Beginner camp · Svaneti · Georgia
Beginner
ski touring
Learn the essentials, find your rhythm and take your first mountain tours in Svaneti. Eight days based in Mestia, with a local team helping you progress beyond the pistes.
Your adventure8 days
Learn and practise2 course days + 4 tours
Small groupsMax. 6 per guide
Learn in the Caucasus
New to touring. Ready for the mountains.
You can ski, but touring is a new world: skins, bindings, uphill movement and decisions about the snow. This camp introduces those skills gradually, with time to practise before moving on to longer tours.
Mestia gives us access to Hatsvali and Tetnuldi for the first two course days, followed by mountain routes around the town. A local instructor and mountain guides work with the group throughout the programme.
This is a beginner ski touring camp, rather than a first-time skiing course. You should already be comfortable skiing on pistes and fit enough for consecutive active days. Later tours can involve 600–1,000 metres of ascent or more; tell us about your experience so we can discuss whether the camp suits you.
Start with the essentials
Learn how to use your touring setup, fit skins and move uphill. Practise on short routes near Hatsvali or Tetnuldi before progressing to longer days.
Learn about the snow
Get hands-on practice with avalanche safety equipment and learn how snow observations inform decisions. These are skills to keep practising after the camp.
Progress as a small group
A maximum of six participants per guide allows the team to adapt the pace, route and teaching to the group and the conditions.
Arrive from anywhere
Join the land programme in Kutaisi. Book your own international flights and agree your arrival arrangements with our team before travelling.
Georgia in winter
Discover Svaneti
Your base for the week
Stay in Mestia
Stay in comfortable guesthouse accommodation in Mestia, with rooms that have private bathrooms. The standard land programme includes seven nights: six in Mestia and one in Kutaisi, or seven in Mestia when the return arrangements allow.
Breakfast, packed lunches on tour days and dinner are included, from dinner on arrival in Mestia to breakfast on departure. Shared meals make it easy to get to know the group and discuss the day in the mountains.
Eight days in Georgia
Day by day
Routes and teaching are adapted to snow, weather and the group.
Day 1 · Kutaisi to Mestia
Meet our team in Kutaisi and transfer to Mestia, your base for the week. The mountain journey takes approximately five hours, depending on the road conditions.
Settle into your guesthouse, meet the local instructor and discuss the days ahead. Dinner and a relaxed evening give you time to recover from the journey.
Day 2 · Equipment and first steps
At Hatsvali or Tetnuldi, begin with the equipment you will use throughout the week. Practise fitting your skins, check your touring setup and learn how to use your avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel.
Short tours near the ski area help you get comfortable with walking uphill on skis. There is also time to ski the pistes and familiarise yourself with the snow.
Day 3 · Practise the basics
Return to Hatsvali or Tetnuldi for a second day with the instructor. Consolidate the techniques from yesterday, practise using your equipment and continue learning how snow conditions influence a tour.
More short tours give you time to build confidence before heading into the mountains. The pace and terrain are chosen for the group.
Day 4 · Your first mountain tour
Head out on your first full tour around Mestia. The planned ascent is approximately 600–1,000 metres, adjusted to the snow, weather and group.
In the field, the guide introduces a snow-profile exercise and explains how the observations inform decisions about the ascent and descent.
Day 5 · A new route around Mestia
Build on your experience with another guided tour. The planned ascent is around 900 metres or more; the route and ascent are adapted to the conditions and the group.
Continue practising your touring skills and discussing the snowpack with the guide. The aim is steady progress, with time to enjoy the mountain surroundings.
Day 6 · Explore further, or take a rest
Choose a suitable route through the valleys and mountains around Mestia with the guide. This day can also be used as a rest day.
A trip to Ushguli may be arranged as an optional extra, subject to conditions and group suitability. It is confirmed separately and is not included in the camp price.
Day 7 · Final tour and the return journey
Enjoy a final guided tour on a route selected for the current conditions and your developing skills.
After skiing, return towards Kutaisi or spend the final night in Mestia. Your flight schedule, weather and road conditions determine the final arrangements.
Day 8 · Departure from Kutaisi
Transfer to Kutaisi airport at the agreed time. The land programme ends here; international flights and onward travel are arranged separately by you.
Winter 2027
Three weeks. Your first touring adventure.
Choose one of three fixed beginner camp departures, one per month. The land-only price is €1,298 per person, or €1,198 for applications submitted before 15 November 2026—the same rates as our classic Georgia ski touring week. International flights are not included.
| Camp dates | Regular price | Early booking | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16–23 January 2027 | €1,298 | €1,198 | Enquire → |
| 20–27 February 2027 | €1,298 | €1,198 | Enquire → |
| 13–20 March 2027 | €1,298 | €1,198 | Enquire → |
Early booking applies to applications submitted before 15 November 2026. Prices are per person. Places and suitability are confirmed by our team.
Included
- Arrival and departure transfers between Kutaisi airport and Mestia, with one scheduled transfer per day around noon.
- Local transfers for the camp and guided tours.
- Seven nights of guesthouse accommodation: six in Mestia and one in Kutaisi, or seven in Mestia depending on the return arrangements.
- Breakfast, packed lunches on tour days and dinner, from dinner in Mestia on arrival to breakfast on departure.
- Two days of beginner ski touring tuition at Hatsvali or Tetnuldi, with the ski passes needed for the course.
- Four guided ski touring days, with routes and the programme adapted to conditions and the group; day six may be used as a rest day.
- Ski lifts when needed for the guided programme.
- A maximum of six participants per guide, trip organisation and local support in Mestia.
Not included
- International flights and travel to your departure airport.
- Personal ski touring equipment and avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel; rental is an extra and must be arranged in advance.
- Drinks, meals outside those listed, tips and personal expenses.
- Insurance, including suitable mountain rescue cover.
- Optional Ushguli trips, private transfers and activities outside the agreed programme.
- Anything not specifically listed as included.
Join us from anywhere
Travel and equipment
The land programme starts and finishes in Kutaisi. Fly from the airport that suits you and send us your proposed flight times before booking. We will confirm how they fit with the scheduled transfers; private transfers are an extra.
The last night may be in Mestia or Kutaisi, depending on your departure time and the road conditions. Your arrival and return arrangements are confirmed with our team.
Bring touring skis, compatible boots and bindings, skins, poles, suitable winter clothing and an avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel. If you need rental equipment, tell us early so we can check availability and prepare a quotation.
Your questions
Do I need previous ski touring experience?
Previous touring experience is not required. You should already be comfortable skiing on pistes. Tell us how you ski and how active you are so we can discuss whether this camp is right for you.
How demanding are the later tours?
The first two days focus on learning and short tours near the ski areas. Later days can involve 600–1,000 metres of ascent or more. Routes, pace and ascent are adapted to the group and conditions.
What will I learn?
The programme introduces touring equipment, fitting skins, uphill movement, avalanche transceiver use and snow observations. It combines two course days with guided practice in the mountains. Ongoing practice is needed to develop these skills.
What equipment do I need?
Touring skis, compatible boots and bindings, skins, poles, appropriate winter clothing, and an avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel are required. Rental is not included. Ask us early to check availability and the current rental price.
Are flights included?
This is a land-only package, starting and finishing in Kutaisi. You arrange your own flights. Agree your flight times with us before booking so we can confirm the scheduled transfers or quote a private transfer.
Can I choose any week?
This beginner camp runs on the three fixed departures shown above: 16–23 January, 20–27 February and 13–20 March 2027. Tell us your preferred week in the enquiry message.
Plan your first camp
Let’s get you into the mountains.
Choose your January, February or March camp and tell us about your skiing experience and group size. We will check places, discuss suitability and confirm your land-only arrangements.
In your message, choose 16–23 January, 20–27 February or 13–20 March 2027. Include your skiing experience and group size.