Gudauri

What it is

A modern resort strung along the highway at around two thousand metres, above the treeline and facing open mountain. It is not an old village dressed up for visitors: it exists for the slopes, which are wide, mostly above the trees, and considerably cheaper than the Alps for the same vertical.

The road itself

The Georgian Military Highway climbs from Tbilisi through the Aragvi valley and over the Jvari Pass. Just above the resort is the Russia-Georgia Friendship Monument, a curved concrete terrace covered in mosaic that stands on the edge of a gorge, and it is the stop everyone remembers whether or not they came for snow.

Winter and the rest of the year

In winter the pass can close, which is why our climate strip marks the hard months honestly rather than selling the route year round. Out of season Gudauri is quiet and green, useful mainly as a night that breaks the drive to Kazbegi into two comfortable halves rather than one long day.

How long to give it

One night on the way to Kazbegi. Several if you are here to ski.

When to go

Average daytime high, night-time low and rain days for Gudauri, from five years of recorded observations rather than a forecast or a brochure.

Most workable months: Aug. Nowhere here rates as mild on our own scale, which is worth knowing before you book a single night for the view.