MOUNT ELBRUS SKI TOURING 12-DAYS
A superb ski touring down Europe's highest peak!

ITINERARY

Day 1: Meeting at MinVody airport. Transportation to Elbrus region. Overnight in hotel.

Day 2: Transportation to a hut in Ady7-su valley. Ski tour to Koiavgan pass. Overnight in the hut.

Day 3: Ski tour to Mestia pass. Overnight in a hut.

Day 4: Ski tour to Garvash pass. Descend to the valley. Transfer to hotel in Baksan valley. Overnight in the hotel.

Day 5: Ski tour in Adyl-su valley (Gumachi pass). Overnight in the hotel.

Day 6: Ski tour in the Kogutai valley (Mt Kogutai). Overnight in the hotel.

Day 7: Ski lifts. Set up base camp at the Barrels huts. Ski tour up to 4200 m. Powder-snow run down to the valley bottom. Vertical drop more than 2000 m. Repeat if we have time. Overnight in the Barrels huts.

Day 8: Day for relaxation. Short hikes or ski runs. Overnight stay in the Barrels huts.

Day 9: Summit day. Leave base camp about 3 am for the climb of Elbrus' west summit, 5642 m (18,498 feet). Descend to base camp.

Day 10: Reserve day for climbing Elbrus (in case of bad weather) or descent to the Baksan valley.

Day 11: Descend to the Baksan valley.

Day 12: Drive to Mineralnye Vody. End-of-services.

DETAILS

Elbrus has been on the skiers radar for many years, largely due to it being one of the is one of the "Seven Summits" and the highest peak in Europe. Mt Elbrus dominates the central Caucasus and is one of the world's great strato volcanoes, with two distinct summits. The mountain is covered by a huge glacial system, covering almost 150 sq km and apparently up to 400m thick.

It is a very popular climb and ski descent throughout the spring and early summer and apart from the weather and altitude, the ascent of a mid 5000m peak is about as simple as they come. Two cable cars plus a final chairlift transport skiers from the Baksan Valley at 2200m (7218ft) to the top station "Barrels" at 3900m (12,795ft), on the south side of Elbrus. The standard ascent route continues up moderate glaciers above the lifts to the saddle between the two peaks (5416m) where the summit of either peak can be quickly reached. Numerous routes on glaciers on all sides of the mountain have been skied making Mt Elbrus a popular ski touring destination during the months from April - June.

In this tour we start from the best ski-touring place in the area - from Adyr-su valley. Not many people visit this valley because of its distant location so it has unspoiled nature and untouched snow slopes. After we return to the main Baksan valley we visit other two main destinations for ski-touring. Of course that is a very small part of all possibilities here but you will get acquainted with the area in common. After this we move to the Barrels huts for climbing Elbrus. Huge Elbrus slopes give numerous opportunities for skiing unbeaten routes far from regular runs during acclimatization days.

In our last day in Caucasus, we will drive back to Mineralnye Vody airport for the end of services.

For Moscow hotels, and international flight tickets back to home, you can ask for a quote from our staff.

RUSSIAN VISA

All foreign nationals are required to have entry visas to travel to the Russian Federation. Russian entry visas can be obtained at local Russian Embassy or Consulate. Proper invitation (visa support) from a specially authorized travel agency (host company) is required.

A visa to the Russian Federation is a document, permitting stay in Russia for a specific period of time. A visa lists exact entry/exit dates. You can enter/leave Russia on any date within visa period but overstay is a serious violation and in case of overstay leaving the country could be much more troublesome than entering it.

We can send visa support for more days than a period of our real service but for not more than 20 nights. If you need wider period please make real reservations in hotels through us for the extra days or address a visa company to purchase proper kind of visa. A sample of visa company: www.visatorussia.com

Requirements for foreign citizens to enter Russia (tourist visa)

- Passport: must be valid 6 months beyond intended stay
- Russian Visa: required
- Vaccination: not required

Requirements for obtaining Russian tourist visa in a Russian Consulate.

- Your original passport with at least 2 blank visa-designated pages (passport must be valid for at least 6 months after intended departure date from Russia).
- Two copies of Russian visa application form (Consulate's Questionnaire), completed and signed.
- One passport-size photo signed on the back.
- Visa support (invitation) page(s) from host company. ('Voucher' and 'Confirmation' forms)
- Consular fee (different in different countries) must be paid.

We will send you visa support (invitation) page as email attachment. That is a page with two forms: "Voucher" and "Confirmation of Hosting". You have to print it out and pass to the Consulate along with other necessary items. There will be some comments sent with visa support. Those comments will help you to fill out the Consulate application form (questionnaire). If you are going to apply for visa not in the country of your citizenship, let us know that country. Some Consulates (such as in France, Japan and some others) have their own demands for the visa support edition.

All Russian Visas should be registered upon arrival to the Russian Federation.

According to Russian law, your Russian visa must be registered within 72 hours upon your arrival (excluding weekends and official holidays).

If you stay at a hotel, the hotel will register your visa. You will be asked of your visa and passport. A small registration fee may be imposed.
If you are not staying at a hotel and travel on a tourist visa you will have to register your visa at the Passport and Visa Department of the local Police Precinct (OVIR/UVIR office).
In case you have a tour from a tourist company they will register your visa themselves.

Please note that not registering your Russian visa may lead to serious problems: detention by police, fines on departure, prevention from boarding the plane, etc. We strongly advise you to register your Russian visa to avoid possible unnecessary inconveniences. Paying a fine does not free you from registering. If you do not register within 72 hours you must pay fine before you may be registered.

DESTINATION GUIDE

About Mount Elbrus Mount Elbrus is a mountain located in the western Caucasus mountain range, in Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia, Russia, near the border of Georgia, in the northern Iranian plateau. Read More >