The ski resort Karacol is in first place. The ranking of ski resorts in the former USSR countries based on vacation costs. The travel portal Travel.ru has compiled a ranking of ten ski resorts in the former USSR that are popular among Russian tourists.
The budget calculation for a vacation at the resort per person included the following parameters:
— accommodation in a 2-3 star hotel within a 15-kilometer radius from the lift;
— cost of dinner in a café within walking distance from the hotel;
— ski pass for one day.
In first place in the ranking is the ski resort "Karacol" in Kyrgyzstan. Here, a tourist will spend $46 per day. "Karacol" is located on the slopes of the Terskey Alatau range, at an altitude of 2300 meters. During Soviet times, this base was used for training the Olympic team of the USSR. The slopes are suitable for both freeride enthusiasts and those who prefer groomed trails. Most of the descents go through coniferous forests. In winter, the trails are serviced by two chairlifts (a three-seater and a two-seater) and two rope-tow lifts with a stationary telescopic poma. A special lift is provided for tobogganers. For those who enjoy off-piste skiing, snowmobiles are available to transport skiers to the slopes. The resort has equipment rental services. The highest point for skiing is 3040 meters; the vertical drop is 740 meters; the minimum slope is 7%; the maximum is 53%; the total length of the trails is 20 kilometers; the length of descents ranges from 400 meters to 3.5 kilometers. The ski base is located 7 kilometers from the city of Karacol (Przhevalsk). How to get there: fly to Bishkek or Almaty, then take a taxi or minibus. The distance from Bishkek is 400 kilometers (5 hours of travel). The road passes through the picturesque Boom Gorge, along the coastline of Issyk-Kul — the second largest (after Titicaca in Peru) high-altitude lake in the world. Russian citizens do not need a visa to enter Kyrgyzstan; entry is possible with either a foreign passport or a domestic Russian passport.
With a budget of $49 per day, the second place in the ranking went to "Logoysk" in Belarus. The Logoysk ski and wellness complex is located in the northern part of the Minsk region, 32 kilometers from the capital of Belarus, not far from the city of Logoysk. The resort offers five illuminated trails with a total length of 3679 meters and a vertical drop of 82 meters, equipped with a four-seater chairlift with a capacity of 2000 people per hour (the ascent time is about five minutes). There is also a poma lift. A snow cannon and modern equipment for slope maintenance ensure that the trails are always in good condition. A training slope is available for beginners, where vacationers can use the services of professional instructors, as well as rent necessary equipment. In addition to steep descents, visitors can enjoy the entertainment attraction "Fun Tubing." Russian citizens do not need a visa to visit Belarus.
The third place in the ranking goes to the resort "Tsakhkadzor" in Armenia (budget — $50 per day), which was the main Olympic base of the USSR. "Tsakhkadzor" is a resort for skiers of almost any level. The middle part of its slopes is good for calm skiing (vertical drop — 230 meters) and is equipped with a chairlift (800 meters). In the western part of the resort, there is a modern four-stage cable car with a length of 5000 meters. Between the second and third stages, there is a cozy café where many skiers and snowboarders like to relax. The "black" trails with a vertical drop of 350 meters are located at the upper part of the mountain and are served by a 1000-meter chairlift. There are very steep slopes, a 10-meter cornice, and a sports chute. From the summit, there is a stunning view of Ararat and Lake Sevan. From here, one can cross over to the ridge of the neighboring mountain and access the most extreme trails. The lower part of the slopes is designated for a bobsleigh chute, which requires high-level skiing technique. The total length of ski descents exceeds 7200 meters. There are about 50 diverse trails in "Tsakhkadzor." The slopes are maintained by snow groomers. In addition to chairlifts, several pomas service the trails. The distance from Yerevan is 60 kilometers (travel time from the airport — 1 hour 15 minutes). Russians do not need a visa to enter Armenia, but their foreign passport must be valid for the entire duration of their stay in the country. Fourth place in the list went to the Uzbek ski resort "Chimgan" (budget — $51), fifth place to the Ukrainian resort "Slavske" ($53), sixth place to the "Altai Alps" (Kazakhstan) with a budget of $81, seventh and eighth places were awarded to the Georgian resort "Bakuriani" and the Ukrainian "Bukovel" — both with a budget of $83, and finally, ninth place went to the Georgian Gudauri — $88.
The most expensive of the ski resorts studied by Travel.ru in the former USSR countries turned out to be the Kazakh "Chimbulak" with a daily budget of $94. It is one of the most popular resorts in the country, located in the picturesque Medeo gorge, just 25 kilometers from Almaty. The ski slopes of Chimbulak are certified by the International Ski Federation (FIS). The downhill and giant slalom courses are among the ten most difficult in the world. The resort's slopes are serviced by two combined lifts (gondola + chair), one four-seater chairlift, and one poma lift; there is also a baby lift. You can ascend from an altitude of 2295 meters to Talgar Pass — 3183 meters, with a vertical drop of 888 meters. The trails are prepared by three snow groomers. The hallmark of Chimbulak is the variety of slopes for skiers of any skill level. The ski and snowboard school employs about thirty instructors, and there is a children's area. In Kazakhstan, Russian tourists can enter without any formalities — with either a foreign or domestic Russian passport.