As of 6 October 2026, 4 guides have verified client reviews for Elbrus (11 reviews). Read more
Top guides for Elbrus, ranked by their reviews here: 360 Expeditions (★ 4.9, 4 reviews), Beyond Red Square (★ 4.7, 3 reviews), IMG International Mountain Guides (★ 4.6, 2 reviews). ExpedReview is a specialist review platform for high-altitude mountaineering. Every review is checked by our team before it's published, and guides cannot pay for a better rating.
Guides listing a price: 0 of 4. No recent price listed.
Guides ranked by their reviews here
Ordered by each guide's verified reviews on Elbrus: the star rating, adjusted so one or two reviews, or only old ones, count for less than many recent ones. Ties go to the guide with more reviews on Elbrus. ERTI reflects a company's trustworthiness, reputation and ratings across the industry, and more. Out of 5, built from reviews we verify and many other factors. Not a rating for this place. Prices not updated in over a year are flagged; prices older than 3 years, and prices imported from the old site that the guide never edited, are hidden.
First recorded ascent of East Summit (5,621m) by Khillar Khachirov in 1829. West Summit (5,642m, higher) first climbed in 1874. Highest peak in Europe and one of the Seven Summits. Soviet-era cable car system makes it the most accessible of the Seven Summits.
Notable itineraries
South Route/Normal Route (5-7 days): Most popular, uses cable cars and Barrels Huts at 3,900m. North Route (6-8 days): More remote and challenging approach from north side. Traverse (7-10 days): Combines ascent from one side with descent to other. Cross Route: Technical variation via Achi-Su glacier.
Weather and best time to go
Weather: During the summer, temperatures typically average at 22°C in the valley. At the summit, expect anything between 5°C and -25°C.Peak Climbing Season: June - September, Best Time to Visit: , Average Expedition Length 10-14 Days
Currency
Russian Ruble (RUB) is the official currency. USD and EUR can be exchanged in Mineralnye Vody or Terskol. ATMs available in Terskol village. Credit cards accepted at major hotels. Cable car passes and hut reservations payable in rubles.
Languages
Official: Russian. Regional: Balkar, Karachay languages spoken by local mountain communities. English is limited - basic Russian or a translator is helpful. Guides usually speak some English. Cyrillic alphabet used throughout.
Latest reviews on Elbrus
Pilgrim Tours (Unclaimed)
Elbrus · Rated 4.8/5 · Reviewed
Had an amazing time with a very professional crew. Extremely knowledgeable and safety oriented.
Had an amazing time with a very professional crew. Extremely knowledgeable and safety oriented. Lodgings and food were exactly as expected. Great value.
By Verified Reviewer
360 Expeditions
Elbrus · Rated 4.8/5 · Reviewed
North-South traverse, the best way to climb Elbrus!
From the minute the team met up at Heathrow I knew this exped was going to be awesome! This was my fourth trip with 360 Expeditions and I have trusted them implicitly since my first exped with them to provide an awesome team, an awesome guide and crew, an awesome experience, and…
By Lucy N.
360 Expeditions
Elbrus · Rated 4.8/5 · Reviewed
Elbrus - an epic summit!
What a blast this trip was! Including off road jeep safari, a huge traverse summit day, summit day 2, a night out Russian style and experiencing PistonBully and Skimobiles on the 'other side'.
Its great to be able to get a big mountain feel on a trip that only need a week's…
By Matthew M.
360 Expeditions
Elbrus · Rated 5/5 · Reviewed
Elbrus with 360
I have used 360 for numerous major expeditions and all have been fabulous. This particular one is a great trip because its relatively short in duration but gives access to a completely different culture and this north south traverse gives a beautiful few days ahead of a…
By Mike L.
360 Expeditions
Elbrus · Rated 5/5 · Reviewed
What gos up Must come down - and safely.
I have travelled with 360 Expeditions before. When I wanted my next test 360 Expeditions were my first choice. I have used several guides with the company before but when I heard that Rolfe was leading this trip I jumped at the chance to join, and trained hard. Pre trip…
By Paul M.
Pilgrim Tours (Unclaimed)
Elbrus · Rated 4.2/5 · Reviewed
Great value trip, nice guidesThis isn't luxury so have mark ...
Great value trip, nice guides This isn't luxury so have marked the food and logistics down a bit but these guys know what they are doing and run a cost effective safe expedition.
By Verified Reviewer
Beyond Red Square
Elbrus · Rated 5/5 · Reviewed
Thank you Andrew & Beyond Red Square team for helping make ...
Thank you Andrew & Beyond Red Square team for helping make our Elbrus experience exceptional. We researched several of the other tour companies who were offering a similar package and went with Andrew and his team based on a significantly better value & personal service. We saw…
By Ted &.
Beyond Red Square
Elbrus · Rated 4.6/5 · Reviewed
Great Expedition!
I had a great experience with Beyond the Red Square. I searched for some time before going with them but was not disappointed. My experience started with Andrew. If you have interest, have a chat over Skype with him just to gather information. Chatting with him was a key for me…
By Nick
Beyond Red Square
Elbrus · Rated 4.6/5 · Reviewed
One of the best organized trips I've experienced
We gave Andrew at Beyond Red Square a tough task in helping us get to the top of Mt. Elbrus, fly to St. Petersburg, and then take a train to Moscow. He did so without any complaints or delays via hundreds of emails. All of our guides, cars, interpreters, etc. were all on time.…
By Jason B.
IMG International Mountain Guides (Unclaimed)
Elbrus · Rated 4.6/5 · Reviewed
Great climb of Elbrus with IMG
This was the last of my 7 Summits quest... and it was an auspicious expedition. IMG handled the logistics very nicely, and guiding by Mike, Sasha, and Igor was great--attention to detail, always totally safe even when conditions were hairy, and everyone had a great time. On this…
Rating: the average star rating of the guide's verified reviews for Elbrus, with the number of reviews. Order: by those reviews: the star rating, adjusted so one or two reviews, or only old ones, count for less than many recent ones; ties go to the guide with more reviews on Elbrus. Unclaimed: the company has not claimed its ExpedReview profile. Prices: guide-listed "from" prices in USD with the date last updated; prices 1 to 3 years old are flagged as possibly out of date; older prices, and prices imported from the old site that the guide never edited, are hidden; not verified costs. Every review is checked by our team before it's published, and guides cannot pay for a better rating.
Recommended gear for Elbrus
Technical essentials picked for glaciated mountaineering. Recommended by our expert team.
La Sportiva G2 Evo Mountaineering Boots (double boots): View at CampSaver
Petzl Sarken Crampons (Leverlock Universel) (crampons): View at CampSaver