Whenever a group of Dubai residents get talking about skiing, our competitive spirit comes out. We don’t boast about the black runs we’ve done, or the cheese fondue we’ve guzzled – no, no, no, we like to compete on visiting the most original country. While everyone in Europe goes to the Alps, we have the pick of intriguing locations like Iran, Georgia or Lebanon.
Shahdag, Azerbaijan
This cosmopolitan country promises snowfall from mid-December till April, and with daily flights from Dubai to Baku, you can travel there in three short hours. Once you land, you’re looking at another three hours up the mountain, but you’ll still be slope-side long before someone making the same journey to the Alps. Shahdag Mountain Resort is Azerbaijan’s biggest snow park, and includes high-class hotels, spas, restaurants, and an endless list of thrilling sports and leisure activities. Beginners and experienced skiers will love the 17km of manicured pistes, while off the slopes there’s a variety of activities including paragliding, cycling and cable car rides overlooking the magnificent mountains. For a five-star experience stay at Marriot’s Pik Palace. Set amid the majestic mountains, Pik Palace offers great options for family stays. Pik Palace Shahdag Hotel's dining facilities include Chocolat Café, Alpina Brasserie Wine Bar and Fujisan Asian Restaurant & Bar, and for those with a discerning level of luxury, an exclusive private Pik Lounge. Pik Palace Shahdag Hotel’s recreational facilities include: The Club with amenities such as a high-tech gym, sauna, indoor and heated outdoor pools, whirlpool, and The Spa, providing a full range of beauty and body treatments including aromatherapy, massages and spa rituals.
Insider Tip: E-mail ski.school@shahdag.az to book pocket friendly ski lessons ahead of time as English-speaking instructors are limited.
Gudauri, Georgia
The mountains of Georgia may not have the cachet of the Alps or Aspen, but there are plenty of reasons to make the journey to the Caucasus Mountains, especially when they’re blanketed in snow and just a 4 hour plane ride form Dubai. Georgia’s natural beauty—vineyards, seaside, mountains, forests—remained hidden behind the Iron Curtain for much of the 20th century. When seven decades of Soviet rule ended in 1991, the republic finally reappeared on the map of the Western world. Georgians, a proud, gregarious, food-and-wine-obsessed people, may be the world’s most welcoming hosts. The mountain villages have their own charm, cuisine, and culture, and getting beyond the city has never been easier thanks to new hotels, more flights, and even private jet service. For a luxurious stay opt for the Rooms Hotel Kazbegi. Located in the sleepy mountain town of Stepantsminda, the former Soviet resort has been reimagined with timber interiors (reclaimed from dilapidated buildings in the west of the country), deep leather armchairs, bold pendant lighting, and colorful Georgian rugs. Vintage Soviet sports posters found in the existing building now grace the walls of the 156 guest rooms and enormous communal area, which is divided by bookcases stocked with Russian and English novels. Think of it as an Ace Hotel–meets–Soho House vibe. An expansive terrace runs the length of the hotel, providing mountain views well worth the winding 2.5-hour drive from Tbilisi. After a day exploring the mountains, guests can retire to the hotel’s subterranean wellness center, which boasts a 30-foot heated pool with alpine views. And if you’re craving a bit of nightlife, Rooms has its own casino where mixologists serve excellent cocktails late into the night.
Insider Tip: Be sure to experience nature’s cryotherapy by taking advantage of the cold mountain air and interchanging with the outdoor sauna.
Bansko, Bulgaria
A 5 hour flight will get you from Dubai to the Bugarian capital of Sofia. Bansko is two-and-a- half-hour drive south of Sofia airport, in the Pirin Mountains, close to the Macedonian and Greek borders. On a clear day there are views of the Aegean Sea. The original town below the more recently constructed resort village features old stone buildings and quaint cobbled streets. Bansko itself is a modern resort, with 75km of varied intermediate slopes covering two mountains and 16 lifts that include a six-person chairlift, four quad chairs and a gondola, which goes up to the main mountain from the top end of town. Nursery slopes are reached from the gondola mid-station as well as at the top of the ski area, and higher up, there is enough to challenge intermediates for a week, provided snow conditions are good. There is a lively, some might say wild, après scene, though. In the old town the utilitarian cafés and Dickensian-era shops that served the needs of local folk before mass tourism have been replaced by boutiques, wine bars and pizzerias. There are also plenty of traditional pubs called mehanas (often with live music). Luxury and ski resorts in Eastern Europe don’t normally go together, but Bansko is home to the only Kempinski in a Bulgarian ski town. The five-building Kempinski Grand Hotel Arena is at the foot of the slopes close to the access gondola, and has two restaurants and bars. The spa has indoor and outdoor swimming pools, saunas, hot tubs, gym, and treatments available.
Insider Tip: The gondola is prone to heavy queues at peak times which means it’s best to
avoid visiting over Christmas and New Year.
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