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Krasnaya Polyana opening of the season. When does the ski season start in Krasnaya Polyana. Services of instructors in Krasnaya Polyana

Weather conditions are difficult to predict, and meteorologists often fail to cope with this. Therefore, no one can say exactly what date snow will fall in Krasnaya Polyana and it will be possible to safely go out onto the slopes.

Traditionally, the best months for skiing are February and March, and in the rest you can ride, but with less buzz.

Autumn and first snow

When the first snow falls in the mountains, the most impatient go to the backcountry. Then they post pictures on the Internet and the entire skiing community is actively waiting for the winter. It can be either September or November. Moreover, the snow can still melt five times, and the ski resorts do not even smell of an official opening.

Season opening

Around the middle or end of December, the amount of snow becomes sufficient to officially open the season. Usually the Rosa Khutor resort starts it thanks to the snowmaking system and heights. For example, in the 2014/15 season, the opening of the season was postponed twice, because there was no snow, people were returned money for hotels, etc., and as a result, they opened somehow on December 25th. In the 2015/16 season, Gorki Gorod opened skiing on the slopes of the Second Circus on November 22, a month earlier. But anyway, most of the tracks started working only by the New Year and the opening of the season stretched from mid to late December.

This season has been anomalous again. In December 2016, so much snow fell that everyone was surprised: tourists, utilities, and wild animals in the forest. Old-timers of Krasnaya Polyana say that they remember such snowy winters only from childhood, when they could not get to school. December turned out to be so snowy that the gurney looked like February. In the New Year, for the first time, all the resorts were open and all the tracks were working! Here is a 10-second demonstration video from December 18:

New Year

What is skiing on New Year's holidays in Krasnaya Polyana? Early winter, little snow. Even if it goes, there is still no solid snow base. Mostly more difficult red and black runs are open on the upper lines. But the New Year's audience, as a rule, knows how to ride only on blue and green slopes, as well as on lifts. Well, they all know how to sit on the slopes, drink and take pictures against the backdrop of the mountains.

However, you want to ride, so the only guaranteed option is to buy a ski pass in advance and be the first on the lift in the morning.

An hour or two will definitely be able to ride. Considering that Krasnaya Polyana is actively increasing the level of comfort, there are more and more people who are slow-skating. Therefore, do not forget that there are many times more climbers on the mountain than usual and the risk of injury too.

If the winter is early and snowy, as in the season 15-16 and 16-17, then the situation changes. Gazprom and the gentle slopes of Rosa Khutor and Gorki Gogoda are fully operational, so everything is evenly distributed among the resorts. But this is an ideal option, and early winter does not happen every year.

If you are going to ride, you will have to wake up very early, while the mountain-beachers have a late breakfast after yesterday's après. Also, evening skiing at Gazprom is traditionally in great demand. And since the 2014-2015 season, also in Gorki Gorod and Rosa Khutor.

Here is a video from the New Year holidays in January 2015:

Conclusion: New Year in Krasnaya Polyana is crowded, expensive and unstable. The last three years have been lucky with the weather, and another 5 before that - on the contrary.

After the New Year

After January 7-8, the entire New Year's party disperses, and also quite often, right after the holidays, snow falls, which was so expected for the New Year. A small number of riders arrive and calmly roll out the resort. This situation usually persists almost until the end of January.

January 20 - February 20. Student holidays

This is the time when large and small groups of young people visit. They ride well, know how to behave on lifts and are very different from the New Year's vinaigrette in the level of activity and the number of parties.

From the end of January, the best skiing time usually begins, when enough snow falls to open most of the slopes that will be skiable until early April.

February 23 - March 8

February 23 is a special day, so quite a lot of people come just in time for February 23. Many stay until March 8 and do the right thing.

March in Krasnaya Polyana is considered the best and snowiest month. The most delicious winter holidays most often happen in March. Therefore, every weekend, with good snow, we land troops from Moscow, St. Petersburg, as well as nearby Krasnodar and Rostov.

However, in the 2014-2015 season, it was March that turned out to be the most snowless month in Krasnaya Polyana. There were no snowfalls for more than three weeks. Here you have a guaranteed March puff. But everything was fine on the tracks, by this time there was already enough snow. And then on March 31 it snowed!

In general, March 31 is already traditional - this is such a turning point in the season. The number of people on the slopes is noticeably reduced, mostly local riders come, hotels become cheaper ... and the mountain-beach season begins. However, in April there are also frosts and good snowfalls.

However, man proposes, but snow disposes. In March 2015, everyone was expecting traditional snowfalls, but there were no snowfalls for almost a month, and March passed under the sign of trail skiing on wide skis. And, when everyone had already gathered to pack their equipment, on the night of March 31 to April 1, an evil snowfall began! It fell the way it usually happens only in March.

Snowboard camp. End of March-beginning of April

It's time for the annual snowboard camp in Krasnaya Polyana. Bright sun, great party, the right music, a good park with the best Russian shapers and quality relaxation in the mountains. Recently, this has become a reality in Krasnaya Polyana. Since 2012, various freestyle events have been held at different resorts, and in 2014 Quiksilver New Star Camp just shot. Circus-2 on Gornaya Karusel - an almost ideal place for such events - received about 2 thousand guests. And what pleases, in the next seasons it is planned to continue the project.

Beginning of May - end of season

This is the time when you can ski in shorts in the morning, and in the afternoon walk along the promenade and sunbathe. There are fewer and fewer people with skis on the mountain, and summer tourists are replacing winter tourists. On May 3-4, a lot of people will want to take a picture with you, or rather, with your skis or snowboard.

In short, it is better to plan the train from the end of January to the beginning of April, but do not forget about all kinds of variations of Mother Nature.

How to get to Glade under the snow?

The first way is analytical. You can try to monitor the long-term forecast and even buy a paid account on SnowForecast. How to use the weather forecast in the mountains, we wrote here . The most realistic option is to watch the forecast and take tickets a few days in advance. Although even such a forecast can be blown away, and this has happened more than once.

Also, people practice buying cheap tickets in advance several times a season, which are not a pity to pass or simply lose. Well, it is necessary to monitor the general situation at the resort during the season. Those. see when the snow fell, when the season was fully opened, how many tracks are constantly working at the resort, etc.

Another 100% option is just to come for a season or for a long time. If living conditions allow, then this is the most stable option. But there is a risk that you will not want to return.

The second way is metaphysical-karmic. There are people who are constantly lucky and they fall under the snow, and there are those who, no matter how they study the forecasts, still cannot roll out a fresh one. Here we advise you to resort to all possible methods: to make sacrifices to the snow gods, not to regret the equipment lost in the mountains, and in general to be philosophical about the weather.

Ideally, of course, you need to combine both paths, move to live in Krasnaya Polyana, and then everything will be fine!

The page is constantly updated as reliable information becomes available.

From the moment the first snow falls in the mountains of Krasnaya Polyana, our editorial office receives a flurry of questions every day about the date of the opening of the winter season. And when about a meter of snow piles up at an altitude above 2000m, the question is transformed from “when will the tracks open?” in “why are they not allowed to go upstairs with equipment?”. Now we will try to answer these two most pressing questions on the eve of the ski season.

Every year, in the off-season - in spring and autumn, the cable cars of the resorts are closed for maintenance work, at which time specialists carefully check their condition and prepare them for uninterrupted operation during the season. Therefore, even if the snow falls very early, until preventive maintenance is carried out, the ski slopes will not be opened.

To open ski slopes, as a rule, it is necessary that at least 1 meter of snow falls, while maintaining sub-zero temperatures. After that, it is already possible to release snowcats onto the tracks to prepare the substrate, which will hide drainage ditches, bumps and stones on the track. When the substrate is formed, 1-2 more good snowfalls are required, and only after that the slopes will be safe for skiing and they can be opened. All this is highly dependent on the weather.

Rosa Khutor

The resort opens test skiing from 16 December.
Tracks will be opened from Rosa Peak (2320m) to 1600m replanting. Opening at 9:30 (the Strela cable car will also work). During test skating there is a special tariff - 1900r. Owners of seasonal and previously purchased ski passes will be able to use them. Test skating will last until December 20, subject to favorable weather conditions. The ski area will gradually increase.
From December 21 (if there are no sudden weather disasters), the resort will open in full mode.

Rosa Khutor usually officially opens when a significant part of the slopes is available for skiing, and the resort can serve a large number of riders. On December 22, the resort awaits guests for

GTZ Gazprom - Alpika

Test opening from 14 December.
From December 14 to December 16, the red track will be available for skiing from the peak (Shelter of Winds 2256m) to a height of 1918m. On the days of test skiing on the Alpika slope, there are special rates for day skiing from 9.00 to 16.00:
adult - 1000 rubles,
children (from 7 to 14 years old) - 500 rubles.

Gorki City

On December 1, the resort opened CIRCUS-2 for skiing.
The cable cars - K4 "Aibga" and K5 "Black Pyramid" and the corresponding routes (with a total length of about 1400 meters) are in operation. Depending on weather conditions, the Circus-2 zone is available for skiers all the time. As soon as weather conditions allow, the rest of the trails and freeride and tubing areas will open at the resort.

In recent years, the resort opens a little earlier than others, thanks to the ski area in the second circus, located at an altitude of 2000-2200 meters. Although this cannot be called a full-fledged discovery (only two tracks with a total length of about 1.5 km work), it’s very good to roll out a little before the season.

The opening date of the tracks of the third stage is most likely not earlier than December 20, if there are precipitations.
.

GTZ Gazprom - Laura

Test skating opens on December 22. Tracks I, C, E, H and a children's slope will work.

The exact date of opening is still unknown, usually it is mid-late December. As a rule, it opens a little later than the others, since there the maximum height is 1600m. This season is likely towards the end of December.

Test opening

In recent years, resorts have often begun to practice the so-called "test skiing" - the partial opening of part of the slopes, if the weather permits. Usually weekends. On these days, the price of daily ski passes is reduced (seasonal passes are not valid, or discounts are made for the purchase of daily "test" tickets for their owners). The skiing area is limited by slopes where sufficient snow cover has already formed, and currently operating cable cars. For example, last season the Rosa Khutor resort opened test skiing on November 25-26. Details about such promotions can always be found either on the page where we keep a detailed chronicle of the winter season in Krasnaya Polyana, or in.

How to get to the famous Krasnopolyansky puff, how not to get stuck with warm weather and how to guess the dates of the trip? Let's try to answer, but let's immediately understand that the Heavenly Office works according to its own rules. And "unstable" - that's the main word about the skiing season in Krasnaya Polyana. And now more…

On the websites of any travel agencies that sell New Year's tours, they like to write that the ski season in Krasnaya Polyana lasts from November to May, or even June. Yes, even in August they sometimes call, although tourists in shorts with might and main instagram rhododendrons on iPhones. In November, the Sochi administration may celebrate the beginning of the winter season, and inattentive journalists carry the news on their tails. And potential guests of Krasnaya Polyana already think that we are skating =) In reality, usually the two most delicious months are February and March, and in the rest - a gurney maybe, but usually not ideal. The famous Krasnopolyansky puff is most realistic to catch in February and March. But you may not get caught. Snowfalls are not guaranteed anywhere, and you can both catch a meter of fresh snow overnight, or ride only on slopes for two weeks. Hence the conflicting reviews about the snow at the resort.

“But what about the snow cannons that the resort is so proud of?” - you ask ... The fact is that Krasnaya Polyana is a rather warm place, and the guns work only at sub-zero temperatures. Therefore, if earlier everyone was waiting for a cold snap and snowfalls, now at least temperatures are below zero. So a lot depends on the weather anyway. When to go to Krasnaya Polyana?

Let's talk about everything in order. Skating season chronology according to RiderHelp…

Autumn and first snow

Season opening

Around the middle or end of December, the amount of snow becomes sufficient to officially open the season. Rosa Khutor usually starts it thanks to the snowmaking system and heights. For example, in the 14/15 season, the opening of the season was postponed twice, because there was no snow, people were returned money for hotels, etc., and as a result they opened somehow on December 25 (our rather dull report is at the link). In the 15/16 season, Gorki Gorod opened skiing on the slopes of the Second Circus on November 22, a month earlier. Of course, it was not yet a full-fledged opening of the resort, but there was snow at the top. But anyway, most of the tracks started working only by the New Year and the opening of the season stretched from mid to late December.

And last season 16/17 turned out to be abnormally cool! In December 2016, so much snow fell that everyone went nuts: tourists, utilities, and wild animals in the forest. Old-timers of Krasnaya Polyana say that such snowy winters are remembered only in childhood, when they could not get to school. December turned out to be so snowy that the gurney already in December was similar to February. In the New Year, for the first time in our memory, all the resorts were open and all the tracks worked! Here is a 10-second demonstration video from December 18th. Perfect velveteen and lovely puff!

In past years, an unrealistic number of people gathered at the opening of the season on Rosa for several years in a row, there was a crush at the box office due to ski pass holders and inexperienced coats who come to watch fireworks and eat salad. The next day, everything is usually fine: many were disappointed in the crush due to the opening, the coats left, and the rest of the people ride for their own pleasure.

However, in the 15/16 season, the slopes were opened gradually, people filmed breaking in the snow starting from November, so there were no wild queues. Again, you see: completely different situations in different years depending on the weather. And in the 16/17 season, many did not come because of the high prices for ski passes and hotels. But those who came were fabulously lucky with the snow and the quality of skiing.

New Year

It usually has little to do with skiing, but everyone has a weekend, so there is nowhere to go. What is skiing on New Year's holidays in Krasnaya Polyana? Early winter, snow is usually not enough. Even if it pours, then there is still no solid snow substrate. Mostly more difficult red and black runs are open on the upper lines. But the New Year's audience, as a rule, knows how to ride only on blue and green slopes, as well as on lifts. Well, they all know how to sit on the slopes, drink and take pictures against the backdrop of the mountains. Therefore, we recommend not relying heavily on skiing, but just drinking mulled wine =)

However, you want to ride, so the only guaranteed option is to buy a ski pass in advance and be the first on the lift in the morning. It will definitely turn out to ride for an hour or two, and by eleven o'clock in the morning we see the following picture: confidently riding riders depict something similar to slalom among the teapots, sometimes turning into bowling. Sometimes there is a strike, which is sad. Considering that Krasnaya Polyana is actively increasing the level of comfort and après-ski services, there are more and more people who are slow-skating. And the New Year is the best time for such a coven. Therefore, do not forget that there are many times more climbers on the mountain than usual and the risk of injury too.

If the winter is early and snowy, as in the season 15-16 and 16-17, then the situation changes. Gazprom, as well as the lower gentle slopes of the Roza and Gorki Gorod, are fully operational, so everything is evenly distributed among the resorts. But this is an ideal option, and early winter does not happen every year.
If you are going to ride, you will have to wake up very early, while the mountain-beachers have a late breakfast after yesterday's après. Also, evening skiing at Gazprom is traditionally in great demand. And since the 2014-2015 season, also in Gorki Gorod and Rosa Khutor.

However, in the past three seasons, the Snow Gods heeded the pleas of the wheelers, and the snow on New Year's Eve fell like a wall for a week. As a result, it was not always good with trail skating because of the many closed trails, but our Puhodava party rejoiced with might and main. Here is a video from the New Year holidays in January 2015:

But in fact, New Year's snowfalls simply saved the resort from the invasion of tourists. Due to the appreciation of the euro, Krasnaya Polyana was in such demand that in order to reduce the flow of tourists, the government introduced, and suddenly, new, higher prices for ski passes, as well as restrictions on the daily number of tourists. Moreover, this was very actively broadcast on television. If there were no snow and restrictions, it's scary to think what would happen on a small part of the open slopes. In general, because of all these anti-tourist measures, many have canceled their trips. Here is our material about restrictions for the New Year 2015-2016. Although in the 16-17 season they scared everyone away and as a result there were few people =)

Conclusion: New Year in Krasnaya Polyana is crowded, expensive and unstable. The last three years have been lucky with the weather, and five more before that - on the contrary.

After the New Year

The peak days with queues are January 3 and 4, and after January 7-8, the entire New Year party disperses, and also quite often, right after the holidays, snow falls, which was so expected for the New Year. A small number of riders arrive and calmly roll out the resort. This situation usually persists almost until the end of January.

January 20 - February 20

From the end of January, the best skiing time usually begins, when enough snow falls to open most of the slopes that will be skiable until early April.

February 23 - March 8

February 23 is a special day, so quite a lot of people come just in time for February 23. Many stay until March 8 and do the right thing. Almost every year, Mother Nature gives women a gift in the form of a meter of snowfall per night. Well, men take advantage of it.

And in general, March in Krasnaya Polyana is considered the best and snowiest month. The most delicious winter holidays most often happen in March. Therefore, every weekend (with good snow) we land troops from Moscow, St. Petersburg, as well as nearby Krasnodar and Rostov. The best fluffy dogs of the region closely monitor the condition of the slopes on RiderHelp.ru and immediately take off if snowfalls begin. But the first lines in the snow are usually drawn by locals, sorry =)

But! Again, "but". In the 2014-2015 season, March turned out to be the most snowless month in Krasnaya Polyana. There were no snowfalls for more than three weeks. Here you have a guaranteed March puff. But everything was fine on the tracks, by this time there was already enough snow. And then on March 31 it snowed!

In general, March 31 is already traditional - this is such a turning point in the season. The number of people on the slopes is noticeably reduced, mostly local riders come, hotels become cheaper ... and the mountain-beach season begins. However, in April there are also frosts and good snowfalls. And in the mornings until the end of the season, the tracks are quite pleasant. The end of the season is a great time for those who know how to enjoy all the joys of a ski resort. Don't forget to bring your sunscreen!

However, man proposes, but Snow disposes. In March 2015, everyone was expecting traditional snowfalls, but there were no snowfalls for almost a month, and March passed under the sign of trail skiing on wide skis. And, when everyone had already gathered to pack their equipment, on the night of March 31 to April 1, an evil snowfall began! It fell the way it usually happens only in March. There were jokes on the Internet about February 58th and so on. Looking ahead, let's say that we closed the 14-15 season at the very end of May!

Snowboard camp. End of March-beginning of April

It's time for the annual snowboard camp in Krasnaya Polyana. Bright sun, great party, the right music, a good park with the best Russian shapers and quality relaxation in the mountains. Recently, this has become a reality in Krasnaya Polyana. Since 2012, various freestyle events have been held at different resorts, and in 2014 Quiksilver New Star Camp just shot in Gorki Gorod. Starting this year, the camp has moved to Rosa Khutor and will be held there for the next few years.

Beginning of May - end of season

After the May holidays, everyone is waiting for the snow to melt and the resorts to switch to summer operation from the beginning of June. Well, we regularly report from the slopes in any weather.

We hope you now have a rough idea of when it is better to come to Krasnaya Polyana for a ride. In short, it is better to plan a train from the end of January to the beginning of April, but do not forget about all kinds of whims of Mother Nature. And to make it easier to decide on the date of the trip, follow the condition of the slopes on the main page of RiderHelp.ru

P.S. How to get into the Glade under the snow?

We are often asked by freeriders how to do this. How to arrive in the snow and have time to roll everything out first? Let's try to answer, but without witchcraft and sacrifices it's impossible to figure it out.

1. The first path, analytical. You can try to monitor the long-term forecast and even buy a paid account on SnowForecast. How to use the weather forecast in the mountains, we wrote. The most realistic option is to watch the forecast and take tickets a few days in advance. Although even such a forecast can be blown away, and this has happened more than once. Even we sometimes watch webcams and the forecast, collect equipment in the evening, and then come to the mountain, and during the night everything was blown away or, on the contrary, it poured so much that the tops were closed and we had to come tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.

Another 100% option is just to come for a season or for a long time. If living conditions allow, then this is the most stable option. But there is a risk that you will not want to return. There are risks everywhere

2. The second path, metaphysical-karmic. There are people who are constantly lucky and they fall under the snow, and there are those who, no matter how they study the forecasts, still can’t roll out a fresh one. Here we advise you to resort to all possible methods: to make sacrifices to the snow gods, not to regret the equipment lost in the mountains, and in general to be philosophical about the weather. We must drink to the snow and make wishes for a good gurney. You can also join the army of those who beat the snow tambourine on our website. We ourselves honestly believe that this is such a point of concentration of efforts and desires of people who all together want snow.

Ideally, of course, you need to combine both paths, move to live in Krasnaya Polyana, and then everything will be fine!

Well, when is it time to dust off your gear, stretch your crunchy joints, and charge your GoPro and head to the mountain?

From which resort to start skiing?

What's new for us this season clever uncle marketers came up with to lure us to Krasnaya Polyana?

In general, read, comment.

Ski season in Krasnaya Polyana: when someone whistles on the mountain

On some sites, and in printed publications, you can find valuable information that "the ski season in Krasnaya Polyana lasts from November to May." Yes, snow in the mountains of Krasnaya Polyana can be observed already now, in October.

But let's remember the lessons of geography, friends: Krasnaya Polyana is Sochi, and Sochi is the subtropics. And that is why this October snowball threatens to wash off the mountain at the first warm cloud that has arrived from the Black Sea. And normal sub-zero temperatures, which allow both natural snow to take hold and artificial snow to be thrown in, will not be established until the beginning of December. And somewhere in the middle of December, the thickness of the snow cover on the slopes of Krasnaya Polyana allows you to start skiing without the risk of tearing off the equipment on the stones.

Although sometimes there are, so to speak, natural anomalies. The same Olympic year 2014 was remembered by all the organizers of the winter competitions for the fact that it was a very warm and little snowy winter. So for the snow cover on the Olympic slopes, I had to be nervous no less than for the late opening of the fifth ring at the opening ceremony ...

Rosa Khutor Resort usually opens the winter season in the second decade of December. Last year, the official opening took place on December 19. You can read how it went in my article. Neighboring resorts - and - also usually do not lag behind and open their slopes for skiing on the same dates.

This year, most likely, everything will happen on the same dates. So, given that the opening usually falls on the weekend, you can already look after yourself inexpensive tickets somewhere on December 16-17: Flights to Sochi

And, although the websites of all resorts do not yet have a word about the official opening, they are unlikely to delay the opening - this is not in their interests. So, if you want to be in the forefront, be guided by these dates.

BUT! There is one “but” here, which should be taken into account by wheelers. At the opening of the season, an unrealistic number of people always gather, there is a crush at the box office due to skiers who issue seasonal ski passes and inexperienced coats who come just to watch the fireworks and eat a salad. But the next day, everything is usually fine: many were disappointed in the crush because of the opening, the coats left, and the rest of the people ride for their own pleasure.

However, such comfortable skiing will not last long: from December 28-29, the New Year public will begin to come to the resorts of Krasnaya Polyana. And she, as a rule, knows how to ride only on blue and green slopes, as well as on lifts. Well, they all know how to hang out, drink and take pictures against the backdrop of the mountains. Therefore, during the New Year holidays, you should not count on good skiing. If you just come to the mountain right at the opening of the cable car, then you will be able to ride for an hour or two, and by eleven o’clock in the morning we will see the following picture: confidently riding riders represent among the “dummies” something similar to slalom, sometimes turning into bowling. Sometimes there is a strike, which is sad...

Where to get a hotel to be closer to the slopes / cheaper

I have written a detailed review on this issue:. So I will not repeat myself, follow the link and read.

Services of instructors in Krasnaya Polyana

You can improve your skiing skills even in a couple of hours of lessons with an instructor. The resort has many services and independent instructors who will help you hone your skills, improve your riding technique, or teach you how to ride if someone from your company does not know how. And they can also be guides for you on the slopes of Krasnaya Polyana. If you need contacts of good instructors, write down the phone number +79282334702.

Equipment rental

It is not necessary to carry equipment across the country. You can come to Krasnaya Polyana without anything at all, having run away from work in a jacket and boots - rentals are well developed here.

Rentals are everywhere, and they have a full arsenal of equipment: a set of skis or a snowboard, clothing, a helmet, gloves, goggles, and so on.

A set of ski equipment per day will cost an average of 800 rubles and more. This includes snowboard + boots or skis + boots + poles. For goggles, helmet, protection you need to pay separately. They don’t give out equipment by the hour: the scale is wrong. In official rental resorts, prices are even more expensive.

Depending on the price, and the quality of the equipment can vary greatly. Good equipment with delivery can be provided by the same guys +79282334702.

Snow-rain, and the cable car is closed. What to do?

There is no bad weather. But still, what to do if you come to the Glade to ride, and the weather “does not whisper”? And in this case, everything has long been invented for you, friends. About some ways how to spend time in Krasnaya Polyana without skiing , I already wrote in my posts, read:

Well, this winter, all the resorts of Krasnaya Polyana will certainly please us with new opportunities. I will cover this topic in detail in future articles; It will be convenient for you to follow their release by leaving your contacts in this form

But I will reveal some "chips" right now. So, what exactly can you count on when booking a winter tour to Krasnaya Polyana?

Remember, last year the headliner of the crowd was Rosa Khutor, which made the facade of its Town Hall a screen for a spectacular laser show.

You can kill time in the GORKI MALL shopping center (4 cinema halls, bowling, a water park, shops) or in the Galaktika CRC (also a bowling alley and a water park, as well as a skating rink, a billiard club, space attractions for children). Well, finally, you can just hang out in a nice cozy bar and drink fragrant mulled wine…

Come to ski as early as possible, preferably right by 9 am, and try to leave the mountain an hour and a half before the closing of the cable cars, so as not to get into the queue for the descent from the mountain.
Study the weather forecast and video from webcams on resort websites. It is unreasonable to pay 2500 re for a ski pass if only green slopes and a couple of blue ones at the lower levels are open at the resort.
Buy ski passes on the official websites of the resorts - this way you can save money and avoid queues at the ticket office.

A few more useful resources for those who are going on vacation to Krasnaya Polyana:

Car rental in Sochi
Taxi
Ski insurance

Pro e sightseeing opportunities in the region probably only the lazy did not read on my blog. If you are the laziest, there is a section for you.

So, not only snow, as they say ... Oh, I wrote and got scared myself. Of course, snow is our everything! And snow to us, snow to you! SNOW everyone!

See you on the slope!

Or Altai. The proximity of the sea, even in the winter months, makes the air soft and warm, and the unique geographical position throughout the winter does not allow the temperature to fall below -5 degrees.

It is convenient to look at the average minimum and maximum temperatures throughout the year, as well as the amount of precipitation, in the table below.

Krasnaya Polyana opening of the 2016-2017 season

The start time of the new winter season at different resorts may vary. Everything will depend on the weather and snow cover.

Rosa Khutor will start working from December 16, 2016, the resort will work until May 2017.
Gazprom will open the season December 23, 2016 and will run until April 2017.
Gornaya Karusel already with November 21, 2016 periodically opens test skiing, which means that the winter season 2016/2017 will be open on a permanent basis from mid-December.

10 differences between Krasnaya Polyana and the European Alps

This comparison does not even occur to true fans of Russian ski resorts, but for those who are still choosing where to go skiing or snowboarding in the 16/17 season, we have prepared 10 distinctive features of Krasnaya Polyana.

The ski cluster Krasnaya Polyana is located just 39 km from the Black Sea coast, which makes it possible to admire the silence of the snowy peaks and breathe in the healing air of the Black Sea in one trip.
A place where both the elderly and the fearless youth will find something to do.
The range of possible excursions in Krasnaya Polyana is impressive: from walking routes through relict forests to trips to mineral springs. From visiting caves and gorges to routes to mysterious dolmens.
Krasnaya Polyana is sometimes called "Russian Switzerland", but nowhere in the world is there a unique combination of four natural zones (from subtropical to alpine) with the proximity of the sea. Hence the air rich in iodine, making this place a real natural health resort.
Many tourists bring from Krasnaya Polyana honey, it is alpine here and very fragrant.
Prices in rubles allow you not to overpay for accommodation, meals and skiing. In the Alps for 8-10 thousand rubles you can rent the simplest hotel far from the slopes, and in Krasnaya Polyana for the same money you can afford a premium-class hotel with a view of the slopes.
The endless expanses, the impressive thickness of the snow cover allow you to practice heli-ski for less money than in Europe.

Caucasian hospitality is impressive. High mountain air contributes to the appearance of amazing beef and lamb in these places. And the proximity of the sea provides the resort with an inexhaustible stream of freshly caught seafood.
Nothing is more desirable than Russian bath after a hard ride. Those who are accustomed to the Finnish sauna or spa - there are a huge number of them.
And the most valuable thing in Krasnaya Polyana is its people, who are ready to help in any situation. It is important that they speak your native language.

Prices in Krasnaya Polyana

To begin with, let's decide whether it is better to buy a ready-made tour to Krasnaya Polyana or plan a trip yourself?

The cost of ski passes in Krasnaya Polyana:

So, for a ride for two, you can spend about 20 thousand rubles.

According to the information of the most famous search engine, the cost of tours to Krasnaya Polyana for 7 nights for two starts. Add to this about another 20 thousand rubles that you will spend on dinner and lunch at a restaurant.

As a result, if you buy a tour, a vacation in the mountains will cost you 75 thousand rubles.

Where else can you look for tours to Krasnaya Polyana?

And now we are organizing a trip to Krasnaya Polyana on our own.

The cost of skiing remains the same - 15 thousand rubles.
Round-trip flights to Sochi for two will cost you about 10-15 thousand rubles.
A decent hotel in Krasnaya Polyana can be found for 2000 rubles. per night.
Depending on whether you want to eat in a restaurant or cook yourself, it depends on whether you spend 10 thousand rubles at a resort or 20.

As a result, it turns out that if you organize the tickets and the hotel yourself, then the cost of the entire trip will be about 50-60 thousand rubles.

It's cheaper than buying a tour. But more responsibility and work on your part.

For comparison, the same vacation for 7 nights for two in other ski resorts in Russia and Europe will cost:

ski resort in Dombai	about 70 thousand (a ski pass costs 14 thousand for two, air tickets - more than 30 thousand, accommodation - about 15 thousand rubles.)
winter resort Arkhyz	about 75 thousand (a ski pass is much cheaper, only 5 thousand rubles, but you will pay ~ 30 thousand for a hotel, and about 17 thousand for tickets)
Beaver log in the Krasnoyarsk Territory	you will have to spend about 50 thousand rubles for air tickets alone. , so the whole trip will cost at least 80 thousand rubles.
Altai (Belokurikha)	about 95 thousand rubles, as you may have guessed, the air ticket eats up most of the amount (almost 52 thousand rubles)
	the whole trip will be at least 100 thousand rubles. (air ticket for two - 53 thousand rubles, hotel - 23 thousand)
ski resorts in Europe (Andorra, Germany, Austria, Italy)	at least 150 thousand rubles. for two. Due to the euro exchange rate, it is completely unprofitable for Russians to travel to Europe

Take the following articles on the road:

The ski resort Krasnaya Polyana is located on a vast territory in the valley of the Mzymta River and is framed by the Main Caucasian Range. Here it became possible for several ski resorts to appear at once, different in their sports orientation and their natural landscape.

Rosa Khutor in Krasnaya Polyana

Many tourists, speaking of Krasnaya Polyana, have in mind the Rosa Khutor ski resort. This is the largest and most versatile holiday destination in the ski village.

November 21, 2015 Rosa Khutor for the third time received the international award of the best resort in Russia, organized by the World Ski Awards.

You can read more about the cost of a ski pass, pistes, unusual facts, lifts and ski schools in our article about Rosa Khutor.

Professional athletes compete on the slopes of the resort, so the snow is always kept in excellent condition. All tourists note the high quality of sports equipment for rent.

In addition to safe, high-quality and interesting skiing, Rosa Khutor offers a rich evening and nightlife. This is not to say that the restaurants of the resort are worth "penny", but when compared with prices in European resorts, resting in Rosa Khutor is cheaper.

Gazprom

Skiing at the Gazprom ski resort is not suitable for extreme sports and for tourists with children. There are no trails for these categories of citizens. But endless descents, mesmerizing views of the mountains, skiing more for contemplation than for adrenaline production, you are provided.

Mountain Carousel

After the 2014 Olympics, the Gornaya Karusel ski resort, which has been firmly planted in the heads of tourists from all over the world, does not have the scale of Rosa Khutor, but it definitely has unique features.

A small area, a limited number of lifts did not prevent the resort from becoming the number 1 place in Krasnaya Polyana for snowboarders.

Hotels in Krasnaya Polyana

Krasnaya Polyana is ready to offer its guests a wide variety of guest houses. They combine the homeliness of apartments and affordable prices of hostels. Most places have facilities for cooking and laundry, so skiing in the new season may not cost you much.

Guest house prices start from 1000 rub. for two.

You can rent a house anywhere in Krasnaya Polyana. Any ski slope can be reached either on foot, or by taxi, or by free ski basses.

The cost of a 2-3-star hotel is already somewhere 1500 rub. Some hotels offer a small built-in kitchen, as well as a clothes dryer and a sauna.

Behind 2000 rub. per day for two, you can rent comfortable apartments, which will not only have a kitchen, a full bath and more personal space, but also a neat modern renovation.

If you are willing to pay for accommodation 3000-4000 rub. and more, choose a hotel or apartment closer to your desired slope or ski resort. So, you will not waste precious rest time getting to the slope. The following hotel options are located near Rosa Khutor, Gornaya Karusel and Gazprom.

Hotels near Rosa Khutor

HELIOPARK Freestyle Rosa Khutor, 3 stars, rating 8.4 out of 10, price starts from 2 thousand rubles. per room