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.
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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