5 little-known ski resorts that are gaining popularity

What places come to mind when you are going snowboarding or skiing? Sheregesh, Rosa Khutor, Krasnaya Polyana. But what to do if you want to spend a ski weekend in solitude with wild nature and without long queues for the elevator? In this case, our expert has prepared five new destinations in Russia and CIS countries, where you can see virgin mountains on the descent and not only.

snowboarder and productologist at Globaldrive, a federal chain of outdoor goods for active recreation

I’ve noticed that it’s the bold step towards change that can give me the most unforgettable experiences, as well as a fresh perspective on familiar things. During my snowboarding education, I decided to take a new board with me and go to uncharted peaks like Arkhyz. This experience made me feel that life starts to play with different colors when you take risks and try something new. Now I not only live this philosophy, but also share it with pleasure.

Arkhyz, Russia

Difficulty level: for everyone.

Season: December – April.

Average cost of a ski pass: 2,500 rubles/day and 11,200 rubles/five days.

How to get there: shuttle bus or transfer to Arkhyz from the airport in Mineralnye Vody (1-6 thousand rubles) or Moscow-Arkhyz train.

Although skiers have been exploring this area since the noughties thanks to the heli-ski program (skiing from a helicopter), the construction of a new ski resort in the Western Caucasus began only 12 years later. The first cable car on the isthmus of the Main Caucasus Ridge became operational in 2012.

Now for those who prefer comfortable skiing, there are 27 km of prepared slopes with permanent snow cover, as well as tourist bases “Romantik” and “Lunnaya Polyana”, where cable cars to ready slopes are located. And fans of wild ski-tour in Arkhyz can ski up to the mark of 2840 meters and descend on virgin “puffy” snow.

The resort is divided into two directions – Northern and Southern sectors. The pistes of the Southern sector pass through picturesque pine forests at an altitude of 2000 meters.

Pistes of the Northern sector start almost in the sky – from 2840 m (Gabula Ridge), which is higher than the forest area. Both zones are suitable for travelers of any level of training.

Sophisticated professionals will like the trails with their varied relief from the 2340 m mark, leading to the Northern Lights cable car at the 1650 m level.

Dombai, Russia

Difficulty level: for everyone.

Season: December – April.

Average cost of ski pass: 2500 rubles/day and 11 200 rubles/five days.

How to get there: transfer from the airport in Mineralnye Vody or by train to Pyatigorsk, Nevinnomyssk, Nalchik or Cherkessk.

Another resort in the Caucasus Mountains, on the territory of the Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia, at the level of 1600 meters. If you dreamed of riding in the protected zone, this place is for you – Dombai is a part of Teberda State Reserve and is located at the intersection of three gorges: Alibek, Amanauz and Dombai-Ulgen. By the way, the exterminated species of bison, which used to inhabit this area and in honor of which Dombai was named, was brought from North America to Teberda again. And this definitely adds pluses in favor of choosing recreation in Dombai.

Although the resort has existed for a long time, in 2004-2008 a new complex of cable cars was built here, which is famous for its European quality and modern equipment.

At an altitude of 1800 to 3200 meters there are green, blue and red tracks with a total length of 20 km. In addition to the usual slopes for beginners and advanced skiers, the resort offers paragliding, and real pros can take a helicopter up to a high-mountain slope for the most unforgettable descent in their life.

In winter season Dombai resembles the Alps: majestic snowy peaks, cozy houses with illuminations and the aroma of mulled wine.

Kamchatka, Russia

Difficulty level: professional.

Season: December – April.

Average cost: from 70 thousand rubles for a group of 12 people per day (about 6-9 descents).

How to get there: by plane to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.

A place where you can combine the study of wild elements with emotions at the limit, and at the same time test your skiing skills. Kamchatka has gathered all the charms of untouched nature: volcanoes, ocean, forests and mountains.

This place is suitable only for real pros: those who perfectly control the speed and direction of descent, as well as understand the peculiarities of different types of snow and weather. There are no elevators here. Only heli-skiing – helicopter rides up to the volcanic slopes and free-ride downhill.

The program starts from the Vityaz-Aero heliport. Your group of 12 people will be taken to the volcano (many go to Koryak Sopka for its snowfields and terrain) and will control each descent by radio.

For obvious reasons nobody prepares snow in wild conditions, except Mother Nature, so you will have to deal not only with pleasant “fluff”, but also with ice and boulders. Be prepared for the fact that the weather and, accordingly, the quality of snow can change several times during the day. But all these difficulties are more than repaid when you feel the breathtaking beauty as you slide down the slopes between the volcanoes to the ocean.

Nurtau, Kazakhstan

Difficulty level: for everyone.

Season: December – April.

Average cost of the cable car: 2500 tenge/hour.

How to get there: by plane to Ust-Kamenogorsk and transfer to Nurtau.

Another name of this area is Knyazhy Mountains. This is the youngest and developing ski resort in southern Kazakhstan. You will not hear the noise of crowds here, the winter is warm, and the landscape is perfect for family vacations. It is a wonderful place not only to have a rest from the big city, but also to reunite with untouched nature.

All the equipment here is modern. The length of the tracks is small: one is 1800 meters, the other is 2000 meters with an angle of inclination from 12 to 45 degrees. Though Nurtau is small, but due to this fact there are no such long queues for elevators as at popular resorts in Sochi.

Tsaghkadzor, Armenia

Difficulty level: for everyone plus a separate emphasis for pros.

Season: November – April.

Average cost of a ski pass: from AMD 10 thousand (1800 rubles) for 10 lifts.

How to get there: by plane to Yerevan, then by cab or train to “Hrazdan” station, and then by minibus to Tsaghkadzor.

This resort is one of the five best places for ski vacation in the CIS. However, not everyone knows about it. Tsaghkadzor is located in the picturesque Tegenis Mountains, 40 minutes drive from Yerevan. It is interesting that Tegenis with lush forests is divided into two zones – eastern, residential with high-rise buildings, and western, mountainous with 15 tracks of varying difficulty with a total length of 30 km.

The main descents are located in the snowy highlands at an altitude between 1966 and 2819 meters. Be sure to go to the highest point to enjoy the view of Lake Sevan and Mount Ararat. It is said that the air here is healing, as it has negative ionization. That is why and thanks to the warm winter in the USSR almost all sports camps were held here.

There are both training slopes for beginners and extreme slopes with boulders and “black” slopes. Tsakhkadzor is one of those places where you can hone not only basic skills, but also prepare for freeriding.