Hotels near Kobi Valley Descent

The Kobi valley descent hangs off the three-section Poma gondola line that opened in 2018 and connects Gudauri Ski Resort to Kobi village on the Georgian Military Highway. The sections are named Firni (1,992 m), Kobi (2,271 m) and Truso (2,837 m), a shade over 7,100 m of cable in total, crossing the Kobi Pass at roughly 2,900 m and covering 1,217 m of elevation difference in about fifteen minutes. Each of the 213 cabins carries ten people.

Skiing the far side puts you on wide north-facing intermediate terrain that stays quiet even in February half-term, with the Mount Kazbek massif filling the horizon. Kobi village itself sits at 1,970 m, some 20 km from Stepantsminda. Non-skiers can ride the line purely as sightseers: a return ticket cost 45 GEL (about 15 EUR) for adults and 35 GEL (about 12 EUR) for children aged six to twelve in winter 2025/26. The gondola doubles as a public link when snow closes the Jvari Pass road.

Pro Tip: Drop into the Kobi valley before 14:00. The last ride back over the Kobi Pass is tied to the 17:00 lift close, and a taxi from Kobi village back up the Georgian Military Highway to Gudauri costs several times the 45 GEL gondola fare.