Georgia Heli-Ski Trip – Caucasus Backcountry Ski Expedition

Destination

Mestia, Svaneti

Duration

8 days

Price

10, 000 Euros

Trip Type

Difficulty

3/5

Georgia Heli skiing trip

Join us on an unforgettable heli-skiing Georgia expedition to the historic and mountainous Svaneti region in northwestern Georgia. This is more than just a ski trip—it’s an immersive journey into one of Europe’s most remote and culturally rich mountain regions. We’ll be heli-skiing the Upper Caucasus Mountains, tackling high-elevation big-mountain terrain, with most runs starting above 3,500 meters (11,500 feet).

The Svaneti heli-ski terrain is on an entirely different scale from typical ski destinations. Picture vast glaciers, towering peaks, and dramatic ridgelines stretching as far as the eye can see. With seemingly limitless terrain, our guides will craft the perfect day for your group, seeking out the best snow and descents suited to your abilities and ambitions. Whether you’re after steep couloirs or wide-open powder bowls, this is Caucasus Mountains skiing at its finest.

Each evening, we’ll return to a cozy mountain lodge in Mestia, the cultural heart of Svaneti. Here, you’ll refuel with delicious traditional Georgian cuisine, sample local wines, and rest up for another day of Georgia heli-ski adventure.

Travel is about the gorgeous feeling of teetering in the unknown.

Anthony Bourdain

Highlights

A Ski Adventure In A Remote And Historic Region
Stay In A UNESCO World Heritage Site
High Elevation, Big-Mountain Terrain
Exploration And First Descents

Itinerary

Day 1: Fly from Istanbul to Batumi Georgia

Fly from Istanbul to Batumi Georgia with Turkish Airlines. Ground transport to Mestia. Check in to the Hotel, welcome meeting.

Dinner Accommodation Provided.

Day 2 - Day 6: Heli skiing in the Caucasus Range

Heli skiing in the Caucasus Range, roaming far and wide to experience the most of these incredible mountains. Epic 2000 meter runs amongst 5000m peaks and on most days we’ll average 10,000m or more vertical. There will be plenty of time to explore the history and culture of the region when we’re not on the slopes.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Hotel Accommodation

Day 7: Ski in the morning

Ski in the morning, ground transport to Batumi in the evening. Accommodation in Batumi.

Breakfast, Lunch, Hotel Accommodation

Day 8: Fly out - Trip Finishes

No Meals included.

Daily Schedule. The daily schedule will be determined by weather and conditions.

8:30 Breakfast
9:45 Transfer to helicopter fully outfitted to ski for the day
10:00 Heli-Skiing
13:00 Lunch on the mountain or in a hotel
14:00 Heli-Skiing
16:00 Apres-ski and relaxation.
18:00 Dinner
19:00. Bar, video, lounge

Accommodations

We’ll stay at the Paliani Hotel in downtown Mestia. Perched right on the river and with fantastic views of the surrounding mountains the hotel is an amazing place to relax after a full day of skiing. The hotel is brand new and features tasteful, traditional decor, a full service restaurant, a comfy lounge and 24 hour reception.

Each comfortable and well appointed room features a private bathroom, spectacular mountain views and Satellite Television there is free Wi Fi throughout the hotel.

The Hotel has a helicopter pad located next to the property. Our helicopter will be stationed there providing easy and quick access to the machine. You can walk out the front door skis in hand, hop into the helicopter and be skiing in minutes.

Guests will have many opportunities to try Georgian cuisine. Traditional cuisine is a feature of every dinner, such as Kubdari, a Georgian flatbread stuffed with lamb, cheese, onions and herbs and spices.

The wine is not to be missed. Georgia has an 8,000 year history of wine making, with a large selection of wine throughout the country, and good bottles costing as little as 8 Euros.

Dates & Rates

2025

Feb 16 to 22
Feb 23 to Mar 1
Mar 2 to 8
Mar 9 to 15
Mar 16 to 22
Mar 23 to 30

Prices from

10000 Euros

What's Included

2 Certified Guides
7 nights accommodation while in Mestia at the Paliani Hotel– twin share rooms
All meals while in Mestia
Ground Transportation – Batumi to Mestia and back
10 hours of Flight Time in an A star Helicopter – B3 – 2 groups of 4 skiers
Avalanche equipment – Beacon, shovel, probe and Air Bag backpack
Turkish Airlines flight – Istanbul to Batumi return
Accommodation in Batumi at the end of the trip

*Additional flight hours can be purchased for 2400 Euros which will be divided up amongst the group

Not Included

Flights into Georgia
Alcohol
Travel Insurance
Ski/Snowboard Equipment
Meals while not in Mestia

*Alcohol can be purchased from the hotel in Mestia, 2 Euros per glass of beer, 8 Euros for a bottle of wine.

Weather

February, March and April are the best months to ski in Svaneti. The days are long, and we can expect temperatures ranging from -10 deg C to -2 deg C. High pressure systems become more common as we get further into spring, providing sunny skies and light winds. It’s not uncommon to have a whole week of sunny weather.

Activities

Travel to Georgia. Georgia is open for travel for visitors who are fully vaccinated.

Pictures & Videos

FAQs

What is the skiing like in Svaneti?

Normally it's excellent. With lots of terrain at our disposal, a variety of aspects and elevation to work we can normally find excellent skiing conditions. If the weather prevents us from flying we can ski at two resorts close to Mestia.

What is the weather like in the Spring?

High Pressure start to build in March and April. This brings sunny conditions and light winds. Temperatures range from -2 C to -10 C. Storms can still happen in the spring and if we can't fly because of weather we will ski at one of the two ski resorts in the area.

Do I need ski equipment?

Yes. You need to bring your own ski or snowboard equipment. It is possible to rent equipment in Mestia but we can't guarantee the right equipment will be available.

Are snowboarders welcome?

Yes, of course, We love snowboarders.

Is it dangerous in Svaneti?

Yes it is safe in Georgia and Svaneti. There is little military presence and no tension with Russia. Mestia is a small town, the locals are welcoming and friendly.

Is Avalanche Equipment provided?

Yes. We will provide you with a Probe, shovel, beacon and backpack with airbags. You are welcome to bring your own beacon, we will test it before going skiing.

Do I need to be an advanced skier or snowboarder?

Yes. We don't accept beginners on this trip. You should be able to ski a black diamond run with ease and confidence. If you have a group of intermediate riders we can accommodate you.

What's the accommodation like?

Very comfortable, it's 4 stars. Please see the accommodation tab for more details.

Enjoy Our Reviews

         Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Claire H 
 
 
 
  BEST TRIP EVER!!
We did this trip with Angela in May of 2024. First off, Angela was an incredible guide. She's kind, knowledgeable, fun and dialed. Her knowledge of the culture, skiing, navigation of best plan/route is all awesome. Greenland is truly amazing and I highly recommend going with these guys who have such a connection to the place and people. The skiing was also perfect spring corn!!! Don't think about it too much, just GO!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Marcelo F 
 
 
 
  Pristine Greenland
Great trip all around! Views were amazing, pristine location, great guides and tailored service. I highly recommend traveling with Expedition Engineering and this specific trip. There was good skiing, some cultural experience, and adaptability to weather and conditions available to us. They are not your regular tour operators, they deliver something unique and real. Thumbs up to this company, I would go again with them at any time!!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Thomas M 
 
 
 
  Expedition Engineering East Greenland Ski tour
Outstanding backcountry ski trip. Our trip was actually went April 2024. Scenery was amazing, ski terrain had everything from easy to as challenging as you could want, conditions for us were mostly corn with some very firm and some powder, getting a 'taste' of local culture was cool and the guides, Angela and Matt were great. I had the feeling of sharing an adventure with them rather than being taken on an adventure by them. For lots of other reasons too, would strongly recommend.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Enrique D 
 
 
 
  Magnificent ski touring experience
We went there May 2023. If you are willing to rough it a bit, there is no better ski touring experience. Every day we would sail to a glacier terminus into the sea, climb up a peak or two, enjoy sublime unspoilt views on the way to the top, then great powder/corn skiing on the way down.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Cristina M 
 
 
 
  East Greenland May 2023
I took this trip with my partner and another couple in May of 2023. Although, due to weather the trip had to be modified, we were well taken care of with many contingencies ready. Food was plentiful and accommodations were very comfortable. I would highly recommend Expedition Engineering. Trip of a life time. We are hoping to travel again with them in the future. Maybe some where warm!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Mark N 
 
 
 
  Trip of a Lifetime - Never using another backcountry ski operation beside them!
Short summary: this is the best ski trip I have ever been on. If you love adventures and love to travel you need to come here it is one of the most raw and beautiful places I have been. I went with my father and it was an experience I will never forget. The guides are incredible.Now I will touch on why this trip is so special. Guides: Matt and Angela are the guides. They are also husband and wife. They are some of the sweetest and fun people we have met. Our main guide for the trip was Matt. He was extremely calm safe and fun. Me being 24 years old is always wanting to do extreme and fun things. My mom is very cautious. Matt was nice enough to speak with my mom for an hour walking through all the safety procedures and the risks and how they mitigate them. At no point did I feel unsafe or not in good hands. On these trips you spend many hours with the guides so you want to be comfortable with them. I left seeing Matt as a good friend. Scenery: I like to think I am well traveled and have been many places. In terms of scenery and the rawness of the trip nothing compares. You are in the middle of nowhere and there are not people let alone skiers miles around you. You are by yourself and there is something peaceful about that. It is some of the most beautiful mountains I have seen. I would eat my lunch and look at the mountains and get teary eye because it was so beautiful. My dad and I finished a run and he said this is the most amazing ski run I have ever done (with the biggest smile on his face). We completed a hike to the top of the mountain and did a run all the way to the water. Pictures don’t speak for themselves. You are literally skiing to the ocean.Safety: These are guides they are professionals. They take every precaution necessary. Avalanches are not the biggest dangers. But there are crevasses. We take necessary precautions spacing ourselves out and putting harnesses on. We are not putting ourselves in harms way. You are in the middle of no where so you are not going to go down a dangerous run. There are polar bears. No we never saw one. We do carry a gun in case but the polar bears stay by the ice (where the food is) and we are much higher than that. Food: not my favorite but you’re not there for the food. It’s normal food and at the hotel surprisingly decent. Conclusion: this is one of my favorite trips I have ever been on. The picture from the trip is my Home Screen. I am now begging my dad to do another trip with me with Matt and Angela. My mom would never let me go anywhere she did not do her research on she was very scared for us to do this but was able to get comfortable because of Matt and Angela. Matt and Angela thank you for being such calm and nice people but more importantly for creating a trip I will for always remember and a memory I created with my dad that brought us closer together. I really do get teary thinking about how amazing the trip was. Note: if you can do a private trip. Definitely recommend! Had the ability to use the helicopter to get to amazing areas!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Paul Lambie 
 
 
 
  East Greenland Ski touring.
We did this trip in April, 2023. Although 2023 was a low snow year we were able to ski from the village every day. We had great weather and the skiing was amazing. Different tours each day were accessed by skinning directly from our accommodation or by snowmobile or dogsled. The trip is based out of Kuummiit, a small and remote village in East Greenland. Matt and Angela are great guides; highly recommended! A very unique ski experience.
  
 
  
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High elevation Heli-Skiing