10 best ski resorts in Russia and the CIS

A ski resort is a small town with slopes, skating rinks, hotels, cable cars, attractions and restaurants. There is something for amateurs and professionals of all ages. Resorts of Russia and CIS are actively catching up with more popular European competitors, improving service and quality. Now domestic tourists do not need to travel far to enjoy winter sports.

We reviewed ten the best options, figured out the reasons for their popularity, strengths and weaknesses. Among them there are resorts with gentle slopes for beginners and children. A couple of options are suitable for experienced tourists, they host international competitions. AT rating we have included secluded places and those known throughout the country.

TOP 10 best ski resorts in Russia and the CIS

10 Gudauri, Georgia

Opens rating the best Gudauri - ski a resort on the slope of the Caucasus Range, which attracts several thousand tourists annually. Most of the trails are designed for beginners and lovers of calm descents, when there is enough snow, freeride opportunities open up. The pros prefer slalom and climb to the top, while the rest slowly slide down the mountains. The total length of the tracks is 50 km. All slopes are certified by the ski federation. The pride of the resort are three chairlifts and gondola lifts Dopelmeyer, built by Austrian specialists. In addition to skiing, swimming pools, several tennis courts, bowling, saunas, massages, horseback riding and excursions to Tbilisi are available.

Visitors note the novelty of the cable cars and the quality of the pistes. A ski pass for the whole day costs 800 rubles. There is always a lot of snow, but I would like to improve the service. The hotel sometimes loses hot water, the rooms are not the newest and cleanest. There is no pharmacy at the resort, all medicines must be taken with you. The communication between the lifts is set incorrectly, you will have to walk to the beginning of the slope. During landing and exit, you can get hit on the legs and head.

9 Smooth, Khakassia

Gladenkaya is named after the mountain in the southern part of the Republic of Khakassia, where the resort is located. Occupying the north side, it hosts amateurs and pros from all over the country. The slopes are certified for all winter sports, including downhill and slalom.The length of the route is 3.2 km with a vertical drop of up to 830 meters. On the southern slope there is a simpler descent 1 km long. On the mountain, the finals of the Russian Championship in ski sports. Freeriders have chosen the northwestern track with a vertical drop of 920 meters.

Visitors live in the hotel complex Gladenkaya, located at an altitude of 1,350 meters above sea level. Having rolled enough, tourists go to the Zharki entertainment center with a fitness instructor and a cinema hall. According to the reviews, it is clear that there is still little snow at the beginning of the season, and special cannons often break. The menu in the cafe is very simple and quickly gets boring, and the prices are too high. There is a strong wind on the slopes, so artificially sprayed snow spreads to the sides.

8 Zavyalikha, Chelyabinsk Region

Zavyalikha is located near Chelyabinsk and attracts tourists with good snow, high-quality trail preparation and service. The resort appeared in 2000 and was completely renovated in 2011. Now the national team trains there, cup competitions are held Russia snowboarding. The season is open from mid-November to April, the average temperature is only -10 degrees. Tourists live in the hotel complex Stone Flower, which includes several restaurants, a cinema hall and a gym. Experienced instructors are waiting for beginners, an hour of classes costs 1,300 rubles.

Visitors have access to 10 tracks with a length of 16.5 km, of which one is black, seven are red, several for beginners and children. The vertical drop is 430 meters, which is enough for pros and speed lovers.Most of the tracks are FIS certified, equipped with snowmaking systems and good lighting. In the upper part of the mountains, slopes for cross-country skiers with a length of 15 km are available to tourists. There are ski lifts, towing and chair lifts. The resort is proud to have completely solved the problem with queues. However, we put Zavyalikha in 8th place topas there is often little snow. Many trails are almost always closed, you can see protruding stones and earth.

7 Karakol, Kyrgyzstan

Karakol is one of the few in the countries CISthat challenges professionals. For beginners and amateurs, there are a couple of slopes, but not everyone can cope with a height difference of 650 meters and an average steepness of 30 degrees. The resort is not designed for large groups of tourists, there are only 2 chair lifts. But you can ride wherever the guest is able to drive. There are practically no people on the slopes, but no one monitors safety during the descent. Tired of being active recreation, visitors go to Tash Suu hot springs. For a symbolic 200 soms (2.5 euros) you can stay there for several hours.

Tourists warn that the infrastructure of the resort is not developed, it is far from European standards. But at an altitude of 2 km there is a cafe with delicious food and prices up to 100 rubles. Of the 2 lifts, one often does not work, and the other is very slow. Cabins are not insulated, it's cold inside. In addition to skiing, you can go to karaoke, several shops and cafes, there are no other activities. Visitors recommend to come with a company or for a couple of days, then it's not boring.

6 Chimgan, Uzbekistan

sixth place among the best occupies Chimgan, located in the bosom of a mountain range. A large selection of trails and the possibility of a long descent attract beginners and amateurs from neighboring countries. There is nothing to disturb the calm rest - large tourist groups have not yet had time to choose this place. The season lasts from December to March, it is recommended to call the administrators before the trip and make sure that there is enough snow. Here they ski not only on skis, but also on snowmobiles, snowboards, sleds and skates. More experienced prefer freeride. The hotel has an equipment rental point, there are tow and cable cars to all the slopes.

Judging by the reviews, ski The resort has many regular visitors. They note that here nature appears in all its grandeur. Perhaps comfort suffers a little from this, but Chimgan makes you feel freedom. It is allowed to ride and take pictures against the backdrop of mountains. Not far from the resort there is a market with souvenirs. The cafes serve traditional dishes, the prices are quite democratic. The only warning to future visitors is that the height difference is 300 meters, you cannot develop huge speeds here. The best place for parents with children.

5 Abzakovo, Magnitogorsk

Abzakovo is a Russian resort located on the ridge Krykty-Tau. On the eastern slopes, 13 tracks 18 km long with a height difference of up to 320 meters were built. 4 of them are accredited FIS (International Ski Federation) and are suitable for slalom.The trails are divided by color indicating difficulty - 4 green, 5 blue and 4 red. 8 of them are equipped with snow cannons, skiing is allowed from the very beginning of winter. Every day the surfaces are leveled with snowcats. Biathlon lovers have a place to turn around - 30 firing lines have been installed on 10 km of tracks. Snowmobile trails available. Almost all skiing takes place among the coniferous forest.

We could not but add Abzakovo to top, because night skiing is organized here twice a week. There are trails for beginners, almost everywhere there are identification marks. Families, groups of friends and professional enthusiasts come here. Tired of the ski slopes, tourists go skating and horse-drawn sledges. There is a baby lift for parents with toddlers. The cable car covers the entire complex with peaks. The ascent takes 16 minutes, during which time 2 km is overcome. Although visitors have no complaints about the slopes, there are wishes for living. The rooms are small and outdated. Upon arrival, the client sees an inventory of everything in the room (forks, pillows, chairs, etc.). This attitude towards guests slightly spoils the impression of the resort.

4 Dombay, Caucasus

A worthy 4th place was taken by the Russian Dombai, which attracts tourists with 20 km of trails of varying difficulty. The resort boasts groomed slopes and a well-developed network of lifts, including pendulum, gondola and chair lifts. International freestyle World Cup competitions have already been held here several times, the slopes challenge experienced snowboarders and skiers. Hotels are being actively updated, some have been certified and received 3 * or 4 *. The prices are a little high, but the service is also good.There are cheaper options - cozy small hotels with 10-15 rooms.

In the reviews, tourists note the stunning views that open from the top of Moussa-Achitara at an altitude of 3,012 meters. From here, descents are carried out along several routes of different steepness and complexity. Real pros are advised to visit the unclimbed slopes. Tourists, along with an instructor, are taken by helicopter to the top of the slope, then they are picked up at the bottom. The resort has a lot of positive reviews, guests do not find serious shortcomings. But some talk about the high cost, others point out the need for more signs.

3 Tufandag, Azerbaijan

Decent third place top deserved Tufandag - ski resort at an altitude of 1920 meters above sea level. It is considered one of the most modern places in the countries CIS. The site is located 20 km from the airport, close to everything you need for a comfortable stay. The resort began operations in 2014 and is capable of accommodating 3,000 people at the same time. Tourists stay at the Qafqaz Tufandag Mountain Resort 5 *, or in more affordable hotels with a minimum set of services.

Total resort offers 11 pistes with a length of 17 km. The slope of the tracks varies from 900 meters to 3.15 km - the latter challenges even professional athletes! Skiing begins at the beginning of winter, hundreds of snow cannons create an artificial surface. Cable cars with a length of 5.8 km deliver tourists to hard-to-reach places. Around the hotel there are restaurants, souvenir shops, cafes, sports equipment rental centers.The only reason we did not give the resort a higher place is the prices. For the CIS, they are greatly overestimated and are practically equal to European ones.

2 Chimbulak, Kazakhstan

Second place among the best occupies Chimgan, located in the bosom of a mountain range. A large selection of trails and the possibility of a long descent attract beginners and enthusiasts from neighboring countries. There is nothing to disturb the calm rest - tourist groups have not yet had time to choose this place. The season lasts from December to March, it is recommended to call the administrators before the trip and make sure that there is enough snow. Here they ski not only on skis, but also on snowmobiles, snowboards, sleds and skates. More experienced prefer freeride. The hotel has an equipment rental point, there are tow and cable cars to all the slopes.

Judging by the reviews, ski The resort has many regular visitors. They note that here nature appears in all its grandeur. Perhaps comfort suffers a little from this, but Chimgan makes you feel freedom. It is allowed to ride and take pictures against the backdrop of mountains. Not far from the resort there is a market with souvenirs. The cafes serve traditional dishes, the prices are quite democratic. The only warning to future visitors is that the height difference is 300 meters, you cannot develop huge speeds here. The best place for parents with children.

1 Rosa Khutor, Sochi

About Rosa Khutor Russia probably everyone knows, she deservedly became the leader of the rating. She has the largest snowmaking system in Europe, skiing starts from the end of November. Vacationers have access to 100 km of trails of any complexity. Everything is kept clean and tidy, the service is at a high level. The resort has 7 cable cars, professionals are waiting in the extreme park with a springboard. Guests live in hotels from 3 to 5 stars. Rosa Khutor has received the international World Ski Awards three times and is deservedly considered one of the the best. Prices here are appropriate and close to European ones.

Visitors warn that several thousand skiers come out on the slopes all the time, it’s not a secluded place. Many go to the highest point of Rose Peak (2320 meters above sea level) for photos and downhill skiing. Near the queue lift, the rental is always packed with people waiting for their size. Prices in cafes and restaurants are very high, the ski pass is expensive, as are the cable cars. To get to the slopes before lunch, you have to get up early in the morning.

Popular vote - which ski resort in Russia or the CIS do you consider the best?
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Shymbulak

Chimgan

Tufandag

Danilovka

Abzakovo

Rosa Khutor

Karakol

Zavyalikha

Smooth

Gudauri

Total voted: 42

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