Krasnaya Polyana (or rather Esto-Sadok) is the most popular ski center in Russia, which is available all year round.
It should be noted that Krasnaya Polyana is a village in which there are no ski (mountain) resorts, as well as cable cars. All ski resorts and ski lifts are located in the village of Esto-Sadok, which borders the village of Krasnaya Polyana and both settlements are part of the municipal formation of the resort city of Sochi.
Nevertheless, for the general definition of the ski resorts of Sochi, such names are most often used as: mountain resorts of Krasnaya Polyana and ski resorts of Krasnaya Polyana. But to visit the resorts of Krasnaya Polyana, it is necessary to go to Esto-Sadok, and not to Krasnaya Polyana itself.
Ski (mountain) resorts of Krasnaya Polyana
It is more correct to call the ski resorts of Krasnaya Polyana "mountain resorts", since they are available to guests all year round-both in the winter season for skiing and snowboarding, and all year round for everyone.
In Krasnaya Polyana (Esto-Sadka) there are three mountain resorts, which are independent full-fledged complexes, each of which has its own infrastructure: trails and areas for skiing, cable cars, accommodation facilities (hotels, apartments, chalets), as well as parks, recreation areas, winter and summer entertainment and services.
Mountain resorts of Krasnaya Polyana:
- Rosa Khutor
- Krasnaya Polyana (formerly Gorki Gorod)
- Gazprom, consisting of two slopes - "Laura" and "Alpika".
The most visited and crowded mountain resort is Rosa Khutor - it is the most advertised. Nevertheless, the Krasnaya Polyana resort is not inferior in any way, and, perhaps, even more interesting (subjective opinion). Gazprom Resort is good for summer hiking and horseback riding, and all year round-for a relaxed holiday in the mountains.
The Rosa Khutor mountain resort is the most famous and is considered the most respectable in Russia.
The Rosa Khutor resort is located on the slopes (northern and southern) of the Aibga ridge and covers approximately 1820 hectares. All the resort facilities, including ski slopes and lifts, are located at various heights of the Aibga ridge: starting from the Mzymta River from 560 meters above sea level (Rose Valley) and reaching the peaks of the mountain range - "Rose Peak" and "Stone Pillar", located at 2320-2509 meters above sea level. Learn more about the Rosa Khutor mountain resort…
Krasnaya Polyana mountain resort is located in the foothills of the Main Caucasian Ridge, the Aibga ridge.
The total approximate area of the resort is 863.7 hectares. All the facilities of the resort, including ski slopes, ski lifts and entertainment, are located at various heights: starting from the Mzymta River (Polyana 540) from the mark of 540 meters above sea level and reaching the peaks of the mountain range - "Polyana 2200" and "Black Pyramid 2375", located at 2200-2375 meters above sea level. Learn more about the mountain resort Krasnaya Polyana…
The Gazprom Mountain Resort, which is officially called the Gazprom Mountain and Tourist Center, has about 800 hectares. and technically it consists of two zones-slopes:
- the "Laura" slope, 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;
- the "Alpika" slope, located on the slopes of the Aibga ridge at altitudes from 550 to 2256 meters above sea level. Learn more about the Gazprom Mountain Resort…
All resorts have lower stations of cable cars, which are located in the village of Esto-Sadok, close to each other (walking distance of one resort from another).
For each of the resorts, whether it is a visit for skiing (on ski passes) or year-round on walking tickets (visiting resorts without skiing), you need to buy separate tickets.
Each of the resorts has its own variations of ski passes, as well as walking tickets, the combinations of which vary from season to season.
Tickets (ski passes and walking) can be purchased both at the ticket offices or terminals of each of the resorts, which are located at the lower stations of the cable cars, and in advance online on the websites of each of the resorts (the sites are listed at the end of this article). !!! When buying online, the prices for walking tickets, ski passes and some entertainment resorts are usually lower than when buying at the ticket offices or terminals of the resorts.
Which mountain resort of Krasnaya Polyana to choose
If you are visiting the resorts of Krasnaya Polyana not for the first time, then you probably already know which of the resorts you like, and you will go directly to the resort you have chosen.
If you are visiting the resorts of Krasnaya Polyana for the first time, then it will be better to visit each of the resorts once (allocate one day for each of the resorts) and decide on the spot which of the resorts is right for you. Here you can give only one piece of advice - do not listen to anyone and decide based only on personal tastes and preferences!
Where to stay in the resorts of Krasnaya Polyana
Each of the mountain resorts (Krasnaya Polyana, Rosa Khutor and Gazprom) has two levels, in which all accommodation facilities are located-hotels, chalets and apartments.
The first levels of resorts (lower), which are located directly in the village of Esto-Sadok, where the most accommodation facilities are located.
The second levels of resorts (second heights), where the accommodation facilities are also located:
- at the Rosa Khutor resort, this is Olympic Mountain Village (Rosa Plato), located at an altitude of 1170 meters above sea level. You can get to the height from the lower level all year round by the gondola cable car "Olympia" or by car. All accommodation facilities at Rosa Khutor (first and second level) can be viewed and booked here
- at the Krasnaya Polyana resort, this is a mark "Polyana 960", which can be reached all year round by the Krasnaya Polyana gondola cable car (K-1), as well as by car;
- at the Gazprom resort, the second level is available on the Laura slope - this is the "Psekhako Mountain Shelter " (Green Glade), located at an altitude of 1440 meters above sea level. There is one resort hotel on Psekhako - the 4-star hotel and spa "Polyana 1389". You can get to the height of Psehako all year round by the A/A1 gondola cable car, as well as by car. On the slope of the Alpika of the Gazprom resort, there are no accommodation facilities at heights.
For everyone who stays in the accommodation facilities on the second levels of the resorts, free unlimited access is provided to the cable cars of a particular resort (depending on which resort you are staying in), which lift and lower guests to the lower levels of the resorts; transfers also run. That is, if you live in the Mountain Olympic Village of the Rosa Khutor resort, then you use the Olympia cable car for free; if on the Psehako of the Gazprom resort, then the A/A1 cable car; if in the Glade 960 of the Krasnaya Polyana resort , then, respectively, the K-1 cable car.
All accommodation facilities in Esto-Sadka (on the first and second levels of the resorts) can be viewed and booked here
Trails and skating areas of Krasnaya Polyana resorts
All conditions are provided for skiers and snowboarders at the resorts. At various heights there are ticket offices, luggage storage, medical centers, cafes and restaurants, instructor services and ski equipment rental.
All resorts have trails of all levels of difficulty, ranging from light (green) to very difficult (black) trails. There are also educational and children's slopes; trails with artificial snow and lighting, suitable for evening skiing.
The resorts of Rosa Khutor and Krasnaya Polyana have snow parks, flight zones and freeride trails.
There are two Olympic slopes on Rosa Khutor. There is a ski and biathlon complex on the Laura Gazprom slope, where you can go cross-country skiing.
Learn more about the trails and ski areas of the Krasnaya Polyana resort…
Learn more about the trails and ski areas of the Rosa Khutor resort…
Learn more about the slopes and ski areas on the Laura Gazprom slope…
More about the Alpika Gazprom slope…
The best time to visit the mountain resorts of Krasnaya Polyana as ski resorts is from December to March (April). Sometimes the season starts in November and ends in May (June). But there are also rains at the height of the season, then the snow lies only on the upper slopes of the slopes of the resorts.
The opening and closing dates of the ski seasons are determined by the administrations of each of the resorts of Krasnaya Polyana, depending on weather conditions and snow cover. Also, the administrations can determine the dates and terms of routine maintenance. Information about determining the start and end dates of the ski seasons is posted on the official websites of the resorts.
Attention! During the winter season, lifts and trails (one or another, or all) may be closed due to weather conditions. We recommend that you check the information before visiting the official websites of the resorts in real time.
Each resort has different combinations of ski passes: from midday and evening to multi-day and seasonal. There are also educational and children's ski passes.
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 the ski resorts of Krasnaya Polyana( Esto-Sadka): Rosa Khutor, Gazprom GTC (Alpika and Laura slopes) and Krasnaya Polyana. A single ski pass can be purchased at the ticket offices of the ski complexes.
Cable cars and walking tickets of Krasnaya Polyana resorts
Each of the mountain resorts has its own network of cable cars, which consist of: the main gondola cable cars (closed cabins with seats inside), chairlifts and rope lifts. Along the educational children's slopes, there are travelator lifts.
During the winter season, guests can use all open ski lifts on ski passes. While guests with walking tickets can climb to various heights of the resorts only on gondola cable cars:
- at Rosa Khutor, thisis: ascent to Rosa Peak on three cable cars "Olympia", "Zapovedniy les" and "Kavkazskiy express", with access at the stations of the Mountain Olympic Village, Besedka, Rose-1600 and Rose Peak. The main observation deck of the resort is located on Rosa Peak;
- at Krasnaya Polyana these are: three gondola cable cars-Krasnaya Polyana K-1, Relict forest K-2 and Vertex K-3. On these cable cars, you can climb from the Polyana 540 mark to the top "Polyana 2200" with two transfers. On the Polyana 2200 there is the main viewing panoramic 360° platform;
- Gazprom has these: gondola cable cars of the "Laura" slope (A/A1, A2 and A3), the "Alpika" slope (K1-K5) or "Laura + Alpika". At the Gazprom resort, walking tickets are called "Sightseeing tours".
In the summer season, in addition to the listed main gondola cable cars, some chairlifts are also available at the resorts:
- Rosa Khutor + Wolf Rock, leading to Rosa Stadium from the Gazebo station; Edelweiss, leading from Rosa Peak along the southern slope of the ridge to the Mendelikha Waterfalls Park; Crocus, leading to the top of the Stone Pillar;
- Krasnaya Polyana + Aibga (K-4), Black Pyramid (K-5), Champion's Start (K-12), Polikar Waterfall (K-13) and the Eastern Forest gondola lift (K-10).
The Vostochny Les gondola lifts guests from Polyana 960 to the Eastern Sector of the resort at +1000 meters.
In the Eastern Sector, the Champion's Start chairlifts and Polikar Waterfall are available, where you can climb up to +1370 meters, and then walk along mountain trails to one of the highest and most beautiful waterfalls in Sochi - Polikar Waterfall.
The Aibga and Black Pyramid chairlifts lift guests from the Glade 2200 to the level of +2350 meters, from where you can make a hike to the top of the Black Pyramid, located at an altitude of 2375 meters above sea level;
- Gazprom + chairlifts G and H on the Laura slope.
Read more about the route "The Way to the peaks" - ascent to Rosa Peak, Rosa Khutor…
Entertainment and services in the resorts of Krasnaya Polyana
At different heights of each of the resorts there are viewing platforms, as well as various entertainment, activities and services.
There are year-round entertainment, winter and summer.
All three resorts have year-round theme parks: Northern Husky dogs and Deer Farms. In the winter season and with a sufficient amount of snow, you can ride on sleds in dog and deer sleds.
In winter, snowmobiling is possible at the resorts. All year round, these are winter and summer tubing.
Winter evening is possible on Rosa Khutor alpine sledding, there is year-round entertainment rodelban, high-altitude swings and entertainment suspension bridge. There are museums in Rosa Dolina (museum of Archeology and ethnopark My Russia), go-karting, indoor skating rink; in summer + trolls, rafting on the Mzymta River on inflatable kayaks and a recreation area "mountain mini-beach".
Hot air balloon flights are available all year round in Krasnaya Polyana, high-altitude swing and zipline. In summer, this is suspension bridge over the abyss, bike park and excursions on quad bikes or buggies.
The resorts of Rosa Khutor and Krasnaya Polyana have beaches on the Black Sea, located in the Imereti resort: Adler, Imereti Lowland, near the Olympic Park and the Sochi Park theme park. Transfers are organized for guests of the resorts to the beaches and back.
On Rosa Khutor and Krasnaya Polyana there are summer rope adventure parks with trails of different difficulty levels. On Rosa Khutor it is Yeti Park. On Krasnaya Polyana - rope park +1460.
On the Laura slope of the Gazprom resort, summer excursions on quad bikes or buggies are possible,as well as horse riding, bike rental and a rodelban. In winter-walking on tourist snowmobiles.
On the slope of Gazprom's Alpika there is a tobogganing Center "Sledge" with a bobsleigh track, where an extreme attraction "Fanbob"is available. You can also visit the bobsleigh complex without riding on the attraction.
In summer, hiking trails run through all the resorts. And all year round there are places for recreation, playgrounds, parks, exhibitions, cafes and restaurants, shops and souvenir shops, baths and spa centers.
They work all year round: two casinos - Sochi Casino and Bemerang Club-casino; two multifunctional concert venues - Rosa Hall and WOW Arena; two shopping and entertainment centers with water parks and cinemas - Gorki Mall and Galaktika.
How to get to the resorts of Krasnaya Polyana
The nearest airport to the resorts of Krasnaya Polyana (Esto-Sadok) is located in the city of Sochi (Adler), 43 kilometers from Estosadka. Flights to Sochi (Adler) →
The fastest and most convenient way to get from Sochi airport to any of the resorts of Krasnaya Polyana (Esto-Sadka) is a taxi. You can order a taxi / transfer in advance, even from home. At any time of the day, at the airport, a driver will be waiting for you with a sign where your first and last name will be written. To order a taxi is enough to inform your flight details.
If you come by car, you can leave it near the lower stations of the cable cars of the resorts. There are also parking spaces on the territory of the second heights of the resorts (parking is paid).
More information about how to get to all the ski resorts of Krasnaya Polyana (Esto-Sadok) can be found here →
Websites of Krasnaya Polyana resorts
Website of the Rosa Khutor mountain resort: discoverrosa.
Website of the mountain resort Krasnaya Polyana: krasnayapolyanaresort.
Website of the Gazprom Mountain and Tourist Center (Laura and Alpika slopes): polyanaski.
