There are only a few days left until the start of winter and it’s time to think about which ski resort to choose for your holiday this year. To do this, you don’t have to get a visa and fly abroad: there is good skating in Russia. We have selected 11 excellent resorts that are no worse than the Alps in quality and nicer in prices.
Photo: vk.com/arkhyzz
Caucasus
“Arkhyz”
Winner in the category “Best young ski resort in Russia” of the Sports Industry Leaders award in 2016. Skiers and snowboarders love Arkhyz: in more than three years, more than 500 thousand people have visited here, and the resort has gained the glory of the “Russian Alps”.
And this love is understandable: here you will find stunning scenery, an excellent climate for skiing and a snowy, sunny winter. “Arkhyz” is located at an altitude of 1400 to 3300 meters above sea level, the highest points being Pshish and Sofia mountains. On the territory you will find beautiful untouched nature, beautiful glaciers and mountain lakes.
There are currently 8 trails at the resort, difficulty levels from green to black. It is worth noting that the resort is constantly developing and growing, so if you are not ready to go to the Russian Alps this year, still add Arkhyz to your plans for the future.
The disadvantage of Arkhyz is that there are still few hotels at the resort, and rooms are sold out very quickly. If the prices for the remaining rooms scare you, you can always rent a room from local residents or stay in the village of Arkhyz (minibuses run from there to the resort).
Piste map – Arkhyz ski resort
Season: from January to March
Number of tracks: 8
Road cost from Moscow: round-trip flight from 3,562 rubles (to Mineralnye Vody) + 350 rubles for flight bus from the airport to the village “Romantic”.
Accommodation: from 1,010 rubles per person per night
Ski pass: 7,700 rubles for 7 days
Complex website: arhyz-resort.ru
Photo: nedoma.ru
“Dombay”
Dombay is one of the most popular ski centers in the Caucasus. The resort is located in a very beautiful place: in a nature reserve near the confluence of several rivers. The beauty here is still wild, the development of the resort began quite recently, but at a good pace: in recent years, comfortable hotels have appeared in Dombay, a new line of ski lifts has opened, the owners of the resort have purchased modern equipment and hired a team of good instructors. So a few more years – and no Alps will be needed. In addition, the prices for skiing here are pleasing.
Both beginners and pros will enjoy Dombay. The main slope is Mussa-Achitara; you can descend from it along a dozen different routes with a total length of 20 km. The ski area is located at an altitude of 1630 to 3012 meters. A lot of gentle slopes for those who are not yet too confident in themselves are adjacent to steep red slopes. For experienced professionals, there are six routes on “wild slopes”, where you and an instructor will be taken by helicopter and picked up after the descent. The pleasure is not cheap, but worth it.
Piste map – Dombay ski resort
Season: from December to April
Number of trails: 12
Road cost from Moscow: flight from 3,562 rubles (to Mineralnye Vody) + 800 rubles by bus.
Accommodation: from 1,500 rubles per person per night
Ski pass: 8,920 rubles for 7 days
Complex website: dombaj.ru
“Elbrus region”
This is one of the largest and most popular ski resorts in Russia. At the same time, there are not only high-quality tracks, but also very reasonable prices, especially compared to Europe. People come to Elbrus to get on skis and boards or to hone their skills – there is excellent skiing for everyone. The ski complex includes two slopes – Elbrus and Cheget.
Elbrus officially has 11 pistes with a total length of 11 kilometers, but in reality it is one large mountain slope where skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels can ride. The trails are mostly blue: wide and flat, with short red sections. If you are not too confident in your abilities yet, go to the Azau clearing, where an excellent green track has been prepared.
Cheget is a place for extreme sports enthusiasts and professionals. There are 15 official slopes, but again it is more of a single slope. The long and steep route is considered one of the most difficult in the world; the descents run through a pine forest, so beginners should not venture here. But there are plenty of opportunities for freeride and backcountry. On the northern slope there are Cheget hillocks – natural formations, skiing on which helps develop balance and improve control over skis. Snowboarders are recommended to ski on the southern slope of Cheget, where the slopes are wider but no less steep.
Scheme of routes of Elbrus and Cheget
Season: from November to May
Number of trails: 11 on Elbrus, 15 on Cheget
Road cost from Moscow: flight to Nalchik from 3,644 rubles per person + taxi from the airport from 3,500 rubles one way
Accommodation: from 355 rubles per person per night
Ski pass: 8600 rubles for 6 days
Complex website: resort-elbrus.ru
Photo: vk.com/big_wood
Kola Peninsula
BigWOOD (“Big Woodyavr”)
The modern ski resort in Khibiny was built relatively recently. BigWOOD is located 9 km from Kirovsk, on the southern slope of Mount Aykuaivenchorr (Sleeping Beauty). The level of service and quality of services here are excellent, prices are not higher than at other good Russian resorts.
“Big Woodyavr” is the highest mountain complex in the North-West of Russia. There are 8 ski routes of varying difficulty, and 5 of them are suitable for beginners. The quality of the tracks is at the European level, several have FIS certificates. In total, skiers and snowboarders can expect more than 45 kilometers of skiing, 18 of which have artificial lighting – an important detail, given that daylight hours are short in the north.
The total elevation difference is 550 meters. For beginners there is a training slope with a belt lift; for professionals there are wide trails for fun carving with a slope of up to 40%, a snow park and three virgin couloirs. In general, no one will be bored.
Piste map – Bolshoi Vudyavr ski resort
Season: from November to May, but in favorable weather there is snow even in August.
Number of routes: 8
Road cost from Moscow: flight from 14,457 rubles ( to Kirovsk) or train “Moscow – Apatity” from 1,583 rubles (reserved seat)
Accommodation:from 350 rubles per person per night
Ski pass: 6000 rubles for 7 days
Complex website: bigwood.ru
Photo: vk.com/gesh_info
Siberia
“Sheregesh”
“Sheregesh” is one of the most equipped resorts in Western Siberia. The tracks here are considered the best in the region. The resort is located in the south of the Kemerovo region, in the Gornaya Shoria massif. This is a stunning place the size of a small European country, almost the entire territory of which is covered with impenetrable taiga. Snow is guaranteed here during the season, the skiing is interesting, there are tracks for both beginners and professionals – virgin soil awaits them in the forest.
Two slopes in Sheregesh have a FIS certificate; one of the stages of the Russian Alpine Ski Championship is held on them. In total, the resort has six ski areas, with 15 trails with a total length of about 36 kilometers. The elevation changes here range from 640 meters on long, gentle slopes to 1270 meters on slopes for extreme sports enthusiasts.
Sheregesh stands out among ski resorts for its unusually long season – the climate allows skiing here from November to May. Moreover, thanks to the unique combination of humidity and temperature, beautiful snow falls already in November, forming a soft “powder” that freeriders love so much.
Piste map – Sheregesh ski resort
Season: from November to May
Number of trails: 15
Road cost from Moscow: flight from 19,551 rubles (to Novokuznetsk) + 3,700 rubles by taxi to the resort
Accommodation: from 550 per person per night
Ski pass : 1200 rubles per day
Complex website: gesh.info
Ural
“Zavyalikha”
This relatively young, but already quite popular ski resort is located 200 kilometers from Ufa and Chelyabinsk. Skiers and snowboarders love Zavyalikha for excellent snow, good service and affordable prices.
The national snowboard team trains in Zavyalikha, and Russian Cup competitions are also held here – all this testifies to the quality of the slopes. They are named here romantically, after the names of gems: Malachite, Agate, Rhodonite, Garnet, Charoite, Dolomite, and in the future they promise to open Aventurine.
There are ten tracks in the complex: one black, seven red, one for beginners and one for children. The longest trails start at the top of Mount Zavyalikha and go down to the foot, the height difference reaches 860 meters. The total length of the trails is about 16.5 kilometers. You can also ride off-piste, it is not prohibited here.
Slope diagram – Zavyalikha ski resort
Season: from November to April
Number of trails: 12
Road cost from Moscow: flight from 4,830 rubles (to Ufa). If you are traveling in a group, you can order a free transfer from the airport at the resort.
Accommodation: from 1,800 rubles per person per night in a hotel ” Stone Flower” (located on the territory of the ski resort)
Ski pass: 1,600 rubles/day on weekends, 900 rubles on weekdays
Complex website: zavjalikha.net
Photo: gubaha.com
“Gubakha”
This ski center is located in the south of the Northern Urals, in the Perm region. Gubakha is famous for its variety of trails: there are tracks for downhill, slalom, giant slalom and freeride. The Perm Open Alpine Skiing Championship is being held in Gubakha.
The maximum height difference is 310 meters, the total length of the trails is more than 20 kilometers. Trails of different difficulty levels do not intersect, so skiing is quite safe. Most of the routes at the top converge at one point, so you can change the route at any time before starting the descent. Beginners will not be afraid; there are quite a lot of long and gentle sections for them and there is a convenient training track.
The trails are not fenced with nets, and the administration of the complex has nothing against freeriders – they even have a separate, longest track – almost 2 km of pure pleasure.
Slope diagram – Gubakha ski resort
Season: from December to April
Number of trails: 17
Road cost from Moscow: flight from 4,648 rubles (to Perm) + bus from 380 rublesAccommodation: from 600 rubles per person per night
Ski pass: 1200 rubles/day on weekends, 900 rubles on weekdays
Complex website: gubaha.com
“Abzakovo”
Residents of Magnitogorsk have long chosen this ski resort – it is located only 60 km from the city – and a couple of years ago, after the construction of a modern ski complex, skiers and snowboarders from all over Russia began to come here.
Russian biathlon and alpine skiing teams train in Abzakovo, and also host stages of the Russian Cup. The season here lasts from November to May, and there is snow in any weather: there are snow cannons on eight of the thirteen slopes. The slopes are mostly flat and not too difficult: there are no black slopes, 4 red ones, the rest are suitable for those who have been skiing for a short time. Night skiing is offered daily during high season.
If you get tired of skiing, you can switch to a snowmobile (there is a separate track for them),
go ice skating or go to the Aquarium water park.
Season: from November to May
Number of trails: 14
Road cost from Moscow: flight to Magnitogorsk from 5,917 rubles per person, train from Magnitogorsk to Novoabzakovo station from 315 rubles per person one way
Accommodation: from 1,000 rubles per person per night
Ski pass: 1400 rubles/day on weekends, 1000 rubles/day on weekdays
Complex website: abzakovo.com
“Bath”
If you get bored of skiing in Abzakovo – or you’ve already been there and want something new – pay attention to the Bannoye ski complex, it’s only 25 kilometers away. Magnitogorsk is also closer from here – 40 kilometers. The complex itself is located on the shores of Lake Bannoye, surrounded by stunningly beautiful mountains and forests.
There are fewer tracks here than in Abzakovo – only 4, two red, blue and green. The length of the trails is 2.5 kilometers, the elevation difference is 450 meters. But there are excellent conditions for skiing for beginners and a separate park for children. There is a large snow park, halfpipe and tubing for those who are tired of skiing. Fans of night skiing are appreciated here, the slopes are beautifully lit.
Piste diagram – Bannoye ski resort
Season: from November to May
Number of trails: 4
Road cost from Moscow: flight to Magnitogorsk from 5,917 rubles per person
Accommodation: from 338 rubles per person per night
Ski pass: 4000 rubles for 3 days
Complex website: ski-bannoe.ru
“Adzhigardak”
In the west of the Southern Urals there is another ski resort, “Adzhigardak”. It differs from others in its mild, pleasant climate: the temperature in this area rarely drops below -15 C, and there is usually a lot of snow. So it’s usually warmer here than at other resorts in the Urals.
The trails go along the slopes of Mount Adjigarak, today there are ten of them, they are certified by FIS. The trails are mostly blue with black and red sections. A separate area with rails and training jumps is equipped for snowboarders.
Since the eighties, a children’s and youth school of Olympic reserve has been operating at the resort, and competitions and starts are held on the slopes all winter.
The resort is actively developing: modern hotels are being built, and a couple of years ago new ski lifts were launched, which opened access to the northern slope, where four more slopes are open. This season, a lift to the top of the mountain has also been launched, where a new large freeride area has been opened.
Piste map – Adzhigardak ski resort
Season: from November to April
Number of trails: 10
Road cost from Moscow: flight to Ufa from 4,830 rubles per person, train from Ufa to Asha station » from 346 rubles per person one way
Accommodation: from 3,500 rubles per person per night
Ski pass: 2200 rubles for 1 day
Complex website: adzhigardak.ru
Photo: vk.com/gornyvozdukh
Far East
“Mountain air”
On Sakhalin there is one of the most dynamically developing ski resorts in Russia – “Mountain Air”. It is located right in the capital of the island, in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
By 2020, they promise a paradise for skiers and snowboarders: three new hills will be developed, as many as nine cable cars will be built, and the length of the slopes will increase to 85 kilometers. This is the future, but the present is already good: today in the “Mountain Air” there are 14 tracks of different difficulty levels: five black, seven red and two green. The longest route is 4.4 kilometers. The height difference is also impressive – 495 meters.
Piste map – ski resort Mountain Air
Skating season: from December to April
Number of slopes: 14
Road cost from Moscow: flight from 16,910 rubles (to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk)
Accommodation: from 600 rubles per person per night
Ski pass: 6000 rubles for 5 days
Complex website: ski-gv.ru
* Prices for flights and accommodation are indicated at the time of writing. The cost indicated in the material and the final price may differ.
