Elbrus by Private Helicopter, 3 Days

Flying to Elbrus by private helicopter means seeing the Caucasus from a perspective available to very few. Green valleys, rock gorges, glaciers and snow-covered high mountains pass by the window, and within a short time the familiar world is far below.

No mountaineering experience, no long acclimatisation and no ability to use crampons or an ice axe are required. Cold, wind and rapid changes in altitude nevertheless remain real factors of the high mountains. Before the flight participants receive a briefing, are introduced to the oxygen equipment and are given advice on clothing and on monitoring how they feel.

The trip runs over three days. The first day is given to the meeting, check-in and preparation. The second is the main flying day. The third is held in reserve in case the aviation weather is unsuitable.

The journey can be arranged for a single guest, a couple, a family, a small group of friends or a corporate group. The permitted number of passengers depends on the particular helicopter model and is confirmed before booking.

We agree in advance:

• The helicopter model and its passenger capacity
• The composition of the group
• The place and expected time of departure
• The approximate duration of the flight
• The planned route
• The form any landing takes, if the flight plan provides for one
• The hotel and the room categories
• Private transfers
• Meals and any particular requests
• Additional photography and video

A gift for someone who is hard to surprise

When a person already has everything they need, another expensive object rarely becomes a real occasion. A private flight to Elbrus is a gift that cannot be put on a shelf, passed on or lost among other things.

The trip can be given to a husband or wife, to parents, to a close friend, to a business partner or to a manager. It suits a significant birthday, an anniversary, an important personal achievement, a corporate celebration or any occasion where you want to give a genuinely rare experience rather than a symbolic object.

The buyer does not have to know the exact dates, the helicopter model or the final composition of the party in advance. These details can be agreed with the recipient after the gift is presented.

On request we can prepare personalised presentation, add the recipient’s name and a message of congratulation, and arrange a formal presentation, a private transfer, an upgraded room, a celebratory dinner and professional filming of the journey.

Day 1. Meeting in Mineralnye Vody and preparation for the flight.

We meet guests at the airport or the railway station in Mineralnye Vody. A private transfer takes the group to Pyatigorsk or another agreed town of accommodation.

We check into the chosen hotel. The category of the hotel and of the rooms is fixed in advance in the personal offer. Deluxe and Suite rooms, family accommodation or separate rooms for each participant are available on request.

In the evening we meet the guide, discuss the trip and go through the briefing. Participants are told about the specifics of a rapid altitude gain, the procedures on board, the clothing requirements and the rules for using the oxygen equipment. The main luggage stays at the hotel. Night at the hotel.

Day 2. The private helicopter flight to Elbrus.

After breakfast a private transfer takes the group to the departure point. Before boarding, the crew gives the mandatory pre-flight briefing.

The helicopter heads towards Elbrus. During the flight guests see the valleys of the North Caucasus, mountain gorges, glaciers and the high-altitude part of the massif. The planned route, the maximum altitude and whether a landing is possible are determined by the flight plan, by the actual weather and by the decision of the aircraft commander.

If the agreed flight plan and the conditions allow a landing to be made, guests leave the helicopter only on the crew’s instruction and under the guide’s supervision. Time spent at altitude is limited according to the temperature, the wind and how participants feel.

After the trip is complete we return to the departure point and travel to the hotel. There is time to rest, and lunch and dinner. On request a celebratory dinner, a banya, a spa or a separate evening activities can be arranged. Night at the hotel.

Day 3. Reserve day and end of the trip.

If the aviation weather did not allow the flight to take place on the main day, the third day is used for a further attempt, by agreement with the crew and the lead guide.

If the trip took place on day 2, the morning can be given to rest, a walk around Pyatigorsk, a spa visit or a private excursion.

After breakfast and the end of the trip a transfer is arranged to the airport or the railway station in Mineralnye Vody. We recommend choosing a return flight with a comfortable margin of time.

• A private helicopter charter according to the agreed trip
• The work of a professional crew
• A guide accompanying the group throughout the trip
• Private transfers from Mineralnye Vody airport or railway station and back
• All ground transfers as set out in the itinerary
• Accommodation at the agreed hotel in the chosen room category
• The number of nights set out in the itinerary
• Three meals a day throughout the trip
• Dinner on the first day and breakfast on the last day
• Oxygen equipment
• Communications equipment, a group first aid kit and emergency equipment selected for the agreed route
• The organisation and coordination of the aviation part of the trip

• Air or rail tickets to Mineralnye Vody and back
• An upgrade of the hotel or room category above the agreed offer
• Additional nights before or after the trip
• Early check-in and late check-out at the hotel
• Personal expenses
• Alcoholic drinks
• Spa, banya, excursions and other additional services
• Professional photography and video, where it is not included in the personal offer
• Personal services not provided for in the agreed trip
• Costs arising from change to the itinerary requested by participants
• National park permit, if one is required for the agreed route

The Elbrus by helicopter trip is private by design. We do not put strangers together and we do not sell individual seats on a shared flight. The helicopter, the ground transfers, the guiding and the schedule are all for one family, couple or group. For a private group we can:

• Choose dates that suit you
• Agree a suitable helicopter type
• Establish how many guests can be carried
• Choose the hotel and room categories
• Book a premium vehicle
• Arrange to be met at the airport
• Add a celebratory dinner
• Arrange professional photography and video
• Prepare a separate arrangement for accompanying non-climbers
• Present the trip as a gift
• Add personalised wording to the voucher
• Extend your stay in the region before or after the flight

Before the trip is confirmed we provide a personal offer setting out the services agreed, the expected helicopter type, the permitted number of passengers, the approximate flight time, the accommodation and the full price.

To take part you need:

• A valid passport
• Air or rail tickets
• Medical insurance valid in Russia
• Cover for emergency medical treatment appropriate to the maximum planned altitude
• For foreign participants: a Russian visa and any other entry documents required
• Digital copies of your documents, saved on your phone or in cloud storage

Before the trip you must tell the organiser about any chronic conditions, cardiovascular problems, contraindications to rapid altitude gain and medication you take regularly. Where it is needed we provide foreign participants with the documents for a Russian visa application.

A private flight to Elbrus can be planned in any season, but no month guarantees suitable flying weather. Cloud, visibility, wind speed, temperature, the state of the landing sites and the actual conditions across the whole high-altitude zone all matter. In spring the contrast between the green valleys and the snow-covered slopes of Elbrus is especially striking. Winter temperatures, snow and strong wind persist high on the mountain. Summer usually brings longer daylight and more comfortable conditions in the valley. Even so, frost, cloud, thunderstorms and a rapid loss of visibility are all still possible at altitude. In autumn the air is often clearer and the mountain landscape takes on vivid colours. At the same time the temperature falls and the days grow shorter. Elbrus looks particularly impressive in winter, but the demands on the weather window, on clothing and on the organisation of the trip are considerably higher. The third day of the trip is kept as reserve. The aircraft commander takes the final decision on whether to fly, on the route, on the maximum altitude, on landing and on the length of the flight.

Guests stay in a hotel in Pyatigorsk or another agreed town. For a private trip you can choose a 4- or 5-star hotel, or the best available option to suit the group. Before the trip is confirmed we agree:

• The name of the hotel
• The room category
• Single, twin or family accommodation
• Deluxe or suite rooms
• Extra nights
• Early check-in or late check-out
• Any particular requests about the accommodation

Meals are arranged at the hotel and in the restaurants on the itinerary. We allow for participants’ preferences, food allergies and medical restrictions in advance. On request we can arrange a bespoke menu, a celebratory dinner, a private room, special table decoration, or a presentation for the recipient of a gift voucher.

The trip involves no tents, mountain refuges or expedition living. Every night is spent in a comfortable hotel. Your main baggage stays at the hotel or in the ground vehicle. Into the helicopter guests take only their documents, a phone or camera, warm clothing, suitable footwear, any personal medication and a compact set agreed with the guide. On board you must follow the crew’s instructions, stay in your seat unless given permission to move, and not move items around during the flight. There may be no mobile signal during the flight or in the high-altitude zone. Charge phones and cameras fully beforehand. Batteries discharge faster in the cold, so it is worth carrying a small power bank and keeping devices in an inside pocket. Your clothing is not chosen just for a short photo stop. It must let you stay outdoors safely in the event of a delay, a change of route or an unplanned landing.

The planned flight does not require crampons, an ice axe or the other standard climbing kit. Participants should, however, be ready for snow, wind, sub-zero temperatures and the possibility of walking for a time. Some of the clothing and footwear you need can be chosen in advance from Rock and Rent.

Documents

• Passport
• Air or rail tickets
• Medical insurance
• A voucher for foreign participants

Personal items

• A small rucksack of 15-25 litres
• Phone or camera
• Power bank
• Personal first-aid kit
• Any medication you take

Clothing and footwear

• Insulated trekking or mountaineering boots with a non-slip sole
• Base layer, top and bottoms
• Fleece jacket
• Warm down jacket with a hood
• Waterproof and windproof jacket
• Waterproof and windproof trousers
• Warm mittens
• Spare gloves
• Warm hat
• Balaclava, buff or windproof mask
• Warm socks

Town shoes, light trainers and everyday outdoor clothing are not suitable for the high-altitude part of the trip.

Other items

• Category 3-4 sunglasses with protection from side light
• Category 1-2 ski goggles for cloud, snow and strong wind
• SPF 30-50 sun cream
• Lip balm with SPF
• Chemical hand warmers
• Your own water bottle
• A small snack

If the agreed flight plan calls for special safety equipment, this is specified separately. Before the flight the guide checks each participant’s clothing, footwear and personal kit.