Tbilisi to Gudauri & Kazbegi in Winter (2026/27): Transfer Guide
The Georgian Military Highway to Gudauri (120 km) and Kazbegi (155 km) is spectacular — and in winter it demands an experienced local driver. Here is what you should know.
As of 25 September 2026, a private transfer from Tbilisi to Kazbegi (Stepantsminda, 155 km) costs from 305 GEL (~$117) per car by sedan, 405 GEL by 4x4 and 468 GEL by minivan; Tbilisi to Gudauri (120 km) is from 270 GEL (~$104) by sedan. Prices are per car, not per person. In winter the one real risk is the Jvari Pass (2,379 m) between Gudauri and Kobi: the Roads Department closes it in blizzards or high avalanche danger, so check georoad.ge on the morning you travel.
Road conditions in winter
- The Jvari Pass (2,379 m) sees heavy snowfall; winter tyres are compulsory on the mountain sections from 1 December to 1 March, and chains when the authorities order them.
- The road occasionally closes for avalanche control — local drivers check the pass status before leaving.
- Marshrutkas stop running early and skip the resort hotels — a transfer takes you to your hotel door with ski luggage.
Why book a transfer with a local driver
- Drivers from this route drive it daily and adapt to the pass conditions.
- Fixed price per car — no surge pricing on snowy days.
- Stop at the Russia–Georgia Friendship Monument viewpoint on the way.
Tbilisi → Gudauri from 270 GEL: drivers & prices
Tbilisi → Kazbegi from 305 GEL: drivers & prices
How long does it take?
Gudauri: about 2 hours in good conditions, up to 3 in snowfall. Kazbegi: about 3 hours. Leave Tbilisi before 10:00 to enjoy a full first day.
Ski season in Gudauri: dates and what rides cost
In the 2025/26 season Gudauri’s lifts ran from 27 December to 19 April. The 2026/27 dates are not announced yet, so check the resort’s official announcements before you book; the most reliable snow is usually in January and February. Lift passes and hotels are booked out around New Year and Orthodox Christmas — and so are the good drivers. If you are coming for that window, book your transfer when you book your hotel, not the night before.
Winter 2026/27 transfer prices (per car)
| Route | Distance | Sedan | 4x4 | Minivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tbilisi → Gudauri | 120 km | 270 GEL (~$104) | 379 GEL | 438 GEL |
| Tbilisi → Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) | 155 km | 305 GEL (~$117) | 405 GEL | 468 GEL |
| Tbilisi Airport (TBS) → Gudauri | 138 km | current driver offers | current driver offers | current driver offers |
| Tbilisi Airport (TBS) → Kazbegi | 169 km | current driver offers | current driver offers | current driver offers |
Quoted by the OrbiTrip price engine on 25 September 2026; the search shows the exact price for your date and car. Payment: cash to the driver, no prepayment, no surcharge.
Private transfer vs marshrutka vs taxi in winter
| Private transfer (OrbiTrip) | Marshrutka from Didube | Street / negotiated taxi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tbilisi → Gudauri | from 270 GEL per car | about 15–20 GEL per person (Kazbegi minibus, get off at Gudauri) | price agreed on the spot, no fixed tariff |
| Tbilisi → Kazbegi | from 305 GEL per car | about 15–20 GEL per person | price agreed on the spot, no fixed tariff |
| Door to door | Yes, to your hotel | No, highway stops only | Usually |
| Ski bags | Yes, add them in the booking note | Limited space | Depends on the car |
| Winter tyres / chains | Driver prepares for the pass | Not your choice | Not guaranteed |
| When the pass closes | Driver agrees a new time with you | Waits or turns back | Renegotiate |
The marshrutka from Didube is the budget classic — but it leaves when full, takes no ski bags without argument, stops where the driver pleases, and in heavy snowfall simply waits until the pass reopens. With two or more people and luggage, a fixed-price car is usually worth the difference. For the full negotiated-vs-fixed mathematics anywhere in Georgia, see Taxi vs Private Transfer in Georgia.
Jvari Pass in winter: closures, chains and how to check
- Where it closes: the Jvari (Cross) Pass, 2,379 m, is the highest point of the road. The section that gets closed is Gudauri (Posta)–Kobi, roughly km 93–107 of the Mtskheta–Stepantsminda–Larsi highway. Gudauri lies south of it and usually stays reachable; Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) is beyond it.
- What the restrictions look like: in snow and ice the Roads Department first stops trucks and semi-trailers, or allows traffic only with anti-skid chains. In blizzards or high avalanche danger it closes the section to all vehicles, for hours and sometimes days (it happened on 13 January and 27–28 February 2026). The Mleta–Gudauri stretch can run as no-stopping transit.
- Tyres and chains: Georgian rules require winter tyres from 1 December to 1 March on the mountain sections designated by the government, and chains on the driving wheels when the authorities order them. In heavy snow, book a 4x4.
- How to check: the Roads Department of Georgia posts current restrictions on georoad.ge and on its social channels. Check on the morning you travel and ask your hotel; your driver checks before leaving too.
- If it closes: you wait in Gudauri or Pasanauri, or move the trip. Agree a new time with the driver; if you pay cash, you pay only after the ride.
Why a local driver matters on the pass
The best argument for a local driver who does this road weekly: they check the pass status before leaving, carry chains, know when to wait out a closure over khinkali in Pasanauri instead of standing in a snowdrift, and their car is actually prepared. A street taxi from a Tbilisi curb in summer tyres is not an adventure, it is a refund-free gamble.
Landing at TBS and heading straight to the mountains?
Many skiers fly in on the low-cost red-eyes and want to be on the slopes the same morning. A pre-booked transfer from the airport makes that realistic: the driver tracks your flight, loads ski bags without drama, and you sleep the 2.5 hours up the highway. Compare airport options first in Tbilisi Airport Transfer Cost, then book Tbilisi → Gudauri or Tbilisi → Kazbegi. Straight from the plane? There is a direct Tbilisi Airport → Gudauri ride.
What to bring for the ride
Layers — Tbilisi at +10°C and Gudauri at −10°C on the same afternoon is normal. Motion-sickness tablets if serpentines bother you: the stretch above Pasanauri winds hard. Cash for the viewpoint coffee stops; cards work in Gudauri but not at roadside stalls. And download offline maps — signal drops in the gorge sections.
Still deciding which mountain to book? Our 2026 Georgia ski resort comparison puts Gudauri, Bakuriani, Goderdzi and Svaneti side by side on elevation, lift-pass price and what the private transfer to each one costs.
Related routes
Frequently asked questions
How much is a transfer from Tbilisi to Kazbegi in winter?
As of 25 September 2026, from 305 GEL per car by sedan, 405 GEL by 4x4 and 468 GEL by minivan (155 km). Tbilisi to Gudauri is from 270 GEL by sedan. Prices are per car, not per person.
How much is a transfer from Tbilisi Airport to Gudauri or Kazbegi?
As of 25 September 2026, from current driver offers per car to Gudauri (138 km) and from current driver offers to Kazbegi (169 km) by sedan.
Does the Jvari Pass close in winter?
Yes, temporarily. The Roads Department closes the Gudauri (Posta)-Kobi section in blizzards or high avalanche danger, sometimes for hours and sometimes for days. Gudauri itself usually stays reachable; Kazbegi is beyond the pass. Check georoad.ge on the morning you travel.
Do I need chains or a 4x4 to get to Gudauri or Kazbegi?
Winter tyres are compulsory on the designated mountain sections from 1 December to 1 March, and chains are required when the authorities order them. With a private transfer this is the driver's job; in heavy snow choose a 4x4.
Is the road from Tbilisi to Gudauri safe in winter?
The Georgian Military Highway is maintained in winter, but conditions change fast. Local drivers use winter tyres and chains when required and follow road-status updates.
How long does Tbilisi to Gudauri or Kazbegi take in winter?
In normal conditions about 2 to 2.5 hours to Gudauri and 3 to 3.5 hours to Kazbegi (Stepantsminda); heavy snowfall and pass restrictions can add time.
How much is the marshrutka from Tbilisi to Kazbegi?
About 15-20 GEL per person from Didube bus station (2026 reports), paid in cash. It leaves when full and stops on the highway, not at hotels.
Can I bring ski or snowboard equipment?
Yes. Add it in the booking note; for groups with ski gear a minivan is the comfortable choice.
What happens if the road is temporarily closed?
Your driver monitors closures and agrees a new departure time with you. If you pay cash to the driver, you pay only after the ride.
How do I pay?
Transfers: cash to the driver, no prepayment, no surcharge. Day trips: cash to the driver only for now.
When is the ski season in Gudauri?
In the 2025/26 season the lifts ran from 27 December to 19 April. The 2026/27 dates are not announced yet; check the resort's official announcements.
Can I book a round trip or a day trip to Kazbegi?
Yes. Book each direction as a transfer, or book the Kazbegi & the Mountain Road private day trip from Tbilisi: see the current trip quote per car for up to 4 guests, about 10 hours, cash only.
OrbiTrip Georgia — private transfers across Georgia with professional local drivers. Fixed prices, no prepayment.
Prefer to see it all in one day with your own car and driver? Kazbegi & the Mountain Road private day trip: Ananuri, Gudauri and Stepantsminda from Tbilisi, about 10 hours, see the current trip quote per car for up to 4 guests. Day trips are paid in cash to the driver. In winter the final route depends on the pass.