Premium Private Mount Kazbek Expedition
- 9 days / 8 nights
- Best time: Jun–Sep
- Expert
- Private, 2–3 climbers
Nine days from Tbilisi to the summit of Mount Kazbek (5,054 m), with GMGA-certified guides, acclimatisation at Altihut and a weather reserve day. Private: only your group of two or three climbers.
Your local host speaks English and Georgian
Highlights
- GMGA-certified guides, at most two climbers per guide
- Acclimatisation to about 3,800 m and technical glacier training
- A packhorse carries your main bag up to Meteo Base Camp
- Summit attempt at 5,054 m, with a weather reserve day
- Helmet, crampons and ice axe included
What's included
Included
- GMGA-certified alpine guide, at most 2 climbers per guide
- Safety briefings, acclimatisation hikes, technical training and the guided summit attempt
- Tbilisi Airport pickup and drop-off, and a private 4x4 for every transfer
- Packhorse for one main bag per climber up to Meteo Base Camp, weather and trail permitting
- All 8 nights: hotels in Tbilisi and Stepantsminda, Altihut and Meteo Base Camp
- Hotel breakfasts, and breakfast and dinner in the mountains
- Helmet, crampons and ice axe
- Packing advice and an equipment check before you set off
- Water and snacks in the car
Not included
- International flights
- Travel insurance
Day by day
Day 1Arrival in Tbilisi
Your private driver meets you at Tbilisi International Airport and takes you to your hotel. Time to settle in, then a first briefing about the expedition.
Overnight: Tbilisi.
Day 2Tbilisi → Stepantsminda → Altihut
After breakfast, the Georgian Military Highway into the Caucasus. In Stepantsminda you meet your mountain guide for a briefing and an equipment check, then walk up to Altihut, at about 3,000 m.
Overnight: Altihut.
Day 3Acclimatisation hike to about 3,800 m
A gradual climb to about 3,800 m to help your body adjust to the altitude, with the Caucasus peaks around you, then back to Altihut to rest.
Overnight: Altihut.
Day 4Altihut → Meteo Base Camp (3,650 m)
Up to the base camp of Mount Kazbek. A packhorse carries your main bag, so you walk with a daypack. After lunch, technical training with your guide.
- Crampon and ice axe technique
- Glacier travel and rope work
- Moving safely on snow and ice
- Crevasse safety and climbing rules
- Summit-day preparation
Overnight: Meteo Base Camp.
Day 5Preparation and acclimatisation day
Weather and fitness permitting, another acclimatisation hike on the ridges above camp and climbing practice on snow slopes with your guide. Then dinner, kit preparation and an early night.
Overnight: Meteo Base Camp or Altihut, according to the final plan.
Day 6Summit day: Mount Kazbek, 5,054 m
An early start, usually around 02:00, by head torch. Across the glacier and its crevasse zones and up the snow slopes to the saddle between the two summits, then the last, steeper section to the top at 5,054 m. A careful descent to base camp follows, and on to Altihut when conditions and your strength allow.
Overnight: Altihut.
Day 7Weather reserve, or Altihut → Stepantsminda
If you reached the summit on day 6, walk down to Stepantsminda and visit Gergeti Trinity Church. If the weather stopped you, this day can be a second summit attempt, if your guide judges it safe; the descent and transfers then move with it.
Overnight: Stepantsminda.
Day 8Stepantsminda → Tbilisi
After breakfast, the private 4x4 back to Tbilisi on the Georgian Military Highway, and a free evening in the city.
Overnight: Tbilisi.
Day 9Departure
Breakfast at the hotel, then your private transfer to Tbilisi International Airport.
What to expect
Expert: Summit day: from base camp to the top at 5,054 m and back down, on glacier with crampons, ice axe and rope, starting around 02:00
- Hiking
- Summit day: from base camp to the top at 5,054 m and back down, on glacier with crampons, ice axe and rope, starting around 02:00
- Driving
- About 3 h each way between Tbilisi and Stepantsminda, on the Georgian Military Highway, in a private 4x4
- Elevation
- Summit 5,054 m. Nights at Altihut (about 3,000 m) and Meteo Base Camp (about 3,650 m)
- Previous mountaineering experience is recommended but not required; excellent fitness is.
- Reaching the summit is never guaranteed. Weather, the glacier, your fitness and your guide decide.
- Day 7 is a weather reserve, for a second summit attempt if the first has to wait.
Please note
- Previous mountaineering experience is recommended but not required. You need excellent fitness, experience of long mountain hikes and the stamina for long days at altitude
- Technical skills are taught and practised on the expedition, but summit day is long and demanding
- Reaching the summit is never guaranteed: the weather, glacier conditions, your fitness and your guide’s safety call decide
- Day 7 is a weather reserve: if the summit has to wait, it can be a second attempt, and the descent and transfers move with it
- Accommodation can change with the weather, availability and the final mountain plan
- Your travel insurance must cover high-altitude mountaineering
What to bring
Waterproof shell jacket · Insulated down jacket · Fleece or mid-layer jacket
- Waterproof shell jacket
- Insulated down jacket
- Fleece or mid-layer jacket
- Thermal base layers, top and bottoms
- Waterproof mountaineering trousers
- Comfortable trekking trousers
- Waterproof insulated summit gloves or mittens
- Warm trekking gloves
- Warm beanie, buff and balaclava
- Three pairs of mountaineering socks
- B2/B3 alpine mountaineering boots
- Gaiters or overboots
- Mountaineering harness
- Two screw-lock carabiners
- 60 cm climbing sling
- Telescopic trekking poles
- Head torch with spare batteries
- Category 3 or 4 mountaineering sunglasses
- Sleeping bag rated -10°C to -15°C
- Sleeping mat
- 35–50 L trekking backpack
- Main luggage bag, up to 80 L
- Light reusable water bottle (up to 1 L)
- SPF 50+ sun cream and lip protection
- Personal medication
- Toiletries and wet wipes
- Microfibre towel
- Slippers for base camp
- Your own bowl and cutlery
- Contact lens supplies, if you need them
