Geography

Mt. Elbrus is the highest point of Europe. The Caucasus Main  Range is considered to be a border between Europe to the North and Asia to the South in most (but not all)  guidebooks and encyclopedias. Two main Mt. Elbrus summits are about 11 km (6.8 miles) to the North from the Main Range, inside European territory. The Main Range is a state border between Russia and Georgia. Both countries are parts of former USSR country but now are absolutely independent states.

There is no need of Georgian visa to climb Elbrus because ALL Elbrus area and the mountain itself is within Russian territory. It is not simple to reach Georgia from Elbrus area because one must go through one of three official border guard posts. Two of them (in Abkhazia and South Ossetia) are in unstable areas where Georgian government has no control and real working one may be opened may be closed on unknown period without notification.

Western summit 5642.7 m (18513 ft) and Eastern summit  5621 m (18442 ft) with the Saddle elevation 5416 m (17769 ft)
Glaciations area (more then 50 glaciers) is about 144 square km (56 square miles). Snow-line (in August) - 3400 m (11483 ft)

   Cable and chair lifts in the area.

There are two separate lines.

Elbrus line:
Two cable lifts and one chair lift parts going one by one.
Cable car bottom station in the Baksan valley - 2200 m (7218 ft)
Top chair lift station ("Barrels" huts) - 3900 m (12795 ft)

Cheget line:
Two parts of chairlifts going one by one.
Bottom station is at Cheget site (hotel 'Cheget') 
Middle station, cafe 'Ai'
Upper station, meteorological station.

   Some Points on the slopes of Elbrus

The Barrels (Botchki) huts, upper lift station - 3900 m
'Diesel' hut (former Priut-11 spot) - 4100 m
Pastuckhov Rocks - from 4650 to 4800 m (15256 - 15748 ft)
Saddle - 5416 m (17769 ft)

   Approximate direct way distances:

Bottom cable car station - Top chair lift station - 5000 m (16404 ft)
Top chair lift station - Pastuckhov Rocks - 2800 m (9186 ft)
Pastuckhov Rocks - Saddle - 2500 m (8202 ft)
Saddle - Summit - 750 m  (2461 ft)

   Approximate real foot way distances:

Top chair lift station - Pastuckhov Rocks - 3300 m (10827 ft)
Pastuckhov Rocks - Saddle - 4000 m (13123 ft)
Saddle - Summit - 1200 m (3937 ft)

   Getting there: (see the transportation map of the region)

By plane or train to Nalchik or Mineralniye Vody. (See flights timetable.) It's about 4 hours drive from Mineralniye Vody to Azau and about 2.5 hours from Nalchik to Azau. Azau is the highest village in the end of Baksan valley. There is the cable car station to Elbrus in Azau village. Regular public transport (bus) sometimes is available sometimes not. There are no public buses from Mineralnye Vody to Terskol or Azau. If you go from Mineralnye Vody you may be forced to make some changes: in Baksan (that is the gates to the Baksan valley, it's easy to get there by public transport), in Tyrnyauz, in Elbrus village (20 min drive to Azau). If you go from Nalchic or Prochladnyi you can take a public bus to Terskol, but the timetable is unpredictable and sometimes this bus does not go for some days. The most common way is  coming together  with other travelers and making negotiations with a minibus driver for shared transfer.

   Transportation distances:  (see region maps page)

Mineralniye Vody airport - Piatigorsk:  28 km (17.3 mi)
Piatigorsk - Baksan:   74 km (46 mi)
Nalchik - Baksan:   26 km (16.2 mi)
Baksan - Tyrnyauz:   53 km (33 mi)
Tyrnyauz - Elbrus:   44 km (27.3 mi)
Elbrus - Terskol:   15 km (9.3 mi)
Terskol - Azau: 3.5 km (2.2 mi)
Terskol -Cheget: 1.5 km (0.9 mi)

  Accommodation facilities in Elbrus area with approx. capacity (winter 2003-2004): 

Not absolutely full list but all main accommodations are here. Number in brackets is approximate number of beds.

Cheget area:
Cheget hotel (350), Chiran lodge(16), Nakra lodge (20), Neva-2 lodge (16), Povorot lodge (25), some new no-name lodges with total number of beds about 40.

The main road near Cheget and Terskol:
Itkol hotel(250), Dinamo lodge (50), MBS lodge (37+15), Gorianka /Baliuzhan lodge (20)

Terskol village:
Terskol hotel (350), Volfram hotel (100)

Azau village and lifts:
Free ride cafe (16), A lodge (15), A lodge 200 m higher than valley (10), Logovo lodge (45), VGE lodge (20). There are number of big lodges under construction but at the moment they are not ready.

Elbrus village:
Ozon hotel (35), Sokol lodge (20), Prielbrusie lodge (40),

Adyl-Su valley:
UMC mountaineering camp (50)

Elbrus slopes (just huts):
The Barrels huts (45), the Diesel hut (50).

Overall capacity of reasonable good hotel-lodge accommodation in Elbrus area is estimated as about 2000 beds. There is about 500 beds capacity of homestay possibilities (in villages from Neitrinno - to Azau). There are about 200 beds under construction in several lodges in Azau and Cheget.

   Visa, permits, registration etc. 

To climb Elbrus officially one must have (full list of papers):

1. Russian visa.
2. Voucher with Elbrus region mentioned.
3. OVIR registration.
4. Elbrus area preserve permission.
5. Immigration card.

If you want to hike in Adyl-Su, Adyr-Su and other side valleys that are to the South from the main Baksan valley you must have Border zone permission.

Here below is the detailed information about the items.

Visa: As the Caucasus is Russia you need Russian visa to go there. There is no any city mentioned in your visa and if you are already in Russia you can go anywhere (except military and border zones). To apply for a visa you need invitation (visa support) from a tourist company or private person. Visa companies also offer such invitations. Russian visa has fixed dates and period of stay. You can enter Russia and leave it on any date within visa period but you will not be allowed to enter before the beginning of visa period and overstay is a serious violation. If you overstay you may be delayed in Russia until all penalty procedures are over. If you leave Russia you will need new visa to come here again or 'two entry' visa. Tourist visa may have up to 1 month period and one entry.

Voucher: This is a part of invitation (visa support) which is used to apply for Russian visa in the Russian Consulate. Actually there is a rule to have that voucher along with you but this rule does not work in most regions of Russia. In the Caucasus police officer can ask for that voucher and you may have problems if you have no voucher at all or have voucher without Elbrus region mentioned. Make a copy of the voucher when you take papers to the Consulate. 

OVIR registration: There is a law in Russia to register your visa in a local OVIR (visa and registering department) if you are going to stay in any region more then for few days. Even if you have registration in Moscow you must also register in the Caucasus area too. You may be stopped by a policeman and asked about your registration. If you have no registration you will be fined. The only OVIR office in Elbrus area is in Tyrnyauz (cost is 50 Rubles).  Also one can make registration in MinVody airport (costs 300 Rubles because it a kind of service there). This registration is rarely asked in the Valley but most likely will be asked at Mineralnye Vody airport on your way back. To register you must have passport, Russian visa and immigration card. OVIR registration is a stamp on your immigration card. An inviting tourist company (if you use their service) can do this for you without your presence when they have your passport..

Elbrus area preserve permission: This is new (started in summer 2004) regulation. While you are in Elbrus area (all territory higher than Elbrus village) you must have this permission. No need to go somewhere to get it - an inspector will find you and will ask to purchase it if you have no the permission. The cost is USD 20 (in 2004). An inviting tourist company (if you use their service) can do this for you in advance without your presence.

Immigration card:  This is a fancy paper which must be filled out before the passport control gates when you enter Russia. You have to show it to passport control officer and have it with you when you are in Russia and when you leave the country.  The most and only important thing that OVIR registration is stamped there that is why the card is must have thing. Also it must be filled out properly in other case it may be considered invalid.

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Border zone permit: The main Caucasus mountain range is a border between Russia and Georgia and  territory of about 5 -10 km inside Russia (depends of existing mountain passes) considered to be a border zone. (See border zone area on a map from our map page) You can walk in the Baksan valley, climb Mt Elbrus or explore the mountains North to Baksan valley. If you are going in the valleys near the border you may be stopped by border guard and asked about your border zone permit. If you have no permit you may be arrested, taken to the nearest border office (in Verckhni Baksan) and fined. You can apply for the permit in Nalchik only (it is easy, costs nothing, but takes time to get there and wait for some hours or even until next day). An inviting tourist company (if you use their service) can do this for you in advance without your presence.

No need to have a climbing permit for climbing mountains in Russia, also Mt Elbrus. However it may be good idea to register in rescue service (in Terskol). It's free and may be useful if you have a problem.

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If you have no..
Visa: You can not enter Russia.
Voucher: You may be delayed and fined. 
OVIR registration: You may be delayed and fined.
Elbrus area preserve permission: You will be forced to pay on the spot.
Border zone permission when you are in the zone already:  You may be arrested and taken to border guard office. It may take a lot of time. Of course you may be fined.

For the most recent news and  permit requirements if any - see Elbrus News