Tetnuldi Ski Resort Georgia

Tetnuldi ski resort is one of the newest in the world and a place that will increasing become well-known as an adventure ski destination of high repute. Located in the Caucasus mountains of Georgia near the fascinating town of Mestia, Tetnuldi has a wonderful diversity of off-piste terrain to satisfy the most discerning powder hounds.

With a top lifted elevation of 3,160m, snow quality & quantity is mostly guaranteed to be deep, dry & delicious. Ski lift passes are in the super-cheap realm of the world's lift pass pricing structure! Only problem is that road access to the lifts can be costly if not on a tour, and lift opening times are dubious at best (10am officially but that’s not factoring in GMT - Georgian Maybe Time!). Definitely a place to bring the skins and choose your own adventure or be in a tour group that can show you the way.

Pros & Cons for Tetnuldi Ski Resort

Pros

• High elevation ski area with a reliable, deep snowpack.
• Nice skiable vertical of around 900m on the lifts.
• No lift lines.
• Big mountain skiing & snowboarding opportunities
• Amazing off-piste & backcountry terrain directly off the ski lifts and above/beyond them.
• Relatively new ski lifts.
• Options for cat & heli-skiing.
• Super cheap lift pass that includes Hatsvali - exceptional value when the lifts are turning.
• Several superb options to eat & drink on the mountain.
• Fabulous local hospitality & food.
• Fascinating history, culture & local architecture.
• Incredibly affordable.
• The whiff of high adventure is FREE!

Cons

• Limited on-piste trails.
• The road from Mestia up to the ski area can be difficult to drive particularly later in the season when freeze/thaw is active.
• Skiers & snowboarders that are not on organised tours can get charged exorbitant rates to be driven up to the resort from Mestia.
• Ski lift operation can be unreliable but are improving.
• No accommodation near the ski lifts.

Pro or Con (depending on your perspective!)

• Flights to the nearest airport (Kutaisi) can be limited, planning is key!
• Not your ideal family ski holiday destination.
• No easy public transport options to get to the area.
• Increasing in popularity - avoid coming during the Freeride World Tour event in March
• Unless ski touring, accommodation is down in the valley at Mestia or other villages. Thankfully Mestia is an incredible travel destination in and of itself.

Skiing & Snowboarding, Lifts & Terrain

With a base elevation of 2,265m and top lifted point of 3,160m, the terrain at Tetnuldi ranges from high alpine woodland with birch predominant, up to full alpine treeless bowls, ridges & couloirs. The total piste length of around 14km is limited in diversity & scope, but piste skiing is not the reason to come here. The Tetnuldi resort is amongst Georgia's most remote & spectacular (& snowiest!) mountain regions - the Svaneti. Whilst the chairlifts provide some great skiing inbounds, all those mountains make the off-piste, side & backcountry the reason to visit here. Numerous Svan villages replete with the region's signature fortified stone tower houses make incredible backcountry free-touring destinations, with typical ski descents of between 1,000m to 1,400m vertical. The isolated village of Ushguli, oft called the gem of the Svaneti, is the ultimate ski-touring destination, but descents to villages like Zhabeshi via the Tsaneri River valley on the northern side, or Adishi on the southern side are a fabulous way to end a day.

Check out the ski trail map for Tetnuldi below.

Tetnuldi Ski Trail Map

Lifts

The lift infrastructure consists of 4 new chairlifts (2 hooded, detachable 6-seaters & 2 fixed grip quads), all installed in 2015/16 plus a surface tow, serving a tasty 900m of skiable vertical & abundant freeride powder ski terrain. Of late, the top chairlift at Tetnuldi (officially called the Boris Kakhiani ...... we think!), which incidentally only serves around 130m of vertical, has not been running. The reasons proffered for it are many & varied, but in the end, if it’s not running, skinners & bootpackers are grinners as it accesses some super side country descents.

If the weather is poor, there may only be one or two lifts open. The first chair (Chvabiani) and a second off to the side of the mountain (Jumber Kakhiani) will usually run and provide alot of scope for on & off-piste shenanigans.

Catskiing

There is a new cat ski operation in the Svaneti with two base areas. One is near the Tetnuldi ski area and starts from the base of the ski lifts. Single trips, or full day outings are possible. The snowcat provides a fast reliable mode of transport up the mountain in the morning before the lifts open and can be a great way to get first tracks or start a ski-tour down to Adishi (or somewhere similar). Many of our tour partners can include this option in their tours. The cat operation usually starts later in the season.

Heliskiing

Heliskiing is getting popular in the Svaneti region as well, based out of Mestia, adding to the winter activity mix.

Where is Tetnuldi Georgia?

Tetnuldi ski resort is in the remote Svaneti (Svanetia) region amongst the highest peaks of the Caucasus mountains in northwestern Georgia. Only 15km drive (30min to 1hr depending on conditions) by road east of the historic town of Mestia, journeys to Tetnuldi are not the easiest in the world, but far from the most difficult. The road is well graded and cleared throughout winter, but is generally snow-covered from December to mid-March, then can become difficult later in the season as freeze/thaw sets in. If you are confident enough to drive oneself in a 4WD rental, the road is fine. If you are on an organised tour, relax and enjoy the ride!

The nearest major city & airport are at Kutaisi, 250km by road south of the ski area. The road journey from Kutaisi is a tortuous 5 to 6hr. For the final 1½hr the road can be very rough and icy, potentially littered with falling rock hazards, plus at night, the many wandering horses, cattle & dogs can be difficult to see. It is a fun experience.

The new & modern Kutaisi Airport (KUT) is the best gateway to the Svaneti and has a limited number of flights daily from several major & secondary airports throughout Europe. Alternatively, flying into Tbilisi (TBS) is an option, but the journey to Mestia is 2 to 3 hours longer. Tbilisi is a wonderful city to visit though, so the few hours extra travel may be worth it, plus the airport has a huge variety of airline options, as opposed to Kutaisi which is very limited. We flew into Kutaisi from Vienna (VIE) on the Hungarian airline Wizz Air. Flight was good but be careful with their pricing as every add-on costs!

From the Kutaisi airport the quickest way to Mestia (& Tetnuldi) is via a private transfer. Unless you have one organised via your tour operator or hotel, you can use GoTrip for a private shuttle, but pay a little more for a good, safe driver. Make sure the vehicle is all-wheel drive and with snow tyres

Mainstream public transport services direct to Tetnuldi from the airport do not exist (that we are aware of any!), so a bus or taxi into the city, then a minibus (marshrutka) from the main Kutaisi bus station is required. This is a very cheap alternative to a private transfer but comes with the relative discomfort of a lengthy transfer in a cramped bus plus a big question mark over where one puts your skis. Please let us know if you have succeeded in this challenge!

Once in Mestia, the final part of the journey is along an ice & snow-covered road with a reputation bordering on the notoriously bad! Local accommodation providers can organise a taxi or shuttle up to the mountain, but it is recommended to only use 4x4 or truck/bus transport during winter. The shuttle's up to the mountain fuel the local winter economy so the price can be as steep as the ascent if not in a large group. Most of the cars are Delica 4wd vans that can take up to 7 passengers comfortably. Rental cars should similarly only be driven up by experienced drivers with vehicles equipped for winter driving. The term best used to describe how to drive in the Georgian mountains is 'with caution’.

For more information about getting around the country, see our Travel to Georgia page.

Tetnuldi Accommodation

The closest main centre to Tetnuldi is the historic town of Mestia. There is no accommodation at the Tetnuldi ski lifts & very little infrastructure, so atmospheric Mestia is the best (& only) place to stay. Mestia is a town full of character, with fortified tower houses & mountains filling most views from its vibrant centre, plus a wide range of superb hotels & guesthouses to choose from. For an authentic Mestia experience stay in a traditional, affordable guesthouse like Dodo Japaridze Guesthouse in the centre of town. With its own Svan tower and in a quiet position overlooking town another awesome place to stay is Guesthouse Lanchvali. In between the two but still overlooking the town, is a beautiful mix of boutique hotel & guesthouse, Hotel Old House Mestia.

Alternatively, for those prepared to pay a bit more, an increasing number of full-service hotels like the modern Suntower Hotel provide all the comforts for a great stay in the region, but lack the heart, food & traditional experience of guesthouse stay. The most expensive place in Mestia, and some would argue, the best place to stay, is the 4-star Hotel Posta located in the centre of town close to all the action.

If travelling independently and without your own transport, guesthouses & hotels can assist with organising transport up to the ski area if they don't have their own shuttle service.

Search & book all Mestia accommodation.

For those with a rental car, an intriguing alternative to Mestia is the little village of Chvabiani to the east. Several magnificent guesthouses, some with their own stone towers, dot the quiet village. In good snow it is even possible to ski nearly all the way down to the village from the resort.

Search & book Chvabiani accommodation.

Nearby Ski Area

Right on the doorstep of Mestia, a small ski resort is set in amongst the forests called Hatsvali. There is accommodation at the mid-mountain ski lift base, but it too isolated to be of real appeal. The skiable vertical is around 500m on cold north-aspect terrain & is perfect for snowy blizzard days. The locals may discourage you from going to Hatsvali, don't listen to them. It is great fun in fresh snow. it also has a new gondola serving the ski terrain.

See the Hatsvali ski trail map.

Review

The Powderhounds visited Tetnuldi in early February and can attest to its fantastic inbounds & outbounds skiing potential. If you want to go, take a great value trip with our tour partners from the listings below. Click on the review link in the left column (or top of the page if on a mobile) to read all the reviews.

See how the European ski resorts compare on the Europe ski resort ratings page.

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