GeorgiaKazbekClimbing

Climbing Kazbek from the south on the Georgian side

30 km

kmDistance

9 days

daysDuration

1/3

DifficultyDifficulty

3/4

ComfortComfort

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About the Program

Mount Kazbek stands at 5,054 meters and lies on the border between Georgia and Russia. This climb is from the Georgian side. Our company is a local tour operator on Kazbek, offering regular tours from June to September. The tour comes in three packages: Base (backpacks and tents), Standard (horses carry the group gear and food, a cook on the route, a 3* hotel and the group transfer from Tbilisi and back) and Premium (horses carry all your gear, nights in mountain huts, a 4* hotel and the group transfer from Tbilisi and back). This tour can be combined with a climb to Mount Elbrus.

Start: Stepantsminda, Georgia

End: Stepantsminda, Georgia

Difficulty Level

Base: trekking with backpacks of around 30 kg. Standard: horses carry the group gear and food, you carry only your personal items. Premium: horses carry all your gear, you hike without a heavy load. Moderate hypoxia at altitude.

Accommodations

Base: guesthouse and tents. Standard: 3* hotel and tents. Premium: 4* hotel and mountain huts.

Food

Base: participants prepare meals from freeze-dried products (included). Standard and Premium: full board on the route, prepared by a cook (instead of freeze-dried food). Premium also includes meals in Stepantsminda at a Georgian restaurant.

What Will You Do?

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Sample Georgian cuisine and local wines
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Cross a glacier and peer into deep ice crevices
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Learn basic mountaineering skills
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Climb Mount Kazbek and view Mount Elbrus from its summit

Photos from the Route

Description by Day

day 1. Meeting

Participants gather in the village of Stepantsminda (Georgia) at any time during this day, where our tour begins. Standard and Premium include our group transfer from Tbilisi to Stepantsminda. With Base you travel on your own, or you can add the same group transfer as an extra. Accommodation in a guesthouse (Base), a 3-star hotel (Standard) or a 4-star hotel with a beautiful view of Kazbek (Premium). Equipment check/distribution.

day 2. Sabertse Pass

Breakfast. Ascent to the mountains in SUV minivans to the Gergeti Church (featured on the cover of this tour). The instructor will teach walking and breathing techniques that help conserve energy during the climb. After that, we hike to the Sabertse Pass at an altitude of 3,150 meters. The transition takes 3-4 hours. From the pass, there's a beautiful view of the Gergeti Glacier and Kazbek itself. Accommodation in tents (Base and Standard) or in the comfortable Altihut mountain shelter (Premium, see photo).

day 3. High Camp

A long trek to the Meteorological Station shelter at an altitude of 3,650 meters (see photo). Throughout the day, Mount Kazbek will be in front of our eyes. We start by walking on rocks, then onto the glacier. The journey takes 5.5 hours, covering a distance of 8.6 km. Accommodation will be in tents or in a mountain shelter.

day 4. Ortsveri Glacier

Acclimatization hike to 4400 meters. The route includes rocky terrain and traversing crevasses. We practice essential mountaineering skills: walking in crampons, self-arrest on snowy slopes with ice axes, and moving on rope rails. The ascent takes 5 hours, and the descent 2 hours.

day 5. Rest Day

A day of rest to recharge energy. However, if the weather forecast for the following days is unfavorable, we may use this day for climbing. It serves as a reserve day if needed.

day 6. Summit Day

We start at 2 AM, equipped with crampons and headlamps. The ascent and descent usually take 10-12 hours. From the summit of Mount Kazbek, you'll enjoy a 360-degree view, with Mount Elbrus visible in the distance. We then return to the Meteo Station.

day 7. Descent to the Village

We descend to the Holy Trinity Church and then by minivans to the village of Stepantsminda. We'll stay in the same hotel as on the first day of the tour. In the evening, a celebration at a Georgian restaurant with the presentation of the Kazbek climb certificates. The dinner and the Kazbek summit medal are included in the Premium package.

day 8. End of the Kazbek Tour

Breakfast at the hotel marks the end of the Kazbek climbing program. Participants who booked the combined two-peak tour, Kazbek and Elbrus will head to Elbrus right after breakfast, crossing the Georgia-Russia border.

day 9. Reserve Day

This is the second backup day in case of bad weather. If both reserve days are utilized, the tour will conclude on this day. Therefore, you should book your return flight for this day.

Cost

Group Tour

Spot on one
of the planned tours

Booking deposit

Private Tour

For a single participant or for a private
group on any agreed dates

Price for the first (or only) participant

Price for each more
memeber

☑Included in the Base package

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Our assistance, including help with choosing flights and obtaining visas
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Services of professional mountain guides: no more than 4 climbers per guide on summit day
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Accommodation: 2 nights in a guesthouse (double occupancy), on the route in expedition tents.
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Payment for camping in the High Camp
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Meals on the route (freeze-dried food pack)
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Transfer along the mountain road from Stepantsminda to the Holy Trinity Church
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All group equipment: ropes, gas, kitchen, etc.
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All safety measures: satellite phone, first aid kit, rescue service registration
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Certificate of successful climb of Mt Kazbek

×Not included

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Flight to Tbilisi or Mineralnye Vody
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Airport meet and greet and transfer to the tour start point
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Personal equipment and clothing (available for rent from us)
—
Meals in Stepantsminda
—
Mountaineering insurance for all tour days (mandatory)

☑Standard Pack

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Everything included in the Base package
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Group transfer from Tbilisi to Stepantsminda and back
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2 nights in a 3* hotel (instead of guesthouse)
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Group gear and food carried by horses: you carry only personal items
—
Full board meals on the route, with a cook (instead of freeze-dried food)

☑Premium Pack

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Everything included in the Base package
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Group transfer from Tbilisi to Stepantsminda and back
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2 nights in a 4* hotel (instead of guesthouse)
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5 nights in mountain huts (instead of tents)
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All gear (personal and group) and fresh food carried by horses to the high camp and back down: you hike with no load
—
Full board meals on the route, with a cook (instead of freeze-dried food)
—
Meals in Stepantsminda at a Georgian restaurant
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Kazbek summit medal

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Information

It's necessary to obtain mountaineering insurance valid in Georgia, which can be arranged through us. The coverage amount is 50,000 USD. The insurance includes potential expenses for emergency medical care, including hospitalization, search and rescue operations in the mountains in emergency situations (including the use of a helicopter), medical transportation, and return to your permanent place of residence.

Available for rent