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Elbrus Mountain Hiking Tour with Moscow


As part of this 8-day experience you will be guided through several beautiful walking trails and hiking destinations around the Elbrus Mountain, embark on a cycling tour around Moscow, and see the Trinity-Sergius Lavra in Sergiev Posad.
Overview
Embark on a spectacular outdoor experience combining the culture of Moscow with scenic nature trails and hikes. Spend a few days soaking in the sights of Moscow before flying to one of Russia’s best hiking spots, the Elbrus Mountain in the Caucasus. If you love the great outdoors and are looking for a unique experience that includes plenty of outdoor activities along with a trip to Moscow, then look no further. As part of this 8-day experience you will be guided through several beautiful walking trails and hiking destinations around the Elbrus Mountain, embark on a cycling tour around Moscow, and see the Trinity-Sergius Lavra in Sergiev Posad.
Cycling tour around Moscow
Visiting the Botanical garden at the Russian Academy of Sciences
St.Sergius Lavra
Hiking around Wondiga River and Torbeevskoye Lake
Hiking around the Irikchat Gorge
Hiking up the Elbrus Mountain
Walking tour to the Girlish Braids waterfall
Itinerary


Moscow
Russia’s official capital, Moscow, is the political and religious heart of the country. The city has the highest density of billionaires, is the world’s most populated inland city and boasts six out of Europe’s ten tallest buildings. It continues to be a major tourist destination in Europe growing year on year with famous attractions including Red Square, St Basil’s Cathedral, and the Kremlin.
Day 1
Arrival in Moscow
On arrival in Moscow, you will meet your guide who will take you to your hotel ready for check-in.
You will have the rest of the day to relax or explore the city by yourself. If you have some time to spare, why not try one of our exclusive Moscow excursions or activities?
Arrival Transfer
Free Time
Optional excursions
Scenic Surrounds
Souvenir Shopping
Day 2
Cycling experience around Moscow
You will spend your first day in the Russian capital of Moscow, where you will embark on a spectacular cycling tour that takes in the many sites of this bustling metropolis.
After breakfast, you will meet you guide in the hotel lobby where you will begin your bicycle sightseeing tour of Moscow. Along the way, you will stop at various observation points with views of the Kremlin, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Luzhniki Olympic complex, and more.
In the afternoon, you will continue your tour of the city with a walking tour of VDNKH and a trip to the Botanical Garden. During our tour you will learn the history of the creation of the exhibition, admire the pavilions of VDNKH, as well as visit the Alley of Stars of Russian Cinema. The botanical garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences is one of the largest in Europe. Its value is not only in the collection of rare plants: it gives you the opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the tranquil world of nature, without leaving the city. In the Botanical Garden you will find sections dedicated to the flora of Russia, the former Soviet Union, a Japanese garden, a huge arboretum, greenhouses, plant exhibitions and more.
Later in the day, you will be taken back to your hotel where you will have some free time to explore the city for yourself.
Breakfast & Lunch
Cycling tour of Moscow
Moscow Kremlin
Christ the Saviour Cathedral
Luzhniki Olympic complex
VDNKh
Botanical Gardens
Free Time
Souvenir Shopping
Day 3
Nature hike to Gremyachy Klyuch via Sergiev Posad
After breakfast, you will meet your guide in the hotel lobby for the journey to Sergiev Posad.
On arrival, you will set out on a full day hike to the Gremyachy Klyuch – the largest waterfall in the Moscow Region. Your route will begin in one of the most ancient cities of the Golden Ring – Sergiev Posad, where you can enjoy views of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra from the observation deck. During the hike, you will stroll through the forests, fields and villages along the Wondiga River and Torbeevskoye Lake. At the forest edge, you will take a break and prepare lunch over an open fire. In the middle of the day, you will reach the Gremyachiy Klyuch waterfall where you will get to rest before exploring the beautiful wooden temples nearby.
At the end of the walk, your driver will pick you up and transfer you back to your hotel in Moscow.
Breakfast & Lunch
Transfer
Nature hike to Gremyachy Klyuch
Expert Guide
Trinity-Sergius Lavra
Stroll along the Wondiga River and Torbeevskoye Lake
Food & Drink Experience
Gremyachiy Klyuch waterfall
Beautiful wooden temples
Travel to


Elbrus region
Located in the western part of the Caucasus Mountains in Southern Russia’s Kabardino-Balkaria republic, the Elbrus region is known for its awe-inspiring landscapes and is dominated by the famous Mt Elbrus. Standing at 5,642m above sea level, Mt Elbrus is the highest peak in the Caucasus Mountains, the highest stratovolcano in Eurasia, and the tenth-most prominent peak in the world.
Day 4
Flight to the Elbrus region
You will spend the day travelling from Moscow to the remote reaches of the Elbrus region.
After breakfast, you will check out of your hotel and your driver will pick you up and transfer you to the airport along with your guide for a flight to Mineralnye Vody.
On arrival in Mineralnye Vody, your driver will pick you up and take you on the 3 ½ hour drive to your hotel in the Elbrus region where you will check-in and have some free time to relax.
Breakfast
Flight to Mineralnye Vody
Expert Guide
Transfer
Free Time
Prominent Landscape
Scenic Surrounds
Souvenir Shopping
Departure Transfer
Day 5
Walking tour to the Girlish Braids Waterfall
After breakfast, you will meet your guide in the hotel lobby before beginning your day excursion to the Girlish Braids Waterfall.
Enjoy a spectacular day of walking starting from the foot of the Terskol Peak in the village and following the serpentine road to the waterfalls. You will see plenty of awe-inspiring landscapes from mountain forest areas to sprawling meadows along the way, and make a stop for a packed lunch at the famous observatory on route.
After your walking tour, your driver will take you back to your hotel.
Breakfast & Lunch
Walking Tour
Expert Guide
Girlish Braids Waterfall
Terskol Peak
Hiking along the Serpentine road
Prominent Landscape
Scenic Surrounds
Day 6
Excursion to Elbrus Mountain
Today you will embark on a spectacular excursion to the Elbrus Mountain.
After breakfast, you will meet your guide and driver for the transfer to Azau Glade. On arrival at the glade, you will take the cable car to Gara-Bashi Station for spectacular views of the glaciers and mineral springs. You will have the chance to walk up to the Priyut 11 station or higher depending on the abilities of the group, before descending back down to Azau Glade.
After your day’s excursion, your driver will pick you up and take you back to your hotel.
Breakfast
Excursion to the Elbrus Mountain
Expert Guide
Azau Glade
Cable car to Gara-Bashi Station
Walk to Priyut 11 station
Walking Tour
Day 7
Hiking around the Irikchat Gorge
After breakfast, you will meet your guide in the hotel lobby for today’s excursion to Irikchat Gorge. Along the way, you will stop for a packed lunch.
Your day will begin with a transfer to the gorge before continuing on foot through the Irik River valley.
The valley of the river Irik is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the Elbrus region. The river flows from the glacier into the Baksan River near the village of Elbrus. The valley is located between the South-Eastern and Eastern spurs of Elbrus and is 500m higher than the Baksan valley.
At the end of your hike, your driver will pick you up at a designated pick-up location and take you back to the hotel, where you will have a bit of free time to relax and enjoy the rest of your evening.
Breakfast & Lunch
Hiking around the Irikchat Gorge
Hiking by the Irik River valley
Baksan River
Free Time
Souvenir Shopping
Breakfast
Departure Transfer
Prominent Landscape
Scenic Surrounds
Where you can stay
A hotel can be the make or break of any experience, and we understand that choosing the right hotel is important to our travellers. Check out our range of hotels ahead of time, and learn more about our standard 3-star options and the luxury 5-star upgrades that are available in the destinations you will be visiting.
Please note that the selection of hotels included here are examples of where you may stay on your tour, we will pick the best option for you based on your travel requirements.
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Dates & Rates
Please select the amount of travellers in your group and language requirement of your guide.
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*This tour’s total cost is an estimate, based on travel costs prior to tickets being released. The price is subject to fluctation of up to 10%.† Based on 2 people sharing a twin room.
More information
What’s included
Accommodation as part of the tour
All tours are COVID-19 secure and offer flexible booking options. Visit our Covid-19 information page to find out more
Arrival & departure transfers
Domestic flights to Mineralnye Vody and Moscow (economy class)
English and German speaking guides
Luggage handling in Moscow hotels
Meals (as specified in the itinerary)
Russian Tourist Visa Invitation
Transport (as specified in the tour itinerary)
What’s not included
Food and drinks (unless specified)
Gratuities
Insurance
International flights / transport
Meals, unless specified in the itinerary
Optional excursions and activities
Sports equipment
Tips for drivers/guides/in restaurants
Visa processing
Travel Tips
All travellers are asked to check the vaccination requirements before travel. Visit our Vaccines and Health page to find out more
Any dietary or allergy requirements will need to be disclosed before the start of the tour
Carrying a water bottle with you is recommended
Medication should always be taken with you and kept on your person
Please ensure that you keep any personal documents and valuables on your person at all times
WIFI will be available at most of the hotels, although mobile coverage may vary in rural areas
Your local guides will recommend stops where you can go souvenir shopping during your tour
Special notes
A large amount of walking across difficult terrain is involved; therefore, you will need to ensure you have appropriate footwear for hiking
Suggested reading
Enrich your travel experience with our list of top recommended books from specialist travel guides to compelling novels. Whether you are looking for something to pass the time on the train, or want to get to grips with the local history, reading is essential to turning your trip into a fully-fledged experience.
A Gentleman in Moscow
A best-selling novel with over 1.5 million readers worldwide, A gentlemen in Moscow is a fascinating novel that observes the life of Count Alexander Rostov, a Russian aristocrat sentenced to life-long house arrest in a luxury hotel for his Bolshevik connections. As Rostov’s life gets smaller and smaller a much larger world of emotional discovery begins to unravel.
Moscow, St Petersburg & the Golden Ring
The ultimate guidebook to the Golden Ring that no tourist can go without! Lonely Planet’s Moscow, St Petersburg and the Golden Ring is packed full of almost everything you need when travelling to these three spectacular regions including the best places to eat, what you need to see while you are there, cultural highlights and more. In addition to its noteworthy insider tips about key attractions such as the Moscow Kremlin, the Peterhof and the many monasteries and cathedrals of the Golden Ring cities, this guide includes regional maps that are invaluable to even the most seasoned traveller.
Moscow: A Traveller’s Reader
A masterful anthology documenting Moscow’s turbulent growth through the lives of its people from the bloody reprisals of Peter the Great to the literary greats of the 19th century. The city spent much of its early life in turmoil from being the subject to much greater empires including the Tatars, to being burnt down numerous times, yet rising from the ashes twice as magnificent each time. Kelly’s compelling narrative covers all of Moscow’s major milestones over 700 years in engaging detail. A must-read for anyone interested in the history of Russia.
Russia: Lonely Planet
The ultimate guidebook to Russia that no tourist can go without! Lonely Planet’s Russia is packed full of almost everything you need when travelling to this vast country from how to get around, the best places to eat in its most popular cities, what you need to see while you are there, cultural highlights, currency and more. In addition to its noteworthy insider tips about key attractions such as the Moscow Kremlin, Lake Baikal and the Romanov sites, this guide includes detailed maps that are invaluable to even the most seasoned traveller.
Extras & Upgrades
Extras
Customise your experience with our spectacular range of tailor-made tour extras. If you have some free time during your tour and are unsure how to spend it, then our extras may be just what you are looking for, with various activities ranging from an hour long to a full day. Simply, let us know when booking your tour and we can arrange this for you.
Upgrades
Enhance your travel experience with one of our available tour upgrades. Whether you are looking to go first class on the train or swap your standard hotel for a luxury 5-star option, our Sales team are on-hand to help. Simply, let us know when booking your tour and we can arrange this for you.
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