de│en
News
Newsletter Spring 2026
10/05/2026
By mid-May, we're already in the second half of the peak booking season. A good half of the available dates for the 2026/27 season have been booked.
The road to Bakhmaro is also nearing completion. Thanks to the low snowfall last winter, the early snowmelt has allowed us to resume driving towards Bakhmaro. This also marks the start of our
summer and winter preparations.
Season 2026/27
21/03/2026
We have begun confirming bookings for next winter. Returning guests have until the end of March to rebook. After that, we will offer all remaining spaces for new bookings.
Since we typically have many returning guests, we recommend booking early. The Pioneers and Riders Lodge are already fully booked for most of the season.
In the 2026/27 season, we will again offer Bakhmaro and Project X. We do not plan to expand our capacity.
End of Season
14/03/2026
Today we conclude our 10th season in Bakhmaro.
It was a pleasure to once again showcase our area to freeriders from around the world, 10 years after we discovered the previously deserted Bakhmaro for winter.
Eleven weeks are behind us. With the Stars, we set new standards in accommodation and modern Georgian cuisine. With the Chalet, we also raised the bar for our guesthouse. Through various measures
implemented in project X, we prevented copycats from bringing mass tourism to this high valley – at least for this year. Of course, things could be different next year.
With the two electric Xelom Snowcats, we've ushered in a new era in cat skiing. A few technical adjustments are still needed, but it's clear that these silent and odorless machines make a
significant difference. We've further solidified our pioneering role with the first electric Taiga snowmobiles in Georgia.
From now on, we're planning for 2026/27 – a new season is just around the corner...
I would like to sincerely thank everyone who made this season possible.
10 years freeriding in Bakhmaro
14/02-21/02/2026
We celebrated.
Update Health and Accident Insurance
20/01/2026
So far, proof of valid health and accident insurance has rarely been checked, and overall, there haven't been any problems. In some cases, the airline checked the proof before the flight in the
country of origin, and in isolated cases, upon arrival in Georgia.
Foreign travel health insurance is sufficient.
We strongly recommend taking this matter seriously and carrying proof of insurance with you.
Update Cartridges
08/01/2026
There were problems with cartridges again – surprisingly, also in Memmingen. This time the issue was the weight of the contents, and the security staff claimed the cartridges exceeded the
permitted weight.
The contents of gas are under 80g!
The cartridge weighs approximately 240g.
Health and Accident Insurance
01/01/2026
From January 1, 2026, proof of valid health and accident insurance is required for travel to Georgia. Visitors to Georgia must present valid international or travel health insurance from this date, in printed or electronic form, in English (or Georgian).
The sum insured must be at least 30,000 GEL (approx. 10'000,-€). The policy can be issued by a Georgian or foreign insurance company (different sources give different information).
The policy must be valid for the entire duration of the stay and contain the following information:
- Insured parties
- Territory covered
- Subject matter of the insurance
- Start and end dates of the insurance period
- Insured risks
- Amount of the sum insured
- Amount of the insurance premium
- Place and date of payment
The first fully electric catskiing
19/12/2025
This was the very first week of fully electric snow groomer operation. We tested our new Xelom snow groomer in Maximundo. No emissions, no diesel in this sensitive natural landscape, and no
engine noise.
It's revolutionary.
We're only at the beginning of this development, but I'm proud that we're driving it forward. The powder snow is impressive, the cabin isn't quite what we envisioned yet, but the features are
already good. Most importantly: it's significantly quieter in the cabin.
Seasonstart
15/12/2025
Today we opened our tenth season in Bakhmaro.
We got less snow than predicted, but still enough to kick off the 2025/26 season. It's our tenth season in Bakhmaro. Ten years ago, we discovered and explored this area. A lot has changed since
then, many have followed our example, but now in December, it still feels a bit like 2016. Four friends alone in the remote mountains around Bakhmaro. A great start to the season.
First snow report of the season & Powder Alert
09/12/2025
After two very dry months, we're expecting the first full-blown blizzard of the season. We've taken this opportunity to send out the first snow report of the season to our booked
freeriders.
We're expecting 2 meters of fresh snow and occasionally strong winds in the next few days. After that, we'll have the base ready to kick off the season.
A bit snow
01/12/2025
We got some snow. Unusually little for early December, though. In a normal season, there's already a solid base by the beginning of December. Above the tree line, there's often considerably more. This year, there's been hardly any precipitation since October. It's not necessarily too warm; we simply lack the rain.
The two Xeloms are on their way
12/11/2025
The two new fully electric snowcats from Xelom have been loaded and are now en route to Georgia. The trucks will need between 10 days and two weeks for the more than 3,000 km journey. From the EU, they will travel through Turkey to Batumi on the Black Sea. There, we will handle customs clearance and then transport the machines to Bakhmaro.
about electric snow cats
02/11/2025
press release: 1st fully electric catski operation in the world
27/10/2025
The Swiss company Powderproject.ch and the Italian manufacturer xelom from Bolzano are joining forces in the Lesser Caucasus to promote more sustainable winter sports and environmentally conscious freeriding. For the first time worldwide, two electric snowcats will begin their emission-free catskiing and deep-snow operations in Georgia starting in December 2025. With this, Ingo Schlutius, a German-born pioneer of catskiing in Georgia, not only celebrates the tenth anniversary of his company, but also sets a milestone for innovative and sustainable technology with his Powderproject.ch. The two electric-powered snowcats from the Bolzano-based manufacturer xelom will transport international freeriders and powder enthusiasts to the snowy slopes of the Lesser Caucasus this season. Not somewhere in the Alps or the Rocky Mountains, but in the remote Lesser Caucasus surrounding the mountain village of Bakhmaro, located at an altitude of around 2,000 meters, a new era of freeriding is about to begin.
Driver training and mechanic information
22/10/2025
On Wednessday I will present our project in the Penguin Shop in Zurich. Penguin is our clothing supplier. I will talk about the adventure of opening a catski base in the Caucasus and introduce Georgia as a freeride country.
Registration is necessary as space in the shop is limited.
Date: October 22nd
Time: 6:00 p.m
Location: Penguin Flagship Store, Klingenstrasse 9, 8005 Zurich
(near the main train station)
Registration: [email protected]
Driver training and mechanic information
06/10 - 13/10/2025
Our team of experienced riders and mechanics has spent a week in Italy and Switzerland. Tengo, David, Aslan, and Mindia had the chance to visit ski resorts and production sites in the Alpine
region. We saw assembly in factory workshops, received troubleshooting training, and were able to test ride on the Diavolezza glacier. It was three intense days filled with plenty of new things
and insights. Of course, there was also plenty of sightseeing and socializing.
The tour was accompanied by Kristi and Dirk.
First Snow on the peaks around Bakhmaro
19/09/2025
The peaks above 2'450 meters around Bakhmaro received the first snow of the new season.
Flight recommendation
31/08/2025
We have updated the flight recommendation. Usually Wizzair is not changing the schedule after August anymore.
There are a couple of very good connections this year. We usually do not recommend to arrive in the night to Sunday. It is better to arrive earlier and sleep in Kutaisi.
