Krasnaya Polyana (or rather Esto-Sadok) is the most popular and respectable ski center in Russia.
Krasnaya Polyana is a village where there are no ski 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, the name "ski resorts of Krasnaya Polyana"is most often used. But to visit the resorts of Krasnaya Polyana, it is necessary to go to Esto-Sadok, and not to Krasnaya Polyana itself.
There are three ski resorts in Krasnaya Polyana:
- Krasnaya Polyana (formerly Gorki Gorod)
- Gazprom, consisting of two slopes - "Laura" and "Alpika".
Each of the ski resorts is self-sufficient, is a full-fledged ski complex, and has its own lifts, ski slopes and all related infrastructure: accommodation facilities (hotels, apartments, chalets), shops, cafes and restaurants, entertainment, activities and services.
At all resorts, you can ski and snowboard, both beginners and people with higher levels of skiing, as well as pros. At the Gazprom resort, only the Laura slope is suitable for beginners, and on the Alpika slope there are difficult (red) and very difficult (black) tracks, so Alpika is not suitable for beginners.
For beginners, all conditions are provided at the resorts. At various heights there are ski slopes, ticket offices, luggage storage, medical centers, instructor services and ski equipment rental.
Beginners should choose easy tracks that are marked in green. Such trails are located at different heights of resorts. Instructors can also be hired to help; instructor services are located at various heights of the resorts.
Rosa Khutor Resort for beginners
For beginners, there are easy (green) trails in the Rosa Khutor resort, which are:
- within the second height of the resort - in Mountain Olympic Village (Rosa Plato), located at an altitude of 1170 meters above sea level;
- trails descending from the "Besedka 1350 meters" marks and "Rosa 1600" to the mountain Olympic village;
- the tracks run along the southern slope of Aibga hill.
In the Mountain Olympic Village there is a green track Juventa, which is an unstrained, wide and gentle slope.
The length of the Juventus highway is 285 meters with a height difference of 40 meters.
From the lower part of the route runs a tow lift of the same name "Juventa". The length of the lift is 277 meters, and the capacity is 720 people per hour.
The green track B-52, which originates from the station "Rosa-1600" and stretches almost to the Rosa Plateau (Mountain Olympic Village), where it turns into a green Chalet track, which beginners and all those who like slow descents prefer to ride. At the bottom of the Chalet route, instructors with beginners and children conduct training.
The length of the B-52 highway: - above 1350 meters is 2495 meters with a height difference of 250 meters; - below 1350 meters is 1370 meters with a height difference of 95 meters.
The length of the Chalet route is 1160 meters with a height difference of 130 meters.
A chairlift "Chalet"runs from the lower part of the Chalet route. The length of the ski lift of the Chalet is 836 meters, and the capacity is 1269 people per hour.
The green Plateau track, which starts at the mark of 1350 meters from the Gazebo station and leads to the Rosa Plateau.
The length of the route is 2055 meters with a height difference of 180 meters.
You can climb from the Mountain Olympic Village on the gondola lift Reserved Forest or from the Rosa Stadium on the chair lifts Gazebo or Wolf Rock.
The green highways of Yavor and Yavor-2, which run along the southern slope of the Aibga hill with smooth transitions into each other. Almost at the very bottom, the Yavor-2 highway turns into the green Azalea highway.
The Yavor highway starts near Rosa Peak is 2320 meters. From the ascent to Rosa Peak, you should walk a little to the left. At the beginning of the route there will be a narrow section with a large number of people. Then, almost everywhere, the track has a pleasant slope and is quite wide.
On the highway Yavor-2, as a rule, there are much fewer people, although the skiing area is very interesting and picturesque (it runs through a coniferous forest), besides, the slope exposure there is such that there is little sun, so the snow remains in good condition for a long time. This is a gentle track, suitable for lovers of leisurely skiing.
The length of the Yavor highway: - above 2220 meters is 1005 meters with a height difference of 100 meters; - between 2220 and 2120 meters is 810 meters with height differences of 100 meters; - below 2120 meters is 4385 meters with a height difference of 650 meters.
The length of the highway Yavor-2 is 3250 meters with a height difference of 350 meters.
Almost all beginners prefer to start skating and study at the Mountain Olympic Village.
Here, in the lower reaches of the Chalet route and on the Juventus route, those who do not want to buy ski passes can climb on foot along the side of the slopes and ski or snowboard.
The training slope at Rosa Khutor is located on the Rosa Plateau (Mountain Olympic Village).
The training slope on the Rosa Plateau is the main training place of the Rosa Khutor resort, where they train from scratch. The slope is good because in its lower reaches there is a rollout on a carnal surface, where beginners learn to stand on snowboards and skis, as well as practice technical techniques on the spot.
The length of the training slope is 290 meters with a height difference of 40 meters.
Near the training track there is a conveyor lift (escalator), called the "Magic Carpet".
The training slope is located in front of the restaurant " Den " (the building of the Rose Shelter).
The children's training slope is located near the Rosa Priyut building and tubing in the Olympic Mountain Village.
The length of the children's educational slope is 80 meters with a height difference of 5 meters.
There is a conveyor lift on the slope, the length of which is 90 meters, and the capacity is 400 people per hour.
Evening skiing is possible on the Training Slope, the slopes of the Chalet and Juvent. Learn more about all the routes of the Rosa Khutor resort…
Map-scheme of trails and skating zones of the Rosa Khutor resort
Do you want to enlarge the map? - click on the image
Krasnaya Polyana Resort for beginners
In the resort of Krasnaya Polyana, the main training and green route is the Training route, which descends from the mark of +1130 meters to the markPolyana 960.
The length of the route is 1283 meters with a height difference of 210 meters.
Along the route there is a chairlift "Snow Star" (K-8), which takes guests from the Polyana 960 mark to the +1130 meter mark in 9.5 minutes. The length of the lift is 1013 meters with a height difference of 207 meters.
In the lower reaches of the training route, the K-9 rope lift runs, with a length of about 300 meters. This lift is provided for beginners who do not want to climb high.
Evening skiing is possible on this track.
On Glade 960, near the husky center, there is a children's training slope. There is a conveyor lift - travolator on the slope.
Another green highway is located on Polyana 2200-The First Snow highway, which is also a training slope and leads to the Circus-2 zone.
Near the route "The First snow" there is a rope lift "The First snow".
There are two green trails in the Eastern sector of the resort:
- the Fanpark track, which leads from the lower part of the Polikarya Waterfall lift to the +900 meters mark;
- the Champion's Start track, which leads from the Vostochny Forest cable car station from a height of +1000 meters to the bottom of the Champion's Start lift at a height of + 900 meters. The length of the route is 645 meters with a height difference of 100 meters.
Near the Start of the Champion track there is a chairlift "Start of the Champion" (K-12), which lifts guests from the +900 meters mark in 5 minutes to the upper station of the Vostochny Forest cable car at the +1000 meters mark. The length of the lift is 530 meters with a height difference of 102 meters. Learn more about all the trails of the Krasnaya Polyana resort…
Map-scheme of trails and skating zones of the Krasnaya Polyana resort
Do you want to enlarge the map? - click on the image
Trails for beginners of the Laura MTC Gazprom slope
For beginners on the Laura slope of the Gazprom resort, the trails running at the second height of the resort - "Mountain Shelter "Psekhako", located at an altitude of 1440 meters above sea level, are suitable.
Near Psekhako there is a light (green) route C1/E1 with rope lifts.
The C1 highway has a length of 402 meters and a width of 31.9 meters. The height difference is 26 meters.
The E1 highway is 702 meters long and 21.4 meters wide. The height difference is 64 meters.
Trails C1 and E1 have artificial lighting and are suitable for evening skiing.
At the highest point of the Laura slope - "Mountain shelter "Pikhtovy", located at an altitude of 1660 meters above sea level, there are:
- easy route I with a rope lift.
The track has a length of 477 meters and a width of 56 meters. The height difference is 66 meters;
- children's ski training slope of the club "Morozko".
For those who are already more or less on skis or snowboarding, you can practice on a fairly wide track of medium difficulty (blue) H-H1 with a chairlift.
Highway H has a length of 736 meters and a width of 51 meters. The height difference is 165 meters.
The H1 highway has a length of 427 meters and a width of 42 meters. The height difference is 95 meters.
The trails start from the Mountain Shelter Fir mark. Read more about all the slopes of the Laura slope of the Gazprom resort…
Map-scheme of trails and skating zones of the Gazprom resort of the Laura and Alpika slopes
Do you want to enlarge the map? - click on the image
Ski passes of Krasnaya Polyana resorts
There are ski passes from midday and evening to multi-day and seasonal.
There are also educational and children's ski passes.
Each of the resorts has its own variations of ski passes, the combinations and the cost of which vary from season to season.
You can buy ski passes both at the ticket offices or terminals of each of the resorts, which are located at the lower and second 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 ski passes are usually lower than when buying at the ticket offices or terminals of resorts.
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.
When to visit the resorts of Krasnaya Polyana for skiing
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 longest ski season, as a rule, is at the Krasnaya Polyana resort.
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 riding on the official websites of the resorts in real time (you can download the mobile application of each of the resorts).
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, and where the most accommodation facilities are located.
The second levels of resorts (second heights), where the accommodation facilities are also located:
- near the resort Rosa Khutor is a Mountain Olympic village (Rosa Plateau), located at an altitude of 1170 meters above sea level. You can get to the height from the lower level 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
- the Krasnaya Polyana resort has a mark "Polyana 960", which can be reached 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 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 at), 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
How to get to the resorts of Krasnaya Polyana
The nearest airport to the resorts of Krasnaya Polyana (Esto-Sadka) 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.
