Winter is coming, and it’s time to think about where to go to conquer the snow-covered slopes on skis or snowboards. The sooner you book your accommodation and flights, the more profitable your trip will be. We talk about the main ski resorts in Russia and how to get to them and where to stay.
Sochi
How to get there
The airport is located in Adler. A round-trip flight from Moscow will cost from 3,700 rubles* per person.
Where to live
Hotel “Panda’s Shelter” in Esto-Sadok – from 1000 rubles* per night per person;
Hotel Rosa Village in Esto-Sadok – from 2500 rubles* per night per person.
Resort Features
There are three ski resorts in Sochi: Rosa Khutor (length of slopes 102 km), “Krasnaya Polyana” (about 30 km of tracks) and “Gazprom” (total length of tracks 28.5 km), Moreover, they are located practically within walking distance of each other, so you can ride around all of them during your vacation. Officially, the season begins in mid-December and ends in March, but February and March are considered the best months for skiing. The resorts have slopes for all levels: from green to black.
What to see
Relax after an active day in baths and spa centers, high-mountain bars and cafes. If the thrill of skiing is not enough, go to Skypark, where you can walk along one of the longest suspension bridges over the rocks and bungee jump into the abyss. At the Gazprom resort, go paragliding, ride a snowmobile or buggy, visit the Husky Park or a deer farm. On a sunny day, we recommend going to the sea in Adler or Sochi and taking a walk through the Olympic Park.
Sheregesh
How to get there
You need to fly to Kemerovo (tickets from 6,300 rubles* per person) or Novokuznetsk (from 10,000 rubles*). Transfer to the resort from Kemerovo will take about two and a half hours, from Novokuznetsk – four hours.
Where to live
Shoriland Hotel – from 1200 rubles* per night per person;
Western Hotel – from 4000 rubles* per night per person.
Resort Features
One of the best ski resorts in Western Siberia attracts tourists with the beauty of the landscape, mountain peaks and stable snow cover that lasts for more than six months. There are tracks here for both beginners and experienced skiers, and it’s also simply a paradise for freeriders due to the unique conditions: small forests, lack of avalanche danger and the possibility of getting there on snowmobiles or snowcats. The total length of the trails is more than 35 km. The ski season lasts from November to May.
What to see
Popular entertainment options include snow tubing, paragliding, horse-drawn sleigh rides or dog sledding. The Yeti Cave (Azas Cave) is interesting. where, according to local hunters, Bigfoot was seen. This is the most mystical place in Mountain Shoria. In winter, stalactites and stalagmites of various shapes freeze in the grottoes.
Arkhyz
Photo: Igor Lushchay/shutterstock.com
How to get there
A flight to Mineralnye Vody will cost an average of 3,500 rubles* per person. From the city to the resort there are 210 km, which can be traveled by taxi or bus.
Where to live
Hotel “Olympic” – from 3400 rubles* per night per person;
Turbaza Alania Sky – from 4500 rubles* per night per person.
Resort Features
This is a fairly young resort, the infrastructure of which is still developing. There are many wide trails (total length 27 km) with comfortable elevation changes and high-quality snow coverage, surrounded by picturesque coniferous forests. The resort is especially convenient for beginners – more than half of the pistes are green and blue, and there are also ones for evening skiing. The season lasts from December to March.
What to see
In your free time from skiing, you can ride snowmobiles to the Arkasara plateau, visit the famous Astrophysical Observatory, explore the ruins of the Nizhne-Arkhyz settlement and medieval temples, paraglid and relax in thermal springs.
Elbrus
How to get there
A flight to Mineralnye Vody will cost an average of 3,500 rubles* per person. From the city to the resort there are 190 km, which can be traveled by taxi or bus.
Where to live
Hotel “Elbrusia” – from 2700 rubles* per night per person;
Hotel “Usengi” – from 5400 rubles* per night per person.
Resort Features
Elbrus is notable for the fact that there is only one route leading from the top to the very bottom. It has branches and connections, so sections change levels of difficulty. The total length is just over 12 km, the season lasts from November to May. For experienced freeriders, there are guided group tours that will feature breathtaking descents. If you wish, you can also ride in neighboring Cheget, which is located 12 km away and offers great opportunities for off-piste skiing.
What to see
To break up your days of skiing and relieve your muscles, go to thermal springs, the Chegem waterfalls and the Baksan Gorge. In the immediate vicinity of the resort there is the Narzanov Valley, the Vysotsky Museum, as well as a cafe where you can catch trout yourself in the pond and immediately taste it on the grill.
Dombay
How to get there
A flight to Mineralnye Vody will cost an average of 3,500 rubles* per person. From the city to the resort there are 230 km, which can be traveled by taxi or bus.
Where to live
Hotel “Taulu” – from 2800 rubles* per night per person;
Hotel Foton – from 2600 rubles* per night per person.
Resort Features
The slopes of Dombay are wide and quite gentle, but there are also extreme trails, as well as opportunities for freeride and off-piste skiing, so it will be interesting for both beginners and experienced riders. You can even try heli-skiing – take a helicopter to the top and descend on untouched snow. The ski area is located at an altitude of 1800-3200 m. The season in Dombay lasts from December to April. The total length of the tracks is 20 km.
What to see
In between skiing, go to the sauna complexes, go paragliding and ride horses. The most interesting winter hiking route is considered to be the Devil’s Mill Canyon – a high platform directly above a seething mountain river. Not far from the resort, above the village of Nizhnyaya Teberda, there is the oldest Sentinsky temple in Russia.
Big Woodyavr and Kukisvumchorr
How to get there
From Moscow it is more convenient to fly to Murmansk (from 4200 rubles* per person) or Kirovsk (from 9900 rubles*).
Where to live
Hotel “Tirvas” in Kirovsk – from 2900 rubles* per night per person;
Hotel “Khibiny” in Kirovsk – from 2700 rubles* per night per person.
Resort Features
Within the city of Kirovsk there are two resorts – Bolshoi Vudyavr (the length of the trails is 25 km) and Kukisvumchorr (the total length of the trails is 10 km). These are the highest mountain resorts in North-West Russia, located in the Khibiny massif. There are many red and black trails, which will be interesting for experienced riders. Both resorts have modern infrastructure, and some of the slopes are illuminated, so you can ski them even in the dark. Bolshoy Vudyavr has a snow park for those who love difficult tricks and acrobatic elements. Freeride is very popular in the region. The skiing season in the Khibiny Mountains lasts from November to May.
What to see
For those who want to diversify their vacation, there are many interesting activities – ice fishing, snowmobile tours, a “Snow Village” with ice sculptures, sledding with a husky and, of course, watching the northern lights. If you want to stay in the Murmansk region, we recommend going skiing or mountaineering on winter routes.
Abzakovo
How to get there
You can fly to Chelyabinsk (from 4800 rubles* per person) or Ufa (from 3800 rubles*). Transfer to the resort from Chelyabinsk will take 2.5 hours, from Ufa – 3.5.
Where to live
Active Hotel “Gorki” – from 4900 rubles* per night per person;
Inn Chalet Polyana – from 2500 rubles* per night per person.
Resort Features
Abzakovo has all the trails except the most extreme black ones. There are 13 of them in total, including 4 FIS tracks for slalom and giant slalom, so the skiing will be interesting and varied. There is a training slope, a snowpark, illuminated trails for evening skiing and a freeride slope. The required level of snow cover is maintained through artificial snowmaking. The total length of the trails is 15.9 km, the season lasts from November to May.
What to see
The resort has an area for cross-country skiing and snowmobiling, an ice skating rink, and a water park with a magnificent winter landscape outside the panoramic windows. There is also a park with huskies on the territory of the complex, and in the entertainment complex NON-STOP you can play bowling, billiards, table tennis and air hockey.
“Mountain air”
How to get there
A flight to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk will cost from 21,200 rubles* per person.
Where to live
Hotel “Lotus” – from 2700 rubles* per night per person;
Hotel “Commander” – from 4600 rubles* per night per person.
Resort Features
“Mountain Air” is considered one of the best ski resorts in the Far East, and it is also an excellent reason to visit Sakhalin. The slopes are suitable for riders of all skill levels, and here you can learn the basics on a training slope, find a ski cross track and a snowboard park. The resort has an artificial snowmaking system, so the surface is always comfortable, and there is also an illuminated area for evening skiing. The total length of the slopes is 25 km, the skiing season lasts from December to April.
What to see
To take a break from skiing, go on a hiking trip through the winter expanses of the island on cross-country skis or snowshoes, on a snowmobile safari, winter fishing, and ride in a snowmobile sleigh to Cape Velikan and Cape Eustathia. Mighty rock formations and the Sea of Okhotsk await travelers in Tikhaya Bay, and extreme sports enthusiasts can go on a winter climb to the mountains Krasnaya, Mayorskaya, Luga, Yuno, Rossiyskaya or Bykova.
Belokurikha
How to get there
Fly to Gorno-Altaisk (tickets from 8,300 rubles* per person) or Barnaul (from 9,500 rubles*). Transfer to the resort from Gorno-Altaisk will take 2 hours, and from Barnaul – 2 hours 40 minutes.
Where to live
Hotel “Estate” – from 2100 rubles* per night per person;
Hotel “Neo” – from 2500 rubles* per night per person.
Resort Features
For its mild climate and the absence of sudden temperature changes, Belokurikha is called “Siberian Switzerland”. The resort is located in the spurs of the Cherginsky ridge at an altitude of 250 m above sea level, covered with coniferous forests and crowned with bizarre granite rocks. It is ideal for beginner riders; there are no black trails here. The artificial snow system works and there is evening lighting. The length of the slopes is 6.9 km, and the ski season lasts from December to March.
What to see
In addition to conquering the slopes, tourists can enjoy winter trekking, paragliding, sledding, snowbiking, tubing, horse riding, and hot air ballooning. There is a water park next to the resort. 58 km from Belokurikha there is a reserve where hundreds of snow-white whooper swans flock every winter. “Swan” Lake does not freeze due to the gushing springs.
Beaver Log
Photo: Alexander_IV/shutterstock.com
How to get there
You need to fly to Krasnoyarsk, a ticket will cost from 8300 rubles* per person.
Where to live
Hotel “Snowy Owl” – from 2500 rubles* per night per person;
Maria Hotel – from 1400 rubles* per night per person.
Resort Features
The ski resort is located within Krasnoyarsk. Stable snow cover is maintained here due to artificial snowmaking. There are trails of all difficulty levels, including six black and five red for experienced riders. For beginners, a training slope equipped with a baby lift and soft limiters is suitable. The length of the trails is 10.9 km, some are illuminated, and the season lasts from November to April.
What to see
For extreme sports enthusiasts, there is the Rodelbahn attraction, which is a combination of bobsleigh and roller coaster. Carts rushing down the mountain reach speeds of up to 45 km/h, and the descent route is 3.4 km. The resort is adjacent to the Stolby Nature Reserve, the calling card of Krasnoyarsk – picturesque rock outcrops reach a height of 60-90 m, and there is also an ice waterfall.
We have collected all the largest resorts in Russia and the world in one place. See information about pistes, lifts, ski pass prices, as well as how to get there, where to live and what to see in the area.
*Prices valid at time of publication
