SVANETI, GEORGIA

THE BACKSTORY

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Tyler Reid has been fascinated with the Caucasus Mountains for many years. Between 2016 and 2019 he guided three expeditions to the Russian side of this range to ski Mt. Elbrus (one of the Seven Summits). Elbrus is a relatively nondescript stratovolcano with broad flanks – not particularly interesting as far as terrain goes. Looking south across the border from Elbrus, you see a range that is the polar opposite: jagged, glaciated, featured mountains – etched with ski lines. Like looking over at the Swiss Alps from the Muir snowfield. The dream of guiding in the Georgian Caucasus came true in February 2025 – an experience every bit as cool as Tyler imagined, shared with longtime repeat guests.

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THE PLACE

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Like every great international ski adventure, Georgia is not just about mountains and snow. This former Soviet republic is filled with incredible culture and history. The Svan people are an ethnic subgroup of Georgians, mostly living in the mountainous region of Svaneti. Svan towers built of stone dot the medieval villages – built for defense over 1000 years ago, attached to family dwellings, with origins that are likely prehistoric.

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Skiing-based tourism in Svaneti has grown significantly in the last decade. A relatively new ski area, Tetnuldi, is now a stop on the Freeride World Tour.​ These mountains are high in terms of both elevation and vertical relief, although the best skiing terrain exists at reasonable altitudes of sub-10,000'. ​​Snow conditions come into optimal alignment for ski touring in February and March, as the faucet turns back on, and longer days bring warmer temps and stability to the snowpack.

Georgian food is one of the world's hidden gems – a mix of regional influences with stone oven breads like khachapuri, local wines, cheeses, dumplings (kinkhali), salads and grilled meats, prepared with fresh herbs, and an affinity for walnuts.

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THE JOURNEY

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The adventure begins in Georgia's capital city, Tbilisi, where we stay in a recently renovated historic hotel in the old town. From here it's a full day drive to the mountains, passing through a variety of landscapes and microclimates along the way.

The village of Mestia is our base for the first part of the trip. Mestia has everything you'd expect in a ski town – restaurants, bars, hotels, ATMs, and even small 24-hr hour grocery stores. We shake out the ski legs at Tetnuldi, and explore different backcountry touring zones throughout this deep valley, including a 2-day hut mission to the spectacular Chaladi Glacier. We finish the trip with three days in Ushguli, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its high concentration of preserved Svan towers, while being one of the highest continuously inhabited settlements in Europe.

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This trip includes seven days of guided ski exploration in the Caucasus Mountains. On day 11, we drive back to Tbilisi for our final night in Georgia.