Gudauri, Georgia: How to Get There and Ski Pass Prices
Driving distance from Tbilisi to Gudauri, current ski pass prices, summer activities, and the Friendship Arch on Jvari Pass.
Gudauri sits 120 km from Tbilisi on the Georgian Military Highway, roughly 2 to 2.5 hours by car, marshrutka, or taxi. The resort runs year-round: ski slopes and freeride terrain in winter, hiking and paragliding once the snow melts.
Getting to Gudauri from Tbilisi
The road climbs past the Zhinvali Reservoir and the Ananuri fortress before switching into a series of hairpin turns close to Gudauri. The asphalt is in good shape, but overtaking only happens on the opposite lane, and the highway carries a steady stream of trucks heading toward the Verkhny Lars border crossing with Russia.
Three ways to make the trip:
- Marshrutka from Didube bus station, around 10 GEL, fixed schedule, no stops along the way.
- Taxi or private transfer, 100 to 160 GEL one way, comfortable but locked into a straight route.
- Renting a car in Tbilisi, the most practical option outside of a taxi, since it lets you pull over at the reservoir, Ananuri, or any of the viewpoints scattered along this stretch of road. Pickup at the airport or in the city center usually takes 10 to 15 minutes.
In winter, the Jvari Pass section near Gudauri can close for a few hours during heavy snowfall or avalanche risk. If you're driving yourself in the cold months, build in a time buffer and check the road status before leaving Tbilisi.
Winter in Gudauri: Slopes and Ski Pass Prices
Gudauri sits at 2,196 m, with lift-served terrain reaching 3,300 m, making it the highest-altitude ski resort in Georgia and one of the region's known spots for freeriding. The pistes add up to more than 80 km, served by 13 lifts, including modern gondolas.
The season typically runs from late December to mid-April; exact dates are confirmed each year by the Georgian National Tourism Administration (MTA).
Lift tickets at Gudauri are sold by MTA, the same state operator as Bakuriani and the other Georgian ski resorts. Current rates on the official site mta.ski for the 2025/2026 season:
- 1 day: around 70 GEL (about $25)
- 2 days: from 140 GEL
- 6 to 7 days: from 340 to 370 GEL
- Season pass covering all four Georgian ski resorts (Gudauri, Bakuriani, Goderdzi, Mestia): around 650 GEL
Children aged 6 to 12 pay half price, and kids under 6 ride free. Gear rental runs 50 to 80 GEL per day for a full ski or snowboard set.
Summer in Gudauri: What to Do Without Snow
Between June and September the resort looks different. Some hotels and restaurants close for the season, and there are fewer visitors overall. Three cable cars, Gudaura, Snow Park, and Sadzele, keep running daily, usually from 10:00 to 16:00 or 17:00. A single ride costs around 5 GEL, and a full trip up to Sadzele peak at 3,300 m runs about 12 GEL.
What's open in the warmer months:
- Hiking trails along the lift lines for easy walks, or longer routes toward Lomisi monastery and the Truso Valley
- Downhill mountain biking on trails designed by Slovak trail builders, with bikes allowed on the gondola
- Tandem paragliding, popular here because of the altitude and the open plateau around the resort
- Rafting, horseback riding, and jeep tours through the surrounding gorges
Even in summer the air at this elevation stays cool, especially near the upper lift stations, so a warm layer is worth packing regardless of season.
The Friendship Arch on Jvari Pass
A few kilometers past Gudauri, on Jvari Pass, stands a semicircular structure covered in mosaic tile: the Arch of Friendship of Peoples. It was built in 1983 to mark the 200th anniversary of the 1783 Treaty of Georgievsk between the Russian Empire and Eastern Georgia. The architect was Giorgi Chkhava, and the mosaic panel depicting scenes from Georgian and Russian history was created by artists Zurab Kapanadze, Zurab Lezhava, and Nodar Malazonia.
The arch stands at 2,384 m, and its balconies look out over the Aragvi river gorge and the area locals call Devil's Valley. The structure was restored in 2017, with night lighting added at the same time. Entry is free, there's no fixed schedule, and most visitors spend 15 to 20 minutes here walking out to the edge and taking photos.
Along the drive from Tbilisi, this is one of the few stops actually worth pulling off the road for, rather than just slowing down and driving past.
Bottom Line
Gudauri is a 120 km, 2 to 2.5 hour drive from Tbilisi along the Georgian Military Highway, and a rental car makes it easy to stop at the reservoir, Ananuri, or the Friendship Arch on the way up. Winter visitors get 80 km of pistes with day passes starting at 70 GEL, while summer brings hiking, mountain biking, and paragliding once three of the cable cars reopen. Check road conditions before a winter drive, and pack warm layers no matter the season, the altitude here keeps temperatures lower than in Tbilisi year-round.
