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Kazbek 5,033 m · and Kazbek + Elbrus double climbs

Kazbek + Elbrus — Double Summit

Two Caucasus giants in one trip: Kazbek (5,033 m) from Georgia with tents, then Elbrus West (5,642 m) by the classic southern route.

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The twin snow-covered summits of Elbrus under a blue sky

The twin snow-covered summits of Elbrus under a blue sky

Duration
13 days
Max altitude
5,642 m
Difficulty
Demanding
Group size
1 guide per 4 climbers
Region
Caucasus

From€1,290/ person

Next date
5 Jun

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

Overview

About this tour

Kazbek and Elbrus are the most famous five-thousanders of the Caucasus. You do not have to be an experienced mountaineer to climb them, but you do need to be in good physical shape. This programme is unique because you summit both in a single trip: first Kazbek, 5,033 m, from the Georgian side, then straight on to the West summit of Elbrus, 5,642 m, by the classic southern route.

We use the Kazbek climb as the main acclimatisation for the Elbrus summit push. The Kazbek section is a tent trek from Gergeti church over the Gergeti glacier with a night summit push; after two nights in a Stepantsminda guesthouse we drive about 654 km to the Elbrus region, ride the cable cars to the high-altitude National Park hut and go for the West summit.

This trip is a serious test of physical and mental preparation. After the effort of acclimatising and standing on Kazbek, followed by a short rest, you need to be ready to take on the mountain again and climb the highest point in Europe. It will not be easy — but what you see and feel will stay with you for ever. The programme crosses into Georgia, so a valid international passport is required. Our guides work at 1 guide per 4 climbers.

  • Two summits in one trip: Kazbek (5,033 m) and Elbrus West (5,642 m)
  • Kazbek used as the main acclimatisation for the Elbrus summit push
  • Tent trek over the Gergeti glacier with a rest day before Kazbek's summit push
  • Classic Elbrus South route with cable cars and a night at the National Park hut
  • Two reserve days for weather and 1 guide per 4 climbers

Day by day

Itinerary

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

  1. Day1

    Briefing and drive to Georgia

    1,750 m

    Arrive the day before (gear check, rental and paperwork at our Pyatigorsk office) or by 08:00 on day 1. At 09:00 we hold the briefing, meet the guides and check equipment — a passport is essential. We then drive the Georgian Military Road to Stepantsminda (261 km, 4–8 hours depending on the border), check in to the guesthouse, get a local SIM card if needed, have dinner and rest.

  2. Day2

    Gergeti church to the Sabertse pass

    3,014 m

    After breakfast we drive up to Gergeti church, then hike up with our packs (5.3 km, about 838 m of ascent). We spend the night in tents on the plateau below the pass, under the stars with a view of Kazbek.

  3. Day3

    Crossing the Gergeti glacier

    3,847 m

    Today we cross the Gergeti glacier (3.4–4.6 km). Before setting out your guide runs a session on walking in crampons. We pitch the tent camp at the Bethlemi hut (the former weather station) or higher, near the second cross, with the classic view of the summit. We sleep at 3,671–3,847 m.

  4. Day4

    Acclimatisation to 4,300 m

    4,300 m

    An acclimatisation climb to 4,300 m (5.2 km out and back), with extra practice of self-arrest with the ice axe, then back to our camp near the weather station. Anyone who cannot reach the final acclimatisation point is not allowed to go for the summit.

Comfort

Accommodation & meals

Guesthouse in Stepantsminda

2 nights in rooms for 2–4 people, with breakfast and dinner.

Tent camps on Kazbek

Tents for 2–4 people below the Sabertse pass (3,014 m) and near Bethlemi (3,671–3,847 m). Tents and sleeping bags can be rented.

Hostel in the Elbrus region

1 night with dinner and breakfast.

National Park hut on Elbrus

1–2 nights in the high-altitude hut with three meals a day of fresh food.

Meals

Breakfast and dinner in the Stepantsminda guesthouse and the Elbrus-region hostel, three fresh meals a day at the Elbrus hut; on the Kazbek tent section you eat from the food package (about €200, not included).

Price details

What's included

Included

  • Advice from our managers at every stage of preparation, including gear and clothing
  • Professional mountaineering instructors, 1 per 4 participants
  • All group transfers in the programme (Pyatigorsk – Stepantsminda – Gergeti church, Stepantsminda – Elbrus region, Azau – Pyatigorsk)
  • 2 nights in a Stepantsminda guesthouse with breakfast and dinner
  • 1 night in a hostel in the Elbrus region with dinner and breakfast, and 1–2 nights in the National Park hut on Elbrus with three meals a day
  • All cable-car rides up and down on Elbrus
  • National park entrance fees
  • Safety equipment: satellite phone, radios, GPS navigator, first-aid kit, rescue-service registration
  • Mountaineering oxygen equipment and doctor contact by satellite or mobile phone
  • Group equipment: ropes, gas and cooking system
  • Elbrus Expert certificate for Kazbek and Elbrus and a branded long-sleeve shirt

Not included

  • International flights and travel to and from Pyatigorsk (fly into Mineralnye Vody, MRV)
  • Food package for the Kazbek tent section (about €200)
  • Personal gear and clothing; rental equipment is paid separately
  • Mountaineering insurance (mandatory)
  • Elbrus climbing permit (none is charged at the moment)
  • Nights in Pyatigorsk before and after the tour
  • Individual transfers, airport meeting and left-luggage storage (Premium package)

Dates & prices

Choose your date

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

  • 5 – 17 Jun 2027

    13 days

    Regular price€1,490Now€1,290per person
    Guides
    AvailableBe the first

  • 19 Jun – 1 Jul 2027

    13 days

    Regular price€1,490Now€1,290per person
    Guides
    AvailableBe the first

  • 24 Jun – 6 Jul 2027

    13 days

    Regular price€1,490Now€1,290per person
    Guides
    AvailableBe the first

  • 3 – 15 Jul 2027

    13 days

    Regular price€1,490Now€1,290per person
    Guides
    AvailableBe the first

  • 10 – 22 Jul 2027

    13 days

    Regular price€1,490Now€1,290per person
    Guides
    AvailableBe the first

  • 29 Jul – 10 Aug 2027

    13 days

    Regular price€1,490Now€1,290per person
    Guides
    AvailableBe the first

  • 8 – 20 Aug 2027

    13 days

    Regular price€1,490Now€1,290per person
    Guides
    AvailableBe the first

  • 14 – 26 Aug 2027

    13 days

    Regular price€1,490Now€1,290per person
    Guides
    AvailableBe the first

  • 4 – 16 Sept 2027

    13 days

    Regular price€1,490Now€1,290per person
    Guides
    AvailableBe the first

  • 13 – 25 Sept 2027

    13 days

    Regular price€1,490Now€1,290per 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

  • Climbing cramponsRent
  • Large backpack 85–120 L + rain cover · 85–90 L is enough for women, 85–110 L for men; the full pack weighs 26–30 kg.Rent
  • Harness + 3 carabiners + safety lanyardsRent
  • HeadlampRent
  • Sleeping bag, comfort rating −10 °CRent
  • Sleeping matRent
  • Mountain sunglassesRent
  • Ski gogglesRent
  • Insulated overbootsRent
  • 1-litre thermosRent
  • Tent · One tent per 2–4 participants.Rent

Clothing

  • Mountaineering bootsRent
  • Warm down or synthetic jacket with a hood that fits over a helmet · Rated for winter and high-altitude conditions; for down, at least 250–300 g of quality down (Fill Power 700+ preferred).Rent
  • Extreme-cold mittensRent
  • Climbing trousers (softshell recommended)Rent
  • Fleece top (Polartec 200) · Base layers cannot be rented — buy them from us or bring your own.
  • Light trousers or shorts
  • Warm fleece hat that fits under a helmet
  • Thin Polartec gloves
  • Trekking socks, 2–3 pairs
  • Thin socks, 3 pairs
  • Cap or wide-brimmed hat
  • Buff or balaclava
  • Synthetic T-shirts, 2

Personal items

  • Compression sacks
  • Toiletries
  • Mug, spoon, bowl and knife
  • Sunscreen SPF 50
  • Waterproof pouch for documents
  • Plastic water bottle
  • Power bank

First-aid kit

  • Personal first-aid kit · Minimum: gauze bandage, roll plaster, antiseptics, anti-allergy tablets, fever and cold remedies, stomach tablets, elastic bandage, haemostatic products and your own medication for any chronic conditions.

RentItems marked as rentals can be hired at our Pyatigorsk office — we check and fit everything the day before departure (or from 08:00 on day 1). Base layers and small items are not rented.

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

What documents do I need for the Georgian side?

The trip crosses into Georgia over the Georgian Military Road, so a valid international passport is required — it must be valid for at least 6 months on arrival. Entry rules depend on your nationality: check the visa requirements for both Russia and Georgia before booking, and keep the passport with you from the briefing on day 1.

How do I get to the start and where do we meet?

Fly into Mineralnye Vody (MRV). We meet you in the arrivals hall, or you can take a taxi to our office in Pyatigorsk (Lenin Square 13, Intourist hotel building) — about 27 km, 25 minutes. Arrive the day before the start (the office receives participants from 08:00 to 18:00 for gear checks and rental) or on day 1 between 08:00 and 10:00.

Why climb Kazbek first, and how demanding is this trip?

We use the Kazbek climb as the main acclimatisation before the West summit of Elbrus (5,642 m). Two five-thousanders in one trip is a serious test of both physical and mental preparation — you need good fitness. Two reserve days (days 12–13) cover bad weather, and if the weather allows, the tour can finish 1–2 days early.

How heavy is the rucksack on a tent trip?

Participants carry personal and group gear up to the camps, including tents and food, so a full pack weighs 26–30 kg. You need a 85–90 L backpack (women) or 85–110 L (men).

What does the Premium package add?

Premium adds, on top of the Basic package: rental of all mandatory gear and clothing at a 30% discount with your tent place included (≈ €170 at the discounted rate), the Elbrus Expert medal (≈ €30), the official badge of the Russian Mountaineering Federation (FAR) (≈ €10) and an entry in the official Climber's Book for a successful ascent (≈ €10), an individual airport/station meeting and transfer to our office (≈ €10), an individual transfer back to the airport/station (≈ €10) and left-luggage storage during the tour (≈ €5). The Premium price is calculated at the time of your enquiry, and you can switch from Basic to Premium later.

What happens if the Elbrus cable car is closed?

All cable-car rides on Elbrus are included. If the Elbrus cable car is shut down, the drive up to the hut and back by vehicle is paid separately, minus the price of the cable car.

Not sure about the date? Leave a request

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

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The mountain is waiting

Ready for your summit?

From €1,290 per person. Pick a date now — we confirm everything personally, no payment at this step.