Elbrus Region Holiday, 7 Days

The seven-day programme 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 programme 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 programme 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 programme 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 programme: 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. Overnight 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. Overnight 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 programme 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. Overnight 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 programme, 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. Overnight 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. Overnight 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 programme. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 7. End of the programme 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 programme.

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

• Tours, excursions and additional activities on the free-programme day
• Single occupancy supplement
• Early check-in and late check-out at the hotel before or after the programme. 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 programme 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

Documentos:

• Passaporte
• Passagens de avião/trem
• Seguro médico

Equipamento pessoal:

• Mochila de cerca de 20 litros
• Bastões de trekking

Roupas e calçados:

• Serve roupa de esqui para o Elbrus?
• Tênis de trekking ou botas de trekking. Em maio e início de junho, nos primeiros passeios de aclimatação, ainda pode haver neve; nesse caso, a vantagem das botas sobre os tênis é indiscutível. No entanto, depois de meados de junho até o final de setembro, eles podem ser substituídos por tênis
• Jaqueta corta-vento
• Capa/poncho de chuva
• Jaqueta de fleece
• Roupa térmica superior e inferior
• Luvas finas
• Bandana (além de proteger do sol no vale, pode ser usada para aquecer a garganta ou o rosto no frio)
• Chapéu

Diversos:

• Óculos de sol
• Polainas – necessárias ou não, dependendo da estação, calçado e clima
• Protetor solar, batom hidratante com filtro
• Kit de primeiros socorros pessoal
• Atadura elástica e/ou bandagem de suporte