At 5,642m Mt Elbrus is the highest point in Europe (and one of the 7 summits - the highest points on each of the continents). Elbrus is in the heart of the mighty Caucasus Range which runs for over 1200kms from the Black Sea in the West to the Caspian Sea in the East. The mountain itself is about 1000m higher than any of the neighbouring mountains and so dominates the landscape like almost no other mountain.

The best route into the area is to fly to Moscow (or St Petersburg) and take an internal flight to Mineralnye Vody airport (aka MinVody), which is connected by a network of roads with valleys on the northern slopes of the Caucasus. The journey time by road from MinVody to our first base is about 4 hours.

Travel in the Caucasus
For several years the UK government has recommended against all but essential travel to the North Caucasus area of the Russian Federation. (Valid as at May 2008.) This is due to its proximity to areas (Dagestan, Chechnya) that have seen terrorist activity in the past. However Elbrus itself and the valleys (Baksan and Adyr-Su) that we visit on this trip are safe and on all of our previous visits our groups have encountered nothing but friendly faces and warm welcomes. It is also worth noting that most European Governments are not warning against travel and our parties usually meet up with a number of other groups from continental Europe. We continue to monitor the security situation to ensure conditions do not deteriorate. For more information on travel in the Russian Federation, visit the FCO Travel Advice website  www.fco.gov.uk

Visa
A visa is required for entry into Russia. This should be obtained prior to departure. Allow a minimum of 4 weeks for the visa application process. The cost for a single-trip tourist visa costs between £30 and £130. (Depending on the visa service, speed of delivery, etc). For details on how to apply for the visa go to www.rusemblon.org. We will provide you with the relevant information required to complete the application form.