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, Jul, Aug, Sep

Fit

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

- Guiding fee

- Accommodation included

- Transportation start and back

- Breakfast

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

Accommodation

Guesthouse and Mountain hut, such as Nazy guesthouse or Rooms hotel. Take into account that huts can't be booked in advance during the high season and are managed on a "first come-first served" basis. There is a possibility that we may have to sleep in a tent if the hut is full when we get there.

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

Ice axe

Harness

Crampons

Other gear: 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).

Frequently Asked Questions

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

What is the technical level required to climb Mount Kazbek?

Do you need a visa to enter Georgia?

Are there any special covid regulations in Georgia?

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

Can you organize vegetarian or vegan meals during the trip?

Is it possible to rent equipment?

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

Are meals included in the trip price?

Can you organize the whole trip from airport to airport?

About the guide

Ilia

4.64

(61)

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

What people are saying about this trip

Max E

5.00

August, 2021

The traveller did not leave a comment.

Halmar Heinmets

4.00

September, 2019

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.

Håvard Hu

5.00

August, 2019

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.

Anonymous

3.00

July, 2019

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.

Eva

5.00

August, 2018

The traveller did not leave a comment.

Zigmars Rudzitis

5.00

July, 2018

(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.

Borja Real

4.00

June, 2018

The traveller did not leave a comment.

Jean Laurent

5.00

September, 2017

Ilia was a wonderful mountaineering guide :-) I can't wait to climb again with him next year ! JL

Frédéric

5.00

October, 2016

We had a marvellous journey with Ilia. He managed everything from airport to airport. As part of being a wonderful guide with a lot of knowledge about his country and his nature he is also a very kind person to deal with. The Kazbek ascend is a beautiful trip, I recommend to every mountain lover. The region, the mountain, the food and the kindness of the people makes it perfect.

Jessica

5.00

September, 2016

The trip was great thanks and Ilia was amazing! Such a competent and knowledgeable guide. We actually got caught in white out blizzard near the summit and he led us out with great confidence. I would highly recommend him as a guide and he was great company to boot!

Ineta

5.00

September, 2016

... Although we didn’t achieve what we intended to (due to limited time we had in Georgia and bad weather), we were happy. It was one of the most amazing experiences we had so far and without a shadow of a doubt, we will come back to complete our mission. We will climb the giant of dreams. If you are looking for an incredible, experienced guide, contact Explore Share and ask for Ilia. He studied mount climbing at university and he certainly knows his stuff.

Jonathan

September, 2016

We had the chance to climb Mount Kazbek in Georgia last July under a wonderful weather. It was a real pleasure to make this tour with Ilia, who was extremely professional, efficient and safety-driven all along the journey. It was also very pleasant to discuss with him to discover more about Georgia and the surroundings

Valentine

5.00

August, 2016

I spent 4 amazing days with Ilia, the most skilful, experienced, adorable guide. He showed me many different places in Mtskheta-Mtianeti région. From Snow to rocks, we fully benefit the Caucasus mountains. It was an unforgettable experience !