All you Need to Know about Climbing Mount Elbrus

We have extensive experience leading treks and climbs on Mount Elbrus. After years of experience, we have added all our important links and pages in one location for you to explore and get the information you need. Read our reviews.

Why Not Talk to the Experts

If you are thinking of climbing Mount Elbrus, then we are always happy to schedule a call with you to answer all the questions you have. CONTACT US today and start planning for your trip to Elbrus.

How Challenging is the Mount Elbrus Expedition?

Although we are not climbing Mount Elbrus now, we do hope to get back there in 2025. Mount Elbrus is normally a straightforward technical peak. There is one section of fixed rope high on the mountain in potentially dangerous section of the mountain. This usually happens on the traverse to the west summit.

Mount Elbrus is a tough and challenging peak with a serious summit night and day. The trail to the summit of Mount Elbrus is tough, leading through steep mountain terrain to a rising traverse up to 5,642m/ 18,510 feet. You then have an easier section to the summit of Europe’s highest peak.

The question how difficult it is to climb Elbrus is a very tough one to answer! There are a few factors to consider, but if you are a hiker used to carrying weight and walking up and down hills over 1,000m/ 3,280 feet and training 6 days a week, you may find Mount Elbrus challenging but manageable. If not, you have a lot of training to do.

Also, due to high altitudes and steep ascents, it’s vital to prepare oneself before climbing Mount Elbrus. We’ll talk more about the preparing for Elbrus below.

More Acclimatization

We run 7,9 and 12-day itineraries on Mount Elbrus. Our preferred itinerary is our 12-day itinerary hiking and acclimatizing on the northern side of Mount Elbrus and then hike to the east slopes of Elbrus and then climb on the safer southern side of Mount Elbrus.

Mount Elbrus Permits

The Local Government manage the permits and access to climbing the mountain. The cost can change from year to year, but we will manage all aspects of the permit process for you once you sign up.

What Is the Best Time to Climb Elbrus

When you’re thinking about booking your Mount Elbrus Expedition, there is only one season for climbing Elbrus. In that season there are pros and cons.

The lower slopes of Mount Elbrus are open for skiing all winter. The climbing season opens in May each year. The climbing season runs from May until October. The latest we climb will be September each season.

The season for climbing Elbrus is short, this means a lot of people flock to the mountain between June, July and August. There can be to many people high on the mountain in this time period.

Preparing for your Elbrus Expedition

If you think that you can hike up and down Mount Elbrus in trekking boots, without any preparation whatsoever, think again. First, keep in mind that only 60% of people make the summit of Mount Elbrus.

This comes down to two things. Bad weather and lack of physical preparation. Once you are prepared, everything comes down to the steep and challenging summit ascent and descent and you need to be prepared for both. Read more.

Secondly, bear in mind you’ll spend most of the trip at high altitude. The highest camp is at 4,000m/ 13,000 feet and the summit lies at 5,642 meters/ 18,510 feet above sea level. Such altitudes mean lower oxygen levels. Being able to withstand this stress, requires training and acclimatization.

And lastly, The weather can be extreme high on Mount Elbrus, which requires high-quality equipment. So yes, there’s a lot to consider when preparing for your Elbrus trip. Why not watch our packing video.

On signing up we will send you a full expedition dossier with an itemized kit list. This kit list will help you fully understand the clothing, gear and equipment needed for your Elbrus adventure.

Vo2 Max Tests

We highly recommend a fitness test or Vo2 Max test at the start of your training so you can map out your heart rate training zones. It is important to benchmark your training so you can improve your lactic threshold and make sure the training you are doing is measured and you can gauge improvement.

How to be Successful When Trekking at Altitude

Acclimatization is everything, so if you fail to acclimatize well, then you run the risk of getting altitude sickness higher up. And trust us we have been going to and running trips at high and extreme altitude for 20 years. Acute mountain sickness is not a pleasant experience climbing Elbrus.

Breathing techniques, low heart rates, excellent hydration, and pacing are all extremely important in order to be safe and successful. Also, you need excellent physical conditioning to be able to walk up and down thousands of feet with a weighted backpack at high altitude.

We can help you with this. Drop us an E-MAIL today and get access to our Elbrus professionals. Most of our office staff have personally climbed Mount Elbrus. Pick up the phone and speak to us. We have the mountaineering team, experience, and knowledge to help you come fully prepared for your Mount Elbrus climb.

What to Pack for the Elbrus Tour?

And finally, you need to know what to pack for your Expedition. Watch our PACKING VIDEO, the video will cover what you need to bring in more detail. Alongside our video content, we will also send you a dedicated 40-page Elbrus dossier, a full itemized list of necessary items to pack, and other information regarding the Elbrus climb.

Our Staff

At Ian Taylor Trekking, we provide the best possible service to our customers and are proud of the experience our team bring to the table. We have teamed up with a local operator to offer high quality guides, tents, food, communication systems and best support on the mountain.

Useful Links

We have added some useful links below that will aid in your planning and preparation for your trek and climb up and down Mount Elbrus. We have successfully led hundreds of people through our unique 12-day itinerary and helped them climb another one of the coveted 7 summits.

The following links will aid in your preparation for the trip as well! And if you want to learn more about climbing Aconcagua, don’t hesitate to CALL US and find out everything you need for your Elbrus climb.

Important Mount Elbrus Pages

1). Pick the best acclimatization itinerary for your Elbrus trip

2). How you should be training to best physically prepare for your trip to Mount Elbrus

3). Get FREE constant advice from our professional team

4). Understand the daily distances you will travel on Mount Elbrus

5). Have the right clothing and gear for your Elbrus trip

6). Pacing each day on the trail is critical to success

7). Why hydration is critical at high altitude and in low oxygen environments

8). Elevation gains on our Elbrus climbs. This will help you formulate a better training plan

9). What sort of food will I get on a Mount Elbrus trip

10). Read our TOP 10 TIPS for a successful Mount Elbrus Climb

11). What are the best months for Climbing Mount Elbrus

12). What vaccinations should you consider for your Elbrus trip

13). What type of trekking boots should you have for the trek around Elbrus

14). What Insurance cover do I need for an Elbrus climb

15). What additional expenses will I incur on the Elbrus trip

16). You need to know how hard is it to climb Mount Elbrus

17). How to be successful climbing Mount Elbrus

18). Training for hiking downhill. Learn more.

Picking the Correct Itinerary

The most important things to consider when you are preparing for your trek; making sure you have chosen the right itinerary. Avoid speed ascents. One of the most important things you must consider when choosing your Elbrus climb is how many days you will spend.

In our opinion you should never make a summit attempt on Elbrus until day 7.
Our itineraries offer you a safer and more successful ascent and descent.

The more days the better. Any less than this and you are running the risk of falling into that 40% of people who do not make it to the summit because of serious altitude related issues. Check out our upcoming trips.

Why Climb Mount Elbrus with Ian Taylor Trekking?

By choosing Ian Taylor Trekking for your Elbrus climb, you can take advantage of an experienced team of mountaineering professionals, larger tents, better food, more staff and more support on summit night.

Support a company that has invested in their staff. We have raised funds to build a school in Uganda, four schools in Nepal, support an orphanage in Tanzania, and also help support local children in Peru.

We have our own full-time staff on the ground in Nepal, Tanzania and Peru and we run a quality service on all our trekking trips to Kilimanjaro. CONTACT US, and we can explain how we operate our adventures in Russia.

The trek up Mount Elbrus will be the highlight of any mountaineer’s career! Thus, you need to make sure you put in the right training and preparation to make this journey a success. Let our team help you to reach your goals today!

Climbing Mount Elbrus – FAQ’s

Where to get water on Elbrus?
You don’t need to worry about your drinking water when with Ian Taylor Trekking. We will have full access to water at our Base Camp, you will need to carry water for the full days hike. We recommend waking up and slowly drinking a liter of water before you start hiking.

On certain days you will need to carry 3 to 4 liters of water so you can bring a 2/3 liter water bladder along with 2 Nalgene bottles.

Once you arrive on the southern side of Mount Elbrus you will be able to gain access to water from our designated dining area. The staff there will be able to refill your water bladder and water bottles as needed. They will also provide boiling water for summit night.

We recommend you been water purification tablets to use on any water that is not boiled.

What is the food like on Mount Elbrus?
Besides drinking water, our staff will also provide you with top-quality food, ranging from snacks and fruits to meat and grains. We also serve you 3 meals three times a day ensuring you get all the energy and nutrients necessary to complete a full day’s hike.

Do I need to purchase special Elbrus insurance?

Although you’ll be guided by the best professionals possible, there’s always the risk of something going wrong while climbing Mount Elbrus. For example, if you fall sick or injure yourself and are unable to hike, you will need to be evacuated.

Without proper evacuation cover in place, evacuation will be more than expensive. We recommend having Global Rescue evacuation cover, along with dedicated medical and trip insurance. Therefore, we always encourage our customers to purchase a dedicated travel insurance policy, whether it’s for Mount Elbrus or any other of our mountaineering trips.

How much money to bring to Mount Elbrus?

That depends entirely on you. Practically all the most significant costs will be covered up-front, so you won’t need to worry about permits, tents, food or water. Still, it might be a good idea to bring some USD and Russian Rubles for some internet in Base Camp, meals in Pyatigorsk and Moscow.

You will also be expected to tip the kitchen staff and guides. Finally, there are the costs of any souvenirs you wish to purchase. It is best to bring some additional USD just in case. We recommend having $500. You can use a credit card in most places in Pyatigorsk and at Moscow Airport.

How much does the Mount Elbrus Expedition cost?

That depends on which offer you choose. As covered, we prefer the 12-day Elbrus itinerary that includes trekking and acclimatization on the Northern and eastern side of Mount Elbrus and then climbs from the southern side of Elbrus. Our trips start from USD $2,550.

Respect the Guides and Staff on Elbrus

One of the first things that we emphasize to people wanting to go to Mount Elbrus is that we must respect the local people who work on the mountain. Our guides are experts on the mountain, and they know what it takes to be safe and successful. If they inform you that you need descend you need to follow their lead.

We have been building our expert team for 15 years, therefore making sure our team gives only the highest quality service. This costs a bit more, however most companies cut corners in the areas of staff costs and service. Safety is our team’s number one concern. READ SOME REVIEWS.

How Important is Acclimatization

You need more time for the body to adapt to the lack oxygen, especially in the critical zone of 3,500m/ 11,482 feet to 4,000m/ 13,123 feet. You cannot force this. Yes, everybody adapts differently to altitude, however you still need to be safe and careful and take your time going to new heights each day.

Ideally, when going to altitude, you do not want to have jumps of more than 700m/ 2,300 feet, in one day. Above 3,500m/ 11,500 feet, you don’t want to make a jump of more than 500m/1,640 feet per day. The only exception to this should be for a summit night, when you reach the high point, then get out of high altitude quickly.

Stunning Views on our Elbrus Circuit

The first thing you need to consider is picking the right itinerary to give you the best experience possible. When going to altitude, you need to give your body adequate time to adjust to the lower levels of oxygen.

If you don’t allow enough time in your itinerary, it could potentially ruin your experience and trip. We like to hike and acclimatize on the northern and eastern sides of Mount Elbrus before moving onto the glacier.

Not only is this a beautiful addition to your itinerary, it also adds extra days, giving you the chance to acclimatize correctly. We don’t want you to just endure your trek, we want you to fully enjoy the wonderful experience that this region has to offer and adding the extra days does just that!

Climbing Mount Elbrus Requires Excellent Preparation

Breathing techniques, low heart rates, excellent hydration and pacing are all critical factors for you to have a safe and successful experience. You also need excellent physical conditioning to be able to walk up and down stairs and hills with a weighted backpack at high altitude.

If you decide to join one of our trips, then we can help you understand what training and preparation that is required for the journey. CONTACT US today and let us help you plan your trip to experience the best of Mount Elbrus.