Heli Drop Skiing in Svaneti
Untracked descents in the heart of the Georgian Caucasus. Fly to remote high alpine faces above Mestia and ski powder you'd never reach on foot — with certified local mountain guides reading the snow every day.
Where we fly
Powder no lift can reach.
Prefer a whole week? See our guided ski expeditions from Mestia — 7, 10 or 14 days with IFMGA guides, from €1,548 per person.
Svaneti's terrain is made for heliskiing: long, open glacier bowls, tree runs at lower elevation and dramatic vertical beneath peaks like Tetnuldi and Ushba. Helicopter access lets us chase the best snow and aspect on any given day, far from the resort crowds.
Groups are small — four to five skiers per flight — and always led by certified guides carrying full avalanche safety equipment. Every program is flexible: we build the week around the weather, the snowpack and your ability, keeping reserve days so a storm never wastes your trip.
Arrival in Mestia & safety briefing
Transfer from Zugdidi or arrival by air, gear check and fitting, and a full avalanche-safety and transceiver briefing with your guides. Evening welcome supra with the team.
First flights — warm-up descents
A morning weather and snowpack assessment, then the helicopter lifts you to introductory alpine bowls to dial in the group and set the pace for the week.
Big alpine day
Long glacier runs and high faces on the best aspect of the day, with multiple laps and a mountain lunch. Vertical is maximised when conditions allow.
Trees & couloirs
Lower-elevation tree skiing and steeper lines to suit the group’s confidence, keeping options open depending on light and stability.
Reserve day & departure
Held as a weather buffer — a bonus ski day if the window is good, or a relaxed departure with transfer back. Flexibility keeps a storm from wasting your trip.
You should bring
Fitness & level
Heliskiing suits confident advanced skiers and riders comfortable in ungroomed, variable off-piste snow. You should be able to ski a black run with control in all conditions. No mountaineering experience is required — but good general fitness makes long powder days far more enjoyable. Avalanche transceiver, airbag pack, shovel and probe are provided and a briefing is run on day one.
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Heliskiing in Georgia — and the Svaneti alternative
In Svaneti we sell heli skiing by the drop, not by the week: one flight above Mestia, added to a guided freeride day. That means you get a big-mountain descent on Caucasus powder without committing to a multi-thousand-euro package. Georgia's week-long multi-drop operations are mostly based in Gudauri, on the other side of the country — different product, different budget, and we will point you there if that is genuinely what you want.
In Svaneti we focus on what this region does best: guided freerideDestinations, lift-free snowcat skiing (catski), and backcountry ski touring. For strong, experienced groups we can also arrange heli-assisted big-mountain days on request, using the helicopter to reach select high terrain around the Svan peaks.
Why consider Svaneti for big-mountain skiing
- Cold, dry Caucasus snow beneath 4,000–5,000 m peaks like Tetnuldi, Ushba and Shkhara.
- Far fewer skiers than the big resorts — you get the powder to yourselves.
- Catski delivers heli-style lift-free laps at a fraction of the cost and with more weather resilience.
- Local guides who grew up under these mountains and know where the snow is safe.
Heli, catski or touring — which is right?
If you want four heli days back to back, Gudauri is where that is run. If you want one big descent on your Svaneti trip — or untracked powder in a wild, quiet setting without a helicopter at all — Svaneti's catski and freeride deliver it superbly. Tell us your goals and we will build the right winter trip — including heli-assisted days for the right groups.
Frequently asked questions
Is there heliskiing in Svaneti?
Yes. We fly single heli drops above Mestia, combined with a guided freeride day on Svaneti snow. Week-long multi-drop packages in Georgia are mostly run from Gudauri — if that is what you are after, we will say so honestly.
What is a cheaper alternative to heliskiing in Georgia?
Snowcat skiing (catski). It gives you lift-free powder laps in remote terrain without the cost of helicopter time, and it works in a wider range of weather. In Svaneti we run catski on Tetnuldi and the Koruldi ridge.
When is the best time for big-mountain skiing in Svaneti?
Mid-December to early April, with February and March usually offering the deepest, most stable snow.