Tetnuldi Ski Resort Georgia
Tetnuldi ski resort is one of the newest skiing areas in Europe. Located in the Caucasus mountains of Georgia near the beautiful town of Mestia, Tetnuldi has 4 new chairlifts & a surface tow serving a tasty 900m of skiable vertical & abundant freeride powder ski terrain. With a top elevation of 3,160m, snow quality & quantity is guaranteed to be deep, dry & delicious. Ski lift passes are in the ridiculously cheap realm of the world's lift pass pricing structure! Only problem is that road access to the lifts is costly, lift opening times are dubious at best & on-piste trails are limited. Definitely a place to bring the skins and choose your own adventure or be in a tour group.
Check out the ski trail map for Tetnuldi below.
The Tetnuldi resort is amongst Georgia's most remote & spectacular (& snowiest!) mountain regions - the Svaneti. Whilst the chairlifts provide some great skiing inbounds, the unprecedented access they provide to the backcountry is another reason to visit. 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 starting up in the Svaneti region as well, based out of Mestia, adding to the winter activity mix. See details about Svaneti Heliskiing.
Pros & Cons for Tetnuldi Ski Resort
Pros
- High elevation ski area with a reliable, deep snowpack
- Nice skiable vertical of around 900m.
- No lift lines.
- Amazing off-piste & backcountry terrain directly off the ski lifts and above/beyond them.
- Relatively new ski lifts
- Super cheap lift pass that includes Hatsvali - exceptional value when the lifts are turning.
- Fabulous local hospitality & food.
- Fascinating history, culture & local architecture.
- The faint whiff of high adventure is FREE!
Cons
- Limited on-piste trails.
- The road from Mestia is notoriously difficult/dangerous to drive. Skiers & snowboarders that are not on organised tours can get charged exorbitant rates to be driven up to the resort from Mestia.
- Ski lift operation can be unreliable.
- No accommodation near the ski lifts.
- Unskiable in poor weather.
- No easy public transport options to get to the area.
Pro or Con (depending on your perspective!)
- Limited infrastructure in the ‘resort’, in fact the word ‘resort’ may not be appropriate to describe it!
- Not your ideal family ski holiday destination.
- Unless ski touring, accommodation is down in the valley at Mestia or other villages. Thankfully Mestia is an incredible travel destination in and of itself!
Where is Tetnuldi Georgia?
Tetnuldi ski resort is in the remote Svaneti (Svanetia) region amongst the highest peaks of the Caucasus mountains in northern Georgia. Only 15km drive 15km (1hr) by road east of the historic town of Mestia, journeys to Tetnuldi are not the easiest in the world; unless you are with an organised tour or are confident enough to drive oneself in a 4WD rental. The nearest major city & airport are at Kutaisi, 250km by road south of the ski area. The road journey from Kutaisi is a tortuous 6hr. The 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 several hours longer.
From the Kutaisi airport the quickest way to Mestia (& Tetnuldi) is via a private transfer. Unless you have one organised with a tour operator or hotel, use our listing to get a quality transfer direct to your accommodation.
[AdListings Filter="Kutaisi Airport Transfers"]
Mainstream public transport services direct to Tetnuldi from the airport do not exist (that we are aware of any!), 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 your skis!
Once in Mestia, the final part of the journey is along an 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 is recommended to only use 4x4 or truck/bus transport during winter. The shuttle's up to the mountain fuel the local economy so the price can be as steep as the ascent if not in a group. Rental cars should similarly only be driven up by experienced drivers with vehicles equipped for winter driving. The term best used to describe how to drive in the Georgian mountains is 'with caution’.
For more information about getting around the country, see our Travel to Georgia page.
Tetnuldi Accommodation
The closest main centre to Tetnuldi is the historic town of Mestia. There is very limited accommodation at the Tetnuldi ski lifts & very little infrastructure, so Mestia is the easiest alternative (at least until we have scoped it out more!). Mestia is a town full of character, with fortified tower houses & mountains filling most views from its vibrant centre plus a wide range of superb hotels & guesthouses to choose from. For an authentic Mestia experience stay in a traditional guesthouse like Ametapi - comes with obligatory castle tower attached. Or try a modern guesthouse version like the boutique Korte Guest House. Alternatively, full-service hotels like the modern Chalet Mestia provide all the comforts for a great stay in the region. If relying on buses or taxis to get up to the ski lifts, stay in Mestia & make daily forays up to Tetnuldi. Guesthouses & hotels will assist with organising transport up to the resort if they don't have their own shuttle service.
Search & book all Mestia accommodation.
For those with a rental car, an intriguing alternative to Mestia is the little village of Chvabiani to the east. Several magnificent guesthouses, some with their own stone towers, dot the quiet village. In good snow it is even allegedly possible to ski all the way down the village from the resort.
Search & book Chvabiani accommodation.
Nearby Ski Area
Right on the doorstep of Mestia, a small ski resort is set in amongst the forests called Hatsvali. There is accommodation at the ski lift base. The skiable vertical is around 500m on cold north-aspect terrain & is perfect for snowy blizzard days. The locals may discourage you from going to Hatsvali, don't listen to them. From all reports it is great fun in fresh snow.
See Hatsvali ski trail map.
Review
The Powderhounds will review Tetnuldi as soon as the world returns to normal, and we can safely travel again. In the meantime, if you want to go, take a great value trip with our tour partners from the listings below. Stay tuned for our sparkling repartee, new photos & insights after we visit.
See how the European ski resorts compare on the Europe ski resort ratings page.
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