Gudauri
Place in Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Georgia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gudauri (Georgian: გუდაური) is a ski resort located on the south-facing plateau of The Greater Caucasus Mountain Range in Georgia. The resort is situated in the Kazbegi Municipality, along the Georgian Military Highway near the Jvari Pass, at an elevation of 2,200 meters (7,200 ft.) above sea level. Gudauri lies 120 km (75 mi) to the north of the Georgian capital Tbilisi. Gudauri is 4.1 km away from the nearest border with the unrecognized South Ossetia. The slopes of Gudauri are above the tree line and considered to be avalanche-safe. The ski season lasts from December to April. Heliskiing is available throughout the season.
Gudauri გუდაური | |
|---|---|
 Gudauri | |
  Gudauri გუდაური Location of Gudauri in Georgia | |
| Coordinates: 42°28′33″N 44°28′43″E | |
| Country | Georgia |
| Mkhare | Mtskheta-Mtianeti |
| Municipality | Kazbegi |
| Elevation | 2,196 m (7,205 ft) |
| Population (2016) | |
• Total | 54[1] |
| Time zone | UTC+4 (Georgian Time) |
| Website | Gudauri Resort |
Heliski
Heliskiing provides skiers with almost unrestricted access to local mountains. Skiers can experience runs at altitudes between 1,500 and 4,200 meters above sea level.
Ski touring
The Gudauri Resort area and Mount Kazbek massif provide options for ski touring.
Speed riding and paragliding
Gudauri is a well known site in the country for speedriding and paragliding. Experienced instructors are employed to accompany customers in the said activities.
Routes and lifts
Gudauri has more than 76 km of ski runs and 18 lifts. The bottommost station of the first ski lift, (Pirveli) is at 1,990 m above sea level and the uppermost station of the last ski lift (Sadzele) is located at 3,279 m. The lifts are made by the Austrian-Swiss manufacturer Doppelmayr. The first lift (Pirveli) is 1,010 m long and a six-seater chairlift, the second (Soliko) is 2,310 m long and a six-seater, and the third (Snow Park) is 1,060 m long and a three-seater. Overall, there is a total of overall 15 ski lifts[2] including Gondola types ("Gudaura" and "Kobi-Gudauri"):
| Lift number | Name of lift | Capacity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pirveli | 6 persons | |
| 2 | Soliko | 6 persons | |
| 3 | Kudebi | 3 persons | |
| 4 | Snow Park | 3 persons | |
| 5 | Kudebi II | 6 persons | |
| 6 | Sadzele | 4 persons | |
| 7 | Zuma | 1 person | |
| 8 | Gudaura | 10 persons | |
| 9 | Shino | 6 persons | |
| 10 | Alpina | 1 person | |
| 11 | Bombora | 1 person | |
| 12 | Baby | 1 person | |
| 13 | Kobi-Gudauri I | 10 persons | |
| 14 | Kobi-Gudauri II | 10 persons | [3] |
| 15 | Kobi-Gudauri III | 10 persons |
In 2018, chairlifts Kobi-Gudauri 1, 2 and 3 were constructed, measuring a total of 7.5 km, as well as 111 gondola lifts, six stations and the capacity of serving 2800 passengers in an hour.[3][4] Three new lifts measuring 6 km were added to the resort after December 2023: New Gudaura, Kikilo 1, Kikilo 2. The lifts operate from 10:00 to 16:00, and from 9:00 to 17:00 in the warmer season when the daylight is longer.
Accidents
Chairlift
On 16 March 2018, due to the operator's mistake and design failures, one of the chairlifts (Sadzele) started moving backwards at twice the normal speed, creating a rollback and leaving 11 injured.[5][6][7]
Helicopter
On 29 July 2022, a police Mi-8 helicopter crashed while trying to rescue two paragliders in a gorge near Gudauri, killing all eight people on board. One of the two paragliders was also found dead.[8]
Restaurant
On 14 December 2024, 12 people died in an Indian restaurant in Gudauri.[9] All casualties were employees of the restaurant: 11 Indian nationals and one Georgian citizen.[10][11] Initial investigations revealed that an electric power generator had been placed in an enclosed indoor space near the bedrooms and had been switched on following a power outage in the area.[12] Investigators suggested that fumes from the generator likely caused carbon monoxide poisoning, although forensic examinations were conducted to confirm the exact cause of death.[13][14]
