Hatsvali Ski Resort Georgia
Hatsvali ski resort is a cheeky piste & tree-skiing area in the Caucasus mountains of northwest Georgia. The Hatsvali ski area is amongst Georgia's most remote & spectacular (& snowiest!) mountain regions - the Svaneti. When winter storms are dumping cold snow down to low elevations, Hatsvali comes into its own. With a top elevation of a relatively modest 2,348m, snow quality can sometimes vary, but its shady north-aspect certainly helps. Ski lift passes are in the ridiculously cheap realm of the world's lift pass pricing structure, but some may question whether the journey is worth the price! This region is for the more adventurous skier & snowboarder looking for something completely different and would usually be done in combination with the big mountain skiing on Tetnuldi, an exploration of the Svan heritage in Mestia, and even a bit of ski-touring to remote mountain village in the region.
Pros & Cons for Hatsvali Ski Resort
Pros
- Modern ski lifts.
- Close to the amazing village of Mestia.
- No lift lines.
- Affordable lift pass.
- Storm riding alternative to Tetnuldi, with super freeride terrain under the gondola line, on the ungroomed pistes & in a few secret gullies & forest lines.
- Good piste trails for intermediates (when they are groomed!)
- Wonderful on-mountain food
- Great option to ski when the weather is poor at Tetnuldi.
- Quality, affordable accommodation & entertainment in nearby Mestia
Cons
- Short(ish) skiable vertical on & off-piste
- Limited terrain for novices & beginners
- Limited length of piste trails
- Novice area lacks the infrastructure touches that would make it useful.
- Snowpack can be inconsistent.
- Access road is single lane & difficult when snow-covered (but one can access the ski area via a chairlift near the village as an alternative).
Pro or Con (depending on your perspective!)
- The region is relatively difficult to reach, but the journey is certainly worth it.
- A ski area to enjoy as part of an overall exploration of the region, not a destination in and of itself.
Skiing & Snowboarding, Lifts & Terrain
Located above the fascinating town of Mestia, Hatsvali has one shiny new gondola serving all of the on-piste terrain, plus a modern 6-seater chairlift mainly used to access the ski area from the village. Two surface tows (J-bars) in a small novice zone at the top of the chairlift completes the lift infrastructure. Skiable vertical is either 480m or 920m (depending on whether you are on or off-piste!). The upper half of the mountain has great terrain for freeride shenanigans on a storm day when Tetnuldi is closed. The line under the gondola is a ripper and the ungroomed pistes are fun too (can't expect them to actually groom the pistes before the lifts open, this is Georgia after all!). There are other sneaky freeride lines in amongst the forest for explorers. The lower sector of the mountain under the chairlift is definitely spicy and needs good coverage to be viable for mere mortals. If you are immortal, go for it!
The 6km+ of on-piste terrain is all intermediate if freshly groomed, advanced if not. The beginner tows lack the nice infrastructure touches (directional fencing signage & gates, 'load here' signage, a flat loading point, ski stops at the loading point etc.) that make it easy for first-timers, but it is better than nothing. I actually thought that it wouldn't matter because 'who would travel all this way and ski at Hatsvali for their first ever time'? And then I immediately met 2 Danes that were doing exactly that. The mind boggles.
See the Hatsvali ski trail map below.
Beyond Mestia & Hatsvali, the modern chairlifts of Tetnuldi provide some adequate skiing inbounds, plus unprecedented access to a vast side & backcountry. Numerous Svan villages replete with the region's signature fortified stone tower houses make incredible backcountry touring destinations, with typical ski descents of 1,400m vertical. The isolated village of Ushguli, oft called the gem of the Svaneti, is the ultimate ski-touring location!
Heliskiing is possible with our local partners in the Svaneti region as well, based out of Mestia, adding to the winter activity mix.
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Where is Hatsvali Georgia?
Hatsvali ski resort is in the remote Svaneti (Svanetia) region amongst the highest peaks of the Caucasus mountains in north-western Georgia. With a new chairlift base less than 1km from the centre of historic Mestia, journeys to Hatsvali are easy compared to its larger & newer neighbour at Tetnuldi. The nearest major city & airport are at Kutaisi, 250km by road south of Mestia. The road journey from Kutaisi is a tortuous 5 to 6hr, with the worst of the last 50km or so. We recommend only AWD/4WD vehicles with snow tyres complete the journey as the road surface can be very rough and icy. The road also has alot of falling rock hazards, plus at night, the many wandering horses, cattle & dogs can be difficult to see.
The new & modern Kutaisi Airport (KUT) has a limited number of flights daily from several major & secondary airports throughout Europe. Alternatively, flying into Tbilisi (TBS) is an option, but the journey to Mestia is 2 to 3 hours longer. Tbilisi is a wonderful city to visit though, so the few hours extra travel are probably worth it, plus the airport has a huge variety of airline options, as opposed to Kutaisi which is very limited. We flew into Kutaisi from Vienna (VIE) on the Hungarian airline Wizz Air. Flight was good but be careful with their pricing as every add-on costs!
Unless you are on an organised tour, the quickest & best way to Mestia (& Hatsvali) from Kutaisi airport is via a private transfer. This can usually be organised by your accommodation provider, or you book via the GoTrip app.
Mainstream public transport services direct to Mestia & Hatsvali from the airport do not exist (that we are aware of any way!), so a bus or taxi into the city, then a minibus (marshrutka) from the main Kutaisi bus station is required. This is a cheap alternative (25-30GEL) to a private transfer but comes with the relative discomfort of a lengthy transfer in a cramped bus plus a big question mark over where one puts their skis! Once in Mestia, local accommodation providers can organise a taxi or shuttle for the short trip to the chairlift base for a small fee.
Rental cars are only an option for experienced drivers with vehicles equipped for winter driving. The best way to describe how to drive in the Georgian mountains is with ‘caution’. Forewarned is forearmed!
For more information about getting around the country, see our Travel to Georgia page.
Hatsvali Accommodation
The closest main centre to Hatsvali is the scenic town of Mestia, located right on its doorstep. There is one on-mountain lodge at the Hatsvali ski lifts (Hotel Hatsvali), but nights are best spent in the more atmospheric Mestia. Mestia is a town full of character, with fortified tower houses & mountains filling most views from its vibrant centre , dogs & cows roaming freely on the snow-covered streets & lanes, plus a wide range (& ever-increasing number) of superb hotels & guesthouses to choose from. For an authentic Mestia experience stay in a traditional guesthouse like Dodo Japaridze Guesthouse in the centre of town. Alternatively, at the complete opposite end of the market, full-service hotels like the 4-star Hotel Posta located in the centre of town, has the comforts one would expect of higher-end hotel. If they don’t have their own shuttle service up to the ski lifts, guesthouses & hotels will assist with organising transport up to either ski resort but be wary of costs. See the Mestia overview page for more info on local accommodation.
Search & book here for all Mestia accommodation.
On-Mountain Dining
With most accommodation providers supplying breakfast & dinner, lunch is usually the only meal of the day that requires some thought. At Hatsvali there are two options. The original Hotel Hatsvali near the gondola base and upper car park has a cosy bar and lounge with an open fireplace and other wood stoves. Food & drink is good. A second option is the new Chill Inn near the top of the chairlift & beginner tows. A fresh, comfortable seating area is couple with great food, drink & service. Try the Kubdari (Svanetian Meat Pie) which is big enough to share between two.
Nearby Ski Area
The new, but sometimes barely operational, Tetnuldi ski area is a relatively short drive from Mestia. It holds a lot of promise, but the delivery of that promise is a day-to-day proposition depending on the road condition and whether the lifts are spinning. The journey from Mestia to Tetnuldi is along a rough ice & snow-covered road with a reputation bordering on the notoriously bad! Local accommodation providers can organise a taxi or shuttle up to the mountain, but it can come at a significant cost, particularly if in a small group or alone. If on a tour, it is sorted so rest easy.
See the Tetnuldi ski trail map.
Review
The Powderhounds reviewed Hatsvali in early February 2024. A great time was had, mainly due to coming when the forecast was for cold snow, and lots of it. If you want to go, take a great value trip with our tour partners from the listings below. Click on the review link in the left column (or top of the page if on a mobile) to read all the current reviews.
See how European ski resorts compare on the Europe ski resort ratings page.
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