11-day Elbrus Tours Important Info Equipment list F.A.Q. Equipment for rent Additional services How to order Application form History of 11 day tours Currency Calculator

Standard public 11-day Elbrus Tours

The climb of Mt. Elbrus is long and strenuous. It is not technically difficult but usually requires crampons, and sometimes ice-axes. No previous experience or climbing skills required - our guides provide necessary basic crampons, rope and ice-axe technique lessons during acclimatization hikes.

Scheduled public 11-day (10-night) Mt. Elbrus tours in 2010 year:

These standard tours are regular guaranteed departure tours. No matter if you come with a group of friends or travel alone - everybody is welcome to join a tour and a tour will be run for the same price if at least one person singes up.

Standard itinerary starts from Mineralnye Vody airport and ends in Mineralnye Vody airport (MinVody).

You can come to MinVody independently In this case you have to inform us about your arrival in Mineralnye Vody flight details. Our guide will meet you at the airport.

If you come via Moscow you can order services in Moscow from us. We offer hotel accommodations, transportation, excursions and in some cases flight tickets Moscow-MinVody-Moscow.

About our service besides the tour program see at Additional Service page.

• Dates and prices
• Itinerary of the tour
• What is included or not included into tour cost
• Conditions, cancellations and refunds

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2010 year season Dates and Prices

The 'high' (more expensive) periods are NOT better periods for visiting regarding chances for better weather but only the periods of high demand (same as on beach resorts). The higher price mostly compensates the difficulties with processing tours that time - lack of qualified personnel and accommodation facilities in huts. We fix this but it costs more.

You can find out the history of 11 day tours (previous years dates, costs, numbers of participants, sucess rates, weather conditions)

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Itinerary of Full Standard 11-day (10 night) Mt. Elbrus climb (may be slightly adjusted according to weather and other conditions)

Day 1. Arrival day. Meeting in Minerlanye Vody airport (MinVody), transportation (4 hours) to our hotel at the foothils of Elbrus. (more info)
Day 2. Acclimatization ascent (using ski lifts if possible) of Cheget Mountain, 3600 m (11,800 feet). Stunning view of Mt. Elbrus and Mt. Donguzorun. Overnight stay in the hotel. (more info)
Day 3. Acclimatization hike to one of the valleys (Adyr-su, Adyl-sy) depending on current weather. Overnight stay in the hotel. (more info)
Day 4. Ride ski lifts. Acclimatization hike on Elbrus slopes up to 4100 m. Descent to the valley. Overnight stay in the hotel. (more info)
Day 5. Ride ski lifts. Set up base camp. Acclimatization hike up to 4500 m. Basic ice/snow/rope/self-belay course. Overnight stay in a small hut on the slopes of Elbrus. (more info)
Day 6. Acclimatization hike up to 5000 m. Overnight stay in a hut. (more info)
Day 7. Relax day. Overnight stay in a hut. (more info)
Day 8. Summit day. Leave base camp about 3 am for the climb of Elbrus' west summit, 5642 m (18,498 feet). Descend to base camp. Overnight stay in a hut.(more info)
Day 9. Reserve day for climbing Elbrus (in case of bad weather) or descent to the Baksan valley if we climb the summit on day 7. (more info)
Day 10. Reserve day for climb and escend to the Baksan valley or a hiking/relax day if a group have already descended. (more info)
Day 11. Drive to Mineralnye Vody. (more info)

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Land cost of the tour includes:
Baksan valley, Caucasus - "Scheherazade" hotel - shared twin or triple room.
Base camp - The Barrels huts.
Transfers mentioned in the itinerary, by bus and lifts.
All meals. (if you like to cook your own meals our guide will provide you with hot, boiled water and necessary assistance.)
All necessary permits and registrations.
Guide(s). One guide for the group throughout the tour. One mountain guide for three people for the summit attempt (1/3 guide/client ratio).
One summit attempt with guides (this string added July 15, 2009, it was assumed but not clearly stated before more about this)
Group equipment (ropes, ice screws etc)

Land cost of the tour does not include.
Transfers not included in the program.
Riding snow-cat (Ratrak, a vehicle transporting people along the snow slopes).
Single occupancy supplement (on request).
Personal equipment (such as sleeping bag, boots, crampons etc)
Service (guide, cook) in case of additional climb (this string added July 15, 2009, it was assumed but not clearly stated before more about this)

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Conditions, deposit, cancellations and refund policy:

There are two parts. The Elbrus part and additional service part (if you ordered that).

For the Elbrus part (MinVody-MinVody program).

- We require a deposit of 5000 Rubles per person (Currency Calculator) before we actually accept your booking and send visa support to you. Normally we send visa support shortly after receiving a deposit but we can delay visa support sending if you ask for this. After visa support was sent the cancellation fee is 5000 Rubles per person i.e. the deposit for the Caucasus (Elbrus) tour is non refundable. However you can use these money as a prepayment in case you order any tour from us in future.
- The remaining amount must be paid before the tour starts either in advance by bank or cash transfer or in cash to our rep in the Caucasus right upon arrival in the mountain hotel.
- After the tour starts there will be no refund for any unutilized service.
- We do not cancel a tour if at least one person signs up and the price will stay same even if you are the only one customer on the tour. If you sign up and pay you can be sure that you go. That is our real advantage over competitors.
- You do not really loose your deposit if you cancel. If you order a tour from us one day even in a couple of years we will count these money as your prepayment.

For city services and airtickets if you order additional service.

- Normally we do not require full payment for additional services and airtickets in advance. You can pay for them when you pay the balance for the entire tour. However sometimes some services (such as airtickets) may require payment soon after the confirmation to keep their cost. In that case we will inform you about terms of payment.

- You can cancel hotel reservations 3 business days in advance without penalty. There will be no refund you you cancel later than 3 business days in advance.
- You can cancel excursions and transportation in Moscow 1 business day in advance without penalty. There will be no refund you you cancel later than 1 business day in advance.
- The refund for airtickets if you cancel the flight will be according to the airline rules, depending on the airline which runs that flight. They retain from 5 to 25 percent iif you cancel in advance and up to 50% in case you miss the flight.

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