Day 1
Arrive Moscow, Sheremetyevo Airport, and head to the Budapest Hotel in the heart of downtown.
Day 2
Sightseeing in Mosocow. Our tour takes us to the impressive Red Square, where we will see the St.Basil’s Cathedral from 16th century, the Lenin Mausoleum, the Historical Museum, and the GUM Department store. By car we will travel to the historical areas of Moscow, such as Prechistenka Street, the Novodevichy Convent, and the Vorobyev Hills – the former Lenin Hills – the highest point of Moscow with a magnificent panoramic view of the city.
Day 3
Flight to Mineralnye Vody, the gateway to the Caucuses. Here we will be met by our local guide, and driven to the sleepy mountain town of Cheget, right next to the mountain. NIght at Hotel Povorot.
Day 4
Moving onto the mountain in the morning, our accommodations for the next several nights are the Barrel Huts, one of the more interesting base camps you will ever spend time in! We spend the day skinning up to Postuhov rock and keeping fit with our high altitude acclimatization from being in Africa last week!
Day 8
We utilize the snow Cat at base camp to take us up to 15,000' and skin up higher. All of Europe begins to unfold at our feet. Feeling strong we prep for our AM summit attempt.
Day 9
Using the snow cat again, we start our journey to the top of Elbrus at Pastuhov Rocks and skin with our skis and ski crampons all morning. As the sun begins to rise, we reach the saddle between the East and West peak. The summit is only moments away! We ski down to the Barrels and head back to our hotel in Cheget for a celebratory dinner.
Day 10
Fly from Mineralnye Vody to Moscow, and then transfer to St. Petersburg. We stay right in the center of town at the Nevsky Grand Hotel.
Day 11
Tour St. Petersburg. Isaac's Square: St. Isaac's Cathedral, Marinsky Palace, monument to Nicholas I. Decembrists’ Square: the monument to Peter the Great.
Day 12
Tour St. Petersburg. Palace Square - The Hermatige Museum and Winter Palace. One of the largest collections of European and Russian art under one roof! The building itself is as much an artistic treasure as the masterpieces hanging on its walls.
Day 13
Flight to Moscow and return flights.