The Mountain
Mt. Elbrus is the Highest Mountain in Russia and is located in the Caucasus Mountain Range. Mount Elbrus is the highest peak in Europe, and one of the Seven Summits. It’s located just in Russia, though it is only a few miles/kilometers from the border of Georgia. Though Elbrus is the highest summit in Europe, it is one of the technically easiest of the higher peaks on the continent. The mountain is in the Caucasus Mountains, which is one of the most rugged mountain ranges in the world. Elbrus may not be that rugged of a mountain, but that is not the case with all the surrounding peaks! The standard route up Elbrus is long and strenuous but not technically difficult. The biggest danger is the weather which can be particularly nasty on this mountain. Besides the standard route and the northern route, there are many much more difficult routes on the mountain, though they are very seldom climbed.
The Route
We will be climbing via the South Side of Mt. Elbrus. The climb of Mt. Elbrus is long and strenuous. It is not technically difficult but usually requires crampons, and sometimes ice-axes. No previous experience or climbing skills required – our guides provide necessary basic crampons, rope and ice-axe technique lessons during acclimatization hikes.
| Start | Mineralnye Vody Airport, Russia |
| Finish | Mineralnye Vody Airport, Russia |
| Duration | 8 Days |
| Hotels | 3 Nights |
| Tents | No tents. We stay in altitude cabins for 4 nights. |
| Meals | All meals provided |
| Group sizes | 6 - 15 people |
| Activity | Four days of climbing on Mt Elbrus, One Day on Cheget to acclimatise and three days for travel, equipment checks, rest/recovery and to prepare for the climbs. |
The following are included in the price of your Mt Elbrus adventure trip:
We meet in Mineralnye Vody airport and are driven four hours by bus to our mountain hotel in Terskol which is at the base of Mount Cheget.
We will have a chance to rest here and go for a walk around the local village of Cheget.
Today we go out for a short acclimatisation day. We ascend Cheget Mountain (using the ski lifts to a certain point, if we can).
This is a fairly straight up trek which takes approx four hours. It’s a great way to shake out the travel cobwebs and get our bodies ready for Elbrus in the next few days.
We will go through equipment checks and have a briefing on what the next few days entail.
Today we move our climbing gear up to Base Camp. We then do an acclimatisation climb up to the Pastuckov Rocks at around 4,200m before returning to the Base Camp huts where we will spend the night.
Meals are all fresh cooked and the accommodation is warm and comfortable. Today is a chance to use crampons for the first time and get used to the mountain.
Today is not a strenuous day. It’s important to rest up prior to summit day.
We take a short acclimatisation hike up the mountain. We will practice to ice-rescue and self-arrest techniques (our tours don’t expect or assume any previous experience in this area and nor is it required).
We then return to our Base Camp huts for a hearty dinner and a good rest.
We have an early start the next day.
This is our summit day. We leave Base Camp around 3am for the climb of Mt Elbrus. This is a ling day as it takes 7-9 hours to get to the summit depending on pace.
We will then ascend back to Base Camp the same day which takes approx 3 hours as we can descend faster in altitude than we can ascend.
Reserve day for climbing Elbrus (in case of bad weather) or descent to the Baksan valley.
Overnight either at hotel or huts.
Full board if we stay at huts. Breakfast at huts if we descend.
At hotel then – lunch, dinner (a celebration at local cafe) are included.
If we are at huts: Breakfast at huts. Descend to the Baksan valley.
If we returned on day 6: Breakfast at hotel, a hike or shopping around or any activity on your own.
Overnight stay in the hotel.
Group transportation to Mineralnye Vody airport where we make our way home or onward travel depending on your itinerary.
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Register your interest to receive our electronic brochure so we can fill you in on the exciting details of this adventure.
Register your interest to receive our electronic brochure so we can fill you in on the exciting details of this adventure.
Register your interest to receive our electronic brochure so we can fill you in on the exciting details of this adventure.
Register your interest to receive our electronic brochure so we can fill you in on the exciting details of this adventure.
Register your interest to receive our electronic brochure so we can fill you in on the exciting details of this adventure.
Register your interest to receive our electronic brochure so we can fill you in on the exciting details of this adventure.
Register your interest to receive our electronic brochure so we can fill you in on the exciting details of this adventure.
Register your interest to receive our electronic brochure so we can fill you in on the exciting details of this adventure.
