Explore Russia with Climbing the Seven Summits! There is no better excuse to see Russia, both St. Petersburg and Moscow, and the remote Caucasus mountain range then climbing Mt. Elbrus. Climbing Mt. Elbrus and touring St Petersburg and Moscow is truly a once in a lifetime experience not to be missed. Many will remember a time when Russia was off limits to Americans but it has now opened it’s doors and welcomes us to explore it’s cultural exoticism and mystique.

Mount Elbrus in Russia is one of the Seven summits being the highest mountain in Europe, rising 18,510 feet (5642 m) above sea level. The crown jewel of the Caucasus Mountains it is an extinct volcano that last erupted in 50 AD. Today its crater is glaciated and filled with snow and ice. The Caucasus range stretches 700 miles (1125 km) in length and is sand- wiched between the Caspian and Black Seas. To the north lies forest and steppe; to the south, a drier, desert like environment. The range includes the fourteen highest mountains in Europe with Mount Elbrus tucked deep in the southwestern corner of Russia, close to its border with Georgia. It has two prominent summits: the east (18,442 ft, 5621 m) and the west (18,481 ft, 5642 m), with the main climbing route ascending to the col between the two.

As one of the easier Seven Summits, Elbrus is an excellent climb representing a great opportunity to become familiar with high altitude climbing, cramponing, self arresting and fixed line climbing, and prepare for higher, more technical peaks. We look forward to leading you on one of the world’s most iconic mountains. As the premier high altitude guide service, CTSS is committed to your safety and success.

“I cannot even put into words how incredible that trip was for me – you truly run everything top notch and it shows in every single part of the trip. Your patience in teaching/coaching in a way that I didn’t feel intimidated by was amazing and so so appreciated. I am in awe of this whole experience”  – Julie M, USA 

Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate

Climbing Mt. Elbrus requires solid fitness, an ability to perform well at altitude, the mindset to be away from home for several weeks, and a desire for rugged adventure travel. The Caucasus region of Russia is still a remote and rugged place off the beaten path an is true adventure travel. When away from the major cities don’t expect lattes and blazing fast internet. We will be traveling on glaciated terrain with crampons, harnesses and ice axes and clipping in to fixed ropes. Not to worry if you haven’t done these skills before as we will lead you through a complete snow and climbing school as one of our acclimatization days prior to the summit bid.

We have chosen the Southern climbing route to give you the best chance of summiting Mt. Elbrus. This is known as the “trade route” on the mountain and rightfully so. It offers the least technical climbing and a minimum of crevasse hazards en route to the top.

All of our expeditions incorporate a slow acclimatization schedule giving you the best chance of summiting without experiencing altitude illness, and are organized by world renowned guide and expeditions leader, Mike Hamill. More than 150 climbers have stood atop Mt. Elbrus under Mike’s direct guidance.

Every expedition originates in St. Petersburg where we explore this colorful city before flying to Mineralnye Vody in the Elbrus region.

Once in the Elbrus region we will spend several days acclimatizing based out of our mountain Chalet while enjoying the local cuisine. We then move up to our mountain hut and make a summit bid after a few days of acclimatization. If we summit on time we will use our contingency days to relax back down in the valley, exploring, horse riding, and enjoying Russian Banya before flying to Moscow.

Here in the largest city in Russia, we will tour Red Square, the Kremlin, see St Basil’s Cathedral and visit various other sights of historic importance. We then transfer to the airport to start our journey home. You are welcome to extend your trip should you wish.

Climbing Mt. Elbrus requires solid fitness, an ability to perform well at altitude, the mindset to be away from home for several weeks, and a desire for rugged adventure travel. The Caucasus region of Russia is still a remote and rugged place off the beaten path an is true adventure travel. When away from the major cities don’t expect lattes and blazing fast internet. We will be traveling on glaciated terrain with crampons, harnesses and ice axes and clipping in to fixed ropes. Not to worry if you haven’t done these skills before as we will lead you through a complete snow and climbing school as one of our acclimatization days prior to the summit bid.

Mt. Elbrus Sample Itinerary:

What about tipping in Russia?

Tips for good service (of approximately 10%) are generally expected in tourist regions.

Tips for your guides, (on the mountain and for the city tours) are customary but optional.

What about accommodation? Will I have my own room?

All hotels in Russia are double occupancy. Often these hotels are full during the busy climbing season so we will need to know in advance if you would like to book single supplements.

On the mountain you will be impressed with the hut facilities but like all mountain huts around the world, they are dormitory style so bring some ear plugs and an eye mask if you are easily disturbed. The hut will however be private to our team.

Will there be blog updates?

Yes – we will be posting regular updates to the Climbing the Seven Summits Blog here: http://climbingthesevensummits.com/blog/ We will try to update as often as possible and keep them interesting. Make sure your family knows that no news is good news. If a few days pass between updates it doesn’t mean that anything is wrong, simply that we might be busy climbing.

What immunizations do I need?

Please consult your doctor to ascertain what immunizations they recommend prior to commencing the expedition. Make sure your immunizations are up to date.

Currently, there are no mandatory immunizations for travel in Russia. Check with your local travel clinic or the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for updated information.

Hepatitis A and Tetanus vaccines are a good idea for travel to any international destination, including Russia. Many people get these when they are young, but check your immunization records to make sure you’re up to date, and leave plenty of time to get this done before your departure date.

Is there cell service?

There is cell service throughout our trip in Russia but roaming charges can be  expensive so please consult your carrier to determine data/calling rates prior to departure.

It is very difficult to buy a local SIM card in the Elbrus region so you are best to pick one up in St.Petersburg upon arrival. There is limited reception on the mountain itself and it is restricted to a single local carrier so it’s best to set expectations early with family, friends and work that you will be out of touch for a few days and to refer to the blog for updates on your climb. Upon returning to the valley you will once again be in range and have the opportunity to access wifi.

If you plan to bring a Satellite phone/device you are required to register it with the Russian authorities which costs money and is considerable added paperword. Should you choose not to register it, this is at your own risk of having it found and taken. If you don’t register it you won’t want to use it around authorities for risk of having it seen and taken away.

What’s the deal with food and water?

All the water in the hotels is filtered and we’ve never had a problem with water in the cities and we boil all drinking water on the mountain thoroughly so that it safe to consume. You are welcome to bring steri pen or water sanitation tablets if you prefer.

Tea, coffee, and water will be made available at meals.

Russia isn’t known for it’s cuisine but I enjoy it. The food is often heavy and rich but fresh and generally healthier than processed American foods. There aren’t many great snacks in Russia and particularly in the Elbrus region there is limited selection, so please bring a selection of snacks (2kgs | 5lbs) that you enjoy from home and know will tempt you at altitude when you may find your appetite is suppressed.

What is the acclimatization schedule like?

It’s important to understand that everybody acclimates differently. As such our entire expedition is slow in order to allow our bodies ample time to acclimate.

We will be gaining altitude quickly and this slow process will allow us to acclimate properly and avoid altitude sickness. There will be plenty of down time because of this. Bring a book or two and please be patient. This slow process will allow you a much better chance at success on the climb. Make sure to communicate with your guides if you are experiencing any altitude issues.

We recommend you consult your doctor about the use of altitude medication like Diamox. While the schedule allows for natural acclimatization, many of our clients have great success with this and like to have the option.

If you do chose to use Diamox or any other medications, please let your Guide know as soon as possible.

What is Summit Day like?

Mt. Elbrus summit day is quite long and arduous although not technical. It’s nearly 5,000 vertical feet and often takes 10 to 13 hours round trip.

We highly recommend the use of a snowcat to shorten the very lengthy summit day! (During acclimatization rotations, you will have climbed to the high point the snow cat will drop you off at in any case) Please bring $200 usd – $300 usd if you think you might use the snow cat. Even if you don’t think you will, many people change their minds once on the mountain.

There are some fixed lines on the route and moderate cramponing with fall potential so experience with cramponing technique is highly recommended however we will do a snow school where we will teach, or refresh these skills for you prior to the climb.

What about the domestic flights and why aren’t they included?

The internal Russian flights between St. Petersburg, the Elbrus region and Moscow are your responsibility however we understand that they can be complicated to book.

We require the team to be on the same domestic flights (in order to organize your ground transportation and itinerary smoothly) so we recommend you seek the guidance of our travel agent to ensure you are on the correct one. They can also often access better pricing than we can. Of course, you are free to book your own internal flights directly with the local carriers but we ask that you consult with us to obtain the team’s flight details and double check them.

When booking the domestic flights it is worth investigating their baggage allowance and selecting to prebook luggage if possible. Excess can be more expensive at the airport. We recommend you bring cash to settle up any excess baggage fees.

We do not include this expense in our prices because of airline price fluctuations which would prevent us from keeping our trip prices stable or consistent for you.

What money do I need to bring?

It is better to have more money than you need than not enough. Some small and some large bills are good. Carry money in travel wallet discreetly.

You can change and withdraw money upon arrival (Guides can assist you with the best place to do this) and there are plenty of ATMs in St Petersburg & Moscow. In the Elbrus region, there is only one ATM that can be unreliable so it’s best to have cash for that part of the itinerary.

On the mountain the use of a snow cat is optional but highly recommended. This shortens summit day, makes the climb much more enjoyable, and improves your summit chances. Please bring USD $200 – $300 for this option even if you don’t think you will use the snow cat – as many people change their mind once on the mountain so it’s best to be prepared.

You may also want to bring some extra money for misc. items like trinkets or gifts that you might want to buy, staff tips (customary, but optional) and a credit card for emergencies.

Do I need trip insurance?

Trip insurance is required for this program and needs to cover medical expenses, repatriation, evacuation for the entire length of the expedition.

Trip cancellation insurance is strongly recommended for your own benefit should something arise or you were to injure yourself before the departure date.  Unforseen hiccups are part of adventure travel and every effort should be taken to account for them in advance.

Trip cancellations, interruptions, medical emergencies and evacuations can be vey expensive. Please forward a copy of this for our record so that we can help you in the event that it needs to be used.

What is a Russian Banya and do I have to partake?

A Russian Banya is a traditional Russian spa experience that includes a hot sauna, a cold plunge pool/shower and an eating area. These can be a great way for the body to recover after the climb and we typically schedule one as a celebration when we get off the mountain if our itinerary allows so we recommend bringing your swimsuit.

It is a great authentic experience, but not compulsory  and you do not have to join in this activity.

Is there power or wifi on the mountain?

Yes there is power at the mountain huts with the ability to charge devices however it is in short supply and can sometimes be unreliable, so it’s worth charging your devices thoroughly before you leave for the mountain in town and packing an additional battery pack.

There is no wifi on the mountain and limited cell service however you will have better connectivity in town.

Are their lights in the mountain huts?

Yes, there are overhead lights in the mountain huts, however power can be unreliable so please bring extra batteries for your headlamp.

Our expeditions are fully inclusive except for items/services of a personal nature. Please take note that the following is not included:

“As expected you run a first class show from start to finish… I look forward to the next adventure” – Len F, USA

“I cannot even put into words how incredible that trip was for me – you truly run everything top notch and it shows in every single part of the trip. Your patience in teaching/coaching in a way that I didn’t feel intimidated by was amazing and so so appreciated. I am in awe of this whole experience”  – Julie M, USA 

“An incredible experience from start to finish. I can’t say enough what a difference it makes to have a great guide who cares so much about the whole experience and a great time to make the journey so special. I hope this is the first of many climbs with CTSS for me”  – Kevin A, USA