Sky DreamersHow to Get from Tbilisi to Gudauri
Gudauri is about 120 km north of Tbilisi, roughly a two-hour drive along the Georgian Military Highway. Here's how to get there by taxi, transfer, minibus or your own car, what the drive is like, and what to know about the road in winter.
Updated October 27, 20263 min read
The short answer
- Distance: about 120 km from central Tbilisi, and about 130 km from Tbilisi International Airport.
- Travel time: around two hours by car from the city, a little more from the airport. Allow extra time in winter.
- Easiest: a taxi or private transfer straight to your hotel.
- Cheapest: a minibus (marshrutka) from Didube bus station.
By taxi or private transfer
A taxi or private transfer is the simplest way, especially with luggage or ski gear. Transfer companies drive to Gudauri from Tbilisi airport (and from Kutaisi airport, which is much farther away), and many hotels in Gudauri can arrange a car for you.
If you take a taxi from Tbilisi, agree on the price before you set off. Prices change, so it's worth comparing a couple of offers.
By minibus (marshrutka) from Didube
Minibuses to Gudauri leave from Didube bus station, next to Didube metro station on the red line. Ask for Gudauri and you'll be pointed to the right minibus.
There's no fixed timetable: minibuses leave when they're full, mostly during the day, so don't count on a late-evening departure. Some continue to Stepantsminda (Kazbegi), so tell the driver you're getting off in Gudauri.
Tip: Didube can feel hectic, and drivers may come up to you offering rides. If you don't speak Georgian or Russian, have the name written down in Georgian: გუდაური (Gudauri).
By car
Drive north past Mtskheta and follow the Georgian Military Highway, the main road towards Stepantsminda (Kazbegi). The road runs past the Zhinvali Reservoir and Ananuri Fortress, both popular photo stops, then climbs through hairpin bends to Gudauri at 2,200 m.
This is also the main road to the Russian border, so expect lorries on the climb. In winter, drive a car with winter tyres, as the Roads Department of Georgia advises.
Winter roads
Heavy snow and avalanche risk can close or restrict parts of the Georgian Military Highway, sometimes for hours, sometimes longer.
Closures most often affect the stretch beyond Gudauri, from Gudauri over the Cross Pass to Kobi, where the avalanche risk is highest. The road up to Gudauri can be restricted in bad weather too.
Before you set off, check the latest road updates from the Roads Department of Georgia, and leave extra time for the drive.
Day trip or overnight stay?
A day trip from Tbilisi is possible, at about two hours each way. But paragliding depends on the weather, and we confirm the exact flight time with you based on the conditions on the day. Staying at least one night in Gudauri gives you more room to fly.
Find out what to expect in our complete guide to paragliding in Gudauri, or book your flight: we'll confirm within a few hours, with no prepayment.