Georgia - Freeride skiing in southern Caucasus

Flights to purchase:

Return trip to Tbilisi (TBS) - Georgia. Flights cost around €400 roundtrip. Choose Turkish Airlines, which has the best timetables for this trip and, above all, doesn't normally charge for skis if you don't exceed 30 kg of baggage.

For reasons of price variations, this freeride - freerando ski trip to Georgia is sold without flights. However, we can reserve a plane ticket for you if you wish. Don't hesitate to contact us.

Don't buy flights for this trip until we've confirmed that departure is guaranteed.

Skill level 

For average skiers in all types of snow, who are comfortable on black runs and have already been out on the slopes a little. Short ski touring ascents possible, not exceeding 2h/day and requiring no prior mastery of ski touring techniques. Ideal transition for a good piste skier wanting to become a good freeride skier (off-piste).

Stamina level

Good physical condition 4/6 hours of skiing per day.

Be careful though, you're not playing in the skatepark near your house:

You're motivated, you want to make some good tracks, send some big stuff...No worries, but keep in mind that far-flung trips are in remote areas and that rescue is often long and much less well organized than in the Alps. So keep cool, slow down a bit to enjoy the area...and don't send a backflip without knowing what's behind it.

Good to know: if you don't have the level required, the guide may ask you to leave the group for your own safety, that of the group or the well-being of the group as a whole. If any doubt, please do not hesitate to ask us !

5 to 8 participants

Only skiers, sorry no splitboard accepted

AZIMUT mountain guide from France.

Local ski guide providing 2-day support for certain outings. He introduces us to his country, helps us find the best runs and liaises with the local teams. He also skis with us.

We work with a great team of guides. We choose them mainly for their friendliness, their teaching skills and their sense of organization. We listen carefully to our guides, move forward with them and make sure their working conditions and remuneration are the best they can be.

Meet our guides just around the corner.

Bring a small day pack large enough to carry your personal belongings for the day such as extra layers, goggles, a few snacks, your picnic and security equipment.

Considering the itinerary may be modified due to mountain and snow conditions, ski lift fares are not included in the price. They are at your own expense and are to be purchased on site in order to allow for flexibility. Hence in case of bad weather or snow conditions, we can easilier transfer to another spot and do our utmost to find the best conditions. 

You should budget approx € 120 for the entire trip.

The price includes

- Organization

- All local travel and transfers

- Overnight accommodation and breakfast in a shared double room in Tbilisi (2 nights + 1 day-use on arrival in Tbilisi)

- Half-board accommodation for 5 nights in Gudauri

- Training/revision in the use of safety equipment

- Supervision by 1 mountain guide, all expenses paid

- Assistance of a local guide (2 days)

- All guide expenses (accommodation, meals, travel, lifts)

- Loan of collective safety equipment (avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe)

- Airport-hotel transfers A and R 

- AZIMUT welcome pack

-Quality cereal bars 

The price does not include

- Return flights to Georgia

- Additional airfare for skis you rent

- lunches 

- Dinners in Tbilisi

- Extras in accommodation, personal expenses

- Ski lifts

- Your personal insurance, and anything else not included in the "price includes" section.

- Drinks (including those with meals at the hotel) and personal extras, and any other expenses not mentioned under the above section “the price includes”

A 30% deposit, as well as the insurance cost if you choose to subscribe the latter, is required to secure your booking. You will receive a reminder email 35 days prior to departure for the outstanding balance that is due latest 30 days prior to departure.

We strongly recommend you to be properly insured for the chosen activity. You should be covered for medical expenses, personal accident & liabilité, third party risks and rescue (helicopter), as well as trip cancellation or curtailment.

Repatriation and research insurance are mandatory when booking a trip with Azimut. We have a full range of insurances on offer to suit the trip you select and the risks that it may incur. 

Tipping is no obligation. However participants usually hand round an envelope for those who wish to tip the guide.

Local minibus and taxi.

Depending on the composition of the group, you may be with someone of the opposite sex.

- Accommodation in a shared double room with breakfast in Tbilisi (2 nights). 

- Accommodation in a double room to share on a half-board basis in Gudauri (5 nights). Bed linen and towels provided. Warm welcome.

- Lunches are free, leaving the group free to choose between different formulas or locations. 

-Snacks : details are important, especially after such demanding physical effort ! We've chosen to supply tasty, high-quality cereal bars.

The currency is the Lari (GEL). 1 Euro= 2.93 Lari. 

Credit cards are widely accepted, but cash is required in more rural areas.

Formalities - Visas - Vaccinations - Uses and customs

Passport valid 6 months after date of return for French, Belgian and Swiss citizens. For other nationalities, please contact your consulate or embassy. European Union citizens may also travel to Georgia with a national identity card.

French nationals are exempt from visa requirements for stays of 360 days or less in Georgia. If you are of another nationality, please check with your embassy.

Please note:

If you're traveling with your children, please note that minors of all ages are now required to have an individual passport.
Minors traveling alone do not need authorization to leave the country if they have an individual passport.

Telephone & WIFI & electricity
Telephone: The areas we visit in Georgia are generally well covered by telephone networks.

Wifi: Wifi is available in all the accommodations we visited. It normally works well, but there may be outages. 

Electricity: 220V, same plugs as in France.

Make sure you wear bright colours, it's good for the soul and gives photos a funky edge !

Technical equipment (all in excellent condition)

- Freeride skis (or freeride rando skis) with touring bindings, ski skins, ski poles, ski boots. We advise you to opt for freeride skis on order to make the most of powdery descents and skiing on all types of snow

- Padded ski bag for transporting your skis

- 2 long slings to possibly attach your skis on a taxi's roof top during a transfer from the airport to the hotel and back

- Backpack: capacity of 30 liters

- Avalanche kit: transceiver, shovel and probe (please let us know if you have your own, if not we lend them for free)

Security advice: avalanche airbag backpacks are strongly recommended for your safety and security.

They help to stay on the surface in case of avalanche and minimize the risk of burial. Our guides all use airbags. We highly recommend you to opt for high quality and reliable gear. If you don't have an avalanche airbag we rent them out at a very competitive price.

If you don't have the adequate equipment for the trip, don't worry and travel light: we rent out the required gear and hand it over at the start of the trip ! Our equipment is relatively new, if not new, of good quality and adapted to your choice of activity.

Prices of rental equipment during the entire trip (these competitive prices only take into account the number of days of the trip):

You can choose to rent equipment when booking your trip, or lateron by clicking on “my account”. If any of the equipment you've chosen is out of stock you'll be notified and reimbursed.

Clothes

This list of clothes is designed to give you an idea of clothes it may be a good to have with you. By no means do you need to have the latest brands or the latest gear, but if you need to renew your wardrobe, this guide would be a good start.

Headwear

- Warm hat or buff/scarf

- Ski goggles (2 pairs) and sunglasses: UV factory 4 protective lenses. Photochromic glasses adapt to light intensity and are very useful

- Helmet (strongly recommended)

Bodywear

 - Under layer: breathable long sleeved tops to maintain heat. A tip: merino wool is breathable and has anti-bacterial properties and is therefore less likely to smell as opposed to synthetic fabrics. Take this into consideration if you need to update your wardrobe.

- Middle layer: a light polar or synthetic jacket for an extra layer of heat during breaks

- Outer layer: a Gore-tex or similar type of jacket with a breathable waterproof membrane. Make sure it's lightweight and compact so it doesn't take up too much space in your backpack

- Bottom layer: trousers with a breathable waterproof membrane (Gore Tex or similar) with long side zips allowing air to flow, recommended on climbs

- Hands: light fleece or soft shell gloves, a pair of silk glove liners to go underneath, warm gloves with a breathable and waterproof membrane. Mittens are always a good idea for really cold days of for those of you who feel the cold !

- Swimming gear: it takes up such little space, it would be a shame not to bring it just in case. Avoid swimming shorts or bermudas, they are not usually allowed.

Footwear

- Ski socks: merino wool socks are breathable and have anti-bacterial properties and are less likely to smell as opposed to those made of synthetic fabrics. Think about them if you need to stock up.

- Slippers recommended for evening wear. Try charentaises they're really comfortable !  

Odds & ends

• a 1 litre flask (Thermos or Camelback)
• a pocket knife
• duck tape
• factor 50 sun cream
• a duffle bag holding up to 90 litres to leave at the hotel or in the vehicle. No suitcases.

Toiletries and first aid kit

- Personal toilet bag

- To make up a first aid kit, please find all relevant information on the Ifremmont website. 

Our guides use the following brands for their gear and you'll have the opportunity to test them during the trip:

• SCOTT
• Arva
• Fitschi swiss bindings

Don't forget to

- Leave contact details with your friends and family

- Bring your papers and I.D. (passport and visa if necessary)

- Bring your contract number and documents related to your insurance (if you've chosen not to have insure coverage with us)

- Bring your “carte vitale” and your European health card (EU member states) - if you don't have one you can order one for free online  www.ameli.fr

- Check that you have the right equipment

- Take spare batteries and a charger for your electronic devices (camera, video recorder, tracking devices etc)

- Bring some cash and your credit card

- Bring a delicacy from your home country or area to share with the group

- Leave in a good frame of mind: we're going to have a great time even if we may not happen to not make it to the summit !

- Before leaving: water the plants, empty the rubbish bin, turn off the water and gas, and tell your partner that you're going to have a good time (not by text message), that you well deserved... If you don't follow the latter recommendation, you'll most probably kick yourself when you get back !

See you on the slopes !

Have great runs with AZIMUT !