- Svaneti has two state-run ski areas near Mestia: Hatsvali, a lift ride from town, and the Tetnuldi ski resort, ~15 km away by road.
- Tetnuldi has five lifts reaching 3,160 m and about 13 to 14 km of runs. Hatsvali has four lifts and about 5.5 to 7 km of runs.
- The season tends to start in mid or late December and end in late March (Hatsvali) or early April (Tetnuldi). No 2026/27 dates were out on 27 October 2026.
- Both areas take the state Multicard. A 7- or 10-day MultiSki pass adds the other three state resorts.
- Mestia is 8 to 9 hours by road from Tbilisi. Off-piste skiing needs a professional guide, and your compulsory travel insurance should cover skiing.
Skiing in Svaneti means two quiet ski areas above Mestia, the stone-tower town of Upper Svaneti. The Tetnuldi ski resort is the big one: five lifts climb to 3,160 m, and the main run is about 9.5 km long. Hatsvali is the small home hill, and a lift climbs to it from the edge of town. The season runs roughly from late December into late March or early April. Getting there takes a long day by road or a short flight that depends on the weather, so plan four or five nights at least.
Our Tetnuldi and Hatsvali place pages give the short version, and this guide is the full one. It goes lift by lift through both areas, then covers runs by level, the season, passes, the winter road, hire, safety and a day off the slopes. Our sources are the lift operator, the Mountain Trails Agency (MTA), Georgia's tourism administration and the Svaneti tourism office (DMO). We checked them on 27 October 2026, before MTA had put out 2026/27 dates or prices.
Tetnuldi ski resort and Hatsvali at a glance
Both areas belong to the state Mountain Trails Agency, which also runs Gudauri, Bakuriani and Goderdzi. MTA sells them as one resort called Mestia, so many of its figures lump the two together. In fact they lie on opposite sides of town, and no lift links them. Hatsvali sits on the Zuruldi ridge just south of Mestia. Tetnuldi lies to the east, up the Mulkhura valley, under the snow pyramid of Mount Tetnuldi (4,858 m).
| Item | Hatsvali | Tetnuldi |
|---|---|---|
| From Mestia | ~8 km by paved road, or a lift from the edge of town | ~15 km by road, 40 minutes to 1 hour; a 4x4 in snow |
| Lift altitudes | 1,868 m to 2,348 m, plus the lift up from town at ~1,430 m | ~2,265 m to 3,160 m |
| Vertical | ~480 m on the slopes; ~920 m from town to the top | ~900 m |
| Marked runs | 5 to 7 runs, about 5.5 to 7 km in all | Nine runs, about 13 to 14 km in all; main run ~9.5 km |
| Lifts | 4: two main lifts and two drag lifts for learners | 5: four chairlifts and one platter lift |
| Season 2025/26 | 27 Dec 2025 to 29 Mar 2026 | Late Dec 2025, in stages, to 9 Apr 2026 |
| Lift hours 2025/26 | About 10:00 to 16:00 (17:00 in MTA's December notice) | 10:00 to 16:00 |
| Best for | Beginners, families, half days, snowy days in the trees | Intermediates, long cruising runs, guided freeride |
| Watch for | Small area with few long runs | Wind on the top lifts; a 4x4 ride each way |
Why the totals do not add up
MTA's own total for Mestia, both areas combined, is 37 km of trails on 14 lifts. Count the lifts in the tables below, though, and you get nine. The tourism administration's run lengths add up to about half of MTA's total too. We use the figures for each area, which match the lift tables. MTA has not said what its 37 km counts.
Svaneti or Gudauri?
Gudauri is far bigger and much closer to Tbilisi, at roughly two and a half hours by road. Svaneti trades size for empty slopes and a medieval town after skiing. If time is short, our private Ski Week in Gudauri is the easier choice.
Tetnuldi lifts and the Tetnuldi piste map
Tetnuldi opened for the 2015/16 winter, with lifts built by the French firm Poma. Heights and ride times below come from the DMO's lift table, which exists only in Georgian. MTA does not list lift types, so those come from skiresort.info, an independent lift database.
| Lift | Type | Bottom | Top | Vertical | Ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chvabiani | Six-seat fast chair with covers | 2,265 m | 2,685 m | ~420 m | ~10 min |
| Jumber Kakhiani | Four-seat fixed chair | 2,339 m | 2,690 m | ~350 m | ~15 min |
| Ioseb Kakhiani | Platter (drag) lift | 2,533 m | 2,680 m | ~150 m | ~12 min |
| Goji Zurebiani | Six-seat fast chair with covers | 2,685 m | 3,040 m | ~355 m | ~15 min |
| Boris Kakhiani | Four-seat fixed chair | 3,040 m | 3,160 m | ~120 m | ~8 min |
The quickest way to the top is Chvabiani, then Goji Zurebiani, then Boris Kakhiani: about 33 minutes on the lifts before any queue. When strong wind stops the top two lifts, the lower half usually keeps going. Early in the season expect only part of the mountain.
Where to find the Tetnuldi piste map
MTA posts the official winter maps for both areas on its lift-status site, status.mta.ski/en, with open lifts and pass prices. The site goes offline between seasons and was still down on 27 October 2026. The DMO's ski-lifts page at svaneti.org/ka/ski-lifts shows an older copy of the resort's map. Ask at the ticket office for the current map.
Hatsvali piste map and the Mestia ski lifts
You can reach Hatsvali without a car. The first lift leaves the edge of Mestia at ~1,430 m and rises to 1,868 m, where the Hatsvali slopes begin. A second lift goes on to the top of Mount Zuruldi at 2,348 m. Two short drag lifts serve the learners' slope near the base. Even the names differ between sources, so the table gives both.
| Lift | Also called | Type | Bottom | Top | Ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hatsvali lift, from Mestia | Mestia lift (DMO) | Chairlift | 1,428 m (MTA map); 1,460 m (DMO) | 1,868 m (MTA map); 1,880 m (DMO) | ~10 min |
| Zuruldi lift | Hatsvali lift (DMO) | Gondola on the MTA map; chairlift per the DMO | 1,868 m; 1,850 m (DMO) | 2,348 m; 2,350 m (DMO) | ~5 min |
| Slalom | Slalomi (tourism administration) | Drag (platter) lift | ~1,900 m | Not published | Short |
| Beginner | None found | Drag (platter) lift | ~1,900 m | Not published | Short |
Riding both main lifts takes about 15 minutes from town to the top. Ask for Zuruldi when you mean the top, where a cafe looks across to Ushba.
The Hatsvali piste map and its runs
MTA's Hatsvali map sits on the same status site. The last version we could read, from 2025/26, named seven runs. Two are beginner trails by the base, Slalom is blue and Tezo is red. Zuruldi, Givi and a second Tezo run are black, all from the Zuruldi top. The DMO's older map also marks a floodlit run, and the DMO says night skiing runs on some evenings when snow and weather allow.
Skiing in Svaneti by level: which runs suit you
- First days on skis: start on the beginner trails and drag lifts at the Hatsvali base. The tourism administration puts the easiest run at about 500 m, with a training area for ski schools beside it.
- Improving beginners: move on to the blue Slalom and the ~600 m intermediate run at Hatsvali. Save Tetnuldi for when you can turn and stop on a red, because its runs are long and high.
- Intermediates: Tetnuldi is your mountain. Most of it is blue and red, and the tourism administration calls its ~9.5 km main run the longest in the South Caucasus.
- Experts: the black runs off Zuruldi are short but steep, and the trees beside them hold snow in a storm. Tetnuldi's big open faces are freeride ground, which you may only ski with a professional guide.
- Snowboarders: chairlifts serve most of Tetnuldi, but Hatsvali's drag lifts are tiring on a board.
Mestia in winter: ski season dates, lift hours and snow
MTA names opening day only a few days ahead, and as of 27 October 2026 there was no word on 2026/27. Ski-data websites show 23 or 26 December 2026, but those are forecasts. In recent winters the Mestia lifts started in mid or late December. So plan your first ski day for the last week of December at the earliest.
| Season | Opened | Closed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 20 Dec 2023 | Not found | Only two Tetnuldi lifts at first |
| 2024/25 | 21 Dec 2024 | Not found | Hatsvali and Zuruldi lifts; Chvabiani and Jumber Kakhiani at Tetnuldi |
| 2025/26 | 27 Dec 2025, with the Zuruldi lift | Hatsvali 29 Mar; Tetnuldi 9 Apr 2026 | Runs opened step by step as snow allowed |
| 2026/27 | Not announced (27 Oct 2026) | Not announced | Watch mta.ski and MTA Mestia's Facebook page from late November |
Last winter MTA's January FAQ gave 10:00 to 16:00 for both areas. Its December opening notice had Hatsvali open until 17:00, so ask on the day. Sales end half an hour before the lifts stop. Days are short in midwinter, with sunset at about 17:35 in December and just before 18:00 in January.
Mestia lies at ~1,500 m. January days there average about 0 °C, and nights drop to about -7 °C, with far colder air at Tetnuldi's top. Snow is usually most reliable from mid-January to early March. Monthly figures are on our Mestia weather page.
Crowds, holidays and the Freeride World Tour week
Mestia never gets as busy as Gudauri. The fullest weeks run from New Year to Orthodox Christmas (7 January), plus the days around Lamproba, the Svan torch festival in mid-February. Since 2024 the Freeride World Tour has also come to Tetnuldi each winter in late February, from 21 to 28 February in 2026. Rooms fill that week. No 2027 dates were out in October 2026.
Lift passes in Mestia: the Multicard and one card for four resorts
MTA loads every lift pass onto a plastic Multicard. You pay about 5 GEL (about $2) for it, which is refundable, and you can top it up in later winters. It works at Gudauri, Bakuriani and Goderdzi too. Bring the card itself to the gate, because a QR code on your phone will not open it.
- Prices: MTA had not put out its 2026/27 tariff by 27 October 2026. For 2025/26, two travel guides reported an adult day pass for Mestia of about 50 GEL (about $19), good at both Hatsvali and Tetnuldi. MTA's own price list sits on status.mta.ski/en, which was offline.
- Children: under-6s ski free. Children from 6 through 12 get a child price, and 13- to 18-year-olds a junior price.
- Several resorts: buy a MultiSki pass for 7 or 10 days and ski any mix of the four MTA resorts. The days need not run in a row.
- Night skiing: a day pass does not include it. Buy the separate night ticket, or hold a season pass.
- Where to buy: at the ticket offices in both Mestia areas. Online sellers are Biletebi.ge, Super App, TKT.GE and the SKIPASS.GE app, but in January 2026 Mestia passes were briefly off sale online.
- Rules: passes cannot be refunded or shared. Lose a personal pass and you must tell a ticket office within 24 hours to get it back.
Getting to Mestia in winter, and from Mestia to the slopes
Every road to Mestia climbs the Enguri gorge, ~135 km from Zugdidi. The road is paved and kept open all winter, but snow, ice and rockfall can slow it badly. The tourism administration advises a high-clearance car in winter. On listed mountain roads, the law also requires snowflake-marked winter tyres from 1 December until 1 March, and police can order chains.
| Option | Time | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private transfer from Kutaisi | 4.5 to 5 h for ~240 km | Ski bags, families, Kutaisi airport arrivals | Add time after fresh snow |
| Private transfer from Tbilisi | 8 to 9 h for ~460 km | Stops at Martvili, Zugdidi or the Enguri dam | Best split over two days |
| Train and minibus | ~6 h by train to Zugdidi, then 3 to 4 h by minibus | Low budgets | One morning train; minibuses fill fast |
| Direct minibus from Kutaisi | 5 to 6 h | Low budgets | One a day at about 10:00 in the 2026 timetable; check it runs in winter |
| Flight from Natakhtari | About 1 h | Saving a day | Cloud cancels flights; 15 kg bag limit |
Flights to Mestia
Light aircraft link Natakhtari airfield, about half an hour north of Tbilisi, with Mestia several days a week. A one-way seat cost about 90 GEL (about $33) in 2026. Each person could take 15 kg, hand luggage included, so hire skis in Mestia. Cloud grounds many winter flights. Have a road transfer ready as plan B, and never fly out of Mestia the day before your flight home.
From Mestia to Hatsvali and Tetnuldi
For Hatsvali you need no car. Ride the lift from the edge of town, or drive the ~8 km paved road to the base. Tetnuldi is ~15 km east, 40 minutes to an hour away, and in snow you need a 4x4. In season, local drivers run shared jeeps and vans from central Mestia each morning and bring skiers back after the lifts close. There is no timetable, so agree the time and fare the evening before.
Where to stay in Mestia for skiing
Sleep in Mestia itself, a walk from the Hatsvali lift and where the morning jeeps to Tetnuldi start. Each ski area has only a small hotel or two, and they fill early. Family guesthouses are the classic choice, most with breakfast and dinner of Svan dishes. Ask for a warm room and a place to dry boots. Areas and our picks are in our where to stay in Mestia guide.
Ski hire, lessons and ski schools in Mestia
Hire shops work in Mestia and near the Hatsvali lifts, with a smaller choice than in Gudauri. Instructors teach at the training area beside the Hatsvali beginner run. Instructors who teach in English get booked up from New Year to Orthodox Christmas, so book lessons when you book your room.
- Hire through us: ski or snowboard sets cost about 43 to 54 GEL (about $16 to $20) a day in 2026, less the longer you rent, and are sized before you arrive. A jacket, trousers, helmet and goggles add about 27 to 38 GEL (about $10 to $14) a day.
- Helmets: wear one, and make sure every child has one. Shops rent them.
Freeride, avalanche safety and insurance in Svaneti
Strong skiers come for the snow beyond the markers. The rules are strict. You may ski off-piste only with a professional guide, and you must carry avalanche gear. Rescue teams at both areas watch the avalanche risk and close runs when it is too high.
- Hire a qualified mountain guide, and ask to see the certificate.
- Carry a transceiver, probe and shovel, and practise with them before you need them.
- Ask your guide which avalanche forecast covers Svaneti that week, and follow what the ski patrol says.
- In an emergency, call 112.
Mestia in winter off the slopes: towers, museums, snowshoes and Ushguli
Keep one day free of skis. The weather will probably take one anyway.
- Svaneti Museum: icons, old manuscripts and the Adishi Gospels in a building rebuilt in 2013. It opens Tuesday to Sunday, usually 10:00 to 18:00, and adults paid about 10 GEL (about $4) in 2026.
- Tower houses: climb inside a Margiani family tower on Lanchvali Street, one of four the family still has.
- Mikheil Khergiani's house: a small museum to the Svan climber who died in a climbing accident in Italy in 1969.
- Zuruldi by lift: non-skiers can ride both lifts to the cafe at 2,348 m for the view of Ushba and Tetnuldi.
- Snowshoes: with a guide, walk forest tracks near Mestia, or the Zuruldi ridge when the snow is stable.
- Svan food: meat-filled kubdari and cheesy tashmijabi taste best after a cold day outdoors.
- Lamproba: in mid-February, often on 14 February, Svan families light birch torches for their dead and carry them to the church. The 2027 date was not confirmed in October 2026.
Ushguli in the snow
Ushguli lies ~45 km beyond Mestia at about 2,100 m, with Lamaria church and its towers below Shkhara (5,193 m). The road stays open in winter, but from December to March cars often need chains. Rockfall and avalanche danger can shut the Kala to Ushguli stretch for hours or days, and in February 2026 it stayed shut for 13 days. Hire a local driver with a 4x4, and check our road status page that morning. Rental firms often bar their cars from this road.
Three nights in Mestia and a day in Ushguli are part of our Grand Tour with Svaneti. It is built for summer. Like every trip we run, it is private, has no group-size limit and starts on any date that suits you. Ask us to swap its walks for ski days. The tour page lists what is included.
Skiing in Svaneti: FAQ
Is Tetnuldi ski resort good for beginners?
Only in part. Its runs are long and high, and wind can make the top icy. Learn at Hatsvali, with its beginner trails and training area. Move to Tetnuldi once you can ski a red run in control.
How do you get from Mestia to Tetnuldi?
Drive ~15 km east of town, which takes 40 minutes to an hour. Snow makes a 4x4 essential. Shared jeeps leave central Mestia each morning in the ski season and return once the lifts stop.
Where can I find the Tetnuldi piste map?
MTA posts the official Tetnuldi and Hatsvali maps on status.mta.ski/en during the season. An older resort map is on the Svaneti DMO's ski-lifts page.
How many lifts does Tetnuldi have?
Five: Chvabiani, Jumber Kakhiani, Ioseb Kakhiani, Goji Zurebiani and Boris Kakhiani. Four are chairlifts and one is a platter lift. They climb from ~2,265 m to 3,160 m, and the ride from the base to the top takes about half an hour.
When does the ski season in Mestia start in 2026/27?
MTA had not announced it by 27 October 2026. Last winter the lifts started on 27 December 2025. The two winters before began on 21 December 2024 and 20 December 2023, and each date came out only days ahead. Last winter Hatsvali closed on 29 March and Tetnuldi on 9 April 2026.
Does one ski pass cover Hatsvali, Tetnuldi and Gudauri?
Mestia passes go on the MTA Multicard and cover both Hatsvali and Tetnuldi. To add Gudauri, Bakuriani or Goderdzi, buy a MultiSki pass of 7 or 10 days and use them at any time before the season ends. Shorter passes seem to be sold for one resort, so ask at the desk.
Can you fly to Mestia with skis?
Usually not. The small planes from Natakhtari allowed 15 kg per person in 2026, hand luggage included. Fly light and hire skis in Mestia, or come by road with your gear.
Is Mestia worth visiting in winter?
Yes, if you have time. Snow on the towers, quiet runs, Svan food and the Lamproba torches make it special. Plan five nights or more, because travel and weather eat days.
