Bakuriani
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Bakuriani

Bakuriani

Georgian mountain resort on the Trialeti Range, with Soviet-era ski slopes and spruce forests

Bakuriani is Georgia's main ski resort, sitting at 1,700 metres on the northern slopes of the Trialeti Range, about 30 kilometres from Borjomi. It has been a winter destination since Soviet times, and while the infrastructure is dated and the slopes modest by Alpine standards, the resort has a genuine mountain character and draws Georgian families in both winter and summer.

The surrounding landscape is coniferous forest — mostly spruce — and the air is clean and sharp. In winter the place is lively with skiers and snowboarders on the Kokhta and Didveli slopes; in summer the Alpine Botanical Garden and forest trails make it a pleasant escape from the Georgian lowland heat. Getting here is half the adventure: a narrow-gauge railway runs up from Borjomi through the forest, crossing an Eiffel-designed iron bridge en route — a slow and scenic journey.

Guide

Getting There

Bakuriani is about 30 kilometres from Borjomi and around 200 kilometres from Tbilisi. From Tbilisi, marshrutkas (shared minibuses) run directly to Bakuriani, taking roughly three hours. By car the drive from Tbilisi takes around two and a half hours via the Borjomi valley road.

The most atmospheric way to arrive is on the narrow-gauge railway from Borjomi. The kukushka train runs daily, takes about two hours, and winds through spectacular spruce forest along the Borjomistskali River, crossing the famous Eiffel-designed bridge en route. The train is slower than a marshrutka and runs on Soviet-era rolling stock, but the journey itself is worth the time.

Guide

Things to Do

Bakuriani is primarily a skiing and snowboarding destination in winter, with runs across two separate sectors: Kokhta, where the main gondola operates, and the steeper Didveli area at higher elevation. The resort is unpretentious and affordable by any international standard.

In summer the Bakuriani Alpine Botanical Garden is a highlight — a peaceful 35-hectare collection of Caucasian alpine flora established in 1910. The surrounding Trialeti forests are good for hiking and mountain biking, with trails accessible directly from the village.

For anyone travelling up from Borjomi, the narrow-gauge kukushka railway is an attraction in its own right, including the Eiffel-designed iron bridge that still carries trains over the Tsemistskali gorge.