Georgia cat skiing
Our favourite place to ski in the world!
The region of Western Georgia near the Black Sea is highly reliable for snow, with the ski season lasting from November to March-April. The average snowfall is on par with the best locations in Japan. This is due to the same weather phenomenon as in Japan; the ski area is only about 50-60 km from the Black Sea coast, and in winter, cold air masses arriving from the north gather moisture as they move over the Black Sea, which eventually falls as snow on the Georgian mountains. The village of Bakhmaro is located at an altitude of about 2000 meters and is worth seeing in itself. During the summer season, the village can host over 20,000 Georgians on their summer holidays. However, in winter, apart from a few dozen skiers, the village is almost deserted. In recent winters, perhaps about 20-50 people have lived in the village, but previously (before the start of cat skiing tourism), no one lived there in winter. Most of the houses in the village look as if they won't survive the next heavy snowfall; these shacks would hardly even be called houses in most European countries.
Your guides
Pette Halme & Krister Jonsson
The main guides are Pette Halme, Krister Jonsson, and local professional mountain guides, with additional support from local ski guides.
Pette Halme & Krister Jonsson
The main guides are Pette Halme, Krister Jonsson, and local professional mountain guides, with additional support from local ski guides.
Georgia cat skiing
Program of the week
6/7 nights will be spent in the small but cozy Pioneers or Riders lodge in the village of Bakhmaro, just under two kilometers above sea level. The program includes six guided skiing days, with most ascents assisted by snowcats. Powder skiing will take place in the forests surrounding the village and in the alpine areas higher up. In normal snow conditions, we can also ski several hundred vertical meters below the village level. The group size is a maximum of 12 skiers, with two guides and a local snowcat driver. Lumiversum will have three groups of around 10 people each in Bakhmaro at the same time. The main guides are Pette Halme, Swedish UIAGM guide Krister Jonsson, and a local professional mountain guide, with additional support from local ski guides working as tail guides.
Flights and ground transport
We arrive by plane in Batumi or Kutaisi. From there, we continue the journey by minibus for 2 or 3 hours and finally, after a 1.5-hour snowcat ride, we reach the small village of Bakhmaro in the middle of the Lesser Caucasus mountains. Bakhmaro is primarily inhabited only during the summer because the enormous winter snowfall closes the roads, making living in the village difficult. This, in turn, makes Bakhmaro a dream destination for every freerider.
Passport and visa
Finnish citizens do not need a visa for trips to Georgia. If you are citizen of some other country, please check the requirements for your country in the local Japanese embassy or consulate.
Difficulty level
You can ski in varying snow and terrain conditions, including (very) deep snow outside of groomed slopes.
Equipment
- We recommend bringing equipment that allows for ascents using your own muscle power (skins, snowshoes, or splitboards). Occasionally, we may need to ascend short distances if the snowcat cannot reach the starting point for some reason. However, bringing this equipment is not mandatory, and it can be rented on-site if necessary.
- Avalanche safety equipment
- Off-piste/freeride insurance
Price
Price includes
- Airport transfers
- 6 or 7 nights' accommodation in Pioneer Hotel in Bakhmaro village with full board (breakfast, packed lunch, & dinner)
- 6 days of cat skiing with 2 guides for a group of 8-12 clients
- Avalanche safety day in Helsinki in fall 2024
- Carbon footprint compensation fee
Price excludes
- Alcoholic beverages at the hotel
- Flights, which cost approximately 550 euros
Accommodation
Our accommodation in Bakhmaro is a small but very cozy lodge-style hotel, either Pioneers or Riders (another similar building completed in winter '24). Built a couple of years ago, the hotel is by far the best accommodation option in Bakhmaro, and really the only one that meets Western standards. The hotel is located in the center of the village, with snowcats starting directly from the front of the hotel every morning. The distance from the hotel to the snowcat seat is about 8 meters. At Pioneers Lodge, we have double or triple rooms, each with its own bathroom. The hotel also features a sauna and an outdoor hot tub. Georgian food is excellent, and the staff at our Pioneers hotel ensures that every evening the food is delicious and plentiful.