Climb and Ski tour

Itinerary of 12-day Mt. Elbrus Ski tour

Day 1. Arrive in Moscow. Transfer from airport to hotel. Overnight stay in hotel. (Full description)
Day 2. Two-hour flight to Mineralnye Vody (Caucasus). Four-hour bus ride to a mountain lodge in the Baksan valley near the foothills of Mt. Elbrus. Overnight stay in the lodge 2200 m (7218 ft). (Full description)
Day 3. Ordinary runs skiing in Elbrus area. Ski lifts, skiing from Mir station 3500 m (11483 ft). and Krugozor station 3800 m (12467 ft) down to the valley bottom 2200 m (7218 ft). Lift-served vertical drop is 1600 m (5249 ft). Overnight stay in the lodge.
Day 4. Ski lifts. Some long way powder-snow runs from Krugozor station 3800 m (12467 ft). Overnight stay in the lodge.
Day 5. Ski lifts, snow-cat ride to Pastuckhov Rocks 4700 m (15420 ft). Long powder-snow run from Pastuckhov rocks. Takes half day. Vertical drop 2500 m. (8202 ft). Overnight stay in the lodge.
Day 6. Moving to the Barrels huts. Hike to Pastuckhov rocks, long powder snow ski run down the valley. Ride ski lifts back to the Barrels huts. Overnight stay in the Barrels hut.
Day 7. Day for relaxation. Short hikes or ski runs. Overnight stay in the Barrels hut.
Day 8. Summit day. Leave base camp about 3 am for the climb of Elbrus' west summit, 5642 m (18,498 feet). Descend to base camp.
Day 9. Reserve day for climbing Elbrus (in case of bad weather).
Day 10. Descend to the Baksan valley (reserve day).
Day 11. Drive to Mineralnye Vody (Nalchik). Fly back to Moscow. Overnight stay in the hotel. (Full description)
Day 12. Check out from the hotel. Fly home. (Full description)

Land Cost of Standard 12-day Mt. Elbrus Ski tour includes:
Accommodation:
Moscow - 'Rossia' (Rossija, Russia) 3-star hotel - twin/double-rooms.
Baksan valley, Caucasus – 'Azau' mountain lodge - twin or triple rooms,
Base camp - the 'Barrels' huts - 4-5 people in a 5 bed hut.
Transportation:
Transfers by bus, snow-cat and lifts mentioned in this itinerary.
Food:
Moscow - breakfast,
Mountain lodge in the Baksan valley - all meals.
A Barrel hut during climbing days - all meals. We recommend that people also bring their favorite meals to avoid possible aversion to a certain food. This happens sometimes at high altitude. If you like to cook your own meals our guide will provide you with hot, boiled water and necessary assistance.
All necessary permits: OVIR and reserve territory registration, Rescue service registration, border guard registration (if necessary), local protection fee.
Guide(s). One guide for the group during the ski days and one mountain guide for three people during the climbing days.

Land cost of Standard 12-day Mt. Elbrus Ski tour does not include.
Air tickets
Transportations not included in the program.
Single occupancy supplement.
Ski equipment.

The full price of the tour consists of Land cost + internal air ticket cost (Moscow - Mineralnye Vody - Moscow)

Full price is US$ 870 (Land Cost list) + US$ 140 (internal air ticket cost) = US$ 1010

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Conditions and ordering rules.

The process is as follows:
1. You chose the date of a tour and send us an e-mail about availability.
2. We confirm that it is possible by e-mail.
3. You fax the completed Standard Elbrus Ski Tour Application Form to our fax in USA or in Moscow, Russia (every person separately). That means you confirm your sign-up.
4. We send you a formal confirmation and an invoice with our bank details by e-mail.
5. You mail a deposit of US$ 100 per person (it should be bank transfer or Western Union transfer, we do not accept credit cards).
6. You send us an e-mail message with your details for visa support.
                 a. Full name
                 b. Citizenship
                 c. Passport #
                 d. Date of passport expire
                 e. Fax number (to send you visa support)
7. We will send you visa support papers by fax.
8. You apply for a visa in the Russian Consulate.
9. You send the rest of money to us. (if we do not receive the money on our account at least 10 days before the beginning of the tour we may cancel your participation.)

Add-on services (should be ordered before you confirm the tour):
1. You can choose another, more expensive (not "Rossia") hotel to stay in Moscow from our hotel list (page Services).
2. You can stay in Moscow more then one night before and or after the Caucasus. We offer proper services (page Services). Note: in that case you miss your group transfers on the standard day of arrival. They are nonrefundable. Also you may need transfers on your real dates of arrival and departure.
3. You can visit St. Petersburg or other cities. We can book a hotel, transfers, tickets. Also it is possible to fly from Caucasus to St. Petersburg directly.
4. It is not possible to make changes in your Caucasus mountain program. If you need changes in the mountain itinerary it will be customized tour.

Cancellation and refund policy
WE DO NOT CANCEL a tour if at least one person signs up.
If YOU cancel:
Land tour cost: There will be no refund if a member leaves a trip for any reason either voluntarily or involuntarily after the trip has begun. No refund will be made for any services not utilized.
A cancellation made not less than 10 days prior to departure date – cancellation fee is US$ 100. Pilgrim Tours must be notified in writing (by fax). A cancellation made less than 10 days (or No Show) - 50% of the Land cost will be charged.
Airfare: Pilgrim Tours shall refund customer 100% of the airfare minus all the cancellation fees retained by Airline.
Bank charges: You must pay the bank transfer fees, in case of refund - both ways.

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