Georgia Freeride
16-23 FEB 2025
Overview
Freeride tour in one of the most untouched and beautiful parts of Georgia, in Mestia, where we'll carve our way through big mountain terrain while being surrounded by rugged peaks over 5000 meters at Tetnuldi Ski Resort. In the midst of snowstorms, the forests of Hatsvali will provide us with shelter. We will be using ski lifts and ski touring equipment alike to explore a variety of terrain, seeking out the best snow conditions and powder possible.
Duration
8 days / 7 nights*
Meeting point
Kutaisi Airport, Georgia
Location
Mestia, Georgia
Accommodation
7 nights in a good-quality, cozy, well-located guest house, 2-3 beds per room, breakfast included
Snow Package
6-day ski pass and guided freeride tour for a minimum of 5 days; every day, we'll enjoy off-road transfers from the village to the ski resort for that day
Price
€ 1 690
*The duration of the trip lasts from meeting at Kutaisi Airport (KUT), Georgia until the departure home from the same place.
Description
THE WILD SLOPES OF TETNULDI AND THE UNTOUCHED FORESTS OF HATSVALI
Georgia has been on the world freeride map for a few years now, and everything is slowly coming together for us to try this exotic destination. In the past, we had received some confusing and misleading opinions, mainly from the main ski resort of Gudauri, but there is another, more exciting region called Svaneti, on the southern side of the Greater Caucasus, close to the Black Sea and Elbrus. This is where we are headed.
Our destination is Mestia, where real estate and lift developments are not happening at a crazy pace, the terrain and nature are wilder, and the environment is more authentic. Beyond these undeniable advantages for us, we are extremely fortunate that our good friend and professional tour guide, Charlie, has been here more than ten times already.
SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT YOU ARE USED TO
Charlie’s message to the team: „When I first came here, both resorts were operating with just one lift each. Since then, a few more lifts and some really good restaurants have opened, but the atmosphere of the place hasn’t changed at all. Fortunately, the lodges here don’t play annoying music, and the food is traditionally handcrafted. Of course, you have to slow down a bit to enjoy all of this. It’s incredibly chilled, a true ‘This is Georgia’ experience, and the best of the Caucasus, Svaneti.”
With the help of him and his local tour guide friends, we can be sure that they will make the most of the terrain, whether it’s ski touring or splitboarding, using lifts, off-road vehicles, snowcats, and if the situation demands, optionally even helicopters.
Our base, the city of Mestia in the Caucasus Valley
Just a few more meters to the finish line
Morning briefing before the big trek
Risky business
The breathtaking landscapes of the Caucasus amaze everyone
The return transfer has arrived, is it okay if it's a snowcat?
The first lines down the valley
This is what a happy freerider looks like after a long line
Our local guides are ready for the next day
If you were to buy a new set at the local boutique…
The local grocery store offers a wide variety of things
Our accommodation is one of the coziest guesthouses in town
Details
GEORGIA FREERIDE SKI AND SNOWBOARD CAMP
16-23 FEB 2025
The duration of the trip lasts from meeting at Kutaisi Airport (KUT), Georgia until the departure home from the same place. The way there and back might take an extra day, depending on where you are traveling from.
FOR
€ 1 690
FREERIDERS
Included in the price
- Accommodation for 7 nights with a hearty breakfast
- 6-day ski pass and off-road transfers to the ski resorts
- Airport transfers between Kutaisi and Mestia
- Daily freeride guiding for a minimum of 5 days
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
- Optional heli-skiing and cat-skiing
- Equipment rental (splitboard / ski touring strongly advised)
- For an administrative fee of € 50, the GoBeyond team can handle your flight tickets and insurance
FURTHER EXPENSES
- International flight to Kutaisi and back
- Travel insurance (for freeriding)
- Lunches and dinners
- Personal expenses
ACCOMMODATION
Our base is a truly authentic, high-quality guesthouse located in Mestia. It offers a comfortable and cozy atmosphere with 2-3 beds per room, accompanied by breakfast.
SNOW PACKAGE
6-day ski pass, 5-day freeride guiding, and extensive local knowledge from both GoBeyond experts and local guides. Our captain is Charlie, who has been here over 10 times. Teams are formed according to freeride skill level.
WEATHER
Mountain weather, sunshine, snow, temperatures between -15°C and +5°C.
ACTIVITIES AND SIGHTS
In addition to the superb freeride experience, we’ll explore the village’s best restaurants and mingle with the international freeride community in authentic bars.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
You need insurance that covers off-piste skiing. Get in touch with us, and we’d be happy to help you find the best option for you.
MEALS
In addition to the delicious traditional continental breakfast included in the price, we will also visit several exciting local restaurants to taste the region’s specialties.
SNOW CONDITIONS
In good weather, we’ll aim for high mountain runs, and during snowfall, we’ll take advantage of the untouched forests of Hatsvali.
GROUP
Maximum of 14 people. For freeriding we will have 2 groups based on skill level.
PHOTO & VIDEO
All the photos and videos you see are from our previous camps. We produce high-quality content for all our camps, which you will receive after returning home to remember all the amazing memories.
PERSONAL EXPENSES
Depending on your spending habits, your budget for the trip should range from 300 to 600 EUR. For reference, a meal is between 5 and 25 EUR.
Program
Day 1 - Arrival
Arrival at Kutaisi Airport, where we'll board transfers and head up into the mountains to Mestia. After settling into our accommodations, we'll have a welcome dinner at one of the local restaurants in town.
DAY 2 - SHORT AVALANCHE TRAINING AND GROUP FORMATION
After a hearty breakfast, the team will take part in a short but informative avalanche awareness training, and then we will split the team into groups according to skill level. After a short introduction and preparation, we are on our way to the mountains! Depending on the weather that day, we'll either head for the high mountains or the forest runs!
DAY 3-7 CONQUERING THE PASSES
The following days will be spent exploring exciting lines and seeking out thrilling descents. Our aim for everyone is to push their limits and bring out their best, so that upon returning home, you'll have gained a lifelong experience and truly felt the essence of high mountain life in Georgia. After active days, we'll enjoy easy evenings with delicious food and drinks.
DAY 8 - A TEARFUL FAREWELL TO THE PEAKS OF THE CAUCASUS
After breakfast, the transfers will arrive to take us back to Kutaisi, where we'll bid a tearful farewell until the next GoBeyond trip!
The program is subject to change at any times. The final itinerary depends on current weather and snow conditions, the group’s skiing/snowboarding skills and stamina.
Application
1
ENQUIRY
Call us, email us or use the form below
2
AVAILABILITY CONFIRMATION
We will get back to you within 48h
3
BOOKING
Secure your spot with a deposit & travel contract
4
PLANE TICKETS & VISA ARRANGEMENT IF NEEDED
Typically 1-2 months before departure
5
SECOND INSTALMENT
30 days before departure
6
GOBEYOND ADVENTURE STARTS
We greet you at the meeting point
Get in touch with us
Phone: +43 660 552 2466 | Email: hello@gobeyond.travel
Georgia Freeride
Q&A
Not at all. There are always people who come alone, so you can be sure you'll make new friends! The hotel has rooms with 2-3 beds; if you don't want to be paired with one of your super-friendly group mates, you can ask for a single-bed room for an additional fee; please request this in the application form.
If you ride with confidence on stronger red slopes and you feel like going off-piste, then this is your camp! There will be more guides, and groups will be divided according to different skill levels, so you don't need to be worried about waiting for others or others waiting for you.
We will stay on a high mountain in the winter. Be prepared for everything between -25 and +10 degrees, from snowstorms with strong winds to clear, sunny, and mild weather. Lots of layers are always better than a super-warm down jacket.
The daily freeride tours are led by local guides and our friend Charlie.
Ski or snowboard equipment and appropriate ski clothing, preferably suitable for off-piste skiing, and a basic avalanche safety kit (transceiver, probe, shovel). Equipment rental is solvable; let us know if you need any help in advance.
Other than dinners, there aren't many opportunities to spend money. You can make the most out of 200 euros, but if you'd like to savor the excellent local food with the best drinks, then we suggest a maximum of 600 euros to spend. The eventual heli-skiing cost is about 500Euros/day.
You should choose insurance that extends to going off-piste. You should be aware that the blue EU health insurance card and the insurance on your bank card are not valid in most cases.
We're staying in Georgia the whole time, in a region called Svaneti, on the southern side of the Greater Caucasus, near the Black Sea and Mount Elbrus.
In the morning, you’ll get a buffet breakfast, from which you can take some sandwiches for the day. In the city, there are a few exciting local restaurants, and we visit one of them every evening. The Georgian food is very varied and tasty, with lots of vegetables and meat, and the restaurants provide excellent value for money.
CHECK MORE SNOW TRIPS
It is safe to say that GoBeyond was created because the founder is a fanatic freerider, and he had not found any organized ski trips that lived up to his expectations - to score untracked powder on a great terrain, regardless of how far we have to travel to find it.
Although we like infrastructure, we are not afraid to climb for a good ride off-piste.
When we go on a ski trip, we like to indulge in the culinary and wellness options of the given country.
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