⛷️ Ski Resorts of Svaneti: A Guide to Tetnuldi and Hatsvali

Svaneti, one of the highest and most scenic corners of Georgia, turns into a ski destination with a character all its own in winter. There's none of the crowding of the big Alpine resorts here, but there is abundant snow, long descents, huge freeride potential, and views of the Caucasus five-thousanders. All the region's winter resorts are gathered in the catalog on the Ski Resorts of Samegrelo and Upper Svaneti page.

Svaneti has two ski resorts: Tetnuldi and Hatsvali. Both are relatively young, and both are most convenient to explore from Mestia, the region's capital, where the lodging, equipment rentals and cafes are concentrated. Below we'll look at each in turn, and at the end suggest where to stay and how to plan the trip.

🏔️ Tetnuldi: Big Descents and Freeride

Tetnuldi is the largest ski resort in Svaneti and, by most accounts, the second-largest in Georgia after Gudauri. It opened relatively recently, in February 2016, and is named after the mighty Mount Tetnuldi, about 4,858 metres high. The resort sits roughly 15 km east of Mestia, on the mountain's slopes.

Tetnuldi's main draw is its scale and altitude. The runs are laid out between roughly 2,260 and 3,165 metres, and the longest descent stretches almost 9.5 km, one of the longest runs in the entire South Caucasus. The total length of prepared pistes is, by various accounts, around 14-30 km (sources vary), with a vertical drop of about 900 metres. Guests are carried up by modern chairlifts (POMA are named).

The runs are mainly for intermediate and advanced skiers, with blue, red and black pistes. But the main reason to come to Tetnuldi is the freeride: untouched snow, skiing in fir forests, couloirs, and open slopes beyond the pistes. That's exactly what experienced skiers and snowboarders love it for.

One important nuance: the resort itself has almost no lodging infrastructure, skiers stay in Mestia and travel up to the slopes by off-road vehicle or transfer. The road is tricky in places, and in heavy snowfall the resort can be temporarily closed, which is worth building into your plan.

🚡 Hatsvali: A Compact Resort With a Cable Car From Town

Hatsvali, the second resort in Svaneti, is much smaller and cosier than Tetnuldi, and its main advantage is its closeness to Mestia (about 8-10 km). Since 2017 a cable car has run straight from the town centre to the resort, so you can get up to the slopes without driving. That makes Hatsvali especially convenient for beginners, families, and those who came to Svaneti for more than just skiing.

Hatsvali's runs are laid out on the northwestern slopes of Mount Zuruldi, between roughly 1,868 and 2,348 metres. There aren't many (about five, with a total length of around 7-10 km by various accounts), the longest descent is about 3 km, and there are green, blue and red runs, so both beginners and confident skiers are covered. The vertical drop here is small, which makes Hatsvali calmer and friendlier than Tetnuldi.

A special attraction at Hatsvali is the panoramic Zuruldi cafe at the upper station (around 2,340 m), often called one of the highest restaurants in Georgia. Its terrace and glass walls open onto a view of the twin-headed Ushba and the glaciers of the Svan range. It's worth going up even in summer, for the views rather than the skiing: the cable car and cafe run in the warm season too.

Another Hatsvali option is heli-skiing: a helicopter drop onto untouched slopes, including toward the famous Mount Ushba. That's an activity for the prepared and not the cheapest, but it's exactly the kind of experience freeriders come to Svaneti from all over the world for.

⚖️ Which Resort to Choose

In short: Tetnuldi is for those who want long descents, serious skiing and freeride, and are ready to travel from Mestia. Hatsvali is for beginners, families, and those who value convenience (the cable car from town) and the views. Many people spend several days in Svaneti and manage to ski both.

🗓️ Season, Weather and Gear

The ski season in Svaneti runs roughly from December to April, and at high-altitude Tetnuldi it's usually longer. There's plenty of snow in the region, but mountain weather is changeable, and the resorts are sometimes closed because of blizzards or, conversely, a lack of snow early in the season. So there's an iron rule: check the weather forecast and the resorts' webcams before you head out, and for off-piste skiing bring avalanche gear and, if possible, a local guide, Svaneti's slopes are avalanche-prone.

Equipment can be rented, mostly in Mestia and at the base stations. Ski passes in Svaneti are inexpensive by European standards, but the actual prices change every season, so check on the spot.

🚗 How to Get to Svaneti

The main gateway to Svaneti is the town of Mestia, about 450-475 km from Tbilisi. You can get there by car or marshrutka (a long drive, via Zugdidi), or fly: small Vanilla Sky aircraft fly to Mestia from Tbilisi (Natakhtari) and Kutaisi, the fastest option. From Mestia to Hatsvali it's a cable car or a short drive; to Tetnuldi it's about an hour by off-road vehicle.

🧭 Where to Stay and Eat in Svaneti

Almost all the infrastructure is concentrated in Mestia: hotels, guesthouses, cafes, rentals. It's the convenient base for skiing both resorts. Below are handy catalog sections for Mestia and the region.

Leave a review on Madloba: tell us which Svaneti resort you skied, what the snow and weather were like, and what you'd advise first-timers. Your experience will help others plan their trip.

Information is current as of July 2026. Run parameters, lift operations, prices and seasonal dates change; before you travel, check the current information, weather and webcams on the resorts' official channels.

Read also

• Gudauri Ski Resort in Georgia: Slopes, Altitude and Prices
• Mestia in Svaneti: Towers, Icons and Hatsvali Ski Resort
• Western Georgia Ski Resorts: Khatsvali, Tetnuldi, Goderdzi