Mountaineering trip to Mount Kazbek
Two spots available!
The trip to the mountains has long been yours bucket listHave you figured it out? 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 2025.
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: 7.08-17.08.2025
Activity: mountain hiking and climbing on snow and glaciers
The adventure guide organizing the trip: Kristen Tamm
Technical difficulty level: 2/5 (suitable for beginners)
Route difficulty: F+
Physical difficulty: 3/5 (moderate)
Group size: min 7, max 12
Trip price — €1419
Trip price with equipment package (includes necessary climbing and sleeping equipment) - €1569
Please note: For community members discount -5% applies (1348 € / 1490 €)
👉 SEE EQUIPMENT LIST HERE 👈
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
Elamus+ mountaineering preparation package (valued at €200)
Access to online mountaineering webinars
Winter mountaineering training day
Summer trial hike/training
If you choose an equipment package when registering for the trip, you only need to worry about clothing and footwear. We will provide you with the following for the trip:
Sleeping equipment (tent, sleeping mat, sleeping bag, inner sheet)
Climbing equipment (80-100l backpack, crampons, pickaxe, belt, helmet, 2 slings, 2 carabiners, 1 rappelling rope)
Price does not include - flights, personal belongings and optional activities
Flight tickets Riga/Tallinn-Tbilisi-Tallinn/Riga (~300-450 €)
Insurance (travel insurance and mandatory sports insurance suitable for mountain hiking)
The regular price does not include personal hiking and climbing equipment (necessary items can be rented individually). The special price includes rental of climbing and sleeping equipment for the duration of the trip, along with equipment.
Transport of equipment up the mountain from Stepantsminda by jeep and horses (optional if you don't want to carry a large backpack yourself)
The standard price does not include tents or cooking equipment (we will fold the tent up). The equipment package includes sleeping equipment.
Meals outside the mountain (in Stepantsminda village, Tbilisi and on the road)
Lunch snacks on the mountain and additional food and drinks in the mountain huts if desired
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.
All spots are full! You can register for the waiting list.
Schedule and activities
Day 1 (7.08) - 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 (8.08) - 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 set our course on the bus that picked us up, heading north 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 (9.08) - FIRST PUSH
After a rich Georgian breakfast in the morning, the party is over - it's time to head up the mountain. The start is late and the goal of the first day is to take minibuses to the Trinity Church and from there climb to Altihuti to the campsite at 3014 m. The climb from the Trinity Church takes about 3-4 hours. We are accompanied by shepherd dogs and horses pass by, carrying the equipment of those who go with their hands in their pockets. If you wish, you can send your large bag ahead on horses (additional fee), but generally we carry our own things. On the way, we enjoy the views and chat. When we reach the campsite, we set up tents and rest. In a nearby hut, you can play cards and enjoy soft drinks. In the evening, we discuss the next day's journey. We will not sleep in the hut, we will sleep in tents.
Total ascent meters during the day is about 1250 (Stepantsminda 1750 m -> Altihut 3014 m). The hike from Trinity Church to Altihut is 4 km long.
DAY 4 (10.08) - We are slowly starting to climb higher
Morning routine (breakfast, brushing teeth and packing up the tent camp) and start at 9.00. There will be some light rock climbing and scrambling that day. We cross the Gergeti glacier, where we practice walking on the glacier with cats and moving on a rope for the first time during the trip. The hike on the glacier is gentle, but the goal is to get a feel for the summit day. It takes 4-5 hours and in the afternoon we 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 life is lively there. We sleep outside in our tents. It is cleaner and at least as comfortable. There are a lot of people in this camp. We make new acquaintances and hear exciting mountain stories. In the evening we 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 5 (11.08) - 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 practice using a pickaxe on a nearby slope and techniques for stopping a slide. Let's rest and refuel. In the evening, we discuss the next day's plan, if necessary, we adjust our climbing plan according to the weather conditions.
Ascent meters 0 (Meteo Station 3653 m). Hiking length 0 km
DAY 6 (12.08) - acclimatization climb
We rest and have a slow morning. During the day we make an acclimatization climb to about 4000 m to accustom our bodies to the thinner air. We spend time in the Betlem hut talking, drinking tea and playing cards. We rest and monitor the weather forecast.
Ascent approx. 400 meters (Meteo Station 3653 m -> Bethlem Cave ~4000 m). Hiking duration 2-3 hours.
DAY 7 (13.08) - Rest day and preparation
This is the laziest day of camp. At noon we have a meeting to discuss the equipment that will go into the summit bag and the plan for the summit day. Everyone can complain about any concerns and hesitations, which we calmly discuss. We make sure that our plans match the weather forecast and agree on a start time for the upcoming summit night. We rest in the afternoon.
Ascent meters 0 (Meteo Station 3653 m). Hiking length 0 km
DAY 8 (14.08) - 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 in the morning. After celebrating the summit 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.
DAY 9 (15.08) - DEPARTURE AND EVENING IN TBLISSI
No matter how tired someone is from the previous day, in the morning everyone is united by one thought - DOWN! We can 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 arrive in the afternoon. We have a joint celebratory dinner and exchange impressions of the mountain hike over a good meal. We spend the night in a hotel or guesthouse.
DAY 10 (16.08) - free day in Tbilisi
Free program. We can visit sulfur saunas, walk around the city and dine in restaurants. Warning! We may taste Georgian wines. In the middle of the night we head to Tbilisi airport.
DAY 11 (17.08) - That's all
Return flight early in the morning at 2 am. 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 wine we bought together as a gift.
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?!
If you don't have the equipment you need, we recommend choosing an equipment package. With an equipment package, you will receive the climbing and sleeping equipment you need for the trip from us. You only have to take care of your clothes and shoes. In terms of clothing, you can use any kind of existing sportswear - for example, a ski jacket is also very okay for the mountain. The more resourceful can manage with almost no additional expenses. There is always the option of renting something from friends or from various rental companies.
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 “oops, I have the wrong cats and what is this middleman node?” on the spot. It can happen, but we warmly recommend participating in preparatory events (included in the price) - 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 equipment you have collected just before the start of the trip and send reminders about important things.
Read more also frequently asked questions.
