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

Kazbek + Elbrus — Comfort Double Summit

Kazbek (5,033 m) and Elbrus West (5,642 m) in one trip, with no tents and no heavy packs: horses, hotels, mountain huts and cable cars. 1 guide per 3.

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Kazbek's dark summit pyramid wrapped in evening clouds

Kazbek's dark summit pyramid wrapped in evening clouds

Duration
13 days
Max altitude
5,642 m
Difficulty
Demanding
Group size
From 3 people · 1 guide per 3 climbers
Region
Caucasus

From€2,940/ person

Next date
8 Jun

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

Overview

About this tour

Kazbek (5,033 m) plus Elbrus (5,642 m) puts two famous five-thousanders of the Caucasus into one programme. First we climb Kazbek from the Georgian side, then we move to the Elbrus region and go up the highest peak of Russia and Europe.

Kazbek is a real mountaineering climb over glaciers and snow-and-ice terrain, in crampons and roped teams — but we have made the southern route as comfortable as possible and free of heavy packs. In Stepantsminda you stay in a 4★ hotel, two to a room; in the mountains you sleep in the Altihut hut and in cottages near Bethlemi, with no tents. Horses carry the main load of each participant up and down, so you walk light, and full meals are organised on the mountain. A successful Kazbek ascent gives you good altitude acclimatisation for the second, higher goal: Elbrus.

After Kazbek we cross back into Russia and continue on the southern slope of Elbrus. We rest in a 4★ hotel in Terskol, then ride up into the Prielbrusye National Park and stay in the high-altitude hut. After extra acclimatisation and preparation we climb the classic southern route to the West summit, 5,642 m. Here too you carry no heavy packs: we use the cable cars and mountain huts of the southern slope.

Two summits above 5,000 m back to back are a serious physical and altitude workload, even with comfortable conditions. You need good fitness, endurance and preparation for long efforts in the mountains. The programme crosses into Georgia, so a valid international passport is required, and the tour runs when at least 3 participants have booked.

  • Two summits in one trip: Kazbek (5,033 m) and Elbrus West (5,642 m)
  • No tents and no heavy packs: horses carry up to 20 kg of your kit on Kazbek
  • 4★ hotels in Stepantsminda and Terskol, mountain huts at altitude
  • Kazbek acclimatisation before the classic Elbrus South route with cable cars
  • Two reserve days, individual airport meeting and 1 guide per 3 participants

Day by day

Itinerary

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

  1. Day1

    Briefing and drive to Stepantsminda

    1,750 m

    Arrive the day before: we meet you individually at Mineralnye Vody airport and transfer you to Pyatigorsk, then check your kit and issue rental gear at our office (open from 08:00 on day 1 for late arrivals). At 09:00–10:00 we gather for the briefing, meet the group and guides and check personal equipment — bring your valid passport. We then cross into Georgia on the Georgian Military Road (about 5–8 hours depending on the border), with a lunch box for the road. Check in to the 4★ hotel in Stepantsminda, dinner and rest.

  2. Day2

    Gergeti church to Altihut

    2,995 m

    After breakfast we drive up to Gergeti church. Your main luggage goes with the horse handlers, so you walk light with a 35–40 L day pack, gaining about 824 m over 5 km, with lunch boxes on the way. We spend the night in the Altihut mountain hut on the plateau below the Sabertse pass.

  3. Day3

    Crossing the Gergeti glacier

    3,671 m

    After breakfast we cross the Gergeti glacier (3.5 km), again walking light while the horses carry the main load. Before setting out the instructor teaches walking in crampons and glacier safety. We climb to the high-altitude cottages near the former Bethlemi weather station at 3,671 m for lunch, dinner and rest.

  4. Day4

    Acclimatisation climb to 4,300 m

    4,300 m

    An acclimatisation climb to 4,300 m (8 km out and back) with continued crampon, ice-axe and self-arrest practice, then back down to the cottages at 3,671 m. Participants who do not complete the compulsory acclimatisation climb are not allowed to go for the summit.

Comfort

Accommodation & meals

4★ hotel in Stepantsminda

2 nights, twin rooms, with Georgian-cuisine breakfasts and dinners.

Altihut hut and cottages on Kazbek

1 night at the Altihut hut (about 3,000 m; rooms for 3–4 people or a shared 16-bed room), then 4–5 nights in cottages near Bethlemi (about 3,670 m; up to 8 people per cottage).

Moon Hotel 4★, Terskol

1 night at about 2,140 m: modern mountain hotel with rooms with private bathrooms and mountain views, a restaurant, Wi-Fi, a gym and a spa.

National Park hut, 3,900 m

A warm hut on the slope of Elbrus next to Garabashi station: 4 people per room, beds with mattresses, heating, electricity and meals on the mountain. The base for the summit push.

Meals

Breakfasts and Georgian dinners in Stepantsminda, breakfast in Terskol, and full meals on the mountains (breakfasts, dinners and lunch boxes on Kazbek; three meals a day at the Elbrus hut), plus a lunch box on the road on day 1.

Price details

What's included

Included

  • Advice from our managers at every stage of preparation, including gear and clothing
  • Professional mountaineering instructors, 1 per 3 participants
  • 2 nights in a 4★ hotel in Stepantsminda (twin rooms) with breakfast and dinner
  • 1 night at the Altihut hut and 4–5 nights in cottages near Bethlemi
  • 1 night in a 4★ hotel in Terskol with breakfast
  • Nights in the National Park hut on Elbrus with three meals a day
  • Kazbek mountain meals: breakfasts, dinners and lunch boxes for the trail
  • Horses for personal kit and clothing on Kazbek: 20 kg per person up and 20 kg down
  • Group transfers: Pyatigorsk – Stepantsminda, hotel – Gergeti church, Stepantsminda – Terskol – Azau – Pyatigorsk
  • Cable-car rides up and down on Elbrus
  • Individual meeting at Mineralnye Vody airport (or station) and transfer to our office, and an individual transfer back to the airport at any time
  • National park entrance fees on Kazbek and Elbrus
  • Safety equipment: satellite phone, radios, GPS navigator, first-aid kit, registration with local rescuers
  • Mountaineering oxygen equipment, doctor contact by satellite or mobile phone, and group equipment (ropes, gas, cooking system)
  • Certificate of ascent, branded long-sleeve shirt, Elbrus Expert cap and Kazbek and Elbrus participation medals
  • Official Russian Mountaineering Federation (FAR) badge and Climber's Book entry for a successful ascent; left-luggage storage at our office

Not included

  • International flights and travel to and from Pyatigorsk (fly into Mineralnye Vody, MRV)
  • Personal gear and clothing; rental equipment is paid separately
  • Mountaineering insurance (mandatory)
  • Elbrus climbing permit (none is charged at the moment)
  • Optional snowcat ride up and down Elbrus to 5,100 m
  • Nights in Pyatigorsk before and after the tour

Dates & prices

Choose your date

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

  • 8 – 20 Jun 2027

    13 days

    Regular price€3,270Now€2,940per person
    Guides
    AvailableBe the first

  • 8 – 20 Jul 2027

    13 days

    Regular price€3,270Now€2,940per person
    Guides
    AvailableBe the first

  • 25 Aug – 6 Sept 2027

    13 days

    Regular price€3,270Now€2,940per 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 · Horses carry up to 20 kg of your main load; on the trail you walk with a 35–40 L day pack.Rent
  • Harness + 3 carabiners + safety lanyardsRent
  • HeadlampRent
  • Sleeping bag, comfort rating −10 °CRent
  • Mountain sunglassesRent
  • Ski gogglesRent
  • Insulated overbootsRent
  • 1-litre thermosRent

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.

How does this differ from the standard Kazbek + Elbrus tour?

There are no tents and no heavy packs. On Kazbek horses carry up to 20 kg of each participant's main load, and you stay in a 4★ hotel in Stepantsminda, the Altihut hut and cottages near Bethlemi; on Elbrus you stay in the 4★ Moon Hotel in Terskol and the National Park hut at 3,900 m. Meals are organised on the mountains, and there is 1 instructor per 3 participants. The climbs themselves — glacier, crampons, roped teams, night summit pushes — stay the same.

How fit do I need to be?

Two summits above 5,000 m back to back are a serious physical and altitude workload, even with comfortable conditions. You need good fitness, endurance and preparation for long efforts in the mountains. Anyone who skips the compulsory acclimatisation climb to 4,300 m on Kazbek is not allowed to go for the summit.

What about reserve days and group size?

Two reserve days (days 12–13) cover bad weather on Kazbek or Elbrus; if the weather allows, the tour ends on day 11 as scheduled. The tour runs when at least 3 participants have booked.

Is the snowcat on Elbrus included?

No. The cable cars are included, but an optional snowcat ride up and down Elbrus to 5,100 m is paid separately, and so is the Elbrus climbing permit if one is introduced (none is charged at the moment).

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

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From €2,940 per person. Pick a date now — we confirm everything personally, no payment at this step.