Rest in the Elbrus region. Resorts, prices, interesting places. Excursion to Elbrus, Cheget and Narzans glade, Elbrus region Narzan on Elbrus
It is located at an altitude of more than one and a half thousand meters above sea level in the valley of the Baksan River and its tributaries. The center of attraction and the main attraction of the region is Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in Russia and Europe (5642 m). This is a dormant volcano, whose slopes are now chosen by climbers, skiers and just hunters for beautiful natural views. The last eruption of Elbrus occurred about 2000 years ago: then hot pumice flew to the current territory.
The nearest settlement to Elbrus is the village of Terskol (4 km to the lower lift on the Azau glade), where many tourists, skiers and climbers stop, but even more popular options for tourists are the Cheget and Azau glades, located in the same place where the lifts to the mountain slopes . The distance from Terskol to the capital of Kabardino-Balkaria, the city of Nalchik, is 130 km. From Terskol to Mineralnye Vody, where many guests of the Elbrus region first arrive by plane or train, the distance is 180 km.
Now the Elbrus region is a popular skiing, climbing and tourist center. The infrastructure is represented by a number of cable cars, about a hundred hotels of various levels and numerous restaurants and cafes (mainly of Caucasian cuisine).
To see a larger map, click on the picture.
As a ski resort, Prielbrusye has two ski areas. The first is on the slopes, the second is on the neighboring mountain.
What to see in Elbrus
Approximately 8 kilometers from the Azau glade is located Glade Narzanov: a natural place where several narzan springs come to the surface. A living reminder that the Elbrus volcano has not died, but simply dormant. You can get water from the source you like absolutely free of charge. There are several cafes and a sauna with “narzan baths” on the Narzanov glade, as well as souvenir shops.
Guests of the Elbrus region often visit the beautiful natural places of Kabardino-Balkaria that are not related to the Elbrus region: the waterfalls of the Chegem Gorge and the Blue Lakes near Nalchik.
On the territory of the Elbrus region in the summer, hiking and horseback riding (for example, in the gorge), fishing, sauna and other simple and understandable outdoor activities are popular. Do not count on infrastructure a la Krasnaya Polyana: there are no shopping centers, playgrounds and other water parks in the Elbrus region and are not expected in the near future.
Last modified: 05/10/2015Where to stay
Elbrus region is a common name for several settlements and places where tourist infrastructure facilities are concentrated, located from each other at a distance of a taxi ride (or a long walk).
If you are aiming for skiing until you drop, it makes sense to settle right at the lower stations of the lifts, in the Azau glade (if you are going to ride Elbrus) or in the Cheget glade (if you cut the slopes of Cheget with a swift edge). The number of options for hotels, cafes, rental offices and shops with souvenirs on both glades is measured in dozens. In other words, you can fully relax by constantly being in the clearing and leaving it only to climb the slope and go skiing or snowboarding.
For misanthropes who are only interested in skiing, and not communicating with their own kind and other après ski, there are a couple of options for staying in a hotel right on the slope of Elbrus (at the level of the Krugozor station, 3000 m), for example, Chiper-Azau, Of course , with the cessation of the lifts, the residents of these hotels are cut off from the rest of the world.
The Terskol village is located on the road leading to Elbrus, 4 km from the Azau glade and 1.5 km from the Cheget glade. This option is suitable for those who are going to visit both ski areas and want to be "close to everything." But you need to understand that getting to the ski lifts from Terskol is possible only by taxi (from 50 to 150 rubles per trip) or by your own car. Terskol has a large selection of shops and even a supermarket, so this place of residence is well suited for tourists who cook on their own and aim for a budget holiday.
As you move away from Elbrus, the villages of Tegenekli, Baidaevo and Elbrus (settlement) and several separate hotels (“Itkol”, “Ozon”, boarding house named after Kirov, etc.) are located on the highway. Despite the noticeable budget of the proposed accommodation, you must have some special reasons to settle there, because the transfer to / from the mountain will take significantly more time, and evening leisure will be reduced to gatherings in the hotel lobby or the same transfer to one of the meadows .
Last modified: 05/10/2015Food and leisure
Most of the cafes and restaurants are concentrated on the Azau glade and on the Cheget glade. There are several catering establishments in Terskol. Almost every hotel offers breakfast, or breakfast and dinner in their own cafe. You can dine on the slope: there are several cafes at the Krugozor and Mir stations, one has recently started operating at Gara-Bashi.
The menu of most cafes is about the same, and it is impossible to single out the best or the worst. Below are several suitable options in different parts of the resort: "Three Sisters" and "Meridian" (Azau glade), "Dome" (Terskol), "Kogutai" (Chegetskaya glade). Average check (without drinks) 500 rubles.
Whatever place you choose for dinner, you should not leave the Elbrus region without trying the following national dishes: hychins (fresh flatbreads with various fillings), lagman (noodle soup with meat), shurpa (meat soup), zhal-baur (kebab from lamb liver, tastes much better than it seems from the description). Local beer "Terek" and "Vysota 5642" also deserve your attention.
The Elbrus region cannot boast of outstanding options for a noisy evening rest. In the basement of the Cheget hotel there is the legendary Deep Purple bar, where they play the same band's imperishable and other rock hits of the seventies (there is a suspicion that the same CD is loaded in the bar every evening), if There are a lot of visitors, so the atmosphere is cool. A few bars with a pretense of nightclubs periodically come to life when DJs with their party come to the resort during the season.
A festival of bard songs is held every year on the Cheget glade. Otherwise, nightlife does not go beyond restaurants and cafes at hotels, and preference is given not to dancing after midnight, but to the bathhouse and billiards.
Last changes: 05/09/2015Features of the Elbrus region
The main thing that should never be forgotten in the Elbrus region is that you are on the land of a specific Caucasian people (the Balkars), who profess Islam and honor their own traditions.
Despite the fact that at first contact the locals may seem a little emotional or rude, most of them are simple, honest and hospitable people. And yet, some things that are familiar to most Russians remain unacceptable to them. Therefore, it is highly not recommended to walk around the Elbrus region in a very drunk state, start provocative conversations about politics, the way of local life and religion, even enter into comic feuds and conflicts with local residents - what will be a harmless remark for you, for a Caucasian can be a serious insult .
Representatives of the weaker sex should not wear revealing outfits and behave sexually, as well as go alone to establishments in the evenings. And, yes, the Balkars were not born to provide the highest quality service, so take it easy on the simple, at times, "Soviet" style of service in local cafes and regular "poking" from the indigenous inhabitants of the Elbrus region.
In the past, quite often there were conflicts involving local residents (most often visiting residents of Kabardino-Balkaria), which ended in the robbery of tourists or a drunken showdown, but today they have practically disappeared.
Last modified: 05/10/2015How to get to Elbrus
Airplane
Mineralnye Vody Airport is located 180 kilometers from Terskol. This is the best destination for guests from the capital who have chosen the air way of travel, as well as for residents of cities located far from Kabardino-Balkaria. Another suitable point of arrival is Nalchik Airport (130 km to Elbrus), but there are more flights arriving in Mineralnye Vody.
Railway
The nearest railway stations are located in the same cities: Mineralnye Vody (180 km) and Nalchik (130 km). The option of arriving in Kislovodsk, located closer to Elbrus "in a straight line", is not suitable, since after arrival you will have to make a significant "detour" along the road. Many taxi drivers in cars and minibuses are ready to meet you at the Mineralnye Vody station and take you to the foot of Elbrus, and at the end of your holiday, repeat the route in the opposite direction. The cost of such a transfer depends on the number of passengers and your ability to bargain.
Bus
The option with a regular bus is not very convenient, since from the cities of the Rostov Region, Stavropol and Krasnodar Territories you can only get to Mineralnye Vody, Pyatigorsk, Baksan or Nalchik without a transfer. Then you will have to adapt to the schedule of local minibuses or negotiate with taxi drivers. If the dates of your trip coincide with weekends or holidays, try to negotiate with one of the travel agencies that send their sightseeing buses to the Elbrus region. Even if you are not going to buy the entire tour package from them with accommodation and excursions, most likely they will meet you halfway and sell a bus ticket for a humane cost.
Automobile
By car, you can get to the Elbrus region from Moscow along the federal highways "Don" and "Caucasus" along the route "Moscow - Rostov-on-Don - Mineralnye Vody - Baksan - Terskol". Starting from the border of the Stavropol Territory, and especially from the moment you enter the Caucasian Mineralnye Vody region and from the moment you arrive in the Elbrus region, you will find the obsessive attention of the traffic police and a large number of document checks at stationary posts (border of Kabardino-Balkaria, Malka, Baksan ring, post "Cheget "). Violating traffic rules on this section of the route is highly discouraged.
Last modified: 05/10/2015Glade Narzanov in the Elbrus region (Russia) - description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Reviews of tourists, photos and videos.
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The Elbrus area is perfect for skiing, trekking, climbing and any activity that helps to strengthen and improve the body. Among the numerous natural attractions of the area, mineral springs can be distinguished, gushing from the bowels of the earth and containing a large amount of useful substances. Not a single traveler will pass by the Narzanov glade at the foot of the Cheget peak, located not far from the main road on the territory of the tourist village of the same name (between the settlements of Terskol and Elbrus). To gain life-giving moisture, it is better to take a larger bottle with you, otherwise you will have to buy containers on the spot.
What to see
Glade Narzanov called a small valley with a length of about 3 km. It lies surrounded by green mountain slopes, crossing the mouth of the Baksan River. The gorge is built up with hotels for every budget and restaurants serving national cuisine. There is a network of hiking trails around, perfect for training before climbing Elbrus.
Heading to the glade, you should pay attention to the stalls selling woolen things, mountain tea, honey, dishes, animal skins and other memorable souvenirs.
A narrow path leads to the mineral springs from the Central Square. The beginning of the path is marked with an inscription, so it is impossible to miss the passage. A powerful jet of narzan breaks out of a metal pipe fixed on a boulder. Due to the high content of iron, the stones flooded with water are painted in a rich rust color, which contrasts sharply with the greenery of the surrounding forests in summer and white snowdrifts in winter.
Some tourists not only collect water in bottles, but also manage to take baths here, although there are no suitable conditions for this.
The Narzanov Valley is a balneological resort area in the Caucasian Mineral Waters in the Russian Federation (Kabardino-Balkaria, Zolsky district), 87 kilometers north-west of Nalchik and 34 kilometers south of Kislovodsk (bus service). It is located in the foothills of the Rocky Range of the Greater Caucasus, in the valley of the Khasaut River (not far from its confluence with the Malka; the Terek River basin), at an altitude of 1300 meters above sea level (near the border with Karachay-Cherkessia).
In the valley of the Khasaut River, 20 powerful mineral springs of the Narzan type emerge for a distance of 1 km. In the vicinity is the Mushtinsky waterfall (to the south-southwest), on Mount Shidzhatmaz - the astronomical station of the Pulkovo Observatory.
There are 17 mineral water springs of the Narzan type in the Narzanov Valley. Their water belongs to carbonic bicarbonate-chloride sodium-calcium with a mineralization of up to 3.3 g/l and a carbon dioxide content of up to 2.2 g/l. The nature of the valley fascinates with its beauty: majestic mountains, luxurious subalpine meadows, dense forest and numerous mineral springs.
Another Narzanov Valley is located in the Baksan Gorge, outside the village of Baidaevo, a little closer to the Itkol boarding house. This place is often visited, as it is easily accessible to all guests of the Elbrus ski resorts. The ground in the clearing is painted rusty brown. This is due to the high content of iron in the water. One of the sources in the clearing is so powerful that the thickness of its jet is comparable to the thickness of an adult's hand.
Along with the climate, the main healing factor is the mineral water of 17 springs located along the banks of the river. Khasaut (the area got its name due to the abundance of water sources such as narzans). The debit of two main springs (Main and Lower located 50 m from it) is approx. 1 million l/day The water of the springs refers to carbonic bicarbonate-chloride sodium-calcium with a mineralization of 3.3 g / l and a carbon dioxide content of up to 2.2 g / l (temp. 10.5 ° C; heavily aerated with carbon dioxide - “cold boiling water”).
In the Valley of Narzanov there was a camp site "Valley of Narzanov" (350 places; ≈ 36 km from the resort of Kislovodsk); has not been operating since 2007. There are summer houses for 2 people left, in which amateur tourists spend the night.
An asphalt road now passes through the Narzanov Valley, which is being built further to the upper reaches of the Malka (Kyzylkol) [Northern Elbrus region; ≈ 30 km] - the tract Dzhily-Su (Warm water) (folk baths with warm (+22.5 ° C all year round) narzan springs Dzhily-Su).
Many tourist routes pass through the resort and recreational area:
No. 49 "Northern Caucasus - Black Sea coast", year-round, - Nalchik - Kislovodsk - Kudepsta
No. 52 "Kislovodsk - Nalchik", year-round
No. 85 "Foothills of the Caucasus", summer, - Nalchik - Narzanov Valley - Pyatigorsk
No. 280 "Foothills of the Caucasus" (oncoming metro No. 85)
No. 310 "On the resorts of the North Caucasus", summer, - Teberda - Pyatigorsk - Nalchik
No. 311 "On the resorts of the North Caucasus" (oncoming metro No. 310)
No. 324 "To the foot of Elbrus", summer, - Pyatigorsk - camp site "Azau" (Elbrus region) - Nalchik
Hiking to the Bermamyt high plateau (Malyi Bermamyt, 2644 m; at the foot of which there is a spring (Khasautsky) near the village of Khasaut, in the upper reaches of the Khasaut river); along the river valley road Khasaut (if you go down) in the valley of Narzanov there are several caves;
to the waterfalls of Lahran (there are also min. keys - Cheget Lahransky (in the Malkinskaya valley), Lahran Narzans (higher - in the mountains); Ullu-Lahran, 1883 m), excursions to the resorts of the Caucasian Mineral Waters; nearby (in the northwest) - Mount ShidZhatmaz (ShatZhatmaz, ShatDzhatmaz; 2127 m) and the observatory of the GAO RAS (2072 m), opposite (in the northeast) - the city of Manglai (2055 m) and the tract Aursenkh (Kichmalka plateau) with numerous remnant rocks.
We first arrived in the Elbrus region three years ago and fell in love with these lands with all our hearts. Incredibly beautiful mountain landscapes, unusual lakes, waterfalls and many other interesting places make Kabardino-Balkaria very popular among tourists. People go to the Elbrus region at any time of the year. In the warm season - excursions, walks, climbing Elbrus, trekking routes. Depending on the desires and level of sports training, everyone will find what they need there for themselves. In winter, it is, of course, a ski resort. Moreover, the skiing season sometimes lasts until June.
Walk along the Elbrus region. View of the Caucasus Range from the Garabashi glacier.
Elbrus. Where to spend your vacation.
To get a little idea of the Elbrus region, one day, of course, is not enough. Especially if you are active and are going to walk in the mountains. There are many routes where you can go on your own or with guides. Of course, climbing Elbrus itself.
Cherek Gorge in Upper Balkaria. View from the old road near the tunnel. If you just decide to take a break from the bustle of the city and see the sights, then there are sightseeing routes for you on transport, forests, rivers, mountains, lakes. Cable cars will take you to great heights. Mushrooms, blueberries in August. We will try to tell in detail about each of the places where we ourselves have been, and you already have to choose a vacation for yourself to your taste.
Glade Azau. Parking, cable car start, hotels. Popular places to stay are Azau glade, Terskol village and Cheget glade. These are the nearest points to the foot of Elbrus, to the cable cars. Here is the most developed tourist infrastructure.
Proximity to cable cars is especially important for lovers of skiing.
Glade Azau - the nearest village to Elbrus, located at its foot. The location directly near the cable cars (there are two of them here) makes it the most popular resort in the Elbrus region. It is here that ski lovers from all over the world come together during the season. And the season, I repeat, sometimes lasts until June.
Glade Azau. New handball lift. Tracks on Elbrus for skiers of different levels of training. Above, on Garabashi, there are green trails for beginners, below - steeper slopes. The village has a lot of hotels of different levels both in price and in comfort. There is everything you need for living - shops, a pharmacy, an ATM, a first-aid post.
Azau is in demand at any time of the year among lovers of mountaineering, trekking, and just vacationers. The cable car will take you to a height of 3750 meters above sea level to the Garabashi glacier. From there, a panorama opens up to the Caucasus Range, to the snowy Elbrus.
Cheget.
Polyana Cheget is a ski resort for more experienced athletes. The slopes here are only blue and red, there is nothing for beginners to do. There is a chairlift to Mount Cheget. In the village there are hotels, cafes, rentals.
Glade Cheget. View from the cable car. Cafes, hotels, market. In summer, lovers of hiking and outdoor activities come here. There are a lot of routes for them, including to the top of Cheget. Here they undergo adaptation before climbing Elbrus.
View of Elbrus from Mount Cheget. Upper station of the cable car. Cheget offers a magnificent view of Elbrus, the Baksan Gorge. The place is ideal for photo tours, the main thing is to be lucky with the weather. If you don't like to walk in the mountains, you can take the cable car and take a walk at an altitude of 3000 meters above sea level.
Polyana Narzanov.
The Narzanov glade can be imagined as a small recreation park. It is located in a picturesque place under the mountain in a place where several mineralized springs spring from the ground. Water contains iron in its composition, has a characteristic taste and color.
The glade is located near the village of Terskol, convenient access, beautiful mountain scenery, many cafes with national cuisine attract tourists here not only for treatment with narzan, but also in order to calmly take a walk, relax, eat in a cafe. We like to come here for lunch.
Narzanovy spring in the Elbrus region. Water contains iron, so it has a characteristic color and taste. In fact, the special value of this place, of course, is in the composition of the water. Bottles, disposable glasses can be purchased on site.
On the territory of the meadow they sell various souvenirs, trinkets for tourists.
Thermal springs.
The popular thermal waters of Kabardino-Balkaria are Geduko and Aushiger sources. They are located near Nalchik and are popular at any time of the year. The water in the springs is hot, mineralized. People come here both for medical purposes and just to relax.
Thermal springs in Aushiger. Kabardino-Balkaria. In Aushiger there is one pool with warm water, about 35 degrees. You can pay for a cabin for the company and relax separately, with a pool, sofas, a table and a barbecue. On the territory there are hotels, cafes, shops. For swimmers, changing rooms and gazebos for relaxation.
Geduko has several pools with water of different temperatures. There are various slides, ships for children. Also sunbeds, gazebos, changing rooms, showers. As in Aushiger, there are booths for groups of several people.
There is also a mysterious place Dzhily-Su in the Elbrus region. There, too, there are pools with thermal water and absolutely no civilization. All summer we were going to swim in them, but the weather failed all the time, in this rainy summer, we did not dare. The road leaves much to be desired, and you need to spend the night in tents, or stay in Kislovodsk. We left this trip for the next season.
Trekking routes.
There are a huge number of trekking routes in the Elbrus region. For all tastes, ages and fitness levels. Calculated as one day and for several.
Ecological trail to the waterfall. Not far from the Azau glade. You can walk on your own, you can with professional guides. We have just discovered this type of outdoor activity, and in our piggy bank hike to the Maiden's braids waterfall, Azau waterfall, routes along the Baksan river, Adyr-Suu and Adyl-Suu gorges. Read about all our travels in the blog.
A more difficult route is climbing Mount Cheget. It is also passed by those who are going to conquer Elbrus. And many roads that we have not yet explored.
Sights and excursions in the Elbrus region. Where to go and what to see.
We have already written about Azau, Terskol and Cheget, but the Elbrus region is great. Just below Terskol there is a turn in the Adyr-Suu gorge.
Ski lift in the Adyr-Suu gorge. There are 310 steps in total. Below is a platform for lifting cars. Cars are raised on a special lift, people can climb on foot. The road through the dense mountain forest will lead to the foot of the Ulu-Tau mountain. From the ski lift to the goal is about 15 kilometers, it is difficult to walk on foot, you need to go by off-road vehicles.
The sights of Kabardino-Balkaria are not only the Baksan Gorge, which we mainly wrote about. Not far from the capital of the republic - Nalchik there are amazing places that are very fond of tourists.
Big Chegem waterfalls in Kabardino-Balkaria. View from the observation deck. Chegem waterfalls. They are located in the gorge of the same name. A popular excursion route to the waterfalls includes a visit to the Small waterfall, also called the Maiden's Spit, and the Big or Main Chegem waterfalls. A very picturesque place - a narrow gorge, high cliffs and cascades of water falling from a great height. People come here at any time of the year.
If you drive another 15 kilometers along the gorge, there will be the Chegemsky parody. You can fly with an instructor on a paraglider and see the gorge from above.
Blue lake Tserik-Kel in Kabardino-Balkaria. It translates as "Rotten Lake". Blue Lakes. This place is just for those who are tired of the hustle and bustle. Three lakes are available for walking, located close to each other. The most popular is the Lower Blue Lake. Beautiful turquoise water has the same temperature in winter and summer. This lake, unlike the two upper ones, does not freeze in winter.
If you go further along the highway, you will get to the Cherek Gorge. The main attractions of this area are the old road, the tunnel and the ancient city. In general, the places here are so picturesque that the road to Upper Balkaria itself is a tourist attraction.
Thermal springs, we have already talked about them.
Excursions in the Elbrus region.
If you have never been to the Elbrus region, for the first acquaintance, you need a few days. The summer season is, of course, trekking. There are a huge number of unique routes in the Baksan Gorge. It's like health trails along the Baksan River through the forest. So are simple routes to lakes and heights that can be completed in one or several days. Well, if you can call it an excursion - climbing Elbrus.
Garabashi glacier. Elbrus. The top is a little hidden behind the clouds. This route is for more advanced travelers, although we know many examples when people climb without any training and acclimatization. Such an excursion lasts up to 10 days, although the climb itself takes about 8 hours. We will tell you more in the blog articles.
In winter, the resort turns into a large friendly family of skiers, many tourists come here to ride on the ski slopes of Elbrus. For freeride lovers there is Cheget. The trails from this mountain are more difficult and lovers of “powder” have a place to show their skills here.
Summer and Winter in the Elbrus mountains.
Let's start with the fact that the weather in the mountains is very difficult to predict. We often found ourselves in situations where the weather changed dramatically within half an hour. We were suddenly covered by rain with a thunderstorm or dense fog. Just be prepared for such changes.
Gorge Adyr-Suu. Paradise for mushroom lovers. Hunting and fishing are prohibited here, the gorge is a nature reserve. Summer is perhaps our favorite time of the year. It is at this time that you can get around a lot of beautiful places, just be in nature. For lovers of berry and mushroom hunting, here is just expanse. If you are a fishing enthusiast, you can go fishing for trout. It starts to get cold in the gorge already in September. And at the end of the month, the first snow may fall. Up in the mountains it goes much earlier. And the slopes for skiing are ready in early December.
We are going to the Elbrus region. All you need to know.
Coming to the Caucasus, remember that many nationalities live here and the main religion is Islam. Be respectful of local laws and regulations. You do not need to learn the language, they speak Russian very well here. A large number of foreigners from all over the world are also not limited in communication - English, Spanish, German, whatever speech you just hear.
It is customary to say hello even to strangers! Be sociable and they will tell you everything.
Clothing should be chosen to be comfortable and warm. Remember about changeable weather and about the fact that the higher in the mountains - the colder. If you are going to ride the cable car, even in summer, take a jacket in your backpack. You can easily get caught in rain or snow, the rest will be ruined.
How much does a holiday in Elbrus cost. How much money to take.
At any resort, rest requires spending money. Let's try to tell you what you have to spend money on.
View from the cable car to the Cheget glade. At the bottom of the hotel and parking for cars. If you're here to ski, you'll have to rent a hotel. In the high winter season, the demand is huge, the prices are not small, so book your accommodation in advance, there are plenty of services. You can also find accommodation upon arrival, but you have to look and it will cost you much more (recall this in the winter season). When there are no skiers and ski slopes are closed, prices drop and you can book a room for 1000 rubles.
Hotels and cable car in Azau. Another expense point will be the cable car. Prices for lifts are different, there are one-time tourist prices and there are ski passes that are not limited in the number of lifts.
For example, this summer, the ascent to Cheget on a chairlift cost 700 rubles. per person. Rise to the Mir station on Elbrus - 950 rubles. on the new lift, and 500 rubles on the old one. The funicular rises a little slower, and you may have to queue.
From Mir station to Garabashi station there is a single chairlift, the lift costs 200 rubles. There is a new gondola, but it was not possible to climb on it, at that time there was a repair.
Prices in the Elbrus region - what to buy and where to eat.
As everywhere, prices rise during the high season. If in summer you can rent a hotel room for 1000 rubles, then in winter it can cost 5000-7000 rubles. per day.
You can bring home a bunch of souvenirs ranging from ammonites to various knitwear and sheep wool toys. We were happy to buy warm knitted socks here, and warm slippers and fur toys as gifts for relatives. Magnets with our photos on Cheget.
Barbecue in the Narzanov glade. Lamb fat tail is smoked over the barbecue. Local delicacy. You can eat in various cafes at hotels. We like to go to the Cheget glade or the Narzanov glade for lunch. The nearest supermarket and market are located in Tyrnyauz. Closer only private shops with a meager assortment and slightly inflated prices.
Food prices in 2017. How much does food cost and where is it more profitable to eat.
The cuisine is the same everywhere - Caucasian. In all cafes, they cook shorpa (mutton soup), fry khychin, shish kebab and zhaubaur (liver in a grid on the grill).
Shorpa. Lamb soup. Some potatoes and greens. Insanely delicious! All dishes are prepared from lamb. You will not find pork, you will rarely find beef. We come to eat at the Cheget glade or at the Narzanov glade. A hearty lunch will cost about 400 rubles per person. The portions are large, the dishes are hearty, so do not order a lot, you will have to take it with you. We used to take groceries with us, as we already wrote, it’s forty minutes to go to the nearest supermarket. Recently, we prefer to eat in a cafe, it is not much more expensive and everything is always fresh.
Souvenirs, shopping, what to bring home from a trip.
There are many souvenirs in the markets. As elsewhere in the Caucasus, there are many markets in the Elbrus region where you can buy various necessary and unnecessary things. Lots of knitwear, works of local craftsmen. A lot of knitted and felted things from natural sheep wool. Warm jackets and hand-knitted sweaters. Toys, souvenirs. Mugs, plates with thematic inscriptions, personalized spoons. Lots of magnets. On the Blue Lakes they sell ammonites - ancient fossilized mollusks.
What to take with you in the Elbrus region.
The most important thing is warm clothes and comfortable shoes. Be sure to change a set of clothes, we have already written about the changeable nature of the local nature. And your sneakers and pants may not dry overnight. If we ride in shorts and T-shirts in the summer, then a warm vest and a windbreaker are sure to be in the trunk.
We take a minimum of products. There is nowhere to store them, and you can always eat in a cafe where everything is hot and fresh. We do not buy bottled water. Water pipelines are mainly drawn from mountain springs, the water is clean, glacial, without impurities.
You can rent any equipment. So there is no special need to buy and carry with you.
In the mountains of Elbrus on their own.
With the current development of the Internet, getting to anywhere in the world is not a problem. If you are traveling by car, the navigator will take you where you need to go. If you come by train or plane, there is public transport or taxi. The nearest airport is located in Nalchik, a little further from Min-Water. Railway in Pyatigorsk. Book accommodation, tickets and there will be no problems.
Glade Azau. Market, parking. The nearest airport in the capital of the republic is in Nalchik. Locals and more experienced tourists will be happy to tell you about the places they have visited and recommend where to go. You can use the advice of travelers on the Internet. You can buy a tour or use the services of professional guides, while there will be much more opportunities and impressions.
Where and how to find housing in the Elbrus region.
The most popular hotels are located in the immediate vicinity of the ski lifts. In the glade Azau and the glade Cheget. There are many hotels along the road to Azau. Campsites open during the summer.
Hotels on the Azau glade. You can see the old funicular. A large number of private hotels can be booked on booking.com, find discounts on hotels on Roomguru.com. If you have not booked a hotel in advance, you will have to go directly to the hotels and ask about availability. We advise you not to run from hotel to hotel - the prices are about the same.
How to travel by public transport
You have planned an independent trip to the Elbrus mountains! What do you need for travel? Our website has useful services page for traveling. It will help you save a lot of time and money. There are several ways to get to the Elbrus region.
Let's say your point of departure is Moscow or St. Petersburg. The fastest way is to buy a ticket to Nalchik or Mineralnye Vody. Searching for air tickets on the aviasales.ru service will help you buy a cheap ticket. I will say right away that it is possible to get to Cheget, Terskol or Azau by public transport, but it is very inconvenient, you will spend a lot of time. I won't explain, google it yourself. Better or Azau. It turns out very profitable if you eat in a group and you have huge backpacks.
You can take the train, but that's if you have time. There are no direct trains to the Elbrus region either.
It is also possible to get through the Stavropol airport, but we do not recommend it, because air tickets to Mineralnye Vody or Nalchik will cost almost half as much, you still have to go to these cities.
You can buy bus tickets to Nalchik or Mineralnye Vody. Take tickets on a trusted serviceThere are not many options, but they are all available and it is possible to buy tickets through online services.
The end point of the road along the gorge, where climbers, mountain tourists and just lovers of beautiful nature live, is the village of Terskol. It is very small and architecturally uninteresting, but it is in a great location. Here is its main street, it is also a track:
Uncomplicated houses in which more visitors than locals live during the season. And all this - against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains. The snow here never melts even in July (when these photos were taken): 
A little aside from residential development, a forest begins: 
And here is a view of the lower station of the cable car that lifts the slopes of Cheget: 
The cable car has two lines with an intermediate station, it costs 600 rubles (250 hryvnias).
I sit down on the cable car, we gain height: 
The wilds of the surrounding mountains are magnificent: 
From the upper station of the cable car, you can go further up, although more than 90% of tourists do not go anywhere, take pictures and go back. Going up is not fast, since the height there is already more than 3000 meters above sea level and you need to go up all the time. From time to time I want to sit and relax. But it's worth it, because from the top of Cheget (altitude approx. 3500 m) there is an excellent view of all the surrounding mountains, including Elbrus. Such a walk to the top (or one of the peaks, there seem to be several of them, and where everyone climbs is not the highest) takes about an hour and a half, going down is faster.
Here, mountain bikers climb to great heights to hone their ability to ride in extreme conditions. Here is such a cool biker posed for me: 
He quickly picked up the bike and went to try again: 
Closer to the top, the views become more and more gorgeous: 
The biker met another one and they decided to take a picture of each other: 
But on the rise, hikers become visible, who, like me, climb to the top of Cheget: 
In the mountains, politeness is at its best, almost everyone you meet greet each other.
People walk here with special sticks for walking, they have become very fashionable in recent years: 
This is how walks in the mountains of Elbrus look like: 
If someone has not been here yet, then at least for a couple of days it is worth, I think, to stop by - on the way to Georgia, Sochi or somewhere else.
Almost at the very top there is some kind of metal contraption: 
Stickers of all kinds of expeditions and clubs are pasted on it: 
And finally, the top! Mobile communication is excellent here, here a man sat down on the very cliff and chattered at ease: 
Tourists on a halt - have a bite to eat, drink tea from thermoses: 
Taking advantage of the fact that the weather is good, I spent more than two hours on the top of Cheget at 3500 m. Some groups of climbers were replaced by others, I talked with them. Some climb here for recreational purposes, but most use this as an acclimatization before climbing Elbrus.
And I took a picture of myself at a height: 
There is snow at the top, but not much, which is convenient for those who have only summer clothes (I didn’t have another): 
View from the top of Cheget to the village of Terskol - it was there that I (like everyone else) spent the night before climbing here.
