9-Day Elbrus Traverse Trek with the West Summit and North-South Route

9 Days Round trip from Mineralnye Vody Airport or railway station Moderate pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Climb Elbrus's higher West summit at 5642 m instead of the lower East summit
02 See both the northern and southern sides of Mt. Elbrus on one traverse
03 Take in ridges and snowy summits of the Main Caucasus Mountain Range
04 Experience the wild northern slopes without hotels, highways, or restaurants
05 Admire ancient moraines, lava sculptures, and night views of distant towns

Elbrus North to South traverse is a little different from climbing Elbrus from the North. The difference lies in carrying a slightly heavier backpack and enjoying more comfortable accommodation during the descent. This route lets you see both sides of Mt. Elbrus, along with the ridges and snowy summits of the Main Caucasus Mountain Range, as well as the fields and meadows on Elbrus's northern slopes. Climbing from the North, you will not see hotels, highways, or restaurants - instead, you can enjoy night views of towns, ancient moraines decorated with amazing lava sculptures, and the immense presence of Mt. Elbrus towering above it all.

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 9 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

Languages English, Russian

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Arrival in Mineralnye Vody and Transfer to Emanuel Glade

Meet at Mineralnye Vody Airport or railway station. Please plan your arrival no later than 12:00 noon.
Take a ride to Emanuel glade.

Day 02

Acclimatization Hike to the 3700 m Refuge

Embark on an acclimatization hike with equipment to the refuge at 3700 m, followed by a descent.
Sleep in tents or huts on Emanuel glade.

Day 03

Hike to the Refuge

Hike to the refuge with your Elbrus trekking guide.

Day 04

Acclimatization Hike to Lents Rocks

Enjoy an acclimatization hike to Lents Rocks (4700 m).
Stay overnight at the refuge (3700 m).

Day 05

Rest Day and Summit Preparations

Rest day. Prepare for the summit attempt.
Stay overnight at the refuge (3700 m).

Day 06

Summit Attempt on Mt. Elbrus

The summit of Mt. Elbrus will begin at 2:00 or 4:00 AM, as decided by the guide. Climbing Elbrus takes 6 to 10 hours. You will not need to carry the extra equipment - the porter will take it from the camp to 3700 meters and deliver it to the sources of Jõlysu, from where your luggage will be delivered to your hotel in Mineralnye Vody.

Day 07

Weather Reserve Day

Reserve day in case of bad weather.

Day 08

Descent and Return to Mineralnye Vody

Descend and transfer to Mineralnye Vody.
Check into the hotel and take a walk.

Day 09

Departure Transfer

Transfer to Mineralnye Vody Airport.

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Mineralnye Vody Airport or railway station 1 city · 9 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Hotel accommodation in double and triple rooms. Duration of stay depends on the schedule.
Accommodation in huts. Duration of stay according to the climbing schedule.
All transfers mentioned in the itinerary.
Meals three times a day throughout the trip. Dinner is included on the first day and breakfast on the last day.
All required permits and registrations.
Mountain guides: one lead guide for the Elbrus South to North traverse program and several assistants on the summit day, with a strict ratio of 1 Russian guide per 3 climbers. This means that if there are 4 clients in a group, there will be 2 Elbrus trekking guides. There is no limitation on summit attempts for the group.
Group equipment, including ropes, ice screws, radios, a first-aid kit, and satellite navigators/GPS.