Russia · Mountain Exploration

9-Day Mt. Elbrus South to North Traverse with Summit Attempt

9 Days Round trip from ул. Аэропорт Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Summit Mt. Elbrus at 5642 m on a south-to-north traverse
02 Acclimatization hikes to Cheget, Maid's Braids waterfall, and Pastukhov's Rocks
03 Hike up to 4400 m from the refuge and stay overnight in mountain huts
04 Climb with a strict 1 guide per 3 climbers ratio on summit day
05 Possible free time to explore Pyatigorsk and Lermontov's duel site

Embark on an unforgettable adventure to conquer majestic Mt. Elbrus, Europe's highest peak, on a south-to-north traverse. Acclimatize with hikes to breathtaking destinations such as Cheget, Maid's Braids waterfall, and Pastukhov's Rocks before moving up to the refuge and hiking to 4400 m. Summit Mt. Elbrus at 5642 m with a strict 1:3 guide-to-climber ratio, then descend on the northern side. The journey concludes with a transfer back via Terskol, with possible free time to explore Pyatigorsk.

Embark on an unforgettable adventure to conquer majestic Mt. Elbrus, Europe's highest peak, on a south-to-north traverse.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 9 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Pyatigorsk, Mount Elbrus

Languages English, German

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Arrival at MRV Airport and Transfer to Elbrus

Departure from the airport at 12:00-12:15 pm for all arrivals on flights before 11:30 pm, or at 15:15-15:30 pm for all arrivals before 14:45 pm. Then continue with a 200 km (3-hour) transfer to the hotel. The hotel is located at the beginning of the hundred-kilometre valley of the Baksan River, almost on the very slope of Elbrus. Gather for dinner.

Day 02

Acclimatization Hike to Cheget

Go for an acclimatization hike to Cheget. Descend on foot back to the hotel.

Day 03

Maid's Braids Waterfall and Observatory

In the morning, enjoy an acclimatization hike to Maid's Braids waterfall (at 2700 m) and continue further to the observatory (at 3100 m).

Day 04

Refuge Setup and Acclimatization to 4400 m

Take a lift to the refuge and set up there. After a snack, make an acclimatization hike to an elevation of 4400 m, until the end of the ridge.

Overnight stay in the huts.

Day 05

Acclimatization Hike to Pastukhov's Rocks

Go for an acclimatization hike to Pastukhov's Rocks (at 4700 m).

Day 06

Rest and Final Summit Preparations

Spend the whole day resting and making final preparations for summiting Elbrus.

Day 07

Summit Mt. Elbrus and Descend North

Today, summit Mt. Elbrus (5642 m), with an early start at 2-4 AM and possible use of a Snowcat. The proportion of guides to clients is strictly 1:3. Descend to a hut on the northern side.

Day 08

Descent to Emanuel Glade and Transfer to Terskol

On Day 8, descend to Emanuel Glade and transfer to Terskol.

Day 09

Airport Transfer and Possible Pyatigorsk Walk

Transfer to the airport at 7 AM, so please plan your flight with this in mind. There will probably be some time for a walk in Pyatigorsk after you reach the airport and leave your luggage there.
On your own, you can also visit the well-known Russian poet Lermontov's duel site.

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from ул. Аэропорт 2 cities · 9 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

English-speaking mountain guides (one leading guide for the Elbrus South to North traverse program and several assistants on the summit day, with a strict proportion of 1 guide per 3 climbers. This means that if there are four clients in a group, there will be two guides for them. There is no limitation on summit attempts for the group. However, if part of the group reaches the summit while some members do not, the summit is considered successful, and any additional attempts require additional payment.)
Hotel accommodation in double and triple rooms. The duration of stay depends on the schedule.
Accommodation in huts. The duration of stay depends on the Elbrus climbing schedule.
All transfers mentioned in the itinerary, including lifts, from and to the airport/station
Meals three times a day throughout the trip: dinner on the first day and breakfast on the last day
All required permits and registrations
Group equipment (ropes, ice screws, radios, first aid set, satellite navigators/GPS)