Bakuriani ski resort: the complete guide for 2026

A resort town with a hundred-year ski history

Bakuriani is the oldest ski resort in Georgia and, by some distance, the most characterful. It sits at 1,700m in the Samtskhe-Javakheti province, 180 km west of Tbilisi, on a pine-clad plateau that has been a winter destination since the late 19th century. The first ski jump in the Caucasus was built here; the first chairlifts in Soviet Georgia operated on its slopes; the historic narrow-gauge Kukushka railway still links the town to Borjomi down the valley. The resort hosted the 2023 FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboard World Championships, which brought significant investment in gondolas, snowmaking and accommodation.

Yet Bakuriani does not feel like a purpose-built ski resort. It has a genuine town centre with shops, restaurants, bakeries, Soviet-era sanatoria now converted to hotels, and a sizeable year-round population. In winter the town is snow-covered rather than snow-decorated. Families with young children, beginners, and travellers who prefer a proper town to a plateau resort will find Bakuriani a more convincing environment than Gudauri.

The terrain: three mountains, one pass

Bakuriani’s skiable terrain is split across three distinct areas, linked by ski bus or short drive:

Kokhta-Mitarbi (east of town)

The Kokhta and Mitarbi slopes sit on opposite sides of a single ridge east of the town, connected by a saddle and shared lift system. Kokhta has a modern gondola from 1,900m to 2,155m; Mitarbi has additional chairlift-served terrain on the south-facing flank. The combined skiable area is approximately 15 km of marked piste, predominantly beginner and intermediate gradients. A dedicated children’s beginner area at the Kokhta base has slow-moving carpet lifts.

Best for: Families, first-time skiers, ski school days. The pistes are wide, gently pitched and well-groomed.

Didveli (west of town)

Didveli is the resort’s larger and more varied area, with a modern 6-seater chairlift and a gondola climbing to 2,700m. This is where more committed intermediates and advanced skiers spend most of their time. The top section has steeper pistes, narrow tree-lined runs and off-piste options into the adjacent forests. The vertical drop is approximately 800m from top to town.

Best for: Intermediate skiers, confident beginners moving beyond the Kokhta learner runs, advanced skiers looking for longer continuous descents.

25-trail and connecting runs

A network of smaller lifts serves intermediate terrain on the slopes directly above Bakuriani town centre, linking the hotels to the upper slopes. These are older-style drag lifts and short chairlifts and are typically less crowded than the main Didveli complex.

Combined piste length: approximately 30–35 km marked across all three areas.

Lift passes and equipment

Bakuriani operates separate ticketing on each mountain (Kokhta, Didveli) though joint passes are available for multi-day stays.

Indicative 2026 prices:

• Day pass (single mountain): 50–70 GEL (USD 18–26)
• Day pass (joint Kokhta + Didveli): 80–100 GEL (USD 30–37)
• 6-day joint pass: 400–500 GEL (USD 148–185)
• Ski/snowboard rental: 35–50 GEL/day full package

Ski school in Bakuriani is well-developed. The Bakuriani Alpine Ski School and several private instructor groups offer lessons in English; rates approximate 60–100 GEL/hour private, less for group lessons. Children’s group ski school typically runs 150–250 GEL for a full-day programme with lunch.

Accommodation: resort hotels, sanatoria and guesthouses

Bakuriani has the broadest accommodation range of any Georgian ski resort:

Upper-tier hotels — The Rooms Kokhta and Crowne Plaza Bakuriani lead the upper end, with full-service amenities, spa facilities and modern build quality. USD 150–300/night in peak season.

Mid-range — Numerous family-run hotels and small ski hotels in the 60–150 USD/night range, often with breakfast and dinner included. Well-positioned options near the Kokhta and Didveli base stations.

Soviet-era sanatoria — Several large sanatoria have been partially modernised and offer rooms at budget to mid-range prices. The experience is distinctive — high ceilings, long corridors, original architectural details — but standards vary from perfectly pleasant to frankly rough.

Guesthouses — Family-run guesthouses throughout the town at 30–80 USD/night, often half-board.

Apartments — A growing Airbnb market, particularly good for families wanting kitchen facilities and more space.

Book 4–6 weeks ahead for peak February and early March weekends; midweek availability is usually easier.

Dining and nightlife

The dining scene in Bakuriani is significantly better than in Gudauri. The town has established restaurants serving Georgian mountain food, modern Georgian-fusion menus, and a handful of international options (pizza, Italian, basic Asian). Some reliable choices:

Traditional Georgian — Kopala Bakuriani, Tiflis and several khinkali-focused places serve classic mountain fare. Expect large khinkali portions, lobiani bean breads, mtsvadi grilled meats.

Modern Georgian — A small but growing set of restaurants offering lighter, contemporary presentations of traditional ingredients, with proper wine lists featuring both qvevri wines and European imports.

Casual and family — Cafes around the main square serving breakfasts, pastries and simple lunches; ideal for families with kids.

Nightlife is modest — a few bars, occasional live music in the larger hotels, and the characteristic Georgian post-dinner chacha ritual at your accommodation. This is not a party resort.

Combining Bakuriani with Borjomi

Forty minutes down the valley from Bakuriani, Borjomi is one of the great Georgian spa towns — famous for its mineral water, its extensive forested park, and its thermal baths. A Bakuriani ski holiday pairs naturally with one or two days at Borjomi, either at the start or end of the week.

The suggested pattern: arrive at Tbilisi, drive to Borjomi for a recovery day at the mineral baths, continue to Bakuriani for 4–5 nights of skiing, return via another Borjomi day. The Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park offers snowshoeing options in winter for rest days between ski days.

For visitors based in Bakuriani, the 40-minute drive to Borjomi makes it an easy afternoon excursion. The mineral park with its park pavilion, the Romanov family summer palace grounds, and the thermal pools are genuinely worth seeing.

The Kukushka narrow-gauge railway

The Borjomi-Bakuriani narrow-gauge railway — known locally as the Kukushka (“cuckoo”) — is one of the great mountain railway journeys in the Caucasus. The 37 km line climbs through the pine forests of the Borjomi gorge to Bakuriani, using an Austro-Hungarian-engineered route with spectacular bridges and tunnels. The journey takes approximately 2 hours.

In winter, service is limited and weather-dependent, but the summer Kukushka is a highlight of any Borjomi-Bakuriani combination. Even for a ski-focused trip, consider structuring a day to include a summer-schedule-style ride if the season allows.

Getting to Bakuriani

By car from Tbilisi: 3 hours via the S1 motorway to Khashuri, then south through Borjomi. The final approach from Borjomi climbs 500m of altitude through pine forest — scenic and straightforward in normal winter conditions.

By marshrutka from Tbilisi: Direct marshrutkas depart from Didube bus station daily for approximately 20 GEL. Journey time 3.5–4 hours depending on stops.

By train: Tbilisi to Borjomi by Georgian Railways (daily, 3.5 hours); Borjomi to Bakuriani by the historic Kukushka narrow-gauge (limited winter service; summer service 2 hours). The train option is atmospheric but slow.

Organised transfer: Several operators run Tbilisi–Bakuriani transfers throughout the ski season.

Book a Borjomi and Bakuriani day tour from Tbilisi

Beyond skiing: what else to do in winter Bakuriani

Bakuriani has a stronger non-ski activity menu than most Georgian ski resorts:

Sledging — The slopes directly above the town centre have dedicated sledging runs. Hire is inexpensive; the activity is very popular with families.

Snow tubing — At the Kokhta base station, dedicated snow tubing runs operate daily in season.

Cross-country skiing — Tracks are maintained through the pine forests east of town. Rental and light lessons are available.

Horse-drawn sleighs — Evening sleigh rides through the snowy town are offered from hotels.

Borjomi thermal baths — The 30-minute drive to Borjomi for a hot mineral bath is a restorative Bakuriani tradition.

Vardzia cave city — 2 hours south from Bakuriani, the cave monastery of Vardzia is accessible as a full-day excursion when snow conditions allow. Winter access is weather-dependent.

Season and conditions

Opening: Mid-December in normal years; earlier with good early snow. Peak conditions: Mid-January to mid-March Closing: Late March typically, with Didveli’s upper terrain sometimes running into early April

Snow reliability — Bakuriani’s 1,700m base is lower than Gudauri’s, which means early-season and late-season snow at the village is less reliable. The upper Didveli and Kokhta runs hold snow better. The resort invests significantly in snowmaking.

Weather — Temperatures in deep winter run −10 to −20°C; typical midwinter conditions are stable and cold. The pine forest location gives some shelter from the worst winds.

Who should choose Bakuriani

Ideal for:

• Families with young children learning to ski
• Complete beginners — the Kokhta learner area is the best in Georgia
• Intermediate skiers wanting a proper resort town atmosphere
• Travellers combining ski with spa, culture or historical interests
• Those taking the train/Kukushka route from Borjomi

Consider Gudauri instead if:

• You are a strong intermediate or advanced skier wanting more terrain and higher altitude
• You want lift-accessed freeride skiing
• You want to combine skiing with paragliding in the same day
• You prefer a modern plateau resort to a historic town

FAQ

Is Bakuriani good for beginners? Yes — it is the best beginner resort in Georgia. The Kokhta base area has dedicated learner slopes with carpet lifts; the ski school is experienced; English-speaking instructors are available. Moving up to the green and blue runs is gradual and non-threatening.

Is Bakuriani suitable for families? Strongly so. The town has a small but real family infrastructure — sledging, snow tubing, kids’ ski school, family-friendly restaurants. The resort feels safe and compact; children can walk or be shuttled between activities without parental stress.

How does Bakuriani compare to Gudauri? Gudauri has more terrain, higher altitude and more demanding skiing. Bakuriani has a proper town atmosphere, better beginner and family facilities, and more variety in non-ski activities. For a beginner family trip, Bakuriani; for an intermediate/advanced week, Gudauri.

Can I do Bakuriani as a day trip? Technically yes (3 hours each way from Tbilisi), but the value per day is lower than staying 2+ nights. A Tbilisi–Borjomi–Bakuriani day trip combining spa and a short ski session works; a serious ski day-trip is a stretch.

When does Bakuriani open and close? Typical season is mid-December to late March. Upper terrain sometimes extends to early April. Check current conditions in December as early-season opening varies year to year.

Is it worth buying a joint Kokhta-Didveli pass or just one mountain? If staying 3+ days, the joint pass is worth it for variety. For a single day, pick the mountain matching your level — Kokhta for beginners and families, Didveli for intermediate and advanced.

Related guides

• Best ski resorts in Georgia — the resort comparison
• Gudauri ski resort guide — the main alternative
• Best thermal baths in Georgia — Borjomi combinations
• Winter itinerary — the complete Georgia winter trip
• Cave cities of Georgia — Vardzia as a Bakuriani excursion
• Georgia in February — peak ski month
• Family itinerary — how Bakuriani fits a family Georgia trip