible by ski, snowmobile or snowcat!

Skiing & Snowboarding, Lift & Terrain

The Goderdzi skiing & snowboarding terrain is a limited, but delightful combination of wide-open alpine powder fields and lightly forested slopes served by two modern ski lifts. The surrounding mountainsides and upper valleys are dotted with numerous summer cabins and barns, adding to the charm of skiing in the region. Sadly, there are currently less than 10km of on-piste trails at the resort, so it could get mundane in very short order if the off-piste snow is poor. Luckily the region is the snowiest in Georgia and is heavily influenced by winter storms blowing in from the Black Sea, particularly in December, January and early February. Despite an annual average snow fall of up to 15 metres, avalanche conditions are generally described as low, perhaps an indication of the mellow terrain.

Check out the ski trail map for Goderdzi below.

Goderdzi Ski Trail Map
Goderdzi Ski Trail Map

The first half of Goderdzi’s 645m (ish) skiable vertical is served by an 8-seat gondola (which we are sure has never carried 8 people in any one cabin ever before!), the second half by a 6-seater chairlift. Highest lifted elevation is 2,364m.

The most sought-after off-piste terrain, the ‘Enchanted Forest’ (widely spaced deciduous woodland with a clear understory) is accessible from the top of the chairlift in a long traverse. A relatively short pitch of only a few hundred metres vertical, it is nonetheless sublime riding on a powder day. To the east, nice freeride terrain leads to small, uninhabited hamlets like Beshumi. Return to the resort can be via snowcat or some easy skinning.

Anyone wanting to maximise turnaround times in the freeride terrain can look to book the local cat skiing. The presence of cat-skiing in the resort does increase the chances of the low-hanging fruit to be tracked out earlier than it would otherwise. On the plus side, if ski touring and/or skinning, the snowcat roads provide ready access to many areas. Note that cat-skiing at Goderdzi should not be confused with one of the world's best cat ski experiences in nearby Bakhmaro. Bakhmaro has amazing terrain coupled with the deep snow synonymous with the region. Whilst only 30km to the northwest 'as the crow flies', Bakhmaro is over 6½hr drive away! See the cat ski tours at Bakhmaro.

Plans are afoot to add another gondola heading out toward Goderdzi Pass and the Enchanted Forest. Hmmm, best ski here BEFORE that happens!

Lift Passes

Lift tickets at Goderdzi are ridiculously cheap at around €10 per day. The local cat-skiing costs are additional but rank as probably the cheapest in the world of skiing.

Where is Goderdzi Georgia?

The Goderdzi ski resort is in the ‘Lesser’ Caucasus of Adjara, south-western Georgia. The location is relatively isolated in winter, with the only road access direct to the resort from the west via the coastal city of Batumi. The last section of the road up to ski resort village has a reputation for being in appalling condition during winter, so travel over the last 20 to 30km can be tortuously slow. The road trip from Batumi to Goderdzi is only around 110km, but often takes 3½hr or longer. Yikes!

If looking for adventure (and let’s face it ……. we are!), coming to the resort from the east (i.e. from Kutaisi or Tbilisi via Akhaltsikhe & Zarzma is possible when combined with a pickup by snowcat at the snowline (somewhere beyond Zarzma!). The cost is negligible, but language difficulties mean it is probably best undertaking this journey with a knowledgeable local, a Georgian or Russian speaker, or tour company.

The closest gateway airports are the wonderfully named Alexander Kartveli Batumi International Airport (BUS) (106km, 3½hr by road) and David the Builder Kutaisi International Airport (KUT) (260km, 5½hr). Batumi has only limited international flight connections in winter, the best of them is from Istanbul. Kutaisi has better connections to several European airports (several in Germany & Russia, plus Milan, Vienna, Prague, Warsaw, Athens etc.). Trabzon (TZX) airport in Turkey is reasonably close as well, but like Batumi, has limited useful flight connections for skiers. Georgia’s busiest airport, Tbilisi (TBS), is a reasonable place to start if intending a Georgian ski safari or looking to access Goderdzi via the snowcat trip from the east. The shortest routes by car (taxi) from the airport are around 5hr for the 280km journey .

Whilst renting a car or using buses (marshrutki) is possible, we recommend using a private transfer, taxi or attach yourself to a guided tour to get to Goderdzi. Buses leave once a day from Batumi and are cheap, the journey is slow and picking the right bus can be challenging!

For more info, hints & tips about getting to & around the country, see our Travel to Georgia page.

Goderdzi Accommodation

Goderdzi had grand plans for accommodation at the resort base and whilst it took a few years to materialise; materialise it has …… at least in part! The original accommodations near the lifts once consisted of a few houses for rent and a guesthouse, but that all changed with the completion of the (allegedly 5-star) Ambassadori Goderdzi Hotel in 2021. With all the expected comforts of a high-end hotel, the Ambassadori has ski-in position, well-appointed rooms & suites, indoor swimming pool, & a sauna that overlooks the gondola lift base. It appears to be THE place to stay. The cost/night however is several magnitudes greater than one would normally pay in local accommodation, so hopefully the experience lives up to the price tag. (Note: Don’t be put off by the odd map & location references on some websites that place the hotel in the distant town of Khulo. It is at the Goderdzi ski resort!).

Away from the lifts (but still skiable from them) at Goderdzi Pass, a favourite commercial lodge with an excellent reputation for its meals, the Hotel Meteo, sits alone in winter. Access is usually only via over-snow transport - ski, snowmobile, or snowcat!

The nearest village to the resort is Danisparauli, a few minutes’ drive down the road to the west. Numerous locally owned & run guesthouses provide the most authentic Georgian lodgings and a culinary experience you are not likely to forget in a hurry (because it so generous and delicious). Some get rave reviews as well, like the Guesthouse Luka.

Search & book here for Goderdzi ski accommodation.

Review

The Powderhounds hope to review Goderdzi in the coming season. We will add more info and our own photos after our visit. Stay tuned for our sparkling repartee, new photos & insights.

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Tours in or near Goderdzi

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 2,400
View Details
 
See all Safari (Road Trip) tours that visit Goderdzi here

Cat Skiing Tours

Goderdzi Cat Skiing Tour
GUIDED CAT SKIING TOUR
7 Days | 6 Nights | 5 Cat-Ski Days
Ability: Strong Intermediate to Expert
Discover the delights of cat skiing in Georgia on a 7-day tour combining the cat-skiing & stunning landscapes of Goderdzi, with the incredible local cuisine, culture, & history. Fixed date mixed group & private tours available, so get your crew together & book for your best dates & duration ....
Price p/p Price based on twin-share, private, 7-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 2,500
View Details
 
See all Cat Skiing tours that visit Goderdzi here
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