Kutaisi Airport to Gudauri

Why so many skiers land in Kutaisi

Kutaisi is Wizz Air's base in Georgia. In winter 2025/26 the airline flew here from 23 cities in 12 countries, from Barcelona to Warsaw, and added Bratislava in January 2026. FlyArystan flies in from Almaty, Astana, Aktau and Atyrau, and these routes are on its winter 2026/27 schedule. There are also direct flights from Istanbul, Minsk and Moscow.

The catch is distance. From the airport it is about 300 km to Gudauri, 170 km to Bakuriani and 220 km to Mestia. Plan the ride before you buy the ticket, especially if you land late.

Also check two things before you fly. The 2026/27 lifts at Gudauri are due to open on 20 December 2026 (announced 9 October 2026, while in 2025/26 they opened on 27 December), but the Mountain Trails Agency has not announced the closing date. And since 1 January 2026 foreign visitors need health and accident insurance for their whole stay, checked at the border.

Transfer

Kutaisi Airport → Gudauri

Price on request

How far it is and how long it takes

By road, Kutaisi Airport to Gudauri is about 300 km, and from central Kutaisi about 20 km less. You do not need to go into Tbilisi. The road runs east on the E60 over the Rikoti Pass, past Khashuri and Gori. Near Mtskheta you turn north onto the Georgian Military Road, pass the Zhinvali reservoir, Ananuri fortress and Pasanauri, and from Mleta climb the hairpins to Gudauri.

The new four-lane highway over the Rikoti Pass, with 51 tunnels, opened in full at the end of December 2025. In good conditions the drive takes 4.5 to 5 hours with a short stop. In winter allow 5 hours or more. In snowfall the climb from Mleta is slow, and the police may require chains.

• Kutaisi Airport to Gudauri, about 300 km, 4.5 to 5 hours.
• Kutaisi Airport to Tbilisi, 250 km, about 3.5 hours by our transfer.
• Tbilisi to Gudauri, 120 km, about 2 hours by our transfer.
• Tbilisi Airport to Gudauri, 135 km, about 2 hours 15 minutes by our transfer.

The ski-season bus from the airport

In the ski season Georgian Bus runs coaches from Kutaisi Airport straight to Gudauri, timed to the flights. They stop in Old Gudauri by the Smart supermarket and in New Gudauri by the Redco sales office. In 2025/26 the service ran from about mid-December to March, a ticket cost about 60 GEL and the ride took 4.5 to 6 hours.

The 2026/27 timetable was not out by 15 October 2026. The route is on georgianbus.com but has no dates yet. A suitcase and hand luggage travel free. A larger bag, such as skis, has to be agreed with the company by email at least 24 hours ahead and costs extra.

Bus or train to Tbilisi, then a minibus

Outside the season, or when the direct coach does not suit your flight, go through Tbilisi. Georgian Bus coaches to Tbilisi leave after the flights land, take about 4 hours and cost 30 GEL, or 20 GEL for a child. They stop at Station Square by the central railway station.

Trains do not reach the terminal. The Kutaisi Airport station in Kopitnari is about 2 km from the terminal, and a free shuttle runs to it in time for the trains. In October 2026 trains left for Tbilisi at about 9:30, 9:40, 18:15 and 20:15, plus a midday train on some days. They take 2.5 to 3 hours, and second class costs 14 GEL, or 33 GEL on the fast Batumi trains. In Kutaisi itself the ordinary trains stop at Rioni station. Check the winter timetable on railway.ge.

From Station Square take the metro to Didube. Minibuses for Gudauri and Kazbegi leave Didube bus station roughly every hour from 8:00 to 19:00, so be in Tbilisi by late afternoon. They take 2.5 to 3 hours and cost about 15 GEL. Door to door this takes 8 hours or more, with two changes and your skis in a minibus.

Taxis and Bolt at the airport

Bolt works at Kutaisi Airport day and night, and its drivers watch the arrivals. A ride to central Kutaisi costs about 25 to 30 GEL. Do not take rides from people who approach you in the terminal.

A taxi to Gudauri means 300 km of highway and mountain road. Agree the full price before you set off and check that the car has winter tyres and chains, because the police can turn back cars without them.

Late flights and the night drive

Many flights from Europe land late in the evening or after midnight. Coaches still leave after them, but a night coach reaches Tbilisi at about 5:00 to 6:00, and the first minibus to Gudauri leaves Didube at 8:00.

By car you can go straight on, and a flight that lands at 22:00 gets you to Gudauri at about 3:00 or 4:00. On a clear night that is just tiring. In falling snow the Mleta hairpins are slow in the dark, and a chain check or a temporary restriction can hold you up for a long time.

If you land late and snow is forecast, sleep in Kutaisi, about half an hour from the airport, and leave after breakfast to drive the mountain part in daylight. Or split the trip in Tbilisi, with the Kutaisi Airport transfer in the evening (about 3.5 hours) and the Tbilisi to Gudauri transfer the next morning (about 2 hours).

Winter tyres and road closures

From 1 December to 1 March winter tyres are compulsory on the roads listed in Government Resolution 526. On this trip that means two stretches of the E60, near Surami and on the Rikoti Pass, and the Georgian Military Road from Mleta to Kobi. The road through the Borjomi gorge to Bakuriani and the road from Jvari to Mestia are listed too. Tyres need the snowflake mark and at least 3 mm of tread, and the fine is 100 GEL. In snowfall the police can also require chains and turn back cars that do not comply.

When the avalanche risk is high, the road between Gudauri and Kobi is closed, sometimes for days, and lorries and trailers are stopped first. That stretch lies beyond the resort, towards the Jvari Pass and Kazbegi, so Gudauri itself can usually still be reached. Check the Roads Department of Georgia before you set out, and see Kazbegi in winter for the pass.

Bakuriani and Mestia from Kutaisi Airport

Bakuriani is nearer, about 170 km and 3 hours from the airport. You cross the Rikoti Pass, turn south at Khashuri, follow the Borjomi gorge to Borjomi and climb about 30 km of winding road. Airport coaches do not go to Bakuriani. By public transport you first go into Kutaisi, where one minibus a day leaves the central bus station for Bakuriani at about 10:00. Lifts and passes are in our guide to Bakuriani in winter.

Mestia, with the Hatsvali and Tetnuldi ski areas, is about 220 km away, 4.5 to 5.5 hours in good conditions, west to Zugdidi and then north up the Enguri gorge. The road is cleared in winter, but after heavy snow it can close for a while because of avalanches and landslides, so drive in daylight and keep a spare day. See ski resorts in Georgia and our Svaneti guide.

Booking a transfer or a tour

Our driver meets you in the arrivals hall at Kutaisi Airport with a name sign and follows your flight. The first 60 minutes of waiting are free. The price is fixed per car, not per person, child seats are free, and you pay the driver after the ride, in cash or by card.

We do not have a fixed price from Kutaisi Airport to Gudauri or Bakuriani yet. Send a request for Gudauri or Bakuriani through the form or the Telegram bot, and we will send you a price for your date and car. To Tbilisi the price is fixed, see the Kutaisi Airport transfer.

In winter our cars run on winter tyres and carry snow chains. For snow we recommend the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, for up to four. A group of up to seven with skis fits the Mercedes V-Class, and up to 11 travel in a V-Class with a Prado. Tick “Skis / snowboard” when you book. If the authorities close the road on the day, we wait and drive later, move the ride to another day, or cancel without charge.

If you stop in Tbilisi on the way, our private tours start at your hotel. Mtskheta and Jvari fits a spare morning, and the Kakheti wine day makes a day off the slopes. Book on the site or in our Telegram bot. It takes about two minutes.