Gudauri has finally put numbers on the table. The Mountain Resorts Development Company confirmed that the 2026/27 winter season opens on 20 December 2026, and published the ski pass price list to go with it. There is one catch worth knowing before you start budgeting: from this winter, what you pay depends on your passport.
Here is the whole picture in one place — opening date, every price in lari, what a week of skiing actually costs, and where the cheap options are hiding.
When does Gudauri open for the 2026/27 season?
The official opening is 20 December 2026. The announcement came on 28 October and covers all four state-run resorts at once: Gudauri, Bakuriani, Goderdzi and Mestia. That is a week earlier than last winter, when the Gudauri lifts started turning on 27 December.
One thing to keep straight: opening day is not the same as «everything is running». Lifts and runs come online gradually as the snow builds up, and the upper mountain usually needs a few more storms before it is properly filled in. If your trip is about groomers and the resort vibe, late December works. If it is about freeride and ski touring, aim for January and later — that is when the off-piste terrain actually opens up.
The sweet spot for snow quality is still late January to early March. December brings shorter days and wind, April brings spring corn snow and sunshine. The closing date has not been announced yet; last season wrapped up on 19 April.
Gudauri ski pass prices 2026/27
Two things changed this year. First, the price list is split into two columns: citizens of Georgia and residence permit holders on one side, foreign citizens on the other. Second, there are two product families — a pass for Gudauri alone, and MultiSki, which covers Gudauri, Bakuriani, Goderdzi and Mestia.
All prices below are in Georgian lari, per person. Child prices are for ages 6 to 12; kids under 6 ride free.
Gudauri only: 1 to 6 days, night skiing and Kobi View
| Pass | Residents, adult | Residents, child | Foreigners, adult | Foreigners, child |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day | 90 | 45 | 120 | 60 |
| 2 days | 160 | 80 | 215 | 108 |
| 3 days | 230 | 115 | 305 | 153 |
| 4 days | 290 | 145 | 390 | 195 |
| 5 days | 350 | 175 | 470 | 235 |
| 6 days | 410 | 205 | 545 | 273 |
| Night skiing | 60 | 30 | 80 | 40 |
| Kobi View, both rides | 60 | 30 | 90 | 45 |
MultiSki: 7 days, 10 days and the whole season
| Pass | Residents, adult | Residents, child | Foreigners, adult | Foreigners, child |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days, all four resorts | 470 | 235 | 630 | 315 |
| 10 days, all four resorts | 650 | 325 | 865 | 435 |
| Season pass, all four resorts | 1000 | 500 | 1000 | 500 |
| Season junior, 13 to 18 | 650 | — | 650 | — |
| Student, 20 days a season | 500 | — | — | — |
What those numbers mean in real money
At roughly 2.7 lari to the dollar, a day of skiing for a foreign adult comes out at about $44. For a Georgian resident it is closer to $33. That is not the bargain Gudauri was two seasons ago, when a day pass was 70 lari flat — but it is still a long way short of a French or Austrian lift ticket.
The multi-day passes are where the maths starts working. Six days for a foreign adult is 545 lari, around $202, which drops the daily cost to roughly $34 — a third cheaper than buying day by day. The 7-day MultiSki at 630 lari lands in the same place per day, so buy it only if you genuinely plan to ski two resorts in one trip.
Two extras are worth flagging. Night skiing is a separate, cheap ticket (80 lari for foreign adults on Friday and Saturday evenings) and a nice way to salvage a day when the weather shuts the upper mountain. Kobi View is the sightseeing ride up to the Kobi ridge viewpoint — 90 lari for two rides, no skis required, which makes it the obvious option for a non-skiing partner.
Why the prices jumped
Dual pricing is the reason. Until last season everyone paid the same rate; from 2026/27 foreign visitors pay roughly a third more than residents. If you hold a Georgian residence permit, carry it — the difference on a six-day pass is 135 lari, which is a decent dinner for two. The resort has not said whether the split is permanent, but it matches what Bakuriani and the other state resorts have been moving towards.
Gudauri only, or MultiSki?
Most people should buy Gudauri only. You are not going to drive from Gudauri to Mestia mid-week — they are on opposite sides of the country — and Bakuriani is a separate trip in its own right. MultiSki makes sense in three cases: you are staying two weeks or more and want a day or two at Goderdzi, you are doing a combined freeride trip across regions, or you are a local who will use the season pass at several resorts.
If you are weighing up where to base yourself, our comparison of Goderdzi vs Gudauri for freeride covers snow, terrain and logistics honestly.
How to buy a ski pass, and the card nobody mentions
Tickets are sold at the cash desks in New Gudauri and Old Gudauri, or online through tkt.ge, skipass.ge, biletebi.ge and the Bank of Georgia app. Online sales usually open a few days before the season starts, so if you are arriving on opening weekend, buy in advance.
The one thing that trips people up: every pass is loaded onto a physical Multicard. A QR code on your phone will not open the turnstile. The card costs around 5 lari, and the deposit comes back when you hand it in. Do not stand in the lift queue on your first morning without one — get the card at the ticket office the evening you arrive.
Also worth knowing: ski passes are not refunded if wind closes the lifts. In marginal weather, buy single days instead of a block.
What is new on the mountain this winter
The resort is not standing still. For 2026/27 the plan includes two new runs — Kobi 3 and Tatra 3 — extra snowmaking on the Soliko and Kikilo slopes, new lighting for the evening sessions, and a covered conveyor belt for the beginner area. A small snowpark with two tow lifts is part of the package too. Translation for the practical skier: better early-season coverage on the lower runs, and a genuinely usable night-skiing option.
Skiing Gudauri with us: three ways to do it
Prices and logistics are the easy part. The hard part is deciding what kind of week you want. We run three formats in Gudauri, and they suit very different people.
The week. Five days of skiing from $490 per person, eight days from $690, with a learn-to-ski option at $1,150 that includes five lessons. Accommodation, transfers and a guide who reads the snow report each morning are in the price. Details on the week-long ski tour in Gudauri.
New Year. Four days and three nights from $520, six and five from $690, eight and seven from $795, with the New Year programme included. If you arrive after 1 January, that part is deducted. See the New Year in Gudauri 2027 tour — and book early, the hotels by the lifts sell out months ahead.
Freeride and ski touring. A day of guided ski touring is $100 per person, with 10% off for a group of three. This is the format for people who look at the lift map and immediately ask what is beyond the top station. Routes and dates live on the ski touring in Gudauri page, and if you want the full week of off-piste, the Gudauri freeride camp is the one.
Gudauri ski pass FAQ
When does the Gudauri ski season start?
20 December 2026, officially. All four state resorts open the same day. Lifts and runs then open progressively as snow accumulates.
How much is a ski pass in Gudauri?
For foreign visitors, 120 lari per day for an adult in 2026/27, or 545 lari for six days. Georgian residents and residence permit holders pay 90 lari per day.
Is Gudauri still cheap compared with the Alps?
Yes, though the gap has narrowed. On a six-day pass you are paying around $34 per ski day, before accommodation, which is well under half of a typical Austrian resort.
Can I use one pass in several resorts?
Only with MultiSki, which covers Gudauri, Bakuriani, Goderdzi and Mestia. It starts at 7 days.
Do I need my own card for the lifts?
Yes. Passes load onto a Multicard, sold at the ticket offices for a small refundable deposit. Your phone will not open the gate.
Plan around the calendar, not the price list
The ticket price is the smallest variable in a Gudauri trip. Accommodation during the New Year week can cost two or three times what it does in late January, and transfers from Tbilisi fill up fast around the holidays. If you can move your dates, the second half of January is the best value of the season: full snow cover, quieter slopes, sane hotel rates.
If your dates are fixed to the holidays, book the tour rather than the hotel — that is exactly what the New Year programme exists for. And if you are still deciding between Gudauri and the quieter Georgian resorts, our guide to ski resorts in Georgia lays out the trade-offs.
See you on Sadzele.
