Bakuriani

By Mariam Lomidze, GTour desk · Fact-checked against the sources listed · Last checked 16 October 2026 · Editorial policy

Overview

Bakuriani is a mountain resort in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region of southern Georgia, set at roughly 1,700 metres in a pine-forested valley of the Trialeti range, about half an hour’s drive above the spa town of Borjomi. With a permanent population of under 2,000, it is the country’s best-known family ski resort and its original one, developed long before Gudauri or Svaneti’s Hatsvali entered the tourist map. The combination of a short, gentle season on modest slopes, cool dry air in summer, and a historic narrow-gauge railway gives Bakuriani a character distinct from Georgia’s higher and steeper winter destinations.

The resort matters both for Georgian domestic tourism, where it has long been the default destination for school trips and family holidays, and for the country’s sporting history, since it hosts the national ski-jumping, cross-country and biathlon training base. Its position within a day’s reach of Borjomi’s park, Vardzia’s cave monastery and Rabati Castle in Akhaltsikhe also makes it a practical base for exploring Samtskhe-Javakheti rather than a single-purpose ski station.

History

The valley around Bakuriani was used for summer grazing by highland communities for centuries before organised tourism arrived. Interest in the area grew in the late nineteenth century alongside the development of nearby Borjomi as an imperial spa town, when Russian and Georgian nobility began building summer villas in the cooler forests above the Borjomi gorge, a pattern recorded in general histories of the region.

The decisive infrastructure project was the narrow-gauge railway linking Borjomi and Bakuriani, built in 1902 to carry visitors and timber up the steep valley; the line, nicknamed the Kukushka (‘cuckoo’) for the sound of its small locomotives, is still in operation and is today run by Georgian Railway. The resort’s botanical garden, a high-altitude branch of Georgia’s national botanical institute, was established in the early twentieth century to study alpine flora, and Bakuriani’s forests and open slopes made it a natural choice for winter sport once skiing was introduced to Georgia in the Soviet period, when the first organised slopes, a ski-jumping hill and a sports school were built.

Bakuriani’s sporting profile was reinforced in independent Georgia, culminating in its role as a venue for the 2015 European Youth Olympic Winter Festival, held jointly with Tbilisi. In the 2000s and 2010s the government funded modern cable cars and gondolas at Didveli, Kokhta and Mitarbi, replacing older Soviet-era drag lifts and extending the ski area, part of a wider push by Georgia’s tourism authorities to modernise the country’s mountain resorts (Georgian National Tourism Administration).

What to see

Didveli ski area

Didveli is Bakuriani’s main modern ski sector, served by a gondola and chairlifts rising above the tree line toward Mount Kokhta. Runs are generally gentle to intermediate, making the area popular with families and beginners rather than advanced skiers. In summer the same lifts carry walkers and mountain bikers up for views over the Trialeti range.

Kokhta and Mitarbi

These adjoining sectors offer shorter, tree-lined runs closer to the town centre, along with the older slopes used by Georgia’s ski schools. Mitarbi in particular retains a quieter, local feel, with modest lift queues even in peak season. Cross-country and biathlon trails used by national athletes also run through this part of the forest.

Kukushka narrow-gauge railway

The 1902 line from Borjomi climbs through pine forest and switchbacks to Bakuriani, and remains a working passenger railway rather than a museum piece. The slow journey, taking well over an hour for a short geographical distance, is as much the attraction as the destination. Services are seasonal and infrequent, so timetables should be checked in advance through Georgian Railway.

Bakuriani Alpine Botanical Garden

Established as a research station for high-altitude plant species, the garden preserves collections of alpine and subalpine flora native to the Caucasus. It functions as a quiet walking destination outside the ski season and a reference point for Georgian botanical science. Visits are best combined with a walk into the surrounding pine forest.

Borjomi-Kharagauli forests

The hills around Bakuriani merge into the wider forested landscape associated with Georgia’s Agency of Protected Areas, which manages the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park nearby. Marked trails and forest roads give access to longer day hikes away from the ski infrastructure. The combination of altitude and dense Caucasian pine forest keeps the area notably cooler than lowland Georgia in summer.

Getting there

From Tbilisi, Bakuriani is reached by driving west on the main highway toward Khashuri, then south via Borjomi, a route of about 2 hours 25 minutes by car. Marshrutka minibuses run from Tbilisi’s Didube station to Borjomi throughout the day, with onward marshrutkas or taxis covering the final climb to Bakuriani; in winter, seasonal direct marshrutkas to Bakuriani also operate. The historic narrow-gauge Kukushka train connects Borjomi and Bakuriani for travellers who prefer rail over road for the final stretch.

From Kutaisi, the drive follows the same Khashuri–Borjomi road and takes roughly 2 hours 35 minutes; from Batumi, the journey runs via Kobuleti and Khashuri and takes about 4 hours 45 minutes. Winter travellers should check conditions on the Tskhratskaro and surrounding mountain roads before departure, since snow can affect timings; current conditions are listed on GTour’s road status page. GTour arranges private transfers and guided day trips from all three cities; see GTour’s tours for details.

When to go

The ski season runs roughly from December to late March, depending on snowfall, with January and February offering the most reliable cover on the Didveli and Kokhta slopes. Summer, from June to September, draws visitors for the cool climate, forest walks and the botanical garden, with daytime temperatures well below those of Tbilisi or Batumi at the same time of year. Spring and autumn are quieter shoulder seasons, with fewer facilities open but lower prices and empty trails.

Where to stay and eat

Bakuriani has a dense cluster of hotels and guesthouses built up around its ski-resort status, ranging from simple family-run villas to purpose-built ski hotels near the lifts. Registered options verified by GTour include Brick House, Hotel Sapphire Bakuriani, Vila Park, Hotel 1700, King David, Villa Amiran’s Park, Villa Palace Bakuriani and Three Penguins. GTour’s verified register lists more properties and restaurants, with up-to-date details on rooms, facilities and distance to the lifts.

Local eating in Bakuriani centres on Georgian mountain cooking: khinkali, grilled meats, mountain cheeses and hot mulled wine sold from stalls near the ski base in winter. Many hotels run their own restaurants, which in the smaller guesthouses often serve the most reliable home-style food in town.

Practical notes

Bakuriani sits at about 1,700 metres, so layers are advisable even in summer, and winter temperatures regularly fall well below freezing. Ski and snowboard equipment, including boots and helmets, can be rented at the base stations of Didveli, Kokhta and Mitarbi; lift passes are sold daily and for multi-day periods. Mobile network coverage is generally good in the town centre and weaker on the upper slopes. Payment in Georgian lari is standard, and cash is useful for small guesthouses and food stalls. For background on the wider region, see GTour’s Georgia region guide and travel guides.

Questions travellers ask

Is Bakuriani suitable for beginner skiers?

Yes. Its slopes are gentler than those at Gudauri or in Svaneti, and it has long operated Georgia’s main ski schools, making it the usual choice for first-time skiers and families with young children.

How long does the Kukushka train take from Borjomi?

The narrow-gauge train typically takes well over an hour to cover a geographical distance of around 30 kilometres, climbing steadily through forest; exact schedules are seasonal and should be confirmed with Georgian Railway before travelling.

Can Bakuriani be visited as a day trip from Tbilisi?

It is possible, since the drive takes about 2 hours 25 minutes each way, but most visitors prefer at least one overnight stay to allow time on the slopes or trails without rushing. GTour’s private tours can be arranged as either a day trip or a multi-day stay.

Is Bakuriani open in summer?

Yes. Hotels, some lifts and the botanical garden operate through summer, when the appeal shifts to hiking, horse riding and escaping the heat of lowland Georgia.

How does Bakuriani compare to Gudauri?

Bakuriani is lower, milder and better suited to beginners and families, while Gudauri offers higher, longer and steeper runs aimed more at intermediate and advanced skiers. Many visitors choose Bakuriani specifically for its calmer pace.

Are Vardzia and Rabati Castle reachable from Bakuriani?

Both are within range for a long day trip, with Rabati Castle in Akhaltsikhe and the Vardzia cave monastery lying further south in Samtskhe-Javakheti. Road conditions and distances make an early start advisable.

What language is spoken and is English widely understood?

Georgian is the main language, with Russian also understood by many older residents. English is spoken at larger hotels and by ski instructors, though less so at small guesthouses and food stalls, where a guide or phrase app is useful.

Is a car needed to get around Bakuriani itself?

No. The town is small and most hotels, lift stations and restaurants are within easy walking distance of one another; a car or transfer is mainly needed for the journey to and from Bakuriani rather than within it.

Sources

• Georgian Railway
• Georgian National Tourism Administration
• Georgia.travel – Bakuriani destination page
• Georgian Railway – Borjomi-Bakuriani narrow-gauge line