Mountaineering trip to Mount Kazbek
The group is full! You can register for the waiting list.
The trip to the mountains has long been yours bucket list'? Or are you already an old fish who has been to the mountains enough in the Alps, but has not yet climbed 5000 m? Please, here is an offer for you for the summer of 2024.
Kazbek is located on the border of Georgia and Russia and is one of the highest mountains in the Caucasus Mountains. When climbing to the top, you can walk on a hiking trail, pebbles, snow, ice and glaciers. If you take it seriously, even a beginner can manage to climb to the top. The Kazbek mountain trip is also worth considering for those mountain enthusiasts who have already been to some peaks, but would like to gain experience in moving on a ropeway, crossing a glacier and using a pickaxe. And of course, we should not forget that this trip comes with good Georgian cuisine, which we can enjoy before and after the mountain!
Who is this trip for?
Beginner mountaineering enthusiasts
Mountain enthusiasts who have already climbed mountains here and there, but have not reached 5000+ meters
We start preparing before the trip in Estonia - we test the equipment and practice climbing. In addition, we review important mountaineering techniques in real conditions before the summit.
Overview - short & sweet
Goal: Kazbek Peak (5054 m)
Dates: 4.07.-13.07.2024
Activity: mountain hiking and climbing on snow and glaciers
Adventure guide: Kristen Tamm
Technical difficulty level: 2/5 (suitable for beginners)
Physical difficulty: 3/5 (moderate)
Group size: min 7, max 12
Early bird (until 31.12.2023) — €1290
Late Registration (from 01.01.2024) — €1419
Please note: For community members discount -5% applies (1225 € / 1350 €)
Base camp (3700m)
Travel cost
Price includes - the entire mountain program and the accompanying
Entire trip organization and on-site guidance
With the Kazbek experience Elamus+ reisijuht
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/MEKI camping food)
Special climbing equipment for the group (ropes, ice augers, carabiners, and other glacier equipment)
Stylish Elamus+ sports shirt for each participant
Group pharmacy (including high-altitude medications) and health assessment
Gas canisters for the burner for mountain days
Price does not include - flights, personal belongings and optional activities
Flight tickets Riga/Tallinn-Tbilisi-Tallinn/Riga (~350-450€)
Insurance (travel insurance and mandatory sports insurance suitable for mountain hiking)
Personal hiking and 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 (a set per tent)
Meals outside the mountain (in Stepantsminda village, Tbilisi and on the road)
Lunch snacks for the mountain, or if you want to buy additional food and drinks at the mountain huts
Unscheduled excursions, transportation, etc. (or if you want to do something extra)
Registering for the tour
Before registering, please read travel conditions. To secure your place on the trip, a deposit (20%) must be paid within 3 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 ja package tour information sheet.
Schedule and activities
Day 1 - Start
The flight to Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, departs from Tallinn Airport at around 21 pm. The most convenient way to fly to Tbilisi is from Tallinn via Riga with AirBaltic, and we recommend doing so. Anyone who wants to take the same flight from Riga must purchase tickets accordingly. We will arrive in Tbilisi early the next morning.
Day 2 - Stepantsminda
The transition from the first to the second day is smooth. The first half of the night is spent snoring in the Airbaltic seat, the second half on the bus. When we arrive at Tbilisi airport, we can buy a SIM card for the internet at the local telecom booth. We take our phones and head north on the bus that picked us up, to the village of Stepantsminda. The bus ride lasts ca 4 h. We settle into the guesthouse and have dinner at a local restaurant. The brave ones will also get a taste of the local wine. In the afternoon and evening we pack more things for the mountain hike, replenish our snack supplies at the shop and rest. We look up towards the mountain and discuss the plan for the upcoming mountain days.
Day 3 - FIRST EFFORT
After a hearty Georgian breakfast in the morning, the party is over - we have to put on our backpacks and start climbing the mountainside on our own. The start is late and the goal of the first day is to reach the camp near the Trinity Church. We set up our tents, go explore the history and culture, and make friends with the local shepherd dogs.
Approx. 400 meters of ascent (Stepantsminda 1750 m -> Trinity overnight stay 2150 m). Length of the hike: 4 km.
DAY 4 - We are slowly starting to rise
Breakfast is ready on the Primus, we put on weather-appropriate clothing and head towards the Altihut intermediate camp. It takes 3-4 hours. We enjoy the views and chat. We are accompanied by sheepdogs and horses pass by, carrying the equipment of those who go with their hands in their pockets. We set up camp at Altihut and discuss the next day's journey. In the hut you can play cards and enjoy soft drinks. We will not sleep in the hut, we will sleep in tents.
Approx. 850 meters of ascent (Trinity overnight stay 2150 m -> Altihut 3014 m). Hike length 7 km.
DAY 5 - First snow
Morning routine and 9.00:4 start. This day will include rock climbing and rolling. It will take 5-XNUMX hours to hike and around lunchtime we will reach the Meteo Station (Betlemi hut). It is an old meteorological station called the base camp. It reminds us of a haunted castle, but it is used as a place to stay and there is a lively life there. We will sleep outside in our tents. Cleaner and at least as comfortable. There are a lot of people in this camp. We will make new acquaintances and hear exciting mountain stories. In the evening we will discuss the plan for the next few days.
Approx. 650 meters of ascent (Altihut 3014 m -> Meteo Station 3653 m). Length of hike 4 km
DAY 6 - REST DAY
Now the altitude is starting to make itself felt. You may have a headache in the morning, that's normal. Let's take it easy. Let's rest, acclimatize, get used to the altitude. Let's check if everyone has the climbing equipment they need for the next few days. Let's put on crampons, practice using a pickaxe and techniques for stopping slipping. Let's do a short acclimatization hike. Let's rest and refuel.
DAY 7 - SUMMIT DAY!
Wake up at 01.00. This is not a morning routine. Everyone is anxious and even though we have had a lot of time to float horizontally, we probably haven't had much sleep. Fortunately, the previous days have been calm and we have risen quietly. Let's call this feeling of anxiety excitement, because there is a peak of over five thousand meters ahead and many personal records! All you need to bring is a summit bag with a warm jacket, snacks, drinks and other little things. The beginning is difficult. It gets even harder later. But it gets more and more beautiful. In total, you should expect 12-15 hours to go up and down. This is the hardest day of the hike. We should reach the summit around 9.00:XNUMX in the morning. After the summit celebration and social media presentations, we head back down. In the afternoon, we are back at camp at the Betlem hut. We are very tired. We also feel happy.
Ascent meters approx. 1400 (Betlemi hut 3653 m -> Kazbek peak 5047 m -> Betlemi hut 3653 m). Length of the hike 6+6 km
DAY 8 - 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. We will be there in the afternoon.
DAY 9 - Spare day / day in Tbilisi
We will rest. We can visit sulfur saunas, walk around the city and dine in restaurants. Warning! We may drink Georgian wines.
DAY 10 - That's all
Return flight early in the morning. An ordinary Estonian summer and loved ones are waiting for us back home. We shower them with the emotions we have received, and the more special ones may even receive a gift of wine purchased together.
NB! There may be minor changes to the schedule and planned activities - for example, due to weather and conditions or passenger requests.
Travel documents and Covid information
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);
sports insurance suitable for mountain hiking (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 test or other related documents before traveling, 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 Elamus+ I've been to Kazbek before!
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 appear on a plane, 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 review the collected equipment just before the start of the trip and send reminders about important things.
Read more also frequently asked questions.
