How to order
Step 1. Planning your tour.
A tour may consist of 2 parts.
- First part is the core - Days in the Caucasus.
Check our standard itineraries at the bottom to take
a general idea of planning your tour. Note that there are two main things to
be taken into consideration: your personal resistance to high altitude and weather
conditions.
Weather: We advice to have 2 reserve days in case of weather
problems.
Acclimatization: If you are experienced in high altitude mountaineering
you can estimate your chances. Some people can climb the top on the second day
after arrival. This does not depend on physical shape and power - only on a
personal high altitude resistance which is virtually may not be trained and
checked somehow without high altitude activity and experience.
If you have no high altitude experience it's better to set at least 8 nigh/9-day
overall Caucasus (MinVody-MinVody) itinerary for climbing Elbrus. This works
for an average person. If you need hikes besides Elbrus climb then add hiking
days to those 9 days.
- Second part is a number of services in Moscow: You can
find services we offer on our Additional
Services page. You can easily calculate the cost of this part. If you need Moscow-MinVody flight tickets you will find direct links for airlines reservation pages there.
Step 2. Ordering process step by step.
Ordering the Elbrus tour first.
- Contact us by email with
the answers to our Questionnairy.
- We price the tour and send you our offer and calculation.
- You confirm the the itinerary and price.
- We send formal confirmation of booking, invoice and payment details to
you by email.
- You fill out our Application form on-line for every participant . If there will be only one contact person on behalf of other people, please sign up using ONE (that person) contact email address in all forms.
- You pay a deposit.
Minimum deposit is 8000 Rubles per person. If you wish to avoid two payments (money transfers cost money) you can send full payment including possible Additional Services costs. After final calculation if it appears you paid more then necessary our rep in the Elbrus region will refund the money in cash. In case you pay less you can pay the diffrence in the Elbrus hotel to our rep as well.
- We send you the confirmation that the deposit has arrived.
- We send visa support pages (as email attachment) to you along with some comments about visa procedure. You have to print out the pages and follow the instructions. Our visa support pages are individual so evrey person in a party can apply for the visa individually
- You apply for Russian visa in Russian Consulate (personally or by post or through a visa company).
Ordering the Additional services (extras).
- AFTER you have our formal confirmation of Elbrus part of the tour (point 4 of the list above) you make a request through our Order Form (left menu on the Additional Services page).
- We confirm the actual booking and send you invoice.
Finalizing the booking.
- You pay for the additional service. The remaing amount for the Elbrus tour may be paid upon arrival.
- We send you meeting and extra service reservation details.
- You pay the balance for your tour upon arrival in our hotel in Elbrus region.
- You will have paper copies of confirmation and invoice from our rep in Moscow
or in the Caucasus.
* * *
Questions about Caucasus part (Elbrus Tour Questionnaire).
- For how many days/nights are you going to stay in the Caucasus? ( for example: 7 nights in the area actually means 8 days of service) We need well-defined number of days for pricing. We can not calculate 8-10 days, we can calculate either 8 or 9 or 10 days. If you chanage number of days later on we will be glad to calculate the price again.
- What are approximate dates of your tour? (to within at least 2 weeks, to say second half of August or first half of July)
- How many people in your group?
- Is your group going to ski(snowboard) from the top?
- Normally we assume one our leader guide throughout the tour and the climb for private groups. You can order additional guides for the summit day or on any other day. In case you need additional guides please advise.
- Is climbing Mt. Elbrus (not hiking around or skiing) your main goal in this trip?
* * *
Elbrus tour programs (samples for planning)
Samples of May-September programs:
Standard 7 night/8 day itinerary (7 nights in Elbrus region)
Standard 10 night/11 day itinerary (1 night in Moscow + 8 nights
in Elbrus region + 1 night in Moscow)
Standard 14 night/15 day itinerary (1 night in Moscow + 12
nights in Elbrus region + 1 night in Moscow)
Standard 14 night/15 day itinerary (10 nights in Elbrus region
+ 3 nights in Bezengi valley + 1 night in Piatigorsk town)
Samples of March-May (with skis) programs: (programs with ski-touring activity may not be run after mid April because of lack of snow)
Standard 11 night/12 day itinerary (1 night in Moscow +
9nights in Elbrus region + 1 night in Moscow)
Standard 14 night/15 day itinerary (13 nights in Elbrus
region + 1 night in Piatigorsk town)
Standard 8-day itinerary, Mt. Elbrus climb (full
service)
Day 1. Arrive in Mineralnye Vody. Bus ride (4 hrs.) to a mountain
lodge in the Baksan valley near the foothills of Mt. Elbrus. Overnight stay
in the lodge.
Day 2. Acclimatization ascent (using ski lifts) of Cheget Mountain,
3600 m (11,800 feet). Overnight stay in the lodge.
Day 3. Ride ski lifts. Set up base camp. Acclimatization hike.
Overnight stay in a small hut on the slopes of Elbrus.
Day 4. Acclimatization hike and relax day.
Day 5. Summit day. Leave base camp about 3 am for the climb
of Elbrus' west summit, 5642 m (18,498 feet). Descend to base camp.
Day 6. Reserve day for climbing Elbrus (in case of bad weather)
or descent to the Baksan valley.
Day 7. Reserve day. Descend to the Baksan valley.
Day 8. Drive to Mineralnye Vody.
Land cost of the tour includes:
Accommodation:
Baksan valley, Caucasus - a mountain lodge or a hotel, shared twin room.
Base camp - the Barrels huts
- 4-5 people in a 5-bed hut.
Transportation:
Transfers mentioned in the itinerary, by bus and lifts.
Food:
All meals.
All necessary permits: OVIR and reserve territory registration, rescue service
registration, border guard registration (if necessary), local protection fee.
One mountain guide throughout the tour.
Land cost of the tour does not include.
Transfers not included in the program.
Riding snow-cat (a vehicle transporting people along the snow slopes).
Standard 11-day itinerary, Mt. Elbrus
climb (full service).
Day 1. Arrive in Moscow. Transfer
from airport to hotel. Overnight stay in hotel.
Day 2. Two-hour flight to Mineralnye
Vody (Caucasus). Four-hour bus ride (4 hrs.) to a mountain lodge in the Baksan
valley near the foothills of Mt. Elbrus. Overnight stay in the lodge.
Day 3. Acclimatization ascent
(using ski lifts) of Cheget mountain, 3600 m (11,800 feet). Overnight stay in
the lodge.
Day 4.
Ride ski lifts. Go up to the site of former "Priut-11" lodge (destroyed
by fire in August of 98). Acclimatization hike. Descent to the valley. Overnight
stay in the lodge.
Day 5. Ride ski lifts. Set up
base camp. Acclimatization hike. Overnight stay in a small hut on the slopes
of Elbrus.
Day 6. Acclimatization hike and
relax day.
Day 7. Summit day. Leave base
camp about 3 am for the climb of Elbrus' west summit, 5642 m (18,498 feet),.
Descend to base camp.
Day 8. Reserve day for climbing
Elbrus (in case of bad weather) or descent to the Baksan valley if we climb
the summit.
Day 9. Descend to the Baksan valley.
Day 10. Drive to Mineralnye Vody.
Fly back to Moscow. Overnight stay in a hotel.
Day 11. Check out from the hotel.
Fly home.
Land cost of the tour includes:
Accommodation:
Moscow - 'Rossia' (Rossija, Russia) 3 star hotels - shared twin/double room.
Baksan valley, Caucasus – 'Azau' mountain lodge - shared twin or triple room.
Base camp - the Barrels huts - 4-5 people in a 5-bed hut.
Transportation:
Transfers mentioned in this itinerary, by bus and lifts.
Food:
Moscow - breakfast,
Mountain lodge in the Baksan valley - all meals.
A Barrel hut - all meals.
All necessary permits: OVIR and reserve territory registration, rescue service
registration, border guard registration (if necessary), local protection fee.
A mountain guide (from MinVody to MinVody).
Land cost of the tour does not include.
Domestic flight Moscow-MinVody-Moscow air tickets
Transfers not included in the program.
Riding snow-cat (a vehicle transporting people along the snow slopes).
Single occupancy supplement (on request):
Standard 15-day itinerary, Mt. Elbrus climb (full
service):
Day 1. Arrive in Moscow. Transfer from airport to hotel. Overnight
stay in hotel.
Day 2. Two-hour flight to Mineralnye Vody (Caucasus). Four-hour
bus ride to a mountain lodge in the Baksan valley near the foothills of Mt.
Elbrus. Overnight stay in the lodge.
Day 3. Acclimatization ascent (including ski lifts) of Cheget
mountain, 3600 m (11,800 feet). Stunning view of Mt. Elbrus and Mt. Donguz-Orun.
Overnight stay in the lodge.
Day 4. Acclimatization hike to the Adyl-Su valley and Kushka-Tush
glacier. Overnight stay in the lodge.
Day 5. Acclimatization ascent of Andyrchi or Kurmichi or Kogutai
mountain. Descent to the Baksan Valley. Overnight stay in the lodge.
Day 6. Day for relaxation. Shopping at wool market. Acclimatization
hike in the valley (optional). Overnight stay in the lodge.
Day 7. Ride ski lifts. Go up to site of the former "Priut-11"
lodge (destroyed by fire in August of 98). Acclimatization hike. Descent to
the valley. Overnight stay in lodge.
Day 8. Ride ski lifts. Set up base camp. Acclimatization hike.
Overnight stay in a small hut or in the tents on the slopes of Elbrus.
Day 9. Acclimatization hike to the Pastukhov Rocks, 4800 m
(15,740 feet).
Day 10. Rest-day. Preparing for the summit day.
Day 11. Summit day. Leave base camp about 3 am for the climb
of Elbrus' west summit, 5642 m (18,498 feet). Descend to base camp.
Day 12. Reserve day for climbing Elbrus (in case of bad weather).
Day 13. Descend to the Baksan valley.
Day 14. Drive to Mineralnye Vody (Nalchik). Fly back to Moscow.
Overnight stay in a hotel.
Day 15. Check out from the hotel. Fly home.
Land cost of the tour includes:
Accommodation:
Moscow - 'Rossia' (Rossija, Russia), 3 star hotel- shared twin/double room.
Baksan valley, Caucasus – 'Azau' mountain lodge - shared twin or triple room.
Base camp - the Barrels huts - 4-5 people in a 5-bed hut.
Transportation:
All mentioned in the itinerary transfers by bus and lifts.
Food:
Moscow - breakfast,
Mountain lodge in the Baksan valley - all meals.
Hut / Tents during climbing days - all meals.
All necessary permits: OVIR and reserve territory registration, rescue service
registration, border guard registration (if necessary), local protection fee.
A mountain guide (from MinVody to MinVody).
Land cost of the tour does not include.
Domestic flight Moscow-MinVody-Moscow air tickets
Transfers not included in the program.
Riding snow-cat (a vehicle transporting people along the snow slopes).
Single occupancy supplement (on request).
Standard 15-day itinerary: Mt. Elbrus climb + Bezengi
region. (full service)
Day 1. Arrival in Min Vody. Bus ride (4 hrs.) to a mountain
lodge in the Baksan valley near the foothills of Mt. Elbrus. Overnight stay
in the lodge.
Day 2. Acclimatization ascent (using ski lifts) of Cheget Mountain,
3600 meters Overnight stay in the lodge.
Day 3. Ride Elbrus ski lifts. Acclimatization hike. Descent
to the valley. Overnight stay in the lodge.
Day 4. Ride ski lifts. Set up base camp. Acclimatization hike.
Overnight stay in a hut on the slopes of Elbrus.
Day 5. Acclimatization hike. Overnight stay in a hut on the
slopes of Elbrus.
Day 6. Acclimatization hike and relax day. Overnight stay in
a hut on the slopes of Elbrus.
Day 7. Summit day. Leave base camp about 3 am for the climb
of Elbrus' west summit, 5642 meters (18,498 feet). Descend to base camp.
Day 8. Reserve day.
Day 9. Reserve day. Descent to the lodge.
Day 10. Drive to Bezengi mountaineering camp.
Day 11. Hike to the foot of Bezengi Wall (a range of over 5000
meters high mountains). Overnight in Bezengi mountaineering camp.
Day 12. Hike to the campsite. Overnight in tents.
Day 13. Mt. Brno climb. Descend to Bezengi
camp .
Day 14. Drive to Piatigorsk. Overnight stay in a hotel.
Day 15. Transportation to MinVody airport.
Land cost of the tour includes:
Accommodation:
Piatigorsk - a hotel - shared twin rooms.
Baksan valley, Caucasus - a mountain lodge or hotel, shared twin room.
Base camp - the Barrels huts - 4-5 people in a 5-bed hut.
Bezengi region - Bezengi mountaineering camp, shared 2-3 bed rooms, tents during
the climb.
Transportation:
Transfers mentioned in the itinerary, by bus and lifts.
Food:
All meals.
All necessary permits: OVIR and reserve territory registration, rescue service
registration, border guard registration (if necessary), local protection fee.
Guide(s). One guide for the group during the trekking days and one mountain
guide for three people during the Elbrus climb.
Land cost of the tour does not include.
Air tickets
Transfers not included in the program.
Riding snow-cat (a vehicle transporting people along the snow slopes).
Single occupancy supplement (on request):
Standard 12-day itinerary, Mt. Elbrus ski &
climb (full service).
Day 1. Arrive in Moscow. Transfer from international airport
to hotel. Overnight stay in hotel.
Day 2. Transfer to domestic lines airport. Two-hour flight
to Mineralnye Vody (Caucasus). Bus ride (4 hrs.) to a mountain lodge in the
Baksan valley near the foothills of Mt. Elbrus. Overnight stay in the lodge.
Day 3. Ordinary runs skiing in Elbrus area. Ski lifts, skiing
from Mir station 3500 m (11483 ft). and Krugozor station 3800 m (12467 ft) down
to the valley bottom 2200 m (7218 ft). Lift-served vertical drop is 1600 m (5249
ft). Overnight stay in the lodge.
Day 4. Ski lifts. Some long way powder-snow runs from Krugozor
station 3800 m (12467 ft). Overnight stay in the lodge.
Day 5. Ski lifts, snow-cat ride to Pastuckhov Rocks 4700 m
(15420 ft). Long powder-snow run from Pastuckhov rocks. Takes half day. Vertical
drop 2500 m. (8202 ft). Overnight stay in the lodge.
Day 6. Move to the Barrels huts. Hike to Pastuckhov rocks,
long powder snow ski run down the valley. Ride ski lifts back to the Barrels
huts. Overnight stay in the Barrels hut.
Day 7. Day for relaxation. Short hikes or ski runs. Overnight
stay in the Barrels hut.
Day 8. Summit day. Leave base camp about 3 am for the climb
of Elbrus' west summit, 5642 m (18,498 feet). Descend to base camp.
Day 9. Reserve day for climbing Elbrus (in case of bad weather)
or descent to the Baksan valley if we climb the summit on day 7.
Day 10. Descend to the Baksan valley.
Day 11. Drive to Mineralnye Vody. Fly back to Moscow. Transfer
from domestic airport to hotel. Overnight stay in a hotel.
Day 12. Check out from the hotel.
Land cost of the tour includes:
Accommodation:
Moscow - 'Rossia' (Rossija, Russia) 3 star hotels - shared twin/double room.
Baksan valley, Caucasus - a mountain lodge/hotel - shared twin or triple room.
Base camp - the Barrels huts - 4-5 people in a 5-bed hut.
Transportation:
Transfers by bus, snow-cat and lifts mentioned in this itinerary.
Food:
Moscow - breakfast,
Mountain lodge in the Baksan valley - all meals.
A Barrel hut - all meals.
All necessary permits: OVIR and reserve territory registration, rescue service
registration, border guard registration (if necessary), local protection fee.
One mountain guide (MinVody-MinVody).
Land cost of the tour does not include.
Air tickets
Transportations not included in the program.
Ski equipment.
Single occupancy supplement (on request):
Standard 15-day itinerary, Ski-Touring & Mt.
Elbrus climb (full service).
Day 1. Arrive in Mineralnye Vody. Bus ride (4 hrs.) to a mountain
lodge in the Baksan valley near the foothills of Mt. Elbrus. Overnight stay
in the lodge, 1900 m.
Day 2. Transportation to Adyr-Su valley. Hike around (ski tour).
Overnight in the rescue service huts, 2300 m.
Day 3. Mestia pass, 3750 m. (ski tour). Overnight in rescue
service huts.
Day 4. Gumachi pass, 3540 m. (ski tour). Overnight in rescue
service huts.
Day 5. Transportation to Azau. Hike around (ski tour). Overnight
in a lodge, 2000 m.
Day 6. Transportation to Adyl-Su valley. Ski tour up to a 3700
m. pass, depending on snow conditions. Overnight in the lodge.
Day 7. Kogutai summit, 3800 m. Overnight in the lodge.
Day 8. Lifts. Establishing base camp. Acclimatization ski-tour
up to 4500 m. Overnight in the Barrels huts, 3900 m.
Day 9. Acclimatization ski tour up to 5000 m. Overnight in
the Barrels huts.
Day 10. Summit day. Overnight in the Barrels huts.
Day 11. Reserve day. (or ski tour on Elbrus slopes, distant
glaciers and passes)
Day 12. Reserve day. (or ski tour on Elbrus slopes, distant
glaciers and passes)
Day 13. Descent to the valley. Relax, BBQ, Overnight in a lodge.
Day 14. Transportation to Piatigorsk resort, near MinVody (3,5
hrs). Overnight in a hotel.
Day 15. Transportation to MinVody (30 min.) Flight home.
Land cost of the tour includes:
Accommodation:
Baksan valley, Caucasus - 'MBS' mountain lodge - shared twin room.
Adyr-Su valley - Rescue service huts - shared 2-3 bed huts.
Base camp - the Barrels huts - 4-5 people in a 5-bed hut.
Piatigorsk - a hotel - twin rooms.
Transportation:
Transfers mentioned in the itinerary, by bus and lifts.
Food:
All meals.
We recommend that people also bring their favorite meals to avoid possible aversion
to a certain food. This happens sometimes at high altitude. If you like to cook
your own meals our guide will provide you with hot, boiled water and necessary
assistance.
All necessary permits: OVIR and reserve territory registration, rescue service
registration, border guard registration (if necessary), local protection fee.
One guide throughout the tour.
Land cost of the tour does not include:
Air tickets
Transfers not included in the program.
Riding snow-cat (a vehicle transporting people along the snow slopes).
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