Mount Sadzele

Sadzele is the highest summit in Gudauri's lift system. The four-seat open chairlift (Doppelmayr) starts at 2,770 m with a vertical drop of 488 m over 1,300 m of cable length. Above the top station, another 30–50 m of walking leads to the summit ridge. The slopes are above the treeline: rocky terrain and alpine meadows in summer, open snow fields in winter. At around 2,800 m, a small turquoise mountain lake sits along the route.

In winter, Sadzele is the main freeride launch point: unmarked off-piste routes descend north and west through untouched powder. FIS-certified pistes lead back to the Kudebi and Soliko lifts. The total vertical drop from summit to the lowest station (Pirveli, 1,990 m) is 1,270 m. In summer, the ridge provides a 360° panorama: Mount Kazbek to the north, the Aragvi valley and Military Highway switchbacks to the south, and the Friendship Monument to the east.

Weather at the summit changes rapidly: even in summer, temperatures can drop to +5°C with strong winds. In winter, expect down to –20°C. Infrastructure at the top is minimal – just the upper lift station.

Elevation – 3,307 m, Gudauri's highest point; chairlift reaches 3,258 m

Chairlift – four-seat Doppelmayr, 1,300 m long, 488 m vertical gain

Freeride – off-piste descents from the summit to the north and west, up to 1,270 m vertical drop

Panorama – views of Mount Kazbek, Aragvi Gorge, and Greater Caucasus in 360°

Summer trekking – 4–5 hour hike from New Gudauri, turquoise lake at 2,800 m

Gudauri began developing as a ski resort in the early 1980s after an Italian survey in 1980 identified the area's potential. The first ski lifts were installed in the mid-1980s, transforming the mountain settlement into a winter sports centre. Sadzele became the highest point in the resort's lift system – the starting point for skiers and mountaineers alike.

Major modernisation came in the 2010s–2020s: in 2018, the Kobi-Gudauri gondola system was built (7.5 km total, 111 gondolas), and in 2023, three new lifts were added. In March 2018, the Sadzele chairlift suffered a rollback due to operator error, injuring 11 people. The safety system was overhauled after the incident. Today, Gudauri is Georgia's largest and highest ski resort with over 75 km of runs.

From Tbilisi (120 km, 2–2.5 hours):

– Shared minibus (marshrutka) from Didube – 15–20 GEL (~$6–7/€5–7), departs when full

– Taxi/transfer – from 100–150 GEL (~$37–56/€35–52)

– Rental car – winter tyres mandatory in winter

At the resort (ascent to Sadzele):

– Winter: lifts Pirveli → Soliko → Kudebi → Sadzele (ski pass required)

– Summer: hike from New Gudauri (2,200 m) – 4–5 hours, 1,100 m elevation gain. Trail is unmarked; dirt road to ~2,800 m, then ridge route

– Summer with lifts running: gondola + chairlifts (10–30 GEL/~$4–11)

Ski season: Late December – mid-April. Best snow: January–February. Lifts run 10:00–16:00 (winter), 11:00–17:00 (summer).

Summer trekking: July–September. In June, snow above 2,900 m makes the trail impassable. Best start early morning (6:00–7:00 AM); clouds typically roll in by midday.

Duration: Winter – full day of skiing. Summer – 8–10 hours for the round trip.

Avoid: New Year holidays – accommodation prices double, lift queues build up. Windy days – the Sadzele chairlift closes in strong winds.