Laura - one of the slopes (the second - Alpika) of the Gazprom Mining and Tourist Center in Krasnaya Polyana (Esto-Sadok).
According to the infrastructure, the Laura slope can be considered a separate ski and year-round family resort.
The resort has everything you need for a good rest, including accommodation facilities, ski slopes, cross-country ski trails, ski lifts, parks, observation decks, an entertainment center with an aqua park and an open-air pool, cafes and restaurants, shops, museums, as well as various entertainment and services.
The Laura slope is located on the Psekhako plateau, among the peaks of the Caucasus Mountains and the fir forest of the ridge, at an altitude of 550 to 1660 meters from sea level.
In winter, ski slopes, cable cars, cross-country skiing trails, tubing, several parks, snowmobiling, hiking snowmobiles, quad bikes and buggies are available for guests of the resort, you can also ride sleds in dog and deer sleds.
In summer, there are also cable cars, parks, museums, restaurants and + summer recreation areas, hiking trails, bike rental, horseback riding, quad bikes and buggies, for which several routes and tours are provided on the territory of the Caucasian Biosphere Reserve.
Technically, the Laura slope consists of four main gondola (closed cabins) cable cars, on which you can climb to different heights of the resort, 6 chairlifts and 3 rope lifts; a ski and biathlon complex and four main areas of the resort (the lower stations "Laura" and "Alpika", the Psekhako shelter and the Fir shelter), on the territory and near which the ski slopes and the main objects of the resort are located.
Cable cars of the Laura slope
To climb the Laura slope, you can use the gondola cable cars
1. A/A1 cable car, which connects the lower station of the cable cars "Laura", located at an altitude of 550 meters above sea level at the address: Achipsinskaya Street, 16, Esto-Sadok with the station "Mountain shelter" Psekhako " (Zelenaya Polyana), located at an altitude of 1440 meters above sea level.
The A/A1 cable cars run parallel to each other, run along the same route and are identical, so there is no difference on which one to go. Learn more about the A/A1 cable cars…
2. Cable car A3 (type 3S), which connects the lower station of the cable cars "Alpika", located at an altitude of 550 meters above sea level (the Aibga ridge) at the address: street of Olympic records, 34, esto-Sadok and is the world's longest lift in its category according to the company Doppelmayer, with the station "Mountain shelter "Fir", which is the highest point of the slope Laura and located at an altitude of 1660 meters above sea level. Learn more about the A3 cable car…
The Psekhako shelter station is connected with the Fir Shelter station and, respectively, the A/A1 and A3 cable cars, another gondola cable car - A2.
The A2 lift has an intermediate station near the Laura ski and biathlon complex. Learn more about the A2 cable car…
In addition to the above-mentioned main gondola cable cars, there are also chairlifts and rope lifts on the territory of the Laura resort.
All lifts are open in winter. They are available for skiers and snowboarders. For guests visiting Laura without skiing (walking and recreation) in winter, only 4 gondola cable cars are available.
During the summer, gondola lifts are open and some chairlifts, such as G and H, are open for the convenience of vacationers.
Ski slopes of the Laura slope
The Laura slope has ski slopes of all levels of skiing, from light (green slopes) up to very difficult (black tracks).
The exits to the ski slopes, as well as to the observation decks, parks, as well as sports and(or) entertainment facilities are located at the junction points of the main cable cars and at the intermediate station near the ski and biathlon complex.
The width of the ski slopes reaches 66 meters, and the length - up to 1900 meters.
At the mountain shelters "Psekhako" and "Pikhtovy" there are children's educational slopes of the school "Morozko".
At the stations of Psekhako and Pikhtovy, and in the lower stations of the cable cars "Laura" and "Alpika" there are: qualified instructor services, rental of ski equipment and sports equipment, medical posts, shops, cafes and restaurants, toilets and places for recreation. Learn more about the slopes and ski areas on the Laura slope…
The best time to visit the slopes of the Gazprom MTC as a ski resort is from December to March. Sometimes the season starts in November and ends at the end of April (May). But there are also rains at the height of the season, then the snow lies only on the upper marks of the slope.
The opening and closing dates of the ski season are determined by the administration of the MTC Gazprom, depending on weather conditions and snow cover. The administration can also determine the dates and deadlines for routine maintenance. Information about determining the start and end dates of the ski season is posted on the official website of the resort (the site is indicated at the end of this article).
Attention! During the season, lifts and trails (one or another, or all) may be closed due to weather conditions. We recommend that you check the information before riding on the official website in real time (you can download the mobile application).
MTC Gazprom ski passes operate on the slopes of "Laura" and "Alpika". There are ski passes from midday and evening to multi-day ones.
You can purchase a single ski pass, according to which skiers and snowboarders get the right to ride, as well as use the infrastructure and services of all ski resorts of Krasnaya Polyana (Esto-Sadka): Gazprom MTC (Alpika and Laura slopes), "Rosa Khutor" and "Krasnaya Polyana". A single ski pass can be purchased at the ticket offices of the ski complexes.
Cross-country skiing on the Laura slope
At an altitude of 1470 meters above sea level, along the route of the A2 cable car (an intermediate station, if you wish, you can get off), there is the Laura ski and biathlon complex, where the Olympic and Paralympic Biathlon and cross-country skiing competitions were held in 2014.
In winter, 7 kilometers of ski and biathlon trails of various complexity are laid on the territory of the ski and biathlon complex, and anyone can take a walk on cross-country skiing.
You can use the cross-country ski trail with your own equipment, as well as rent it. The service is available at the LBC "Laura" rental point. Cross-country ski trails are also available for buyers of sightseeing tours on the cable cars of the Laura slope.
From the ski and biathlon complex "Laura" you can take a walk on snowmobiles, ATVs and buggies. For walking, there are several routes that run through the picturesque territory of the resort with viewing platforms (the Aibga ridge, the Achishkho mountain, fir and beech forests). Learn more about the Laura Ski and Biathlon complex...
Sightseeing tours of the Laura slope
In addition to skiing, the Laura slope (like the Alpika slope) offers its guests sightseeing tours - these are tickets for walking trips on the cable cars of the slopes without skiing.
Sightseeing walking tours without skating are available all year round. But there are preventive days when the cable cars do not work-mostly in the fall, as well as the time of routine maintenance.
In winter, you can buy sightseeing tours (walking tickets) on the cable cars "Laura" (A/A1, A2 and A3), "Alpika" (K1-K5) or "Laura + Alpika", as well as evening Green Glade (valid on the roads A/A1 to "Psekhako").
In summer, there are sightseeing tours on the cable cars "Laura", "Alpika" or "Laura + Alpika", as well as Green Glade and evening Green Glade.
A walking ticket to Laura gives the opportunity for the 1st ascent and the 1st descent within one day on all the lifts available in a particular season for walking without riding.
If you purchase a comprehensive sightseeing tour "Laura + Alpika", after climbing one of the slopes, you must climb the second slope within one week after the ascent. !!! This condition may change, we recommend that you check the information on the website of the Gazprom Mining and Tourism Center. Read more about the sightseeing tours "Laura" and "Alpika" of the Gazprom Gas Transportation Center...
Entertainment and services on the Laura slope
In addition to cable car climbing and skiing and snowboarding, entertainment and some services are also available on the Laura slope.
The lower station of the cable cars "Laura"
In the building of the lower station there are: ticket offices and terminals for the sale of ski passes and walking tickets, an information center, luggage storage, rental of ski equipment and sports equipment, a shop, a cafe, toilets and places for recreation. Learn more about the lower Laura station…
Near the lower station of the cable cars "Laura" there are:
- parking and public bus stops;
- The Galaktika entertainment Center, which is a complex containing shopping areas and entertainment areas, including a water park with a panoramic outdoor pool, an ice rink, a cinema, a bowling alley, museums, catering and outdoor terraces;
- fair and park "Green Planet" with paths, figurines, lawns, a Playground and places to relax. In the center of the park there is a cafe "Loving Kysya" with tables under the open sky;
- Sovarium, which presents about 30 species of birds: the owl, marsh and eared owl, barn owl, owl and splyushka, as well as the imperial eagle, kite, etc.;
- 5-star complex "Grand Hotel Polyana" with three buildings with rooms and two-storey wooden villas.
Link to the villa Grand Polyana
Link to the Grand Hotel Polyana Villas
Link to the rooms of the "Grand Hotel Polyana"
Mountain shelter "Psekhako"
At the Psekhako stationthere are: a cafe, a restaurant, toilets, a medical center, an information center, ski equipment rental, an instructor service, a children's club "Morozko", parks "Zelenaya Polyana" and "Ice Age", a 4-star hotel and spa" Polyana 1389".
In winter, it is also: snowmobiles, tourist snowmobiles, snow tubing and the "Tubing Cross" attraction.
In summer: + horseback riding, hiking trails on ecotropes, ATVs, buggies, bike rental. Learn more about the Psekhako Shelter station...
In winter, snowmobiles and tourist snowmobiles go from the Zelenaya Polyana Park to Husky Park and A deer farm located in the lower reaches of Route H, at an altitude of 1550 meters above sea level.
Husky Park and Deer Farm are open all year round. You can also get there on foot from the Psekhako station or the ski and biathlon complex; in winter + skiers and snowboarders can go down on the chairlift H from the upper station Fir; in summer anyone can go down on the lift H.
Learn more about Husky Park and how to get there…
Learn more about the Deer Farm and how to get there…
Mountain shelter"Fir"
At the upper station - "Mountain shelter" Fir "there are: observation points, a restaurant, toilets, an instructor service, a children's ski club "Morozko", a children's training slope and ski slopes.
In winter, + a walk on a snowmobile, during which guests will learn and see how the snow-compacting machine works, how the slopes are prepared on the slopes, how the snow is "wrapped" during the journey, etc. The route of the trip is from the mountain shelter Pikhtovy to the lower reaches of route H and back.
In summer, there is a rodelban near the H highway; tourist trails to the Caucasian Biosphere Reserve begin from the Pikhtovy Shelter. More about the station shelter Pikhtovy…
The lower station of the Alpika cable cars
At the lower station of the cable cars of the slope "Alpika" are: Parking, offices and terminals for the sale of ski passes and pleasure of tickets, information center, an interactive map, Luggage storage, ski equipment rental and sports equipment, service instructors, shops, cafes and restaurants, pharmacy, emergency room, ATM, toilets and places to stay include free Wi-Fi.
On the third floor of the station there is a trampoline center "Art of Flight", on the territory of which: 7 professional and 6 training trampolines, a walltramp zone, an inflatable gymnastics track, slackline and balance boards. Individual and group classes are held for children and adults in the trampoline center. Learn more about the lower Alpika station…
Learn more about the Alpika slope…
Accommodation on and near the Laura slope
4-star hotel and spa "Polyana 1389", located at an altitude of 1389 meters above sea level, near the Psekhako cable car station.
The hotel consistsof cozy rooms, apartments and cottages in the style of Alpine chalets.
A buffet breakfast is included in the price of all accommodation facilities of the hotel.
The hotel offers free access to the A/A1 cable cars and a shuttle service connecting the Psekhako Mountain Shelter station with the lower Laura cable car station. Link to the hotel
5-star complex "Grand Hotel Polyana", located near the lower station of the cable car of the slope "Laura".
The complexhas rooms, wooden villas, bars and restaurants with seasonal cuisine, 9 conference halls, children's clubs, 2 indoor and 2 outdoor pools, tennis courts, billiards, sports grounds, halls and a fight club.
Link to the villa Grand Polyana
Link to the Grand Hotel Polyana Villas
Link to the rooms of the "Grand Hotel Polyana"
Also near the lower Laura station
Holiday Home Skazka features 5 bedrooms, a garden, a patio, free Wi-Fi, a 24-hour front desk and free private parking.
The house featuresbarbecue facilities, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, an equipped kitchen with a dishwasher and a microwave, a washing machine and 4 bathrooms with a shower. Link to the holiday home
Villa Laura Bereg offers a balcony, a sauna and free private parking.
The apartment has 8 bedrooms, a living room, an equipped kitchen, a flat-screen TV, a washing machine. Link to the villa
All accommodation facilities in Estosadok (Krasnaya Polyana), including near the Laura slope and more remotely from it, can be viewed and booked here
How to get to the Laura slope
The nearest airport to the resort and, accordingly, to all ski resorts of Esto-Sadka (Krasnaya Polyana) is located in the city of Sochi (Adler), 43 kilometers from Estosadka. Flights to Sochi (Adler) →
If you arrive by car, you can leave it at the lower stations of the cable cars "Laura" and "Alpika". There are also parking spaces on the Psekhako plateau: a small parking lot at the shelter itself and at the Laura ski and biathlon complex. Travel along the mountain serpentine on the Psekhako plateau is paid - payment is about PKK5.
More information about how to get to all the ski resorts of Krasnaya Polyana (Esto-Sadok), including the slopes "Laura" and "Alpika" of the Gazprom MTC, can be found here →
Practical information
Map of the Gazprom MTC of the Laura and Alpika slopes in winter
Map of the Gazprom MTC of the Laura and Alpika slopes in summer
The cost of ski passes and sightseeing tours vary from season to season.
Tickets for sightseeing tours can be purchased at the ticket offices and terminals of the lower stations of the cable cars "Laura" and "Alpika". Ski passes can also be purchased online on the website of the MTC Gazprom. !!! In the terminals of the lower stations, walking tickets and ski passes were cheaper than when purchased at the ticket offices or online (for 2021).
We recommend that you check all the necessary information about the MTC Gazprom, including the routes, lifts, variations and the cost of ski passes and sightseeing tours, services and entertainment, conditions for buying and using tickets, on the official website of the MTC Gazprom.
The website of the Gazprom mining and tourist Center: polyanaski.
