3 days / 2 nights
Continuance
Elbrus area, North side
Place
Trekking
Activities

This program is perfect for those who have a couple of free days to plunge into the enchanting nature of the mountains and take a break from the bustle of the city, who prefer the active relationship of their legs and the planet to passive travel on wheels. Two days of interesting hikes in the wild and not very places of the northern Elbrus region in the vicinity of the mountaineering base camp on the Irakhiktyuz plateau, next to the Emmanuel glade and the hot springs of Dzhily-Su. Accommodation in houses with full meals, hot showers and other infrastructure sufficient for life. We will pass through the legendary places of this region, which can only be reached on foot or seen from the air. Let’s go in the vicinity of Kalitsky Peak to a huge ice plateau surrounded by mountain ranges, passing fabulous alien landscapes of wild nature with stunningly beautiful mountain lakes. We will walk along the high-mountainous plateau of Irahiksyrt, lying at an altitude of 3000 m, we will climb to the giant glacier breaks, where wind, clouds and rivers are born. Here the grandeur and inexorability of the harsh wild nature mercifully coexists with islands of human presence. The white and black dots of the lambs barely noticeably move along the slopes and meadows, vultures glide in the sky, catching updrafts, gophers whistle in the grasses, and above all this, the snow-white crown of Elbrus sparkles, a dream for many, a reality for those who came.

Tour Program

1

Day 1: Arrival. Trekking to Irahiksyrt plateau.


Early arrival to the Irahik-Tuz plateau (80 km from nearest city) to the foot of Elbrus from the North side. Accommodation in houses.

We take tea, lunch bags and the necessary minimum for an easy hike, we hit the road. The length of the route is about 17 kilometers, the drop and climb is 1050 m. The approximate time for the route is 8 hours. The first part of the route passes through the meadows of the Irahiksyrt high-mountain plateau, moving along it, we kind of bypass Elbrus, which is very close by. The view changes all the time: after the grassy hills, glaciers, moraines and streams open up, while the Mountain itself slowly unfolds its Northern slope, showing us the Western features. This part of the walk is quite easy, because the surface of the plateau has a very slight slope, and looks horizontal.

 

At the far edge of the plateau leads us to the Karachaul glacier, under which there is a small picturesque lake, if you wish, you can even swim in it.

A small halt, and after it a more severe part of the route — we will climb the moraine that separates the Karachaul and Ulluchiran glaciers and go to its upper edge. There is no longer a path here — no one walks here, but the grandeur of the landscape deserves the presence of a person and his admiring eyes. Nature needs someone who can see and appreciate its beauty.

Altitude 3650 m. We are standing right above the giant blocks of the icefall. In this place, both glaciers, in their slow downward flow, break, creating architectural works of genius in their chaos. The sun shines through the clouds, filling the picture with the movement of their shadows. A cold wind is blowing from the ice world, and we will not stay here too long, we will have a snack, drink tea and go down.

After descending from the moraine, our path lies back, but we will go along the other edge of the Irahiksyrt plateau in order to better examine the details of the Tashlysyrt ridge, which protects the plateau from the opposite side of Elbrus. The ridge is not as simple as it seems at first glance. Its sawtooth back tightly guards the mystery that lives in this gorge. At the foot of the ridge, between it and the plateau on which we are walking, the Kyzylkol River runs. Geological work, research was carried out in the ridge, pits and mines were drilled, some can even be found at its very top, at an altitude of 3400 m. On its other side there is an abandoned settlement of geologists, on ours, below, you can see an old drilling rig. Both the gorge and the ridge are not so popular tourist sights yet, and they are interesting because they are wild places and are not afraid of people. Below, closer to the river, it feels better, but you can also catch it from here, from above — as if there is always someone there, or something … although you can’t see it, a slight chill on your back sometimes whispers that something can see you.

We return to the camp.
Dinner.
Overnight stay in huts.

2

Day 2: Trekking to Kalitsky Peak.

Breakfast at 7 am. Exit at 8 o’clock. We take lunch bags with us for lunch on the route and thermoses with tea. Our path starts from the Silver Spring, along the green hills we reach the Djilysu River, we cross it on the rocks, in the morning it is possible. Then we climb the green slopes to a large lava plateau. Alpine meadows slowly turn into lunar glades, so unusual that it begins to seem like we are on another planet. In the middle of all this, we pass a small transparent lake at an altitude of about three thousand meters with a colony of shrimp.

The route offers a good side view of the North-Eastern slope of Elbrus, the Lenz rocks are visible in profile and in good weather you can even see the shine of the houses of the assault camps.

After 7 kilometers of the start of the route, we come to the huge Jikaugenkez ice plateau. A monumental spectacle — a horizontal frozen space, surrounded by dashing mountain ranges, and, in an incomprehensible way, a peak appeared here in the very center. How close you can get to it depends on the current state of the glacier on which we will move. In this place, it forms a moraine covered with lava chips and stones. Seasonal melting of ice forms amazing shapes and grottoes.

Here we have a little break for lunch. Then we turn back, after about an hour and a half of the way we cross the Dzhilysu River ford, here it spills over the floodplain and therefore shallow. We pass a group of small lakes and begin to climb the rocky shore of the stream, born by the Michelchiran glacier to a large lake lying under it.

Then we go down the hills back to the camp. The length of the route is 16 kilometers. Travel time is about 8 hours. Height difference 700 m. Overnight stay in huts.

3

Day 3: Departure.

 

*The tour can be realized with a group from 4 pax.

Tour price includes:
huts accommodation 2 nights
breakfasts and dinners at the huts
Qualified guide-instructor;
Trekking pole rental;
all program transport services;
transfers (to/from airport).

Additional costs:
personal equipment rental.

For accommodation we offer Base camp huts on 2600 m. Huts with beds, hot shower, washbasin, toilet, kitchen, dining room, Wi-Fi, TV. On one side of the plateau there is a beautiful ridge — Kyzylkol with peaks up to 3600 m, on the other side — lava hills climbing to the border of eternal ice, covered with various vegetation: there are berries, useful herbs, rhododendrons. The glade offers an excellent view of the Karakay and Balyksu peaks, as well as the legendary Kanjol plateau, which lies twenty kilometers to the northeast. A five-minute walk from the camp there is a source of narzan. In August, the Silver Spring begins its life — a crystal clear cold stream coming from the mountain, according to local legends, strengthening health. On the bank of the Kyzylkol River, next to the glade, there are several pastoral summer yards where you can buy local homemade bread, cheese, ayran, milk, lamb. Four kilometers walk along the trek, three hundred meters lower of camp, there is the Dzhily-Su tract, in the vicinity of which there are many sources of mineral water narzan, hot springs, waterfalls, a cafe, a small shop.

Trekking tour does not require exceptional physical fitness, just good health is enough. From the equipment you also do not need any specialized things, here is a short list of what you need:

Comfortable clothing for movement, preferably with covered arms and legs, for hiking.
Warm clothes, the temperature in the evening at these altitudes can drop to zero degrees even in summer (usually around +10 in the evening, but it can be humid).
Raincoat, or waterproof layer of clothing, in case of rain.
A cap, (can be buff, or another headdress), can be with a visor to better protect your face from the sun.
Sunglasses.
Sunscreen.
A small backpack (for clothes, water and food on a hike, a city backpack is enough if it holds everything you need).
Headlamp (most likely you won’t need it, but it’s a very useful item in a pinch).
Trekking poles or regular ski poles (can be rented from us).
Full list of equipment and clothes please see in a tab.

PRICE 20’000 rubles per person
DEPARTURE TIME any day by booking
DURATION 3 days / 2 nights
AMOUNT IN THE GROUP from 4 pax
INCLUDED IN THE PRICE
Hut accommodation in camp for 2 night
Breakfasts and dinners in the huts with lunch bags
Transport services all along the routes
Professional Guide
Trekking poles rental
ADDITIONALLY PAID
Personal equipment rent Extra lunches
You must have all gear enumerated in equipment list.
Important to know! If weather conditions are unfavorable for the tour, then changes to the planned route are possible, including the day and time of departure.

Booking

    The request is not a tour booking and does not impose any obligations on you. Our specialist will contact you and provide detailed information about the tour.

    List of personal trekking equipment

    Clothes and shoes
    Cap / panama hat
    Jacket, windproof coat, light.
    Lightweight shirt with long sleeves (protects against burning of the arms and neck)
    T-shirt
    Hiking pants, light
    Socks
    Flip flops
    Hat, gloves
    Waterproof clothing and/or raincoat
    baseball cap for trekking (with protective brim covering the neck from the sun).
    Fleece cap.
    Balaclava
    Thermal underwear.
    Fleece 2 pcs (thin and thicker)
    Fleece gloves.
    Trekking socks (medium and thick) 2-3 pairs.

    Equipment
    Trekking telescopic poles (rental included)
    Trekking boots
    Jacket Gore-Tex or any other membrane
    Pants Gore-Tex or any other membrane
    Alpine sunglasses (protection 3-4)
    Backpack 30-40 l.
    Thermos 0.5-1 l.

    Safety & Personal Care
    Sunglasses
    Toilet paper
    Shoe dryers
    Sunscreen and lipstick (Prot 50).
    Individual first aid kit. Mandatory: elastic bandage, plaster.
    Personal care products
    Plastic bottle 0.5 l (for drinking water on the route)
    Mug, spoon, knife (for lunch in the mountains for tea, a non-breakable mug)
    Torch
    Backpack for walking (20-25 liters). In the backpack — personal belongings of the tourist and public products for lunch, which are issued by the instructor (400-600 gr)

    SERVICES
    Transfer airport (railway station) Nalchik/Minvody — airport
    Hut accommodation 2 nights (breakfast, lunch bags, dinner)
    Qualified guide-instructor
    Trekking pole rental
    Intra-route transport services
    Resort fees, Elbrus National Park, Visa support
    Drinks and snacks
    Additional personal equipment
    COST 20 000 Rubles

    Required equipment :

    • Trekking telescopic poles (rental included)
    • Trekking boots*
    • baseball cap for trekking (with protective brim covering the neck from the sun).
    • Fleece cap.
    • Balaclava
    • Jacket Gore-Tex or any other membrane.*
    • The windproof coat, light.
    • Thermal underwear.
    • Fleece 2 pcs (thin and thicker)
    • Pants Gortex or any other membrane.*
    • Fleece gloves.
    • Alpine sunglasses (protection 3-4).*
    • Sun cream and lipstick (Prot 50).
    • Trekking socks (medium and thick) 2-3 pairs.
    • Backpack 30-40 l.*
    • Thermos 0.5-1 l.*
    • Individual first aid kit.

    *Equipment can be rented on the spot for an additional fee.

      The request is not a tour booking and does not impose any obligations on you. Our specialist will contact you and provide detailed information about the tour.

      Ulluchiran Glacier and Balkbashi Pass
      Lenz rocks on the slope of Elbrus
      Gorge of the Kyzylkol River
      Ulluchiran Glacier and Balkbashi Pass
      Ulluchiran Glacier and Balkbashi Pass
      Kalitsky Peak
      shrimp lake
      Near Kalitsky Peak
      Glacier Karachaul under Elbrus – north Elbrus