Climb Mount Kazbek in Georgia!
The group is full!!!
If you have already hiked or climbed mountains in the Alps and elsewhere in Western Europe, but want to raise your altitude record above 5000 meters, then Kazbek is the right choice for you. It is one of the highest mountains in the Caucasus Mountains, located on the border of Georgia and Russia. Although Kazbek is a rather easy mountain in terms of climbing techniques, it has its share of heights (even Mont Blanc can't come close), and so you can get a good taste of climbing on snow, ice and glaciers, with ropes attached and nothing else! At the same time, Kazbek is an easy enough peak that even novice climbers can feel comfortable climbing there. Georgian wines must have been good too, they say!
Who is this trip for?
Beginner mountaineering enthusiasts.
Mountain enthusiasts who have already climbed mountains here and there, but the Caucasus Mountains or the 5000+ meter mark remain inaccessible.
We start preparing before the trip in Estonia - we test the equipment and practice climbing. In addition, we review important mountaineering techniques on site in real conditions before the summit ascent.
Overview - short & sweet
Goal: Kazbek Peak (5033 m)
Dates: 05.09-13.09.2021
Activity: mountain hiking and climbing on snow and glaciers
Adventure guide: Marko Aasa
Technical difficulty: 2/5 (suitable for beginners; read more) From the FAQ page)
Physical difficulty: 3/5 (moderate effort; read more From the FAQ page)
Group size: min 5, max 10
Early bird (until 28.02.2021) — 765€
Less dizzy chicken (from 01.03.2021) — 850€
Please note: For community members discount of -5% applies
[If the trip is canceled due to pandemic circumstances, we will refund the advance payment in full!]
DOWNLOAD EQUIPMENT LIST HERE
Travel cost
Price includes - the entire preparation and mountain program
Preparation program - testing mountaineering techniques and equipment in advance in Estonia on a spring weekend at climbing spots near Tallinn
Local transportation in Georgia and all transfers from the airport to the bottom of the mountain and back
All overnight stays throughout the trip (hotels in Stepantsminda village and Tbilisi city with breakfasts; camping fees on the mountain)
Breakfast and dinner on the mountain (high-quality Tactical food pack camping food)
Snacks for mountain days (Rakvere City Council, From the record jt)
Special climbing equipment for the group (ropes, ice augers, carabiners, and other glacier equipment)
Stylish elamus+ sports shirt for each participant
Video and image material
Health assessment + pulse oximeter for the group
Group pharmacy (i.e. “tougher” high-altitude medications)
Travel arrangements
With Kazbek experiences Elamus+ giid
Price does not include - flights, personal belongings and optional activities
Flight tickets Tallinn-Tbilisi-Tallinn (~300€)
Insurance (travel insurance and mandatory sports insurance suitable for mountain hiking)
Personal hiking equipment (including toiletries and medication) and personal climbing equipment (can be rented if needed)
Transport of equipment up the mountain from Stepantsminda by jeep and horses (optional if you don't feel like carrying it in your backpack)
Tents and cooking equipment (on top of the campsite)
Meals outside the mountain (in Stepantsminda village and Tbilisi and on the road)
Extra snacks for the mountain, or if you want to eat, drink and stay overnight at the Betlem hut and café there
Unscheduled excursions, transportation, etc. (or if you want to do something extra)
Registering for the tour
NB: The group is full!
Before registering, please read travel conditions. To secure your place on the trip, a deposit (3%) must be paid within 20 business days of receiving the confirmation and invoice by email; if there are less than 30 days left until the trip, the total cost (100%) must be paid. Read more: frequently asked questions.
Schedule and activities
Day 1 - TRAVEL ANXIETY IS GROWING!
The flight to Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, does not depart from Tallinn airport until around 9 pm. So, there is a lot of last-minute nervous packing and visiting hiking shops during the day. The most convenient way to fly to Tbilisi is from Tallinn via Riga with AirBaltic, a good quick one-hour flight with a transfer (we hope that the luggage will have time to transfer).
Day 2 - MAYBE THE HARDEST DAY OF THE TRIP
We arrive in Tbilisi early the next morning at 3:30. PS: some hikers may already be quite tired by then. Straight from the airport we jump on a specially arranged bus and then we have an exciting 3-4 hour drive down Mount Kazbek to the village of Spetantsminda (1700 m). The views from the bus window are dazzlingly beautiful, but since everyone is sleeping, of course it is of no use. We spend the day in the village resting, shopping and packing. We spend the night there too, in bed for the last time.
Day 3 - FIRST EFFORT
In the morning, after a rich Georgian breakfast, the party is over - you have to put on your backpacks and start climbing up the mountainside on your own. Those who want to file and trade can also carry their large backpacks up with jeeps and horses. Tip-to-tapa we climb along a pleasant hiking trail to the intermediate camp (3000 m). Here is the first extraordinary attraction for a city dweller: spending the night in a tent.
DAY 4 - FIRST DISAPPOINTMENT
When we wake up in the morning, we discover that the hike up the mountain is unfortunately not over yet. What's the point, we pack our backpacks again with a sad face and continue hiking, it will take another 3-4 hours. The goal is the Betlem mountain hut at an altitude of 3700 m (also known as Meteo due to previous weather studies). We set up tents next to the hut: 20% of the group immediately lie down in the tent, the remaining 80% try to sneak into the cafe in the hut to recover.
DAY 5 - HEADACHE
Now the altitude is starting to make itself felt, the main topics at the breakfast table are insomnia and vomiting. The day is spent acclimatizing, meaning we walk at least 500 m up from the camp to the glacier, try out cats and pickaxes. The evening is back in the tent or in a cafe, but go to bed early!
DAY 6 - SUMMIT DAY!
We wake up early, really early, well. Eyes open around midnight, an hour later we leave. Top! The beginning is hard - night and sleep and fatigue. After that it gets even harder. But it gets more and more beautiful. In total, it's worth considering 12-15 hours for the up and down. The hardest day of the hike. In the evening we camp in a tent again, there are fewer people in the cafe this time.
DAY 7 - DEPARTURE AND CITY TOUR
No matter if no one is through the previous day, in the morning everyone is united by one thought - DOWN! We could rest and have shashlik and beer and take a shower! And the internet, of course. So we walk down to the village of Stepantsminda, have a little refreshment and then immediately drive back to Tbilisi.
DAY 8 - BACKUP DAY
We'll rest. We'll get scrubbed in Tbilisi's saunas and dine in the old town's outdoor restaurants. Warning! We might drink Georgian wines.
DAY 9 - IT'S ALL OVER
It's all over. The return flight. Screaming children, uncleaned kitchens, dripping taps, nine-to-five workdays and a 28-day regular vacation await. But also a nice memory of the past trip!
Since the weather in the mountains is notoriously fickle, we have left one extra day in reserve to maximize our chances of reaching the summit.
NB! There may be minor changes to the schedule and planned activities - for example, due to weather and conditions or the wishes of the passengers. :)
Trip highlights
Spending the night outdoors
Failure to comply with European Union sanitary requirements
Preferring Georgian wine to Cabernet Sauvignon
Travel documents, flights and COVID-19
The participant is responsible for the validity and orderliness of their travel documents. The following documents are required for this trip:
passport(no visa required);
suitable for mountain hiking sports insurance (read more on the FAQ page). A suitable sports insurance policy must be carried and is a prerequisite for participating in the mountain hike;
travel insurance;
If Georgia requires a Covid-19 test or other related documents prior to travel, these are also the responsibility of the participant.
At least one month before the trip, we will make a decision whether the trip is possible and safe enough under the Covid-19 conditions. If the trip is canceled due to circumstances caused by the pandemic, we will of course refund the advance payment in full.
Any more questions? Feel free to ask the adventure guide!
Watch and read how it went. Elamus+ previous Kazbek trip!
In addition to the video, you can read our Kazbek 2019 travelogue HERE.
Don't worry, let's do it!
My altitude record is Munamägi. Can I still do it?
Yes, you can. Going straight to the top of such a high peak may seem daunting at first glance, but it's not that bad at all - especially if you have a good hiking guide at your disposal. A little practice and preparation.
But I don't have any hiking gear, who can afford to buy it?!
You'll still have to spend a little, but not much. Hiking and climbing equipment can be rented for a very reasonable price, and you can also borrow some from friends. In addition, you can use any kind of clothing you have - for example, a ski jacket is also very good for the mountain. The more resourceful can manage almost without additional expenses.
Will I survive?
It's an extreme sport/hobby, but you shouldn't be too afraid here. Of course, there are certain dangers in the mountains and you have to take that into account, but at the same time, you could get hit by a bus walking across the street tomorrow. The most important thing for the group leader is to ensure the safety of the participants - to do this, we learn and use correct mountaineering techniques and turn around if the weather gets too bad. The point is still to have an enjoyable experience and not let this mountain go away. ;)
Okay, I registered. Now what?
Well, theoretically you could just vanish into thin air and show up on the bus, but then you risk discovering on the spot “oops, I have the wrong cats and what is this middleman node?”. It can happen, but a warm recommendation is to participate in preparatory events - it's part of the fun. We organize preparatory hiking trainings, give advice on suitable insurance and equipment, where to rent cheaply, what to train for, etc. We will definitely check the collected equipment just before the start of the trip and send reminders about important things.
Read more also frequently asked questions.
Other footnote information
Plan your trip early and start training for it. We will organize several trial trips, training sessions and recommend training plans beforehand. It would be a shame if the peak was only behind the physique. Also a good opportunity to get in shape. ;)
Summits are not guaranteed. As you might expect, weather is king in the mountains. So it is entirely possible that weather or dangerous conditions will prevent us from even attempting the summit. Nevertheless, it will definitely be an awesome experience!
Although at the end of the day everyone is still responsible for their own actions and consequences, we do our best to mitigate the risks associated with mountaineering. As a result, the group leader has the right to make ongoing decisions about the competence of the participants, the suitability of their equipment, physical/mental capacity, etc. and, if necessary, for example, to prohibit participation on summit day if it endangers the health of the group or the participant themselves. Hopefully, of course, there will be no need for this.
Read also travel conditions.
