Ski Touring

Spectacular sights!

Stunning alpine landscape, great snow conditions and awesome ski terrain… Join us for an extraordinary experience of ski-touring in the Greater Caucasus!

Mestia in Svaneti

Authentic village in the heart of the highest peaks
6 days
March 5 – March 30
Hotel Gistola ****
Starting at 2700 €

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Gudauri

Most famous ski resort in Georgia
6 days
January 27 – March 30 
Hotel Marco Polo ****
Starting at 2700 €

View Package

Heliksir also offers varied ski-touring programs based out of Gudauri and Mestia. These spectacular mountainous regions of the Caucasus abound with great ski-touring opportunities, providing excellent ski terrain and plenty of touring itineraries at altitude ranging from 1400m to 3800m.

Leave ski lifts and crowds behind; come enjoy untracked powder off the beaten trails with our professional mountain guides.

 

Whatever your level of skill, we’ll find the right places and choose the proper routes to make your ski-touring experience truly enjoyable.

Gliding through unspoiled snow amid a magnificent alpine environment is magical. Ski-touring and freeriding activities are getting increasingly popular in many countries, leading to more backcountry users. Fortunately, the Caucasus Mountains still offer plenty of exotic places and pristine snow slopes. Join us for an exciting backcountry skiing/riding, in Gudauri or Mestia.

Ski-touring Gudauri Offer
  • 6 days ski-touring
  • 7 nights accommodation /double occupancy at the hotel Gudauri Marco Polo ****
  • Meals: full buffet breakfast at the hotel, mountain lunch on the slopes
  • Transfer from Tbilisi International Airport to Gudauri – and return
  • Services of the certified mountain guide for the duration of the trip (guide to guest ratio 1:8)
Getting Here

Arriving at the Tbilisi International Airport,  our shuttle service will take you to Gudauri ski resort (about 2 hours) using highway called military road that leads to the border with Russia. On the way you can enjoy with so much beautiful views of the nature, you will pass by Zhinvali Dom, Ananuri fortress from XIV-XVI centuries, beautiful local villages. Then you start driving up and up to the breathtakingly beautiful mountains and you reach your final destination – Gudauri Ski Resort at an elevation of 2 200 m above sea level, where your adventures are waiting for you.

You will check in at the hotel and depending on your arrival time, you have to attend safety briefing at about 4:30 PM highlighting awareness of risk, best practice guidelines and emergency procedures. If your arrival in Gudauri is late in the evening, you can attend special briefing next day in early morning and definitely before starting heliski, will it be arrival day or the next morning, you should complete all the registration procedures and then you start to get ready for the adventures. 

Day-to-Day program

6-Day Ski Touring trip

Arrival at the Tbilisi International Airport and transfer to Gudauri ski resort (Marco Polo Hotel) that will take about 2 hours. Check-in at the hotel (available from 2 PM). Later that day at 4PM, meet and greet at the office with the team, paperwork and safety training in the hangar. If not possible, then next day early morning. Evening at your disposal.

Day 1-6

The morning meeting for detailed avalanche transceiver and avalanche rescue training (if not done a day before already), followed by first day touring destination. Consequent days, ski-touring on various routes.

Departure / Transfer from Gudauri hotel Marco Polo to Tbilisi airport or elsewhere in Tbilisi. On the departure day, you can have your breakfast at the hotel and then have some time to sort out your luggage. Check-out time from Marco Polo Gudauri hotel is set as 12:00 noon.

Routes and distances

Gudauri – Mleta: 10 km
Gudauri – Arakhveti: 13 km
Gudauri – Kvesheti: 15 km
Gudauri – Pasanauri: 31 km
Gudauri – Khando: 34 km
Gudauri – Crosspass: 10 km
Gudauri – Kobi: 19 km
Gudauri – Sioni: 28 km
Gudauri – Stepantsminda (Kazbegi): 35 km

Gudauri Tour schedule 2024

6-Day Tour

January 2024

Upon request only

January 20 – January 27
January 27 – February 3

February 2024

February 3 – February 10
February 10 – February 17
February 17 – February 24
February 24 – March 2

March 2024

March 2 – March 9
March 9 – March 16
March 16 – March 23
March 23 – March 30

 * schedule is subject to change

Gudauri Lodging ****

Located a few metres above sea level and surrounded by Caucasus Mountains, Marco Polo Hotel Gudauri is a ski-in ski-out mountain accommodation. Gudauri Lift 1 Pirveli is few metres away of the property. Providing an ideal mix of value, comfort and convenience, Marco Polo Hotel offers a family-friendly setting with an array of amenities designed for all travellers. Marco Polo Spa & Wellness Centre features a selection of massages and body treatments, hot tub, sauna and a sun terrace. Guests will have a complimentary access to Spa facilities, as well as free Wi-Fi, free parking and luggage storage. Indoor swimming pool is also featured. Most units offer views of Gudauri mountain gorges and ski slopes. A variety of European and Caucasian dishes are served in the hotel’s signature restaurant Soliko. Indoor and outdoor seating are available. 

Check-in From 15:00

Check-out Until 12:00

Not included in price

Please note that the ski-touring package does not include the following services:

  • The price of your flight to/from Kutaisi/Batumi/Tbilisi International Airports
  • Travel insurance and cancellation insurance
  • Visa costs (Citizens of the CIS, USA, EU and Switzerland do not need a visa)
  • Dinner and alcoholic beverages
  • The cost of ski-touring gear and safety equipment rental : skis, skins, crampons, boots, helmets, transceiver, probe and shovel, ABS Airbag and similar additional equipment
  • Personal accident insurance
  • Single room accommodation (available for an additional price)
  • Chargeable services at the hotel: dinner, massage, billiards, tennis, table tennis.

 

Terms and Conditions

Payment Options

  • Bank transfer in Euro (preferred payment)
  • Credit Cards (Visa, MasterCard, AmEx) – only in Heliksir’s  office and in local currency GEL (Georgian Lari) at the official exchange rate of the National Bank the day of payment + 5 %.
  • Cash – only in Heliksir’s office and in local currency GEL (Georgian Lari) at the official exchange rate of the National Bank the day of payment + 5%.

 

Booking and Deposit Policy

For Multi-Day packages, a deposit of 30% of the package price is required to confirm your space. Your deposit is non-refundable.

We will send you a booking confirmation within two-three business days after we received your deposit payment. Your space is then reserved until the full payment due date.

Final payment is due 60 days prior to your package’s start date. If we do not receive full payment by the due date, your booking reservation will be cancelled.

 

Cancellations and Refund Policy

Please pay careful attention to the Heliksir cancellation policy.

If you choose to cancel your booking, your 30% deposit is not refundable.
If final payment has been made, and we receive your written cancellation no later than 60 days prior to the start of the package, the amount you paid -minus the 30% deposit- will be refunded.
If we receive your cancellation notice less than 60 days prior to the start of the package, the entire payment will be retained.
If once started, you are unable to complete your skiing package due to sickness / injury / lack of fitness or any other personal reason, no refund will be issued for the un-skied days.

 

Refund Policy 

Our ski-touring package comes with a guaranteed amount skiing days. Poor weather conditions or other operational factors preventing safe flying/skiing may sometimes cause Heliksir to cancel a day or part of the program. In this case, the days you would have missed remain in your package and you may have the chance to use them in the following days.

If over the duration of your package, poor weather or any other operational factor prevents us from reaching the amount of days allotted to your package, your group will be refunded at a rate of ? EUR for every un-skied day.

 

Important note regarding refunds

Guests are expected to be in suitable physical condition to complete the program included in their package. No refund will be issued if illness / injury / poor fitness or any other personal reason prevents you from completing the amount of days purchased. If you choose to stop skiing earlier than the rest of the group, or to skip some runs, or to miss a day for any reason, you will still be attributed the same amount of skiing as the rest of your group.

Applicable refunds will be issued in the same manner as the original payment was made. For packages booked through a travel agent or a tour company, the refund payment will be issued directly to the same agency.

 

Other booking information

Heliksir Ltd. is the organizer of the ski packages described on our website. Any travel agent or individual representing Heliksir Ltd. is acting only as an agent authorized for encashment. Note: the terms “skiing” and “heli-skiing” shall include downhill skiing, snowboarding, freeriding, telemark skiing and ski-touring.

By submitting a registration form online and paying a deposit, the client has entered into an agreement with Heliksir Ltd. The completed registration form, along with the terms and conditions, package type and dates, package price or quote, constitute a legally binding agreement between Heliksir Ltd. and the client requesting the booking.

We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the terms and conditions, as well as with the additional information found on Heliksir – Heliski Caucasus website. This will ensure that you pick the best package for your needs and that you have a full understanding of what your heli-skiing trip/package entails.

 

Insurance

At Heliksir, we believe it is important for our guests to be fully aware of the safety issues involved in heli-skiing/heli-boarding, and to have a thorough understanding of the environment they will be exposed to. We do our best to provide you with a safe and outstanding adventure. As a guest, paying close attention to the instructions and obeying the rules is of paramount importance to help make your adventure as safe as possible.

Furthermore, as the risks associated with this type of activity cannot be eliminated entirely, you must understand and accept these risks. To take part in any of our programs, every guest is required to sign a Release of Liability/Acceptance of Risks agreement. Please, read this document carefully before booking; you will be asked to sign it at the time of check-in.

Svaneti

The Upper Svaneti region lies in the heart of the Greater Caucasus, with a collection of stunning high peaks towering at 4000 and 5000 m of altitude. Mestia and its conglomeration of picturesque hamlets with historical Svan towers, sits in the middle of this fantastic mountain landscape. The valley is developing as a fabulous ski destination in the Caucasus. Glaciated peaks,
endless alpine slopes and deep forested valleys offer fabulous ski touring terrain

Ski Touring Svaneti Offer
  •  6 days ski-touring
  • 7 nights accommodation /double occupancy at the Mestia Hotel Gistola **** 
  • Meals: full buffet breakfast and mountain lunch on the slopes
  • Transfer from Kutaisi International Airport to Mestia – and return
  • Services of the certified mountain guide for the duration of the trip (guide to guest ratio 1:8)
Getting Here

Arriving at the Kutaisi International Airport , our shuttle service will take you to the main city of Svaneti – Mestia. Transfer will take approximately 4 hours drive. When traveling in the direction of Mestia city, you will be amazed with wonderful landscapes, you will pass by Enguri Reservoir, which is fascinating to enjoy along the road. Then you reach Mestia  (1 500 m above sea level) and your amazement will grow into strange magical feelings, when you will see IX-XII century’s stone built watch towers and high mountains covered with the snow.

You will check in at the hotel and depending on your arrival time, you have to attend safety briefing at about 4:30 PM highlighting awareness of risk, best practice guidelines and emergency procedures. If your arrival in Mestia is late in the evening, you can attend special briefing next day in early morning and definitely before starting heliski, will it be arrival day or the next morning, you should complete all the registration procedures and then you start to get ready for the adventures. 

Day-to-Day program

6-Day Ski Touring trip

Arrival at the Kutaisi International Airport and transfer to Mestia (Hotel Posta) that will take about 4-5 hours. Check-in at the hotel (available from 2 PM).

Later that day at 4PM, meet and greet at the office with the team, paperwork and safety training in the hangar. If not possible, then next day early morning. Evening at your disposal.

Day 1-6

The morning meeting for detailed avalanche transceiver and avalanche rescue training (if not done a day before already), followed by first day touring destination.

Consequent days, ski-touring on various routes.

Departure / Transfer from Gudauri hotel Posta to Kutaisi airport. On the departure day, you can have your breakfast at
the hotel and then have some time to sort out your luggage.

Check-out time from Posta hotel is set as 12:00 noon.

Routes and distances

Mestia to Chalaadi: 10km
Mestia to Latpar Pass: 13km
Mestia to Ushba: 15km
Mestia to Sckhara: 31km
Mestia to Tetnuldi: 34km

Mestia to Koruldi: 10km
Mestia to Hatsvali: 19km
Mestia to Lamaria: 28km
Mestia to Laila Pass: 35km

Svaneti Lodging ****

The four-star premium hotel “Gistola” appeared on the tourist map of Mestia in 2021. Guests are offered with cozy and comfortable accommodation in this beautiful corner of Georgia. The hotel consists of 44 rooms – 24 DBL, 18 TWIN, 2 Suites. Each room is presented with an elegant interior design. All rooms have a balcony with a view of the stunning Svan towers and incredibly beautiful nature. Guests can enjoy hotel’s restaurant with the tastiest dishes of Georgian and European cuisine, the bar with a large selection of cocktails and other drinks and a Finnish sauna. Hotel also offers a ski depot in which guests can place their skis, snowboards and other equipment. There is a stationary boot dryer too.  WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

Hotel “Gistola” in Mestia, a hotel that creates the best memories. Here traditions meet the modernity and gives you an environment where every day is a new adventure.

Check-in From 14:00

Check-out Until 12:00

Svaneti Tour schedule 2024

6-Day Tour

March 2024

Manageable week:
March 5 – March 12

March 9 – March 16
March 16 – March 23
March 23 – March 30

 * schedule is subject to change

Not included in your package

 Please note that the ski-touring package does not include the following services:

  • The price of your flights to/from Kutaisi/Batumi/Tbilisi Airports, fuel taxes, or oversized baggage costs
  • Travel insurance and cancellation insurance
  • Visa costs (Citizens of the CIS, USA, EU and Switzerland do not need a visa)
  • The cost of ski-touring gear and safety equipment rental : skis, skins, crampons, boots, helmets, transceiver, probe and shovel, ABS Airbag and similar additional equipment
  • Personal accident insurance
  • Single room accommodation (available for an additional price)
  • Chargeable services at the hotel: dinner, alcohol and beverages, extras
Terms and Conditions

Payment Options

  • Bank transfer in Euro (preferred payment)
  • Credit Cards (Visa, MasterCard, AmEx) – only in Heliksir’s  office and in local currency GEL (Georgian Lari) at the official exchange rate of the National Bank the day of payment + 5 %.
  • Cash – only in Heliksir’s office and in local currency GEL (Georgian Lari) at the official exchange rate of the National Bank the day of payment + 5%.

 

Booking and Deposit Policy

For Multi-Day packages, a deposit of 30% of the package price is required to confirm your space. Your deposit is non-refundable.

We will send you a booking confirmation within two-three business days after we received your deposit payment. Your space is then reserved until the full payment due date.

Final payment is due 60 days prior to your package’s start date. If we do not receive full payment by the due date, your booking reservation will be cancelled.

 

Cancellations and Refund Policy

Please pay careful attention to the Heliksir cancellation policy.

If you choose to cancel your booking, your 30% deposit is not refundable.
If final payment has been made, and we receive your written cancellation no later than 60 days prior to the start of the package, the amount you paid -minus the 30% deposit- will be refunded.
If we receive your cancellation notice less than 60 days prior to the start of the package, the entire payment will be retained.
If once started, you are unable to complete your skiing package due to sickness / injury / lack of fitness or any other personal reason, no refund will be issued for the un-skied runs or vertical metres (or unused flying time in case of private package).

 

Refund Policy 

Our ski-touring package comes with a guaranteed amount skiing days. Poor weather conditions or other operational factors preventing safe flying/skiing may sometimes cause Heliksir to cancel a day or part of the program. In this case, the days you would have missed remain in your package and you may have the chance to use them in the following days.

If over the duration of your package, poor weather or any other operational factor prevents us from reaching the amount of days allotted to your package, your group will be refunded at a rate of ? EUR for every un-skied day.

 

Important note regarding refunds

Guests are expected to be in suitable physical condition to complete the program included in their package. No refund will be issued if illness / injury / poor fitness or any other personal reason prevents you from completing the amount of days purchased. If you choose to stop skiing earlier than the rest of the group, or to skip some runs, or to miss a day for any reason, you will still be attributed the same amount of skiing as the rest of your group.

Applicable refunds will be issued in the same manner as the original payment was made. For packages booked through a travel agent or a tour company, the refund payment will be issued directly to the same agency.

 

Other booking information

Heliksir Ltd. is the organizer of the ski packages described on our website. Any travel agent or individual representing Heliksir Ltd. is acting only as an agent authorized for encashment. Note: the terms “skiing” and “heli-skiing” shall include downhill skiing, snowboarding, freeriding, telemark skiing and ski-touring.

By submitting a registration form online and paying a deposit, the client has entered into an agreement with Heliksir Ltd. The completed registration form, along with the terms and conditions, package type and dates, package price or quote, constitute a legally binding agreement between Heliksir Ltd. and the client requesting the booking.

We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the terms and conditions, as well as with the additional information found on Heliksir – Heliski Caucasus website. This will ensure that you pick the best package for your needs and that you have a full understanding of what your heli-skiing trip/package entails.

 

Insurance

At Heliksir, we believe it is important for our guests to be fully aware of the safety issues involved in heli-skiing/heli-boarding, and to have a thorough understanding of the environment they will be exposed to. We do our best to provide you with a safe and outstanding adventure. As a guest, paying close attention to the instructions and obeying the rules is of paramount importance to help make your adventure as safe as possible.

Furthermore, as the risks associated with this type of activity cannot be eliminated entirely, you must understand and accept these risks. To take part in any of our programs, every guest is required to sign a Release of Liability/Acceptance of Risks agreement. Please, read this document carefully before booking; you will be asked to sign it at the time of check-in.

The Adventure of a Lifetime, make sure you book with Heliksir!

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