Mount Elbrus

Flight Information

The total num­ber of days for your trip includes all trav­el to and from your des­ti­na­tion, with some excep­tions. Dates list­ed on the web­site start with a depar­ture date from the U.S. and include the day you arrive home. For this trip you will need to arrive in Moscow, Rus­sia on Day 2 any­time dur­ing the day. You will be met at the air­port by a Moun­tain Mad­ness rep­re­sen­ta­tive and trans­ferred to your hotel. 

If you are trav­el­ing from Europe it’s pos­si­ble you can elim­i­nate one day from the itin­er­ary as long as you arrive on Day 2 of the itin­er­ary. Return flight is sched­uled for Day 14 of the trip. 

Domes­tic flights to Min­er­al­nye Vody are includ­ed in the cost of your trip. If you choose to fly direct to Min­er­al­nye Vody, thus elim­i­nat­ing time in Moscow, we can care­ful­ly coor­di­nate this with you so that you meet your group at the domes­tic ter­mi­nal in Moscow or in Min­er­al­nye Vody. 

Please con­tact our office for any help need­ed with your flight schedule.

Day 1

TRAV­EL

The first day is allo­cat­ed for those requir­ing an overnight flight to Moscow.

Day 2

MOSCOW

A Moun­tain Mad­ness rep­re­sen­ta­tive will meet you at the air­port. You will be trans­ferred to your hotel where you will spend the night.

Day 3

MOSCOW

Tour the city of Moscow, includ­ing a vis­it to the Krem­lin Cathe­dral and Armory. Overnight at hotel. Ori­en­ta­tion meet­ing and gear check.

Day 4

MIN­ER­AL­NYE VODY / TERSKOL

Ele­va­tion: 7,030 ft / 2143 m

Trans­fer to domes­tic air­port for the two hour flight to the city of Min­er­al­nye Vody (Min­er­al Water) or Nalchik. Con­tin­ue by bus to a hotel in the town of Ter­skol in the Bak­san Val­ley, where you spend the next sev­er­al nights.

Day 5

TER­SKOL

Ele­va­tion: 7,030 ft / 2143 m

To pre­pare for our sum­mit attempt of Elbrus, and to enjoy the mag­nif­i­cent Cau­ca­sus Range, we take a day hike in the Bak­san Riv­er Val­ley. At the end of the day you overnight in the hotel.

Day 6

TER­SKOL

Ele­va­tion: 7,030 ft / 2143 m

To fur­ther pre­pare for the climb, we ride the cable car and prac­tice cram­pon and ice climb­ing skills. Overnight at hotel.

Day 7

KHARABASHI

Ele­va­tion: 12,467 ft / 3800 m

Ride the cable car up to Kharabashi, which is Balka­r­i­an for ​“where black rock meets glac­i­er.”. We set­tle in for a rest day in com­fort­able bar­rel shel­ters. More skills review possible. 

Day 8

ACCLIMA­TI­ZA­TION HIKE

Ele­va­tion: 12,467 ft / 3800 m

Acclima­ti­za­tion hike to Pas­tukhov Rocks and return for anoth­er night at the barrels.

Day 9

REVIEW SKILLS

Ele­va­tion: 12,467 ft / 3800 m

Fur­ther review basic moun­taineer­ing skills. Rest and pre­pare for the climb.

Day 10-11

SUM­MIT ATTEMPT

Ele­va­tion: 12,467 ft / 3800 m

Two days are sched­uled for our sum­mit attempt. We increase our chances for a suc­cess­ful sum­mit climb by rid­ing a snow­cat to just below our pre­vi­ous high­point near the Pas­tukhov Rocks. If weath­er allows our group to sum­mit on the first day, we descend the fol­low­ing day and have an extra day in the Bak­san Valley.

Day 12

TER­SKOL

Ele­va­tion: 7,030 ft / 2143 m

Overnight at Hotel.

Day 13

MIN­ER­AL­NYE VODY / MOSCOW

Dri­ve to Min­er­al­nye Vody. Fly back to Moscow. Trans­fer to hotel.

Day 14

FLY HOME

Depart Moscow and fly home.

Note on Itin­er­ary: Although we do our very best to fol­low the sched­ule list­ed, this itin­er­ary is sub­ject to change due to inclement weath­er, unsafe route con­di­tions, or oth­er rea­sons beyond our con­trol and in the guide’s best judgement.