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Backcountry Skiing Expedition in Svaneti, Georgia

Itinerary
Svaneti Ski Expedition
Guide(s)
Nata Japaridze, Luka Malania, Vagabond Adventures
Trip options

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Reserve spots for 5 or more people, and get $42 off for each

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Deposits

When booking a trip, you can either pay for it in full or reserve your spot with a 30% deposit. The remaining 70% of the trip price is to be paid 90 days prior to departure, at the latest.

Cancellations

After 48 hours, booking fees are non-refundable in all cases. You can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options:

Basic
  • In case of cancellation within 48 hours after booking, the amount paid is fully refundable.
  • For cancellations 60 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a 70% refund of the trip price.
  • For cancellations 0-59 days before the trip, there is no refund.
  • Booking fees are non-refundable after 48 hours grace period.
Flexible
  • In case of cancellation within 48 hours after booking, the amount paid is fully refundable.
  • For cancellations 60 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a full refund of the trip price.
  • For cancellations 30-59 days before the trip, you are eligible for a 50% refund of the trip price.
  • For cancellations 0-29 days before the trip, there is no refund.
  • Booking fees are non-refundable after 48 hours grace period.
Super Flexible
  • In case of cancellation within 48 hours after booking, the amount paid is fully refundable.
  • For cancellations 30 or more days before the trip, you are eligible for a full refund of the trip price.
  • For cancellations 0-29 days before the trip, you are eligible for a 50% refund of the trip price.
  • Booking fees are non-refundable after 48 hours grace period.
Backcountry Skiing Expedition in Svaneti, Georgia
Itinerary
Svaneti Ski Expedition
People
1 Person
Date(s)
--
Duration
8 day
Guide(s)
Nata Japaridze, Luka Malania, Vagabond Adventures
Reserve deposit (30%) $0
Second Payment Amount: $0

  • Escape the crowds and immerse yourself in the untouched beauty of Svaneti. This 8-day guided backcountry ski trip offers world-class skiing, stunning scenery, and authentic Georgian cuisine & culture. Stay in an authentic guesthouse, taste local delicacies, and shred the days away on a fully customizable itinerary.

    • Our journey begins in Kutaisi, the former Capital of Georgia, where a driver will be waiting to pick you up. On the scenic 5-hour drive up into Svaneti, you’ll get to enjoy stunning views of the Greater Caucuses’ mountains and valleys. After you arrive, you’ll settle into your accommodations and enjoy a welcome dinner sampling Georgia’s famous cuisine – cozy fare for cold snowy nights. Thanks to Georgians’ famous hospitality and delicious wine, you’ll quickly learn to repeat “Gaumarjose!” (“Cheers!”) to celebrate our long-awaited arrival.

      NOTE: After arriving in Mestia and getting settled in, you will meet your guide & determine an itinerary based on the conditions and the group’s priorities; this is the standard itinerary for this trip.

      Castle towers in the snow in Svaneti, Georgia

    • In snowy weather, we’ll choose the Hatsvali Ski Resort – a true local favorite ski area. A 5-minute drive from the hotel, Hatsvali is perfect for quick laps and tricky tree runs. We will tour along the ridge to warm up our legs and enjoy a peaceful forest ride. The day ends with a stroll around town, taking in the historic medieval towers and village life.

      A skier in powder, photo taken from the front

    • Depending on your interests and the mountain conditions, your guides will select an ideal ski-touring day trip. Having trained extensively in Svaneti, the guides have a long list of local ski tours to share, from mellow glades to steep faces.

      A ski tour group in the mountains of Svaneti, Georgia

    • In Svaneti, all options are good options! Your guide will help you select the ideal multi-day itinerary depending on the mountain conditions.

      Option A – Ushguli
      Deep in Svaneti lies Ushguli, a legendary group of medieval villages surrounded by Georgia’s tallest peaks and countless ski lines. Spend 2-3 days ski touring among the giants and resting in the peace of a local family guesthouse in this secluded village.

      Option B – Cloudbase Hut and Chalaadi Glacier
      Enjoy nature’s solitude at Cloudbase Hut, an isolated hike-in mountain hut on the slopes below Mount Ushba, Svaneti’s iconic twin-peaked mountain. Spend 2 days ski touring above Koruldi Lakes and on Chalaadi Glacier, one of the country’s longest and best ski descents.

      A view of a mountain peak in Svaneti, Georgia

    • On a clear day, Tetnuldi Ski Resort is a freeriding paradise – so perfect that Tetnuldi hosted the Freeride World Tour in 2023, and the even bigger FWT competition in 2024! Enjoy chutes, faces, and open trees with stunning views of Tetnuldi Peak, ending in a long out-of-bounds run to a nearby village.

      Ski tourers on a slope in Svaneti, Georgia

    • Say goodbye to your new friends, hop in the car, and the driver will return to the meeting point for your flight back. If your first experience in Georgia is anything like ours, we bet you’ll join us again soon. Don’t forget to pack a bag of Svan salt to enjoy back home!

      Skiers hanging out on the slopes of Svaneti

    • What you get on this adventure:

        • GMGA-certified backcountry ski guide(s) with extensive knowledge of the area
        • Six full days of guided skiing
        • Transportation to and from the Kutaisi Airport
        • All transfers for the duration of the tour
        • Accommodations for the duration of the tour
        • Seven home-cooked breakfasts and dinners
        • Lift passes for all the resorts used on the tour
        • Avalanche safety and ski technique training – optional

      What’s not included:

        • Transportation to Georgia
        • Ski equipment – contact the guide for rentals
        • Avalanche safety equipment
        • Lunches
        • Travel Insurance
        • Guide gratuities – optional

      Your guides highly recommend getting travel insurance with medical and trip cancellation coverage.

      If your flight arrives a day early, your departure is a day later, or if you want to spend an extra day resting from your travels, your guide can help you find accommodations for the extra night. Make sure to let them know in advance.

    • This backcountry skiing adventure is meant for experienced skiers with strong fitness levels. You will spend 6 consecutive days powder skiing or snowboarding in varied, occasionally challenging, backcountry terrain, and hiking at high elevations for 3-4 hours. There will also be plenty of skinning, and you should be able to handle 1,000+m/3,280+ ft descents in altitudes higher than the Alps. To ensure your safety and the safety of your group, be honest with your skill level.

    • Here’s a list of the ski touring equipment you need to bring:

        • Skis or splitboard with touring bindings
        • Climbing skins
        • Touring ski/snowboard boots
        • Collapsible touring poles
        • Avalanche safety kit:
          • Avalanche beacon
          • Shovel
          • Probe

      Here are some outerwear recommendations and backcountry essentials:

        • Warm, sweat-wicking base layers
        • Midlayers
        • Waterproof ski pants
        • Waterproof ski jacket
        • Spare clothes for 6 days of skiing and touring
        • Gloves
        • Helmet
        • Goggles
        • Sunglasses
        • 25-35L backpack (large enough to carry all of your equipment)
        • Water bottle (thermos is best)
        • Snacks
        • Sunscreen

      Rental equipment is available upon request. If you would like to rent equipment, make sure to contact your guides in advance.

    • Group sizes and pricing

        • For this adventure, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 4:1.
        • The maximum group size is set for 12 participants.

      Min. age requirements

        • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
        • Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the tour on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

      If your group has skiers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

    • To get to your tour in Svaneti, most people fly into Kutaisi International Airport, 4.5 hours away.

      Your guide will arrange for transportation from Kutaisi to Svaneti. You will meet your guide at the pre-arranged time at a predetermined destination in Kutaisi. Expect more detailed information upon booking the tour.

      Pickup and dropoff city/airport can be changed on request for a small additional fee. If you’re coming from the US, it would be more convenient to fly to Tbilisi or Batumi.

    • We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, we partnered up with Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!

      Redpoint tailors its insurance packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program that is available even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, and primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.

      Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s insurance. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!

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