Rosa Khutor is the end of the road, quite literally. The valley of the Mzymta narrows here, high in the mountains above Krasnaya Polyana, and the resort that hosted the alpine skiing events of the 2014 Winter Olympics fills the floor with hotels, chalets and a riverside promenade designed to look like an Alpine village. Beyond it, the road stops, and the only ways onward are on foot, by mountain bike, or by gondola up to the ridges, where the peaks rise to over two thousand metres and the border with Abkhazia lies just beyond.
The resort itself can feel a little artificial, with its clock tower, neat squares and tidy shopfronts, but the setting is magnificent. The river runs fast and green between the buildings, the mountains rise steeply on all sides, and the forests are thick with beech, fir and chestnut. In summer the high meadows above the resort burst with wildflowers, and the lifts carry walkers up to viewpoints, hiking trails and lakes. In winter the slopes are covered in snow, and the resort is busy with skiers and snowboarders.
As the finish of a ride up from Sochi, Rosa Khutor offers a satisfying conclusion. The road up the valley from Krasnaya Polyana is short but scenic, with bends along the river, bridges and tunnels, and views of the mountains ahead. The surface is excellent, built to Olympic standards, though traffic can be heavy during the holiday season. Parking is available near the resort, and it is easy to walk around once you arrive. Shoulder months, June and late September, give mild weather without the holiday crush.
There are plenty of hotels, cafes and restaurants at Rosa Khutor, catering to every budget, and fuel is available in Krasnaya Polyana, a few kilometres back down the valley. Take a gondola up to the top if you can; the view across the Caucasus, ridge upon ridge, is extraordinary, and the air is cool even in summer. Afterwards, find a terrace by the river, order something warm, and watch the light fade on the peaks above.