Georgia – Heliskiing Svanetia Caucasus - Private Week
Dive into the winter world of the Caucasus and experience an exquisite skiing adventure. The finest powder, untouched slopes, and amazing runs await.
Price: 105.000 EUR
Dates & booking
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Welcome to One of the World’s Best Heliski Location!
Simply thinking about skiing there is enough to get our hearts going. If you ever listen to stories about skiing trips to Svaneti, it’s hard not to feel inspired. The highest mountains in Europe, heli-ski friendly terrain, and very high safety and quality standards make any trip to this remote region an absolutely unique experience. Svaneti offers heliskiing in its finest form, surrounded by the towering 5000m peaks of the Caucasus Mountains. Over 1800 km² of magnificent skiing terrain awaits you. In my touring log of the last thirteen years, you will find more than 140 different runs here. Exquisite powder can be found on the northern slopes of the 30 km long Layla Range and the southern side offers the best spring corn below the stunning landmark peak, Ushba.
It’s not surprising that this breath-taking place has been the chosen setting for some great skiing movies. It is here that we also chose to produce the movie ‘Ushba’ with some of the world’s best freeriders. There is nowhere quite like Svaneti. If you’re looking for an unforgettable heliskiing experience in 2027, this is without doubt the destination for you.
11 11 Good Reasons to Heliski / Heliboard with us in Svanetia
- A team of mountain guides with 15 years of experience in this region
- Only a four hour flight from central Europe
- One of the biggest heliskiing areas in the world
- We offer the highest possible safety standards
- Experienced pilots from the Alps
- Helicopters from the Austrian company Kitz Air
- Amazing terrain and short approach times
- Ski in powder on the highest peaks in Europe
- Usually very good snow cover
- Max. four guests per mountain guide and max. two groups a week
- Skiing resort with four new lifts for non-flying days
Itinerary
You will be welcomed with a drink and snack at our hotel, where you can also enjoy the magnificent view of over 50 illuminated tower houses. You will be given a briefing of the heliskiing program and protocol to ensure that you are all set for the next day in the magnificent Svanetian mountains.
The next six days will be all yours to discover some of the finest runs in Svanetia. As with all of our heliskiing trips, our aim is to give you the best possible skiing experience as opposed to counting vertical metres. We want to show you the vast skiing terrains and introduce you to the country and its people along the way. After a great day of skiing, we may also ski down to one of the quaint Svanetian villages, where we will meet the locals and enjoy a glass or two of chacha, a Georgian grappa. After an unforgettable week of skiing it will be time for us to commence on the journey home.
Outward Journey
We usually fly from our home airport to Batumi via Istanbul. From there we take a minibus to Zugdidi and from there we drive steadily uphill along the Enguri River until we have mastered the 250 km journey to Mestia, the capital of Svaneti, in around five to six hours.
Our Base
Our base will be in Mestia, the capital of Svanetia, which is at an altitude of 1300 metres and home to around 2000 people. The historic town centre has a few shops, inns, a bank, and all that is needed for daily life. Bars and restaurants are not large in number but there is still the opportunity to enjoy a well-deserved coffee and cake at the town plaza after a day of skiing. While in Mestia, a visit to one of the towers is an absolute must and a visit to the mountain museum is more than worthwhile. Most attractions are well within a 15 minute walking distance from our hotel.
Our Private Chalet
During our private weeks, we'll be staying in a high-end mountain chalet in an absolutely exclusive setting. Luxurious rooms with every amenity will make our stay an unforgettable experience. Throughout the week, we'll be treated to culinary delights prepared by a renowned chef from Tbilisi, featuring both local and international specialties. In addition to a very comfortable lounge with an open fire, there's also a wonderful workspace at our disposal. This chalet leaves nothing to be desired and is by far the most exclusive accommodation in Svaneti.
Safety and Quality
The safety and quality of your trip are of paramount importance to us. While we always strive to provide you with the best possible skiing experience, this never comes at the expense of safety. However, any activity in alpine terrain involves risks beyond our control. You should be aware that you share these risks with us when you travel with us in the mountains of the world. In Svaneti, we are far from rescue services and mountain rescue teams. For this reason, we have developed our own safety strategy. A group consists of a maximum of 8 guests and 2 guides. During private weeks, we operate two groups in the backcountry, rotating between 2, 3, or 4 guests. This ensures that the second group and their guide are never far away in case of emergency. We also carry comprehensive first-aid and rescue equipment and have the necessary expertise in its use. Satellite phones are always with us. Our greatest safety advantage is our experience and in-depth knowledge of the area. In addition, we use a second helicopter as a backup during our private weeks.
Runs and Terrain
The terrain and runs in Svaneti are incredibly diverse. They range from high-alpine, glaciated regions to magnificent runs at the tree line below 2100 meters. Our landing sites are typically located between 2600 and 4100 meters. Conditions permitting, we know many descents with over 1800 meters of vertical drop. We are familiar with runs of varying gradients. This allows us to carve turns in very steep terrain when conditions are safe, but we also have plenty of terrain with slopes up to 30 degrees. Generally, 95% of heliskiing in Svaneti takes place above the tree line, and we can only offer safe and enjoyable skiing with sufficient visibility and suitable weather conditions.
Helicopter & Pilots
In Svaneti, we use an Airbus B3 E helicopter from the Austrian helicopter company Kitz Air. This helicopter has proven itself worldwide for heliskiing with small groups. A very powerful turbine takes us to altitudes of over 4,000 meters quickly and easily. We offer you one of the largest heliskiing areas exclusively for just 12 guests per week. Therefore, we usually only have one helicopter on site. Despite the best maintenance, a helicopter is a sensitive aircraft and, in the worst-case scenario, can be out of service due to a technical problem. Georgia is far from the nearest service base, so in the worst case, a major repair would prevent us from continuing your heliskiing trip for the remainder of your week.
Requirements for our guests
To fully enjoy a heli-skiing/heli-boarding week in Svaneti, you should have solid skiing technique in all types of terrain and snow conditions. Fitness and stamina are also essential for the very long descents and altitudes of up to 4,000 meters. This destination is clearly reserved for advanced powder skiers with relevant experience. Flory Kern – Ski Berge Abenteuer – reserves the right to exclude participants who slow down the group, endanger themselves, or exhibit insufficient fitness from the tours or to fly them back to base during the day.
Ski equipment
Freeride ski equipment (at least 100 mm of ski width) and safety equipment, consisting of a shovel, probe, avalanche transceiver, and a Scott Alpride system, are mandatory. We are happy to provide the safety package (shovel, probe, avalanche transceiver, Scott Alpride safety system). Wearing a helmet is recommended. You will receive a detailed packing list from us 30 days before departure. Each participant is responsible for ensuring their equipment is in perfect working order. Purchasing or renting replacement equipment on-site is limited. However, we always have some spare skis available in case of loss or damage.
Weather
Of course, we also prefer skiing in deep powder under sunny skies. But to get that, we need favorable snowfall rates. As in all mountain ranges around the world, snowy days are just as much a part of winter in Svaneti as sunny days. On average, for every 7 sunny days, there are at least 3 days with snowfall.
Conditions
In February, March, and early April, we typically find the finest powder. Down days are just as much a part of the experience in Svaneti as absolute highlight days. Despite many favorable conditions, heliskiing in Svaneti is heavily dependent on weather, snow, and avalanche conditions. Natural forces, over which we have no control and about which reliable predictions are sometimes difficult to make, shape the situation on the mountain. Therefore, this sport is not always perfect, and you should prepare accordingly. No one can predict in advance what weather and conditions you can expect during your week. It could be the most fulfilling ski week of your life, but it could also be a disappointment if the weather or snow conditions are not optimal.
Downdays
As in all heli-skiing destinations, there are also days in Svaneti with very heavy snowfall or cloud cover, making safe helicopter operations impossible and disproportionate to the enjoyment of skiing. The advantage of our location in Mestia is that on such days we can enjoy the wonderful Tednuldi ski area, a 30-minute drive from the hotel, or the Hatsvali ski area directly above Mestia. Four newly built chairlifts (some even with bubbles) take us up to an altitude of 3,100 meters. Beautiful ski terrain, extending in some places right into the forests, is available here. There's also nothing to prevent a day of culture, perhaps a visit to a museum or fortified tower, and a relaxing soak in a traditional Russian banya (hot tub) amidst spectacular mountain scenery.
Vertical meters / Helicopter time
Our motto is "a destination from riders for riders." We've tailored our altitude gain and flight time philosophy to this motto. We want to offer you maximum riding enjoyment and make optimal use of the helicopter. We offer an above-average package of 11 flight hours per week (for 3 to 8 guests), which corresponds to between 30,000 and 40,000 meters of altitude gain. If the altitude gain or flight hours are exceeded, we can continue flying at a price of €3,500 per flight hour. Our package guarantees 6 helicopter hours. This means that if we can fly for fewer than 6 hours due to weather conditions, all hours up to the sixth will be refunded at €2,500 per hour. Unfortunately, we cannot offer refunds for unused flight time due to lack of fitness, illness, late arrival, or early departure.
Number of Guests and Exclusivity
We want to offer you a truly exclusive heli-skiing experience and avoid mass tourism in the magnificent mountains of Svaneti. Therefore, we exclusively offer private and semi-private weeks. Our maximum group size for a private week is 8 guests. We will divide the skiers into two groups and then fly in a two-person rotation system. Waiting times and delays are rare. Each group, consisting of a maximum of four participants, will be led and supervised by one of our team mountain guides, who is intimately familiar with the terrain.
The Mountain Guiding Team 2027
On many heli-skiing weeks, Flory is personally on-site as the lead guide. He is supported each week by two other highly experienced heli-skiing mountain guides from our team. In addition to Flory, our friend and mountain guide Chris Garber has also gained the necessary local knowledge and expertise to act as a lead guide through countless heli-skiing trips in Georgia. Both of them, and the entire team, are looking forward to hitting the slopes with you in Georgian powder.
You can get a first impression of our team on our website: www.flory-kern.de/ueber-uns/team
The Most Important Details at a Glance
Prices in Svanetia / Georgia
The prices for hotels and tourist services are now not much lower than in Central Europe. A beer in a restaurant costs around 3-4 euros, and a bottle of good red wine in a restaurant costs around 15-20 euros.
Tipping
After a fulfilling week, a reasonable tip for the crew and the hotel is a nice gesture.
Included in the price of 105.000 EUR
- 7 nights at the Sami Mta Mountain Chalet including half board (breakfast buffet, lunch snack on heli-skiing days, substantial dinner)
- 7 days of guided tour by one of our UIAGM team mountain guides
- 6 guided ski days with one of our UIAGM team mountain guides
- 11 hours of helicopter time or approx. 35,000 vertical meters (6 hours guaranteed)
- Safety equipment (avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe, Scott Alpride avalanche airbag system)
- All necessary flight and border permits
- Lift passes for the ski area on down days
- All local and airport transfers
Not Included
- Arrival from Central Europe to Batumi (from €500)
- Heli pick-up and drop-off at Kutaisi Airport: €3,800 per rotation, maximum 5 passengers (luggage is transported by road)
- Activities outside the program
- Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks at the hotel
- Additional flight hours cost €3,500 per hour, divided by the number of passengers (usually 8 people)
- Travel/cancellation insurance
Travel Preparations
Meeting Requirements and Fitness Level
A realistic self-assessment and an appropriate fitness level is required to join our trips. In order to enjoy a long day of skiing and to reduce the risk of injury, it is important to get in shape and possess a good level of fitness.
Travel Requirements
EU citizens, as well as Swiss nationals, do not require a visa. A valid passport is sufficient.
Current Country-Specific Information, Vaccines and Health
Please contact your own ministry of foreign affairs for current information about your destination.
Travel Insurance
Please note that there is a potential risk of injury on skiing trips. In addition to travel cancellation insurance, comprehensive medical and accident insurance that cover the costs of search and rescue, as well as transport costs, are imperative. It is your own responsibility to ensure that you are insured before departure.
Comprehensive medical and accident insurance that covers potential costs of search and rescue operations as well as any medical costs is mandatory for all of our trips abroad.
It is required that you state this information during registration in our registration form in order to ensure 24h emergency assistance.
Booking
To sign up for a trip, please click on your preferred date and fill out the booking form carefully.
Please also note our terms and conditions .