Hiking tour Moscow and Mount Elbrus region

1 DAY - MOSCOW
Arrival to Moscow. Meeting with a guide at the airport.
Transfer to the hotel, check in.
Free time.

2 DAY - MOSCOW
Breakfast at the hotel. Meeting with a guide at the hotel lobby.
Bicycle sightseeing tour of Moscow.
We will take you on a journey through the ages, from centuries ago, right up to the modern day, soaking in the sights of this vast and bustling metropolis. The main Moscow panoramas are waiting for you: the Kremlin, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Luzhniki Olympic complex, Moscow-city complex and much more. After a breezy ride along the Moscow embankments, we will make stops at the best viewing platforms, where you can take amazing photos. The tour follows a specially designed route that provides maximum safety for participants, and an experienced guide will not let you get bored at stops and lose your way.
Time for lunch in the city (is not included).
Walking tour of VDNH + Botanical Garden.
During our tour you will learn the history of the creation of the main exhibition of the country and admire the pavilions of VDNH, as well as visit the Alley of Stars of Russian Cinema and see the famous sculpture by V. Mukhina «Worker and Collective Farm Girl», which is depicted on the Mosfilm logo. Then the tour will go to the main Botanical garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences – 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 romantic world of nature, without leaving the city. In addition, here you can satisfy your curiosity: in the Botanical garden you will find areas of flora of Russia and regions of the former Soviet Union, a Japanese garden, a huge arboretum, greenhouses, plant exhibitions. Rest, silence, clean air right in the metropolis – a real pleasure!
Transfer to the hotel.
Option: Dinner at the hotel.

3 DAY - MOSCOW
Breakfast at the hotel. Meeting with a guide at the hotel lobby.
Transfer to Sergiev Posad.
One-day hike-walk to the Gremyachiy Klyuch waterfall (~20 km).
We invite you to go on a one-day hike to the Gremyachy Klyuch – the largest waterfall in the Moscow Region, the height of which reaches 25 meters. Our route will begin in one of the most ancient cities of the Golden Ring – Sergiev Posad, where you can enjoy a view of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra from the observation deck. During the hike we take a walk through the forests, fields and villages along the Wondiga River and Torbeevskoye Lake. At the forest edge, we will make a halt and prepare a delicious lunch on the fire and make fragrant tea. In the middle of the day we will reach the goal – Gremyachiy Klyuch waterfall. There are beautiful wooden temples nearby, which we will definitely go to see.
Picnic lunch on the way.
Transfer back to hotel in Moscow.
Option: Dinner at the hotel.

4 DAY - MINERALNYE VODY
Breakfast at the hotel. Check out.
Transfer to the airport with a guide.
Domestic flight Moscow – Mineralnye Vody (economy class).
Meeting with a guide at the airport.
Transfer to the hotel (~ 3,5 h), check in.
Option: Dinner at the hotel.

5 DAY - ELBRUS REGION
Breakfast at hotel. Meeting with a guide at the hotel lobby.
Walking tour to the Girlish braids waterfall with a packed lunch (~18 km, 6 h).
A walk to the Observatory (3000 m) via the waterfall Girlish braids (2800 m). The trail starts at the foot of the peak Terskol in the village and raises by serpentine road to the waterfalls. Along the way you can see the so-called elevation – changing landscapes and vegetation along with changes of the altitude above sea level. The path starts in the mountain forest zone, from which you will rise higher to the subalpine, or mountain-meadow zone. Another attraction of this route is basalt "pencils", which come to the surface and you can even touch them. The route leads you to your destination – the waterfall itself, broken into hundreds of jets, due to which it got its romantic name. Boxed lunch.
Return to the hotel.
Option: Dinner at the hotel.

6 DAY - ELBRUS REGION
Breakfast at the hotel. Meeting with a guide at the hotel lobby.
Transfer to the Azau glade.
High-altitude excursion to Elbrus (~ 4 h).
You’ll go up the cableway to the station Gara-Bashi (3750 m). Elbrus is the highest mountain in Russia. The height of the Western peak of Elbrus is 5642 m, and the Eastern peak is 5621 m. The mountain is famous for its glaciers that feed mountain rivers, mineral springs that flow at the foot, and fascinating views. Walking up to the Priyut 11 station or higher according to physical abilities of the group. This height requires your best attention and following all the guide’s instructions. Descent to the Azau glade.
Lunch on your own in a cafe at the resort (is not included).
Transfer back.
Return to the hotel.
Option: Dinner at the hotel.

7 DAY - ELBRUS REGION
Breakfast at the hotel. Meeting with a guide at the hotel lobby.
Walking tour to the Irikchat gorge with a packed lunch (~12 km, 7-8 h).
Transfer to the Irikchat gorge where you’ll go on a hike. 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. Its level is 500 m higher than the Baksan valley. Before flowing into the Baksan river it flows in a deep canyon, which hillsides are covered with pine forest. Boxed lunch.
Transfer back.
Return to the hotel.
Option: Dinner at the hotel.

8 DAY - MINERALNYE VODY
Breakfast at the hotel. Check out.
Transfer to the airport with a guide (~ 3,5 h).
Domestic flight Mineralnye Vody – Moscow.
End of the tour.

The program is preliminary.
The organizers reserve the right to replace the excursion blocks with similar ones, without changing main waypoints.

10 June – 17 June
01 July – 08 July
15 July – 22 July
05 Aug – 12 Aug
19 Aug – 26 Aug
02 Sept – 09 Sept
07 Oct – 14 Oct

Our prices include:

• Double accommodation in Moscow in hotel 4*
• Double accommodation in Elbrus region in hotel 3* (Ozon Cheget or similar) or 4* (Azau Star or similar)
• Breakfast in hotels
• Luggage handling in hotel in Moscow
• Time for lunch on Day 2, 6
• Picnic lunch on Day 3
• Packed lunches on Day 5, 7
• Transport service and all transfers per program
• Domestic flights Moscow – Mineralnye Vody (economy class) on Day 4
• Domestic flight Mineralnye Vody – Moscow (economy class) on Day 8
• Local English, French, German speaking guides or assistant for translation per program
• Visa support letter

Supplementary:

• Accommodation in program in Moscow for Pre / Post tour
• Dinner in the hotels
• Single supplement in hotels
• Recreational center and thermal complex in Elbrus region
• International flights to / from Moscow
• Sport equipment

Recommendation for trekking:

• Windproof (membrane) jacket
• Synthetic trekking trousers
• Mountain trekking boots
• Thermal underwear
• Gloves and hat for Mt. Elbrus tour
• Jacket (fleece)
• A cap
• Backpack up to 30 liters
• Rain cover (rain cover) for yourself and for your backpack
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen cream
• Individual first-aid kit
• Polyurethane foam "seat"
• Trekking poles (can be rented with us)

* If restrictions are imposed on the entrance to museums for a certain number of people, we can serve group requests with the division of groups into smaller ones, with the predominant use of the same transport (or with a different number and capacity of transport), but with a large number of guides.
** Some museums or excursions can be excluded from the program if circumstances beyond the control of the tour operator require it (time constraints due to covid-19 / bans on the operation of facilities). At the same time, as far as possible, we will offer an alternative replacement.