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

Standard 12-day "Ski-tour and Elbrus climb" program.

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.

Scheduled standard 12-day (11-night) "Ski-tour and Mt. Elbrus climb" 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 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.

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 Standard 12-day Elbrus & Ski tour
• What is included or not included into tour cost
• What may be excluded from the itinerary according to your wish
• Conditions, cancellations and refunds

2010 year season Dates and Prices

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Itinerary of Full Standard 12-day "Ski tour and Mt. Elbrus" tour.

Day 1. Meeting at MinVody airport. Transportation to Elbrus region. Overnight in hotel. (more info)
Day 2. Transportation to a hut in Ady7-su valley. Ski tour to Koiavgan pass. Overnight in the hut. (more info)
Day 3. Ski tour to Mestia pass. Overnight in a hut. (more info)
Day 4. Ski tour to Garvash pass. Descend to the valley. Transfer to hotel in Baksan valley. Overnight in the hotel. (more info)
Day 5. Ski tour in Adyl-su valley (Gumachi pass). Overnight in the hotel. (more info)
Day 6. Ski tour in the Kogutai valley (Mt Kogutai). Overnight in the hotel. (more info)
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. (more info)
Day 8. Day for relaxation. Short hikes or ski runs. Overnight stay in the Barrels huts. (more info)
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. (more info)
Day 10. Reserve day for climbing Elbrus (in case of bad weather) or descent to the Baksan valley. (more info)
Day 11. Descend to the Baksan valley. (more info)
Day 12. Drive to Mineralnye Vody. (more info)

The itinerary may be adjusted and particular places for ski-touring may be changed according to the weather and snow/avalanche conditions.

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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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