Georgia's Ski Resorts to Open on 20 December 2026: Gudauri Is Building Two New Runs and Snowmaking

The winter season at Georgia's ski resorts will officially open on 20 December 2026, the Mountain Trails Agency (MTA) of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development announced on 9 October. Gudauri, Bakuriani, Goderdzi and Mestia (Hatsvali and Tetnuldi) are to start on the same day.

New runs and lifts in Gudauri are still under construction and are due to be finished before the opening. The MTA statement was reported by Sputnik Georgia and JNews.

One opening date for all resorts

Last winter the resorts opened in two stages. The Kokhta area in Bakuriani started on 20 December 2025, and the lifts in Gudauri, Mestia and Goderdzi followed on 27 December. This season the MTA has set a single date.

According to the MTA, last season the lifts at the ski resorts in Georgia ran from 10:00 to 17:00 in Gudauri and Bakuriani and until 16:00 in Mestia and Goderdzi.

What is being built in Gudauri

Most of the work is in Gudauri. The contractor is the Austrian-Swiss company Doppelmayr-Garaventa, and according to the MTA the construction is in its final stage.

• New runs Kobi 3 and Tatra 3: 6 km in total
• Total length of marked runs after the works: 86 km
• Two new surface lifts in the snow park, replacing the old Khada and Snowpark lifts: 1,400 m in total
• Magic carpet for beginners: 200 m
• Snowmaking on the Soliko and Kikilo runs: 7.5 km
• Floodlights for night skiing: Akhali Gudauri run

Planning a trip

An intercity minibus (marshrutka) in Georgia from Tbilisi's Didube station costs 15 lari to Gudauri and 20 lari to Bakuriani. The Kukushka train from Borjomi to Bakuriani is due back in December 2026.

Since 1 January 2026, foreign visitors have needed health insurance to enter Georgia that covers at least 30,000 lari of treatment for the whole stay.

The 20 December opening and the completion of the Gudauri works are still the MTA's plan. The announcement did not include ski pass prices for the new season.