Detailed itinerary

Day 1. Arrive in Moscow. Hotel*** near the city center. Free time for sightseeing. Night at the hotel.

Day 2. Ttransfer to the airport for the flight to Mineralnye Vody, on the plains north of the Caucasus. Drive by private bus to Terskol town (see pictures) (about 3,5 hours) the hotel in Baksan Valley, near Elbrus (the altitude is 2100 meters).

Day 3. Our trek starts with a pleasant walk up the Adyl-su valley to the "Green Hotel" campsite, an alpine meadow campsite at 2600m. From the hotel we drive about 40min to the Jantugan A/C and then take 2hrs walk to the campsite. After lunch we go to the nearest glacier for crampons practice. This is an excellent day to tone up our muscles for the days ahead.

Day 4. Walk up the Jankuat Glacier, ascend Eastern Jantugan Pass 3600m. A fine day with a mixture of terrain providing good practice with ice axe and crampons. If the weather and the group conditions are good possible to climb Gumachi Peak, 3805m. Return back to the hotel on the same day.

Day 5. A short drive to Vierhny Baksan from where we walk up through woods then open mountain slopes to Syltran Lake at 3200m., one of the largest lakes in the Caucasus. Camp. This is a long, demanding day, excellent training for the long pull up Elbrus!

Day 6. Cross the Syltran Pass, 3400m. with a possible 30 min. side trip to a nearby small summit and viewpoint. We descend by the Mukal Valley and then walk up by the Mkiara Valley to camp at 3100m.

Day 7. Cross the glaciated Irik Pass, 3750m. to a campsite in the forest lower down in the beautiful Irik Valley. Camp.

Day 8. Finishing our descent from the Irik valley we return to the hotel. The afternoon is free to relax, have a sauna or wander into Terskol.Night in the hotel.

Day 9. 15 min drive to the Azau station. We take the cable car/chair lift system up Elbrus and stay in the Garabashi Huts at 3800m or the Diesel Hut at 4100m.

Day 10. Acclimatization walk to Pastukhova Rocks at 4800m. Return to the hut.

Day 11. We begin in the early morning hours to ascend the highest of Elbrus' twin peaks - the West Summit. You carry your day pack with the day's requirements. We return to spend the night in Garabashi or camp.

Day 12. Spare day to attempt Elbrus if the weather on the previous day was bad (otherwise return to the hotel).

Day 13. Return to the hotel. Relax and perhaps enjoy one of the fine walks from the hotel.

Day 14. Drive to Mineralnye Vody, fly to St Petersburg; night at a hotel in the city center.

Day 15. After breakfast we check out of the hotel. Take transport to the international airport for the flight home.