A Freeride trip to Georgia with the possibility of combining ski touring with catskiing.
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Ski Touring - Catski
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Intermediate / Advanced
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6 - 12
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Dec, Jan, Febr & Mar
OVERVIEW GEORGIA FREERIDE
Discover the skiing and freeride in Georgia, known for being one of the countries with the best snow in Europe and a paradise for freeriders and off-piste skiers. Enjoy its gastronomy and hospitality of this Caucasian country. 6 full days of cat skiing time on the mountain.
Highlights
- Discover Georgia's booming freeride skiing opportunities.
- Catskiing on pristine slopes.
- Complete package, airport transport, guide, food, lodge...
- Stay in full-board comfort in Bakhmaro.
ITINERARY GEORGIA FREERIDE
Start your journey by flying into Kutaisi, the closest airport to Bakhmaro. We also offer transfers from Batumi or Tbilisi. Our driver will meet you at the airport and take you to Chkhakaura village. Transfer times are approximately 1.75 hours from Kutaisi, 2.5 hours from Batumi, and 6 hours from Tbilisi. From Chkhakaura, the only way to reach Bakhmaro is by snowcat—an exhilarating hour-long ride through the snow to our cozy cabin for the week.
Your cat skiing adventure kicks off after breakfast with a comprehensive safety briefing. We conduct a 2-hour avalanche search and rescue practice to ensure everyone is comfortable with the gear and procedures. Once ready, we’ll check transceivers, load up the snowcat, and head out for our first runs. We often start at Mount Buksieti (2,400m), just a 20-minute snowcat ride from the lodge. After a few exhilarating runs and a lunch break, we continue exploring fresh lines at Mount Gadrekili (2,508m).
Beech Forest is one of our favorite cat skiing spots in Bakhmaro, especially when the weather turns. The north-facing, tree-covered slopes offer excellent visibility and fantastic snow conditions. You’ll enjoy multiple laps through powder-filled tree runs, each one more thrilling than the last.
Mount Sakornia (2,950m) is the highest peak in the Bakhmaro area and offers the longest runs with up to 1,000m of vertical descent. The 50-60 minute ride to the summit is rewarded with breathtaking views and a variety of slopes to explore. On clear days, the panoramas are simply unbeatable, making this a must-visit spot during your trip.
Mount Papara, just 20 minutes from Bakhmaro, offers a mix of open slopes, wooded areas, and snow-covered cabins. Depending on conditions, we’ll seek out powdery drops and natural jumps, adding some playful elements to your skiing experience.
For those who enjoy more technical terrain, Day 6 offers the opportunity to ski gullies and steeper forest pitches. Alternatively, you can opt for smoother, open powder runs for a more relaxed experience. It’s a perfect day to mix in some hero skiing and party runs with your group.
We’ll start early to maximize your last day on the mountain. After some early turns on Sunset Mountain, we’ll ski the trees at Sajavakho Forest before heading back to the lodge around 3 PM. There’s time to pack, shower, and enjoy a meal before your evening transfer to Kutaisi. Overnight accommodations are provided in Kutaisi (or Batumi or Tbilisi if departing from those airports), giving you a chance to explore one of the world’s oldest cities.
Your cat skiing adventure comes to an end as we drive you from the hotel to the airport. Safe travels home! While our itineraries are flexible, varying based on weather and conditions, this plan offers a glimpse of what you can expect. We aim to explore different areas daily, ensuring your experience is both safe and exhilarating. With Bakhmaro’s vast and untouched terrain, every trip is an opportunity to ski where no one has before.
WHAT'S INCLUDED GEORGIA FREERIDE
The Cost Includes
- All airport transfers and local transportation
- 6 days of cat skiing in Bakhmaro
- 6 days guiding with IFMGA / GMGA certified guides
- 6 nights lodge accommodation in Bakhmaro
- 1 night hotel accommodation in your departure city (Kutaisi or Batumi or Tbilisi)
- All meals in Bakhmaro (Georgian breakfast and dinner in the lodge, packed lunch on the mountain, light refreshment after cat skiing)
- Daily sauna in our mountain cabin
- An authentic Georgian cultural and gastronomic experience
- Technical and material advice
The Cost Excludes
- International flights to Georgia (we can manage it)
- Alcoholic beverages
- Personal ski and safety equipment
- Food and drink outside your stay in Bakhmaro
- Travel/cancellation insurance: optional, but recommended (we can manage them)
- Tip (optional)
- Everything not included in the “INCLUDED” section
DEPATURES GEORGIA FREERIDE
TRIP DATES | AVAILABILITY | PRICE | SPACE LEFT | |
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28/12/2024 - 04/01/2025 | Guaranteed | 2.350€ |
Available
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04/01/2025 - 11/01/2025 | Guaranteed | 2.350€ |
Available
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11/01/2025 - 18/01/2025 | Guaranteed | 2.350€ |
Available
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18/01/2025 - 25/01/2025 | Guaranteed | 2.350€ |
Available
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25/01/2025 - 01/02/2025 | Guaranteed | 2.350€ |
Available
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01/02/2025 - 08/02/2025 | Guaranteed | 2.350€ |
Available
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08/02/2025 - 15/02/2025 | Guaranteed | 2.350€ |
Available
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15/02/2025 - 22/02/2025 | Guaranteed | 2.350€ |
Available
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22/02/2025 - 01/03/2025 | Guaranteed | 2.350€ |
Available
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01/03/2025 - 08/03/2025 | Guaranteed | 2.350€ |
Available
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08/03/2025 - 15/03/2025 | Guaranteed | 2.350€ |
Available
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TOUR DETAILS GEORGIA FREERIDE
GEORGIA FREERIDE SKI WITH CATSKI
Georgia, that country in the middle of the Caucasus between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea and north of Turkey in recent years has been the new boom as a ski destination, for some reason it will be.
Always known for its gastronomy, wines, culture and the friendliness of its people, it has begun to build ski resorts in the last decade. But where we find the best skiing opportunities are outside of them.
With high-quality snow from late December to mid-March, the best way to enjoy its snow is with the help of a catski. We offer you an all-inclusive program from/to the airport, you don’t have to worry about anything.
You have the possibility of combining cross-country skiing, catskiing or heliskiing. You can do the combination of days you want according to your priorities and budget.
Shred Bakhmaro’s dry, light, fluffy powder with wild abandon, then unwind with an invigorating sauna and an ice-cold beer to top off the perfect day.
For this freeride trip, a correct level of off-piste backcountry skiing and having previously done some similar activity before is required. Depending on the physical and technical level of the participants and the snow and weather conditions, the mountain guide will adapt the outings for maximum enjoyment. Do not hesitate to contact us to jointly evaluate whether you have the appropriate level of skiing.
Our trainer Mr. Pablo Ral, graduate in Physical Activity Sciences, Master in High Performance, Chilean Ski Mountaineering Coach and specialist in endurance sports… can make you a specific personal training plan for this trip.
- Standard training plan (one-time payment): 99€ (Fill out online form, 30 min personal interview (to adjust the plan and resolve doubts), Receive your personalized plan)
- Premium training plan (monthly): 130€ (Fill out online form, 1h personal interview (to adjust the plan and resolve doubts), Receive your personalized plan. Weekly monitoring of your progression and monthly readjustment of the training plan)
You can request your training plan at the time of booking your trip or later. (Standard training plans are valid for a maximum of 3 months)
Ski equipment
- Your ski equipment; skis/splitboard, poles, ski boots, skins, helmet.
- Ski crampons and/or crampons (mandatory and essential for split-boards)
- Ski bag and boot bag (Required).
- Avalanche equipment in backpack, shovel, probe, DVA transmitter/receiver and airbag (Mandatory).
Other things recommended/necessary on these trips, in addition to travel equipment:
- Socks.
- Mountain ski pants.
- Thermal T-shirt (first layer).
- Fleece lining or similar (second layer).
- Gore-Tex type jacket and pants (third layer).
- Light and thin primalof or feather jacket.
- Neck gaiter.
- Thin fleece-type gloves and thick gloves.
- Hat for the cold and cap for the sun.
- Sunglasses and blizzard.
- Head lamp
- Canteen or thermos, minimum 1 liter. If you choose a Camelbak type bag, keep in mind that the tube can freeze recommending carrying an auxiliary bottle.
- Sun cream and lip protection.
- Snacks (bars, gels, nuts…) to eat in the mountains during the treks.
- Optional: spare batteries, camera, powerbank, first aid kit.
Food:
The Itinerary explains what meals are included each day according to the program. If you have allergies or preferences, let us know on the registration form and we will take it into account.
We always recommend that you bring your own energy bars, nuts… so that you can eat while doing the activities.
Accommodation:
Perched on a secluded plateau, the lodge overlooks the abandoned summer cabins of Bakhmaro, exuding a relaxed and cozy atmosphere. Owned and managed by a group of local Georgian friends, you’ll be welcomed with genuine hospitality.
The program provides accommodation in shared rooms. If you want a single room, please indicate this at the time of booking.
We believe solo travelers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travelers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and solo travelers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.
In case you wish that we can look for the best flight combination tickets from your nearest airport to the destination you can add this service in “extra services” on the checkout before booking the trip and will give you the best proposal beforehand and once accepted buy it for you. This service includes monitor the flight prices over time to get the best deal when prices are low and check in of your flight. The administrative fee for this service is 35€ + the flights cost that will be invoice to you afterwards.
Your flight should land at Kutaisi or Batumi before 14:00 on Saturday (arrival day). If you fly to Tbilisi, please fly in on the Friday or land before 7am on Saturday.
Closest airport to Bakhmaro is Kutaisi with several lowcost fly companies such as WizzAir flying to several destinations.
Visas, and Entry Requirements
Certainly! It is important to have a valid passport with at least 6 months validity when traveling to any country.
To know the specific visa requirements for your trip, it is recommended to contact your local embassy or consulate, or consult with your travel agent. Remember that it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct travel documentation. Visa requirements can vary based on your nationality and your destination. While we strive to keep our information updated, visa rules can change unexpectedly. Therefore, it is crucial that you verify the information yourself and understand that you are accountable for meeting your own visa requirements.
Vaccines
For each trip, clients are solely responsible for having the mandatory and/or recommended vaccines required in each region or country. Consult with your doctor to have all vaccinations before the start of the trip.
We offer you a 5% discount on your IATI travel insurance. The discount is just valid if you buy the travel insurance policy after clicking on the link.
In case you wish that we can look for the best travel insurance that covers the trip destination/activity with your nationality. You can add this service in “extra services” on the checkout before booking the trip and will give you the best proposal beforehand and once accepted buy it for you. The administrative fee for this service is 15€ + the insurance cost that will be invoice to you afterwards.
The client is informed that B4Experience will issue the trip without including a cancellation, repatriation or accident policy, unless it is explicitly included in the trip contract and paid in the first payment. During the trip contracting, you will be offered how to contract it if you wish.
Rescue insurance: Recommended / Not mandatory
Rescue insurance is highly recommended on all active trips. It must be taken into consideration that these insurance policies are specific for each type of activity (hiking, climbing…)
The user is informed that the GUARANTEE COMPANY that covers the risks of contractual liability and guarantee against insolvency is MARKEL INSURANCE SE
The client can take out trip cancellation insurance to be able to obtain payment of the entire amount paid (according to its conditions).
The end user may withdraw from the contracted trip, having the right to a refund of the amounts paid, except for the indicated penalties, but must also satisfy the Agency in the amounts indicated below once the trip has been confirmed. If it is not carried out due to not reaching the minimum necessary places, the client can save the credit for future trips or request a full refund of the reservation.
Cancellation Policy 4:
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- FULL REFUND UP TO 24H AFTER PURCHASE
- Up to 90 days before the trip 100% refund of the trip amount.
- Up to 60 days before the trip Refund of 50% of the trip amount.
- For terms shorter than those described in the cancellation policy, the amount already paid will not be paid.
- *€250 management fees apply
* Cancellation fees will not be paid for reservations already issued. If there are other non-refundable expenses already issued, these will not be paid either and will be deducted from the amount to be paid.
* The cost of cancellation of issued flights is 100% of the amount.
EXEMPTION OF LIABILITY AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK
B4Experience offers active trips for different sports and Outdoor activities, as well as information related to these activities through our web platform www.b4experience.com and other channels.
The practice of any activity in nature carries a risk for those who do it, with most of these activities being considered high-risk sports. Each one must know and apply their limits and be aware that regardless of the technical training and physical level one has, their practice can lead to accidents or even death.
The in-person activities and trips offered by B4Experience are carried out on land and activities that may inherently involve risks for those who carry them out and thus clients are informed that they contract them.
DOSSIER DISCLAIMER:
The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and the operator. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary.
VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print/ download a final copy of your Trip Details to review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans.
ITINERARY DISCLAIMER:
While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. On all Outdoor trips, the routes will be adjusted depending on the weather, the level of the group participants and the risks assessed by the guide/trip leader.
Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.
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The snow is perfect and the mountains offer impressive landscapesfrom Spain09/12/2022The snow is perfect and the mountains offer impressive landscapes. Plus, the B4Experience team took care of everything from transportation to meals. We enjoyed 6 days of pure fun in the snow and, at the end of the day, relaxing in the sauna with a cold beer was the finishing touch.Date of Experience: December 09, 2022
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This trip was spectacularfrom Spain23/02/2022This trip was spectacular, and every day was a new adventure in the mountains. From catskiing to sauna, everything was perfect. The friendliness of the people and the delicious cuisine made this experience even better.Date of Experience: February 23, 2022
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Skiing in Georgia was an unforgettable experience.from Spain08/01/2022Skiing in Georgia was an unforgettable experience. The freeride here is spectacular and B4Experience took care of every detail.Date of Experience: January 08, 2022
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Georgia is a true paradise for skiers.from Spain28/12/2021Georgia is a true paradise for skiers. The catskiing days were amazing, and the snow in Bakhmaro is light and soft. B4Experience organized everything exceptionally, from accommodation to activities. I learned a lot and enjoyed the Georgian hospitality. Also, the food is delicious, especially the khachapuri. I can't wait to go back!Date of Experience: December 28, 2021
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Amazing catskiing adventure in Georgiafrom Spain14/02/2021Amazing catskiing adventure in Georgia. The snow is light and the sauna after a day of skiing is the best.Date of Experience: February 14, 2021