Gudauri Tour from Tbilisi: Ski Resort, Fortress & Mountain Views

Drive into the high Caucasus and stand where two rivers meet

A full-day private tour from Tbilisi to Gudauri in the Georgian Caucasus, with a guide and transportation included. You visit Sabaduri Forest, the Ananuri Fortress complex, the point where the Black and White Aragvi rivers merge, the Russia-Georgia Friendship Monument, and Gudauri ski resort at elevations up to 3,276 meters. A lunch option with traditional mountainous cuisine is available at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day trip to Gudauri and surroundings

• Visit Sabaduri Forest
• Visit Jinvali Water Reservoir
• Visit Ananuri Castle Complex
• Visit river confluence of Black and White Aragvi
• Visit Russia–Georgia Friendship Monument
• Visit Gudauri Ski Resort
• Stop for lunch in Pasanauri

The experience

The drive covers 295 kilometers round-trip, starting from Tbilisi and climbing into the mountains along the Georgian Military Road, the historic route through the Caucasus. Your private English-speaking guide travels with you, and the tour includes all entrance tickets and bottled water. The pace lets you stop at each site without rushing: Sabaduri Forest at Tbilisi National Park, where the season shapes what you see. Lush green in summer, autumn colors in fall, snow in winter, or spring blossoms depending on when you go; the Jinvali Water Reservoir, built in 1985 and 75 meters at its deepest point, which supplies drinking water to the city; and Ananuri Castle Complex, a 13th-century fortress and seat of the Aragvi dukes, with its seven-storey tower, bell-tower, and two churches including the Church of the Mother of God built in 1689.

The Pasanauri stop marks where the Black and White Aragvi rivers converge: the origins of each river come from rocks of matching color, and a local legend explains the meeting. From there, the road reaches the Russia-Georgia Friendship Monument at Panorama Gudauri, built in 1983 and positioned for views across the Caucasus Mountains. This is where independent activities are available: paragliding, quadro cycling, and horse riding, arranged on-site if you choose. Gudauri itself is Georgia's largest ski resort, with elevations spanning 1,993 to 3,276 meters, 34.8 kilometers of slopes across all difficulty levels, and 15 lifts. In winter you can ski, and year-round the cable car offers mountain views.

Lunch happens in Pasanauri. If you book the Tour with Lunch option, you get a meal featuring the best dishes from local mountainous cuisine. If you choose the Budget Tour, you stop at a restaurant where you order from the menu. Comfortable shoes and a warm jacket are recommended for the day. Ladies should bring or wear a head scarf and dress for the Georgian Orthodox churches. Men should avoid short trousers. Scarves and dresses are available near church entrances if needed.

What’s included

• Private English-speaking guide.
• private air-conditioned transportation.
• all entrance tickets to Sabaduri Forest, Jinvali Reservoir, Ananuri Fortress, and Gudauri.
• bottled water throughout the day. The Tour with Lunch option adds a traditional mountainous meal in Pasanauri.
• the Budget Tour option includes a restaurant stop where you order from the menu.

Options for this experience

2 options

Private Budget TourGuide in English · 09:00Pickup is included

Private tour including lunchGuide in English · 09:00Pickup is included, so you can taste local food and wine

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (under 12)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by SelectGeorgia-For Holiday

Is this one for you?Choose the tour with lunch if you want to taste local mountainous cuisine as part of the day. Choose the budget option if you prefer to order from a restaurant menu. Either way, the private guide and transportation mean you're not navigating the Georgian Military Road or managing multiple sites on your own, and the 10-hour itinerary fits the full route (from the forest near Tbilisi to the high Caucasus and back) into a single day.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 12).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Ananuri Fortress and why is it on the tour?

Ananuri Castle Complex was the seat of the Aragvi dukes, a feudal dynasty ruling the area from the 13th century. The complex sits on the UNESCO tentative list and includes a seven-storey tower, bell-tower, church, prison cell, water reservoir, and two churches: the older Church of the Virgin and the larger Church of the Mother of God, built in 1689.

Can I ski at Gudauri if I visit in winter?

Yes. Gudauri is Georgia's largest and highest ski resort, with elevations from 1,993 to 3,276 meters, 34.8 kilometers of slopes across all difficulty levels, and 15 lifts. In winter you can ski. Year-round, the cable car provides mountain views.

What happens at the Russia-Georgia Friendship Monument?

The monument was built in 1983 at Panorama Gudauri to celebrate the Treaty of Georgievsk. It sits at a viewpoint overlooking the Caucasus Mountains, and independent activities (paragliding, quadro cycling, and horse riding) are available there if you want to arrange them on-site.

How long is the drive and what does the total tour take?

The round-trip drive is 295 kilometers. The full-day tour lasts 10 hours from Tbilisi, including all stops, entrance time at each site, and lunch.

What is included in the tour price?

Your private English-speaking guide, private air-conditioned transportation, all entrance tickets to the sites, and bottled water are included. If you book the Tour with Lunch option, a traditional mountainous meal in Pasanauri is also included. The Budget Tour option stops at a restaurant where you order from the menu.

What should I wear and bring for this tour?

Comfortable shoes and a warm jacket are recommended for the day and the mountain elevation. If you plan to enter the Georgian Orthodox churches, ladies should wear a head scarf and dress. Men should avoid short trousers. Scarves and dresses are available near church entrances if you need them.