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Mount Elbrus - Northern approach
Altitude 5,642m Grade: 2C
Mount Elbrus - Northern approach
An exhilarating expedition to Europe's highest peak.
Due to the ongoing conflict between Russia and the Ukraine, our Mount Elbrus expeditions will not be going ahead for the time being. As a similar alternative you may wish to consider Mount Kazbek in Georgia.
View our Mount Kazbek Expedition
Climb Mount Elbrus North side. This expedition takes the more remote approach away from the cable cars and chair lifts of the South. Whilst the route may be described as more beautiful the final summit day is far longer and more exhausting being around 1,900m to the main west summit and should therefore only be attempted by those with a very high level of fitness!!
The Base Camp for the Northern approach is situated at Emmanuel Glade offering a much more pastoral landscape compared to the steeper mountainous landscapes seen from the South. There is one more camp above Base Camp, which is used for our summit bid. The team will climb to Lenz Rocks as part of the acclimatisation before summit day.
Despite the North side being a more challenging summit day Adventure Peaks has an outstanding success rate on both the North and South sides of Elbrus.
View our Elbrus Southern approach expedition
Once you've summited why not get a limited special edition Adventure Peaks Elbrus T-Shirts.
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£2,445
5,047m
Grade: 2B
10 Days With Flight
£5,150
6,962m
Grade: 1C
23 Days With Flight
Dates & Prices
Availability
Extras
Extras can be added per-person when you book onto a date
| Item | Price | Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moscow Extension (2 nights / 3 days) | £375 | +3 days |
* A deposit of £200 (or the full extra price, whichever is lower) will be required at checkout for each extra added per-person on this trip
What's Included
- Estimated International flights from London (Flight inclusive package)
- A British expedition team leader. Small groups may use a local leader.
- Internal Air travel (if Flights inclusive package only)
- Permits, charges, importation taxes and levies payable to the Local Authorities in connection with the expedition.
- Transfers to and from the in-country airport if flights booked with Adventure Peaks
- Food, fuel and cooking equipment whilst on the mountain.
- All meals and accommodation in the Baksan Valley Hotel (excluding drinks and excluding extra nights due to summiting early)
- All communal equipment necessary for the climb.
- Medical safety equipment and supplies.
- 90 - 120 litre kit bag for expedition members for UK based clients. A logoed top will be substituted for all clients residing outside of the UK and for returning customers.
- 15% discount off the RRP on equipment and clothing purchased at the Adventure Peaks shop
What's Excluded
- Personal climbing clothes and equipment.
- Personal insurance, visas, departure tax and inoculations.
- Transfers to and from the in-country airport if flights NOT booked with Adventure Peaks
- Internal flights to Mineralnye Vody if land only package booked.
- Drinks at the Hotel in the valley
- Accommodation and meals for any extra nights in the Valley due to summittiing early, or in Nalchik/Moscow
- Travel to and from UK airport (unless otherwise specified).
- Personal medical supplies.
- Personal use of communication equipment
- Excess baggage.
- Tips for local guides.
- Costs associated with an expedition finishing early.
- Costs associated with you leaving an expedition early.
- Costs associated with extending a trip due to bad weather or other circumstances.
Itinerary
Day 1 | International travel via Moscow |
Day 2 | We arrive late morning in Mineralnye Vody (Mineral Waters) just to the north of the Caucasus mountain range. From here we transfer to our hotel in Nalchik a journey of about 100 km. (H/L,L,D) |
Day 3 | Transfer to base camp at Emmanuel Glade, 2598m, a journey of about 100km initially on tarmac but gradually deteriorating into a bumpy dirt track as we get closer to Base Camp (MH,B,L,D) |
Day 4 | Today we take a lovely acclimatisation walk through grassy terrain and past lakes towards our pre-established summit camp at 3800m. Return to BC (MH,B,L,D) |
Day 5 | Final preparations are made before we leave Base Camp for our summit camp near the North Hut at 3800m (MH,B,L,D) |
Day 6 | Acclimatisation day spent doing crampon and glacial travel skills incorporating a climb to 4300m (MH,B,L,D) |
Day 7 | Acclimatisation climb to Lenz Rocks at 4600m – 4800m (MH,,B,L,D) |
Day 8 | Ascent of Mount Elbrus 5,642m We rise very early and prepare for a 1.00am start as the route from the north is a gruelling 14-16 hour return trip! The route heads towards the saddle between the two peaks and then follows the normal route on a rising traverse with an average gradient of 40 degrees which can be exposed before finally crossing the large summit plateau to the summit (MH,B,L,D) |
Days 9 - 10 | Reserve summit days in case of bad weather (MH,B,L,D) |
Day 11 | Descend to Base Camp (MH,B,L,D) |
Day 12 | Return to Nalchik (H,B,L,D) |
Day 13 | Morning transfer to Mineralnye Vody and fly to Moscow for late afternoon international flights, usually getting you home the same day. |
Insurance
It is essential for a trip of this type that you are adequately insured. When researching insurance options, please ensure the policy covers you for the following:
- Cancellation or curtailment
- Helicopter rescue (most insurance companies will no longer cover for ‘search and rescue’ but providing you stay with the group, they will assist with ‘rescue’)
- Repatriation
- The altitude that you are expected to attain
- The location especially when travelling to Antarctica
- Grade of trek/climb/expedition
- Medical cover
Adventure Peaks partners with Global Rescue to offer the world’s leading travel protection services. Medical and security emergencies happen. When they do, we rely on Global Rescue to provide our clients with medical, security, travel risk and crisis response services. Without a membership, an emergency evacuation could cost over $100,000. More than one million members trust Global Rescue to get them home safely when the unexpected happens. We highly recommend our clients enroll with Global Rescue, in particular for peaks over 7000m:
https://partner.globalrescue.com/adventurepeaks/
We are aware the following provide insurance:
For UK based clients:
Expeditions and Treks under 7000m - Campbell Irvine Direct : http://www.campbellirvine.com/AdventurePeaks
HCC Medical Insurance Services: LLC sales@hccmis.com Tel: 1-800-605-2282
Travelex Ins. Services: www.travelexinsurance.com Tel: 1-800 228 9792
True Traveller Ins: www.truetraveller.com Tel: 0333 999 3140 for treks including over 4500m
Austrian Alpine Club (UK) www.aacuk.org.uk Tel: +44 (0)1929 556870
Rothwell & Towler: www.world-first.co.uk Tel: 0345 908 0161 (under 6400m)
J S Insurance: www.jsinsurance.co.uk Tel: 0844 848 1500
Snowcard: www.snowcard.co.uk Tel: 01295 660836
The B.M.C.: www.thebmc.co.uk Tel: 0161 445 6111 (call and speak to Jim. Please note the BMC cannot cover Mt Damavand)
Dogtag: www.dogtag.co.uk Tel: 0800 036 4824 (Check excess etc)
For non-UK based clients:
HCC Medical Insurance Services: LLC sales@hccmis.com Tel: 1-800-605-2282
Travelex Ins. Services: www.travelexinsurance.com Tel: 1-800 228 9792
True Traveller Ins: www.truetraveller.com Tel: 0333 999 3140 for treks including over 4500m
Austrian Alpine Club (UK): www.aacuk.org.uk Tel: +44 (0)1929 556870
AXA Worldwide Travel Ins: www.axainsurance.com Tel: +44 (0)844 874 0360
Ingle International: www.ingleinternational.com Tel: (USA) 1.800.360.3234
Insure for Less: www.insure4less.com.au (Australian clients)
You do not have to use any of the above, but if you make your own insurance arrangements documentary evidence of your own policy is required.
Please forward the details of your Insurance as soon as you have it: we need the insurance company’s name, their 24 hour emergency telephone number and your insurance policy number – admin@adventurepeaks.com
Reviews
Excellent experience...I never had any complaints, can't even think of anything so that's got to be a good thing and I love to moan! [The trip leader was] a great guy, perfect for what I needed. [The trip highlight was] ALL OF IT. Next trip already booked for next year!
Once there the organisation was excellent. Chris [the leader] was awesome, would like to do another expedition with him sometime.
Great guide and organisation. The local Russian guide also went out of his way to help us get roubles, and let me begin my summit push at 23:00 so I did not have to use the snowcat. We all worked as a team, yet achieved individual goals. Great all round UK guide. Acted as a member of the team (superior in talent obviously!). Very unbiased answers to questions and not a hint of arrogance or grumpiness on the whole trip.
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