Caucasian Ski Slopes - Silk Road Adventures Uncovers Georgia Skiing
Silk Road Adventures have announced a new fully-guided 2020 tour to Georgia which combines winter sports in the High Caucasus with wine tasting in the Kakheti wine region.
Based in the Gudauri ski resort, deep in the Caucasus Range, the seven-day Georgia Winter Sports and Wine tour provides an alternative to the overcrowded Alpine pistes, with its 80km of slopes, the biggest ski lift network in Georgia, and spectacular views over Russia and Chechnya at almost 3,300m in altitude. Those accustomed to French raclette and Swiss fondue as part of their après ski can instead look forward to hearty Georgian meals, with dumplings and loaves filled with melted cheese, before unwinding in a soothing Russian steam bath. Advanced skiers can further enhance the itinerary with a heli-skiing trip or snow mobile tour for off-piste rides in remote areas of the mountain range with deep powder snow. The tour also includes a daytrip to the fertile eastern region of Kakheti, featuring visits to one of Georgia’s oldest and biggest wine producers as well as a smaller wine cellar which still employs an ancient technique using huge clay amphoras, before enjoying a typical banquet in the charming town of Telavi.
They say: "This unique, fully-guided trip to Georgia combines an invigorating dose of skiing (or snowboarding) in the High Caucasus, with wine tasting in Kakheti. And if you really want to up the adrenaline levels, you can spend a day heli-skiing too.
"The Caucasus Range is a fantastic winter sports destination that’s refreshingly free of the crowds that plague many Alpine resorts. Lift waiting times are often just a few minutes and the slopes themselves are mostly empty – leaving you plenty of space to perfect your carving and shredding techniques.
"You’ll find that powder snow is better than in the Alps, and in general snow is more reliable due the the increased altitude (up to 3300 metres) so from late December to early March the conditions are usually perfect.
"Away from the slopes, you’ll be staying in cosy, family-run guesthouses, enjoying some uniquely Georgian apres ski, feasting on delicious Georgian food (Ottolenghi eat your heart out!), glugging local wines and having traditional Georgian banyas. And all this just a 4.5 hour flight from London.
"Each car is suitable for up to four persons and luggage, and although your guide can drive you if you’d prefer, you can choose to drive yourself whenever you like."
The newly announced seven-day tour has four departures between January and March 2020 with a maximum group size of eight people. The price includes all accommodation, all meals, wine tasting, rental of 4x4 car and driver/guide, transfers, ski equipment hire, lift passes and sauna. International return flights to Tbilisi are not included.
