Elbrus Region Holiday, 7 Days

The seven-day trip is made for people who want to enjoy the beauty of the Caucasus mountains without a mountaineering ascent of the summit of Elbrus. Every night is spent at a comfortable hotel, with no tents, no high-mountain shelters and none of the demands of expedition life.

The trip suits family trips, including the case where one member of the family is planning an ascent and the rest want to spend the holiday nearby and support them. Adults with no mountain experience and children from the age of 2 can take part. For small children, branded German trekking child carriers are available from an equipment-hire supplier. The length and difficulty of individual walks are chosen according to the age, preparation and wellbeing of the participants.

On the days when the climbing group is in the valley, participants on the holiday trip can join some of the shared walks. That lets you get to know the guides, see how acclimatisation works and feel the atmosphere of a real mountaineering trip without taking on any obligation to go to the summit.

The cable car ride onto the slope of Elbrus takes you to the area of the high-mountain shelters, where you can see a glacier and judge your own reaction to altitude. For those who are happy with panoramic views and no long physical effort, a ride higher by snowcat can be arranged separately. Such a ride depends on the weather and on technical availability and is paid for separately.

Physically prepared participants can discuss separately an acclimatisation outing towards Priyut-11 or to the Pastukhov Rocks. The route to the Pastukhov Rocks cannot be treated as an easy walk: it runs at high altitude and may require special boots, crampons, warm clothing and additional supervision. The final decision is taken by the guide, taking account of the weather, the state of the slope and the wellbeing of the participant.

In early summer more snow usually remains on the slopes of Elbrus, so even on a warm day you can see genuine winter landscapes. In the second half of the summer there is less snow cover, but raspberries, cowberries, bilberries and other mountain berries begin to ripen in the valleys. The exact timing depends on the weather and the particular season.

The format lets you choose for yourself how deeply to get to know Elbrus: keep to unhurried walks in the valleys, ride the cable car up to the glacier, or attempt a more serious high-altitude route under the guide’s supervision.

Day 1. Arrival in the Elbrus region.

The group meets at Mineralnye Vody airport. Two group transfers are provided on the first day of the trip: the first leaves at 12:00 for participants whose flights are scheduled to land no later than 11:00, and the second leaves at 15:00 for participants whose flights are scheduled to land no later than 14:00. Please allow time for baggage reclaim and for leaving the terminal when booking. If a flight is delayed and you miss the group transfer by more than 30 minutes, we will help you order a private transfer, which the participant pays for separately. The drive along the Baksan valley to the foot of Elbrus takes about three hours.

After checking into the hotel participants can rest after the journey. In the evening there is dinner, an introduction to the group and an opening briefing. The guide explains the walks ahead, the weather conditions and the clothing needed. Night at the hotel.

Day 2. The Devichyi Kosy waterfall and the high-altitude observatory, 3100 m.

After breakfast the group sets out on an acclimatisation walk to the Devichyi Kosy waterfall at about 2700 m. The route follows an old mountain road through pine forest, alpine meadows and open slopes with panoramic views of Elbrus and the Baksan valley.

In good weather, with sufficient preparation and if everyone feels well, the route can continue to the high-altitude observatory at about 3100 m. The climb to the observatory adds length and effort, so the decision to continue is taken according to the condition of the participants.

After the route the group returns to the hotel. Lunch and free time to rest follow. Night at the hotel.

Day 3. The southern slope of Elbrus and the high-mountain shelters, 3888 m.

After breakfast the group transfers to the Azau meadow and rides the cable car to the area of the Gara-Bashi station and the high-mountain shelters at about 3888 m.

In September the cable car may be closed for scheduled maintenance. If the cable car cannot be used, the guide decides the onward logistics according to the actual situation; a vehicle is hired for the ascent if necessary. If the cost of the vehicle exceeds the price of a cable car ticket, participants pay the difference. The high-altitude part of the classic southern route on Elbrus starts from here.

Even in summer snow, sections of ice and winter weather conditions remain on the slope. In clear weather there are panoramas of the Main Caucasus Range and the surrounding summits. It can be considerably colder and windier at altitude than in the valley, so bring warm and windproof clothing, a hat, gloves and sunglasses.

The base part of the trip covers getting to know the area of the high-mountain shelters and a walk that takes account of the weather and how the group feels. If you wish, and where it is technically possible, a ride higher by snowcat can be arranged separately. The ride is paid for separately.

Prepared participants can discuss in advance a walking acclimatisation outing above the area of the shelters. Its length, maximum altitude and the equipment required are set by the guide. After the high-altitude part the group descends by cable car and returns to the hotel. Night at the hotel.

Day 4. Trekking in the valley of the Terskol river; up to 2800 m if the walk continues to the waterfall.

Today the group treks in the valley of the Terskol river. The route starts near the village, passes through pine forest and gradually leads out to alpine meadows and the upper part of the valley.

Along the way you can see lava formations that recall the volcanic origin of Elbrus. In summer there are raspberries, cowberries and bilberries along the route. When the berries ripen depends on the weather in a given year.

If participants wish, and have the endurance and suitable conditions, the walk can continue to the Terskol waterfall. With that extension the high point of the day is about 2800 m. The guide decides whether the route continues, taking account of the weather, the state of the path and how participants feel. This is one of the calmest routes of the trip, but its length still calls for comfortable footwear and a readiness to spend several hours on your feet. After returning to Terskol there is rest and a hot dinner. Night at the hotel.

Day 5. The Valley of Narzans.

After breakfast the group travels to the Valley of Narzans, an area of natural mineral springs surrounded by pine forest and mountain slopes. The mineral water comes to the surface directly and leaves characteristic rust-coloured traces because of its high iron content.

Here you can walk through the valley, taste the water from the spring and rest after the previous active days. If they wish, participants can climb to the viewpoints above, which in good weather look out on Elbrus.

Additional activities, including trout fishing, depend on the season and on whether the local facilities are open, and are paid for separately. After the walk the group returns to the hotel. Night at the hotel.

Day 6. Free day in the Elbrus region.

This day can be spent at your own pace: resting at the hotel, walking around Terskol, Cheget or the Azau meadow, visiting the local cafes, choosing souvenirs or booking additional activities.

Possible options include a horse ride, a banya, a photography trip, a trip to the sights of Kabardino-Balkaria or an additional trek. The activities, excursions and transport chosen are agreed separately and are not part of the base price of the trip. Night at the hotel.

Day 7. End of the trip and journey home.

After breakfast, at 07:00, the group leaves for Mineralnye Vody airport. Please take the time of the group transfer into account when choosing your return tickets.

Participants with a late flight and enough time can leave their luggage at the airport and visit Pyatigorsk independently. There you can walk through the historic centre, visit the site of Mikhail Lermontov’s duel or go up to one of the town’s viewpoints. End of the trip.

Additional options for the free day

• Trekking in the Adyl-Su gorge with glaciers, alpine meadows and mountain panoramas. Visiting some sections may require a border permit to be arranged in advance
• Trekking in the Irik-Chat gorge with high rock walls, mountain rivers and views of the eastern slopes of Elbrus
• A jeep tour to the northern foot of Elbrus, with a possible return via Kislovodsk
• An excursion to Bezengi taking in the Chegem waterfalls and other sights of the region

All additional routes are chosen according to the weather, the season, the state of the roads and the interests of the participants. Transport, supervision, entrance tickets and any necessary permits are paid for separately.

• A lead guide throughout the trip, except on the free days
• Hotel accommodation in twin rooms, for the number of nights set out in the itinerary
• All transfers on the trip, including the cable cars on Elbrus, from Mineralnye Vody airport or railway station and back
• Three meals a day throughout the trip, except lunch on the free days. Dinner on the first day and breakfast on the last day are included

• Tours, excursions and additional activities on the free days
• Single occupancy supplement
• Early check-in and late check-out at the hotel before or after the trip. We always try to agree additional benefits for our guests with our partners, so where it is possible early check-in or late check-out is provided free of charge
• National park permit, where one is required
• Personal equipment
• Cheget cable car tickets
• Additional services and costs arising from deviating from the itinerary or changing it
• The supplement for an alternative ascent by vehicle if the cable car is closed for maintenance in September and the cost of the vehicle exceeds the price of a cable car ticket

The seven-day Elbrus region holiday can be arranged for a private group on dates that suit you, where guides, transport and suitable accommodation are available. The format suits families, groups of friends, corporate groups and walking clubs. The trip is adapted to participants’ ages, fitness and interests. You can change the length, choose a different standard of accommodation, adjust how hard the walks are, and add free days, excursions, jeep trips, horse riding, photography days or visits to further sights. A private format is particularly convenient for the families and companions of people climbing Elbrus. While part of the family prepares for the climb and goes to the summit, the others can stay in a comfortable hotel, walk in the Elbrus region, use the cable cars and take things at their own pace. The dates can be arranged so that the whole family arrives and goes home together. Active participants can add extra walks and acclimatisation days on the slopes of Elbrus. Walks above the high refuges, including the route to the Pastukhov Rocks, are discussed separately and run only in suitable weather, with the necessary preparation and the right equipment. The pace can be eased for families with children and for older participants. Within one private group we can offer different levels of activity, so that everyone gets a day that suits them. Before the trip we discuss the group composition, participants’ ages and health, the level of activity you want, the accommodation and any extra services. We then put together a bespoke itinerary and quote for it. Get in touch to discuss dates and receive a quote for a private Elbrus region holiday.

To join this trip you will need:

• A valid passport
• Air or rail tickets
• Medical insurance covering trekking and the maximum altitude of the route chosen
• For foreign participants: a Russian visa and any other documents needed to enter Russia, where your nationality requires them

If you are planning an extra day above the high refuges or up to the Pastukhov Rocks, your policy must cover trekking at an altitude of at least 4700 m. We recommend keeping digital copies of your documents on your phone and in cloud storage. Where it is needed we provide visa support for foreign participants and supply the documents required for a Russian visa application.

The main season for the seven-day trip runs from late spring to early autumn. That is usually when conditions are best for walking in the valleys, visiting the waterfalls and taking the cable car up onto Elbrus. In May and June fresh greenery appears in the valleys and the alpine meadows come into flower. A great deal of snow remains on the higher slopes of Elbrus, so you can see summer scenery in Terskol and winter conditions around the high refuges on the same trip. July and August are the warmest months. Daytime temperatures in the valley are usually between +15 and +25 °C, but it can be noticeably colder after rain and in the evening. Short downpours and thunderstorms are possible in summer, so days out are normally planned around the forecast and the actual weather. In the second half of summer raspberries, lingonberries, bilberries and other mountain berries begin to ripen in the valleys. The exact timing depends on the temperature, the rainfall and the particular season. September suits participants who prefer cooler weather and fewer visitors. The air often becomes clearer and the slopes take on their autumn colours. At the same time daylight shortens, the temperature falls and early snow becomes more likely. The weather in the valley and on the slopes of Elbrus can differ enormously. Even in summer, above 3500-4000 m there can be sub-zero temperatures, snow, strong wind and limited visibility. For the high-altitude day take warm clothing, a hat, gloves, sunglasses and wind protection. Whether the walks go ahead, whether the cable cars run and whether extra high-altitude days are possible all depend on the weather and the state of the routes. The guide takes the final decision, on the basis of the group’s safety. There is more in our piece on the best time to visit Elbrus.

Participants stay in a comfortable hotel in the Elbrus region throughout. There are no tents and no nights in high-altitude refuges. The standard arrangement is twin rooms. Single occupancy is possible on request, subject to availability and at extra cost. The hotel is conveniently placed for the main routes on the itinerary, for the Cheget and Azau meadows and for the Elbrus cable cars. Cafes, shops, restaurants, equipment hire and other tourist facilities are close by. Three meals a day are included throughout, apart from lunch on the free day. Dinner is provided on the day you arrive and breakfast on the day you leave. Meals are provided at the hotel or in cafes and restaurants in the Elbrus region, and may include Caucasian, Russian and European dishes. If you have any dietary requirements, tell us before the trip starts. By prior arrangement we will do our best to provide vegetarian, vegan, lactose-free or other special catering, within what the hotel and the places on the route can manage. You must tell us in advance about food allergies, intolerances and medical restrictions. That lets us check what is available and settle the catering before the group arrives. Traces of allergens cannot always be excluded in a shared kitchen, so participants with severe allergic reactions must carry the medication their doctor has prescribed.

This is a comfortable trip: no tents, no nights in mountain refuges and none of the harder aspects of expedition life. Every night is spent at the hotel in the Elbrus region. The hotel has the usual comforts: beds, bed linen, hot water, a shower, electricity and somewhere to charge your devices. Whether Wi-Fi, laundry and other hotel services are available, and how good they are, depends on the particular property. On the walks participants carry small rucksacks with water, a snack, warm clothing, waterproofs and personal items. Your main baggage stays at the hotel. There is no need to carry a tent, sleeping bag or large expedition rucksack. Terskol and the Cheget and Azau meadows have cafes, shops, restaurants, equipment hire and cable cars. Timetables and the availability of particular attractions can change with the season, the weather, maintenance work and how busy they are. There is usually mobile coverage in the settlements and over much of the south side of Elbrus. Signal can be weak or entirely absent in the gorges, the remote valleys and some high-altitude sections. toilet and washing facilities on the walking days are not those of a hotel. Some routes have no toilets, cafes or anywhere to buy water, so bring everything you need with you. On the day you go up onto Elbrus you move from valley conditions to high mountain conditions within a few hours. Even in summer there can be snow, sub-zero temperatures and strong wind up there, so take warm clothing whatever the weather at the hotel. The Elbrus region is still mountain country: the weather can change quickly, the cable cars can close temporarily, and whether particular walks and excursions go ahead depends on the state of the roads and routes. Where necessary the guide may change the day’s plan, shorten a walk or suggest a safe alternative.

If you do not have your own kit, most of what you need can be reserved in advance from Rock and Rent. You can pick up clothing, footwear, trekking poles, rucksacks and other equipment there for the walks and for days out on the slopes of Elbrus. Hire is particularly convenient for participants who do not want to buy kit for a single trip, or who prefer to travel light. We recommend reserving the sizes you need in advance.

Documents

• A valid passport
• Air or rail tickets
• Medical insurance covering trekking and the maximum altitude of the route chosen

We recommend keeping digital copies of your documents on your phone and in cloud storage.

Personal equipment

• A rucksack of about 20 litres
• A child carrier pack — can be reserved in advance from Rock and Rent
• Trekking poles

Clothing and footwear

Is downhill ski clothing suitable for Elbrus?

• Trekking shoes or trekking boots
• Windproof jacket
• A poncho or waterproof shell jacket for the rain
• Fleece jacket
• A set of base layers, top and bottoms
• Thin gloves
• Bandana or buff
• Warm hat

Trekking boots are particularly recommended in May and the first half of June, when snow can still lie on the routes. From mid-June to the end of September, good trekking shoes are enough for most participants, provided they suit long walks and keep your feet dry. Ski clothing can be used on the way up the slopes of Elbrus. Because it protects against wind, snow and cold, it suits the high-altitude section better than ordinary town clothing.

Other items

• Sunglasses
• Gaiters: whether you need them depends on the season, the weather and the footwear you choose
• Sun cream
• Lip balm
• Personal first-aid kit
• Elastic bandage and/or a support brace

This list is written for the main itinerary. An extra day above the high huts, or up to the Pastukhov Rocks, may call for warmer clothing, mountaineering boots, crampons and other equipment. The guide sets the final list, taking account of the altitude, the season and the state of the route.