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Europe's highest peak · 5,642 m

Elbrus Winter & New Year Climb

A winter Elbrus climb with no heavy packs: heated hut, 3 reserve days, daily oxygen-saturation checks and no more than 3 climbers per guide.

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Four climbers walking in winter with the twin summits of Elbrus ahead

Four climbers walking in winter with the twin summits of Elbrus ahead

Duration
11 days
Max altitude
5,642 m
Difficulty
Challenging
Group size
From 6 people · max 3 climbers per guide
Region
Elbrus

From€1,500/ person

Next date
26 Dec

  • 4.9 traveller rating
  • 95% summit success
  • No payment to book

Overview

About this tour

A winter ascent of Elbrus is tougher than a summer one, but it is well within reach of a fit traveller. We planned the programme to keep the load as low as possible: no heavy packs, cable cars rather than long approaches, and, if you wish, a snowcat and oxygen equipment.

We have also stacked the odds in your favour. There are three reserve days for bad weather, and in winter groups there are never more than three participants per guide. On the mountain we stay in the heated "National Park" hut, in its VIP modules, with a full and varied menu of fresh food; in Terskol you sleep in a cosy hotel in twin rooms. You still bring a sleeping bag, because it can be cold, and your warmest clothing — all of it available to rent at our Pyatigorsk office.

The winter bonus is the air: incredibly clear, with panoramas you can only see at this time of year. Departures include a New Year climb (26 December – 5 January) as well as winter dates in January and February.

  • Summit of Elbrus (5,642 m) in winter, with crystal-clear air and panoramas you only get in this season
  • Three reserve days for bad weather
  • No more than three participants per guide in winter groups
  • Heated "National Park" hut with VIP modules, and a twin-room hotel in Terskol
  • Daily blood-oxygen (saturation) checks to spot altitude sickness early
  • All gear and winter clothing can be rented at our office; no heavy packs, cable cars all the way

Day by day

Itinerary

Weather may change the order of days; your guide always has a reserve plan.

  1. Day1

    Briefing in Pyatigorsk and transfer to the Elbrus region

    2,144 m

    Arrive in Pyatigorsk the day before (our office is open for gear checks and rental from 08:00 to 18:00; the night there is not included) or by 10:00 on day 1. From 08:00 to 11:00 we do the final gear check and rental at the office (Lenin Square 13, Intourist hotel building), and at 11:00 your guide gives the briefing. Then we drive 174 km to the Elbrus region (3–3.5 hours; passports may be checked on the way) with a lunch stop at a roadside café. Check in at the hotel in Terskol (2,144 m), have dinner and a short evening briefing.

  2. Day2

    First acclimatisation: Mount Cheget

    3,050 m

    We climb Cheget (3,050 m, 4.3 km) for views of the Baksan gorge, Donguz-Orun (4,454 m) and Nakra-Tau (4,277 m). Lunch with a view of Elbrus, then back down by cable car and on to the hotel.

  3. Day3

    Second acclimatisation to 4,100 m

    4,100 m

    We take the cable car to Mir station (3,500 m) and walk up lightly to 4,100 m (6.5 km in total), with tea and a lunch box on the way. Then we descend to Garabashi station (3,900 m), ride the cable car down to Azau and drive to the hotel.

  4. Day4

    Up to the hut on the slope of Elbrus

    3,950 m

    By cable car to the slope of Elbrus and check-in at the "National Park" hut — a short walk of about 200 m from the station. A walk up the snow slope and a training session in crampon technique.

Comfort

Accommodation & meals

Hotel in Terskol (2,144 m)

Three nights in a cosy hotel in twin rooms, with good food.

"National Park" hut, VIP modules (3,950 m)

3–7 nights on the slope of Elbrus in the heated high-altitude hut, about 200 m from the cable-car station. Bring a sleeping bag (rentable): it can still be cold.

Night before in Pyatigorsk (not included)

Hostels from ≈ €8, hotels in every price range and apartments are available near our office; we can help you find one.

Meals

Full board: three meals a day of fresh food from a varied menu, from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on the day you return to Pyatigorsk.

Price details

What's included

Included

  • Consultations with our experts at every stage of preparation: programme, gear and clothing
  • Professional mountaineering instructors, 1 per 3 participants on the climb
  • All group transfers on the programme (individual transfers are not included)
  • 3 nights in a twin room in a Terskol hotel and 3–7 nights in a VIP module of the high-altitude "National Park" hut
  • Full board from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on the return day
  • Elbrus National Park entrance fee
  • Safety equipment: satellite phone, radios, satellite navigator, first-aid kit, registration with the Emergency Ministry, pulse oximeter and daily blood-oxygen checks
  • Mountaineering oxygen equipment for altitude sickness, and contact with the company doctor by satellite or mobile phone
  • All shared equipment: ropes, ice screws and so on
  • Elbrus Expert certificate of ascent and a long-sleeve Elbrus Expert T-shirt

Not included

  • Flights to Mineralnye Vody (MRV) and back
  • Personal equipment and warm clothing (all available for rent at our office)
  • Mountaineering insurance (compulsory)
  • Snowcat ride on summit night (optional)
  • Cable-car and chairlift tickets on Elbrus and Cheget (included in Premium)
  • Individual airport pick-up and drop-off (included in Premium)
  • The night in Pyatigorsk before the tour, and accommodation after the tour if reserve days are not used
  • Elbrus summit permit, if one is reintroduced (none is required at present)

Dates & prices

Choose your date

Small international groups. Booking is free — we confirm details with you before any payment.

  • 26 Dec 2026 – 5 Jan 2027

    11 days

    Regular price€2,080Now€1,690per person
    Guides
    2 seats leftBe the first

  • 16 – 26 Jan 2027

    11 days

    Regular price€2,080Now€1,500per person
    Guides
    AvailableBe the first

  • 5 – 15 Feb 2027

    11 days

    Regular price€2,080Now€1,500per person
    Guides
    AvailableBe the first

Need other dates or a private group? — we organise departures on request.

Packing list

Required equipment

What to bring for this programme. Most technical items can be rented from us — no need to fly with them.

Equipment

  • Mountaineering cramponsRent
  • Assault rucksack 35–40 L, at least 70 cm tallRent
  • Expedition duffel 100–120 L or large rucksack 85–120 LRent
  • Harness + 3 carabiners + safety lanyardsRent
  • HeadlampRent
  • Sleeping bag, comfort rating −10 °CRent
  • Mountain glasses, protection category 3–4Rent
  • Ski goggles, at least category 2Rent
  • Insulated overbootsRent
  • Thermos, 1–1.2 LRent

Clothing to rent

  • Mountaineering boots (double or triple)Rent
  • Warm hooded down or synthetic jacket that fits over a helmet, rated for winter and high-altitude conditions · For a down jacket: at least 250–300 g of quality down, ideally fill power 700+Rent
  • Warm extreme mittensRent
  • Down climbing trousersRent
  • Softshell trousersRent

Base layers (buy or bring)

  • Fleece top, Polartec 200–300
  • Warm fleece hat that fits under a helmet
  • Warm Polartec gloves
  • Trekking socks, 2–3 pairs
  • Thin socks, 2 pairs
  • Buff or balaclava
  • Cap or brimmed hat
  • Synthetic T-shirts, 2

Personal items

  • Compression bags
  • Personal hygiene items
  • Mug, spoon, bowl, knife
  • Sunscreen SPF 50 or higher
  • Lip balm
  • Microfibre towel
  • Waterproof pouch for documents
  • Power bank

First-aid kit

  • Gauze bandage, roll plaster, antiseptics
  • Antiallergic drugs, fever and cold remedies, stomach tablets
  • Elastic bandage and haemostatic agents
  • Your own medication for any chronic conditions

RentAll your equipment and winter clothing are available to rent at our Pyatigorsk office; base layers cannot be rented. Premium gives a 30% rental discount. Bring the warmest clothing you can.

Your team

Guides on this tour

Certified mountain guides who speak English and lead this route every season.

Reviews

What our travellers say

5.055 reviews on TripAdvisor5.0210 reviews on Google
  • Google
    “Комфортный тур на западную вершину Эльбруса с юга с Сергеем Тарасовым. Это был не просто тур, а кинотур! Довольна всем! Организация на высшем уровне. Питание, трансфер, безопасность, аренда снаряжения - понравилось абсолютно всё! Спасибо огромное за эмоции и впечатления!”
    ННаиля Филиппова September 2026
  • Google
    “Пользуюсь услугами компании не первый раз и планирую дальше с ними путешествовать: отличная компания, профессиональные гиды.”
    AAleks September 2026
  • TripAdvisor

    Подъём на Эльбрус! Западная вершина.

    “Поднялись с группой на западную вершину Эльбруса! У нас был опытный гид Алексей Сикилинда, который грамотно выждал погоду, и мы успешно взошли на вершину. Были ребята, которые говорили что им всё равно на погоду, ведь они идут с Ксенией Котляр, и пошли на день раньше. Но взойти на вершину у них не вышло, и они вернулись назад. А мы зашли) Спасибо опыту Алексея). Компания была максимально разношёрстная - плотник, доктор, менеджер и торговый представитель. Несмотря на это все нашли общий язык и поддерживали друг друга во время всего тура) Что конечно же положительно повлияло на успех восхождения. В целом о поездке впечатление отличное, всё было хорошо - трансфер, снаряжение, питание. Спасибо компании Эльбрус Эксперт за прекрасный тур!”
    ССергей М September 2026
Read all reviews

FAQ

Good to know

Which winter dates are available, and is there a New Year departure?

Yes. The New Year departure runs from 26 December to 5 January, with the summit day planned for 1 January and the rest day on 31 December. We also run winter departures in January and February. The programme is the same; reserve days (days 9–11) cover bad weather.

How cold is it, and is a winter climb realistic for me?

A winter ascent is tougher than a summer one, so you need good fitness and the warmest clothing you can get, but it is within reach of a fit traveller. We keep the load low with no heavy packs and cable cars all the way. We use three reserve days, groups of no more than three climbers per guide, a heated hut and daily blood-oxygen checks to improve your chances and keep you safe.

What does the Premium package add?

For about €390 more, Premium adds: a 30% discount on equipment and clothing rental, all cable-car and chairlift rides on Elbrus and Cheget, an Elbrus Expert medal, the official Russian Mountaineering Federation "For climbing Elbrus" badge and an entry in your climber's logbook (if you reach the summit), an individual meeting at Mineralnye Vody airport with a transfer to our office before the tour and back to the airport afterwards, and luggage storage during the tour. You can switch from Basic to Premium later; the Premium price is then calculated at that moment.

How do I get there and book?

Fly into Mineralnye Vody (MRV), about 27 km (25 minutes) from our Pyatigorsk office; a taxi costs ≈ €8. You can arrive the day before (office gear checks 08:00–18:00) or by 10:00 on day 1. The tour runs once at least six people have joined. A booking deposit (≈ €350 for Basic, ≈ €400 for Premium) holds your place and fixes the price.

Can I rent winter gear?

Yes. All equipment and warm clothing — double or triple mountaineering boots, down jacket, down climbing trousers, extreme mittens, sleeping bag rated to −10 °C and so on — can be rented at our Pyatigorsk office. Base layers such as fleece, hats, gloves and socks are not rentable: buy them from us or bring your own.

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A guide will reply within 24 hours with options, availability and answers to your questions.

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From €1,500 per person. Pick a date now — we confirm everything personally, no payment at this step.