Sochi ski resort "Rosa Khutor" was recognized as the best in Russia according to the World Ski Awards. This was reported at the website of the awards.

      According to "Interfax", the press service of the resort commented that Sochi complex gets such a high evaluation already third time in a raw. Ski season at "Rosa Khutor" starts in late December. This year, the following services will be available to travelers: 77 kilometers of pistes, 20 lifts, 10 hotels and a skating rink.

      “Radisson Rosa Khutor" was recognized as the best ski hotel in Russia, while "Peak Hotel" was named the best ski boutique hotel in Sochi.

      “Rosa Khutor” is the youngest among the resorts of Krasnaya Polyana. It opened in January 2011 on the slopes of the Aibga ridge and immediately claimed leadership among all ski resorts of the valley. The resort got its name not from a flower, but from an Estonian surname Roosa - Estonian immigrants lived here in the second half of XIX century, the nearby village Esto-Sadok also reminds of this fact. “Rosa Khutor” is not a separate settlement - it refers to Esto-Sadok, but it is physically located further on the route. The lower “tier” of the resort called “Rosa Valley” is spread along the Mzymta river in a picturesque manner. It is a modern resort settlement  with pastoral names “Polyanka”, “Panorama” and “Lavender”, a massive “Town Hall” on the central square, with a European-looking tower and a clock looking like on a postcard. A cafe and an information centre are located in the tower. However, the height of the resort “chalets” is not alpine - 16 floors. 

      Evertything looks idyllic at a distance, but in the season 2012/13 the brand-new houses were not finished – their construction is still underway, some places in the village are clean, some are very dirty and quite deserted. A lot changed for the Olympics: the village was cleaned and decorated, all 18 lifts (not only 7) were turned on, all 10 hotels were opened as planned: six in Rosa Valley on the banks of Mzymta river and four on Rosa Plateau, in the Mountain Olympic Village. The slopes of “Rosa Khutor” are equipped with night lighting system, i.e. you can ski here at night. In the season 2012/13 Krasnaya Polyana had only two resorts with such option, “Rosa Khutor” and “Gazprom”/”Laura”. 

      There is an opportunity to try your hand in helicopter free riding – “heli-ski”. The cost of such a pleasure is 400 euros per person (on “Mi- 8” helicopter). It is not necessary to form your own group, you can also join an already formed one. Each group is accompanied by two certified guides. The fans of backcountry skiing note that “Rosa Khutor” is one of the best places for free riding, besides, one can ride through the new snow directly from the lift. Generally Krasnaya Polyana is famous among the free riding fans for its soft fluffy snow which is abundant in February and March. This is the best time for backcountry skiing.