Climbing Mount Kazbek in the Caucasus

Climbing Mount Kazbek (5033m), the third highest mountain in Georgia, in the Caucasus range, together with Ilia, local certified mountain guide.

Private

Caucasus

6 Days

Jun - Sep

High

Beginner

Description

Mount Kazbek (5047 m) is a dormant stratovolcano in Georgia, near the border with Russia. It is actually the third highest mountain in the country and one of the tallest of the Caucasus.

You can have a direct view of its summit from the town of Stepantsminda.

This time, I propose a nice 6-day climbing trip to Mount Kazbek to my friends and clients.

However, the itinerary can be adapted depending on the time you have, what you wish to do and your physical and technical level.

During the ascent and its preparation, I will train you on rope techniques, walking on glacier with crampons and how to use the necessary equipment.

For further information about this trip, you can find the day-to-day program below (this is a sample itinerary and it is subject to change).

Please contact me if you need more information about this guided tour up to the summit of Mount Kazbek. It will be my pleasure to guide you there and let you discover this majestic mountain of the Caucasus range.

If I'm not available to guide you, one of my 3 teammates, all of them GMGA mountain guides, will be happy to do so.

On the other hand, if you travel to Georgia during winter, you can check this fantastic ski touring trip.

Price includes

Accommodation included
Guiding fee
Breakfast
Transportation start and back

Price details

A minimum of 4 people is required for this trip. Equipment costs around 30€ per day.
Extra costs:
It is possible to carry luggage with a horse to the hut (around 100 euro one way). You can stay one more day at the hut Altihut (3000m). This has an extra cost of 100 euro per person per night, overnight with all meals.
Alcohol drinks not included.

Itinerary

Day 1: Tbilisi airport / Stepantsminda

Arrival. Transfer from Tbilisi airport to Stepantsminda, (1700m)

– 3 hour
– Night in a guesthouse.

Day 2: Betlemi hut

Drive to church Trinity with 4X4 jeep (2100m), walk to Betlemi hut, at 3700 m.

– 6-8 hour
–Night in Betlemi mountain hut

Day 3: Acclimatization hike / Betlemi hut

Acclimatization hike to Church (2.5hrs at 400m). If you are very fit and you want to we can go to Mt. Orcveri (4200m) this is a 6 hours hike.

– Night in Betlemi mountain hut

Day 4: Mount Kazbek summit / Bletemi hut

Summit day, (5047m)
– 8-10 hour.
– Night in Betlemi Hut

Day 5: Reserve day in case of bad weather.

Day 6: Walk down to Stepantsminda and transfer to Tbilisi

Details

More info

If I am busy you'll join one of my teammates, all of them local certified guides.

Meeting point

Tbilisi airport.

Equipment you will need to bring

Crampons

Ice axe

Harness

Sleeping bag, mountaineering shoes that fit with crampons. Technical equipment you will need : Crampons (classical ones, not for ice climbing), Harness, 2 carabiners, 1 Sling (120 cm) and an ice axe (Classical light mountaineering, not for sport ice climbing).

FAQs

What is the technical level required to climb Mount Kazbek?

Kazbek is a beginner-level climb, it can be your first mountain. However, you do need to be in very good physical shape and sports condition.

Is it possible to rent equipment?

Yes, you can rent all kinds of equipment.

Is it possible to climb Kazbek in a shorter period of time?

Yes, it is possible, you will need good prior acclimatization and an excellent physical condition.

Can you organize vegetarian or vegan meals during the trip?

Yes, we can adapt to your dietary requirements.

Can you organize the whole trip from airport to airport?

Yes, we can organize the whole trip.

Can you organize a city tour or any interesting tour after climbing in Georgia?

Yes, we can organize additional activities and tours for you.

Are there any special covid regulations in Georgia?

No.

Do you need a visa to enter Georgia?

EU member countries, and South and North American countries do not need visas to enter Georgia.

Is it safe to travel to Georgia given the Russian-Ukraine war?

Yes, Georgia is not involved in the war and it is safe.

Are meals included in the trip price?

The only meal included in the trip price is Breakfast. Lunch and dinner can be purchased in the Meteo Station (Bethlemi Hut), and paid there with cash or card. Lunch is around 20 euros, and dinner around 35 euros (2023 prices).

What are some recommended accommodations near our adventure location?

We understand that finding the perfect place to stay is an essential part of your adventure experience. To help you with this, we’ve curated a list of three highly recommended hotels that offer comfort, convenience, and a touch of local charm. These accommodations are well-suited for adventurers looking to relax and rejuvenate after an exciting day of exploration

Georgia Hotel Kazbegi

Stepantsminda

Stepantsminda

Georgia

Rooms Hotel Kazbegi

Georgia Hotel Porta Caucasia Kazbegi

See rooms

Stepantsminda

See rooms

About the guide

Ilia

4.5

(60)

Mountain Guide

I'm a fully certified IFMGA / UIAGM mountain guide from Tbilisi, Georgia. I have the GMGA (Georgian Mountain Guides Association) certificate and I'm a member of the Austrian Mountain Guide Association.

I'm a professional mountaineer, national team member of Georgian Mountain Federation. I am actively climbing in the Caucasus mountain range.

The programs I guide more often are:
- Mountaineering = Mt. Kazbek, Mt. Tetnuldi, Mt. Ushba, Chaukhi region.
- Ski Touring = Gudauri, Svaneti, Kazbegi regions.
I also manage large expeditions and base camps for Caucasus Mountains.

Please get in touch with me if you plan to come to Georgia. It will be my great pleasure to help you and to guide you in our awesome mountains.

I am leading a Guide Office in Georgia, and work together with my colleagues George, Lasha and Leri (National certified Mountain Guides). In case I'm not available, one of them will be your guide.

Languages

Russian | Georgian | English

Certificates

GMGA | IFMGA

Request more information

What people are saying about this trip

Anonymous

Local guide Misha was excellent. Explore Share did not pay for sleeping bags as advertised, we had to rent these at location, not compensated, the sleeping bags and food were advertised to be transported by horse, this did not happen, also not compensated. One meal at mountain hut consisted only of one bowel of soup following 7 hour hike. Mountain it's self was great. Money also deducted from my credit card without prior authorisation by Explore Share. Disconnect apparent between Explore Share and guide regarding what trip consisted of.

Håvard

Thanks for an extraordinary glimpse into the world of mountaineering in Caucasus Georgia. Guide Ramez was a perfect match for our family group of four to the summit of Kazbek.

Halmar

Guide Vano was very good. Proficiency in English would be beneficial. Trip to Mount Kazbek was good, but time schedule for eating would be useful. Because when reaching the top we discovered that we were starving. The food what they offered in the basecamp was awesome. The toilet in the basecamp was terrible. First, it was too far from the main house, because if you had to go at the middle of the night then you had to put all your clothing on. And second, the cleanliness. Someone should keep an eye for it. And at all the basecamp rooms where not that clean.

Eva

Zigmars

(1) We are all very happy with the experience. Everyone got a real feeling to at least some of the mountaineering life aspect. (2) Guides were all great and we had a great time + learned quite a bit in a very short time. (3) We got as far as each of us could this time. One of us reached the summit - others had to stop at different stages - but that is all part of the adventure. Overall very happy and definitely see a value in a service like Explore-Share.