Our huts on Elbrus are the high-mountain accommodation options that Mountain Guide uses or considers for programmes on the southern slope. The main working option is “National Park”; LeapRus and “Heart of Elbrus” are used depending on the programme, the dates, the make-up of the group and confirmed availability.
A hut cannot be chosen apart from the route and the acclimatisation. The exact name, the number of nights, the meals, the accommodation and the baggage delivery must be stated on the tour card or in the written confirmation. Photographs show the property, but they do not guarantee a particular room.
A short comparison
| Hut | Altitude | Format | When it is used |
|---|---|---|---|
| “National Park” | 3888 m | Heated four-person modules | The main Mountain Guide option |
| Cosmos Elbrus Leaprus Camp | 3912 m | A modern modular high-mountain hotel | Subject to availability and the terms of the programme |
| “Heart of Elbrus” | Around 3840 m | Shared rooms and a café-canteen | As an alternative option on the southern slope |
The “National Park” hut
This is the main Mountain Guide hut on the southern route. It stands above the “Garabashi” station and is used for overnight stays, acclimatisation walks and preparation for the summit. The altitude given by Mountain Guide is 3888 m.
The group is accommodated in heated four-person modules. On site there is electricity, sockets, a toilet and a kitchen. Where the programme provides for it, Mountain Guide brings up its own cooks and its own food. Meals count as included only where the tour states so directly.
An MTS signal usually works better than other operators in this area, but the mountain terrain, the weather and network load can all change the quality of the signal. Keep your contacts and documents available offline.
Transport from the cable car to the hut by snowcat or snowmobile depends on the season, the state of the snow and the terms of the particular programme. The walking distance is short, but heavy baggage and altitude change how it feels.
Cosmos Elbrus Leaprus Camp
LeapRus is a separate modern high-mountain property at an altitude of 3912 m beside the “Garabashi” station. It was built in 2013 and, from the 2026 season, operates under the name Cosmos Elbrus Leaprus Camp.
According to the official information from Kavkaz.RF, the complex has heating, hot water, a shower, electricity, internet, a room for drying equipment and a dining area. The property has its own booking and operating rules. The presence of these facilities does not mean that a stay at LeapRus is automatically part of every Mountain Guide programme.
Accommodation is in shared rooms. Before payment, check the actual number of people in a module, the meals, the baggage delivery, the check-in time and exactly which services are included.
The “Heart of Elbrus” hut
“Heart of Elbrus” stands in the area of the upper “Garabashi” station at an altitude of about 3840 m. It is a modern option with shared rooms, communal spaces and a café-canteen.
The old description mentioned four-bed and eight-bed accommodation at the same time. That is why the new page promises no fixed capacity: the room type and the number of people you share with are confirmed for the specific group. Meals, the toilet, transport and equipment storage are checked separately in exactly the same way.
The hut may be used as an alternative where that fits the schedule of the programme and availability is confirmed. Being close to the cable-car station does not cancel out the altitude or the need for gradual acclimatisation.
Why the old list of ten other huts was removed
This page used to list “Garabashi”, the historic “Priyut 11”, “Mir”, “Northern Refuge”, “Ira”, “Diesel Hut”, “Maria”, “Romantik” and “Vysotnik”. Some of those descriptions contained incorrect dates, invented services and unconfirmed current status.
The page is called “Our huts”, so only the properties that Mountain Guide actually uses or considers are kept here. General information about the types of accommodation has been moved into the article “Huts on Elbrus: the overnight stay, the conditions and the choice”.
The historic “Priyut 11” is not a working hotel
The famous three-storey “Shelter of the Eleven” burnt down on 16 August 1998. It cannot be booked. The name is still used for the historic site and for that area of the slope, which is why the old building is sometimes confused with the modern properties.
The verified history and the status of the new project are covered separately: “Priyut 11 on Elbrus: the history, the fire and the new project”.
What the stay includes
What is included differs from programme to programme. Before payment, check:
- the name of the hut;
- the number of nights;
- the type of sleeping place;
- bedding and whether a sleeping bag is required;
- breakfast, lunch, dinner and hot drinks;
- delivery of your main baggage;
- a snowcat or snowmobile to the accommodation;
- an extra night if the schedule changes;
- electricity, communications and somewhere to dry things;
- the terms for cancellation or a change of property.
If a service is not stated on the card or in the confirmation, do not assume it is included. Even within a single hut, the terms of different rates can differ.
The hut and acclimatisation
A night at almost 4000 m is part of a high-altitude programme, not simply a way of being nearer the summit. Sleep can become shallow, appetite can fall away, and ordinary everyday effort can feel harder.
Headache, nausea, unusual weakness, loss of co-ordination and any deterioration must not be concealed. A hut does not cure altitude sickness. The guide assesses your condition and, where necessary, changes the plan or arranges a descent.
Communications, electricity and charging
An advertised mobile signal does not guarantee stable internet inside every module. Take a power bank, keep your phone warm and save your documents offline.
Sockets at altitude are a shared resource. Do not count on charging all the group’s devices at once. Spare batteries are useful for a camera.
Water, the toilet and hygiene
Conditions differ markedly from a hotel in Terskol. Before the trip, check where the toilet is, whether hot water is available, what is provided for washing and whether you need your own towel.
A shower at altitude is an extra convenience, not a required standard. Even where the property provides one, whether it actually works can depend on the engineering systems.
Equipment and baggage
Take to the hut only what you need for the high-altitude part. A suitcase and town clothes usually stay in the valley. The exact rucksack volume, the transport of shared loads and the clothing list are set by the programme.
Boots, gloves and your outer layer need time to dry before you set off. Ask where you are allowed to put things, and do not leave personal equipment unmarked.
How to choose a programme
The seven-day option is shorter and calls for a tighter schedule. The nine-day programme leaves more time for preparation in sequence. A private format lets you agree the pace and the accommodation, but it does not set aside the safety requirements. An oxygen programme does not turn Elbrus into a sightseeing trip and calls for a separate assessment of the participant.
Elbrus from the south, 9 days
Elbrus from the south, 7 days
A private ascent
An ascent with oxygen
Frequently asked questions
Can I choose a particular hut?
On a private programme this is discussed in advance. On a group trip the choice depends on the route, the quota and the conditions on those dates.
Is there heating?
All three main options have heated accommodation. The actual temperature and the uninterrupted working of the engineering systems cannot be guaranteed.
Do I need a sleeping bag?
It depends on the property and the programme. Follow the equipment list of the particular tour.
Can I charge my phone?
Sockets are usually available, but you need a power bank as a backup.
Is there mobile internet?
In the area of the southern huts a signal is often available, particularly on MTS, but the quality varies. Do not rely on it for anything critical.
Can I stay in a hotel in the valley instead of a hut?
Only where that matches the programme you have chosen. Changing it yourself alters the altitude profile and the logistics of summit day.
Ask about the accommodation
Before booking, tell us the programme you have chosen, the dates, the number of participants, your preferences for the room and your previous altitude experience. Mountain Guide will confirm the property, the meals and the services that apply to your particular trip.
Ask a question about the hut and the Elbrus programme
Information about communications, transport and living conditions can change. The final source is the written confirmation from Mountain Guide for the specific dates.