Despite the policy taken towards import substitution, Russian domestic tourism still fails to overtake outbound tourism. As for seaside holidays, many Russians prefer foreign resorts, and this is quite understandable, because our level of service is just beginning to approach the world level.
But Russia is one of the best countries in the world for those who prefer active holidays to classic beach holidays. In the UNESCO classification, Russia ranks fourth in terms of natural attractions, behind only the USA, Australia and China. Today, domestic extreme sports fans are just beginning to discover such extraordinary places as Lake Baikal, the volcanoes of Kamchatka, the Putorana Plateau and other natural sites that have long been favored by foreign tourists and professional athletes. One of these unique places is the Elbrus region in the Caucasus. Tourist opportunities in the Elbrus region are very extensive; Here you will find trekking, hiking, mountaineering, ski touring and much, much more.
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Thousands of people from all over the world come here every year to climb the highest point in Europe, Mount Elbrus with a peak of 5642 m. The bulk of tourists storm the mountain between May and September. Climbing is possible in the winter months, but due to changeable weather and icy slopes it is much more difficult and dangerous than in summer.
The easiest way is to climb to the top along the southern slope. Such tours take 7-8 days, including acclimatization trips and 1-2 spare days in case of bad weather. Advertising brochures often say that anyone can climb the mountain from the South, but in reality this is not entirely true. Technically, the route is really simple, but the high altitude, temperature changes and poor visibility still require tourists to have a reasonable level of both physical and psychological preparation. When climbing the southern slope, the first part of the journey is usually covered by cable car, then you get to one of the mountain shelters, where you stop for the night. The next day they make an acclimatization hike and at night they go out to storm the peak in order to be on it before one in the afternoon and go down before dark. It is possible to make the route easier by traveling part of the way (both on the ascent and on the descent) on a snowcat – a special machine for rolling out ski slopes. Depending on the weather, you can cover a section of about 1000 meters, from an elevation of 4600-5100 to one of the shelters located at an altitude of 3800-4100. You can also go down from the top of Elbrus on a snowboard or skis.
If you are an experienced athlete and confident in your own abilities, it makes sense to consider other, less crowded climbing routes – northern, western and eastern, where traces of human presence are almost invisible.
For those who are not yet mentally and physically ready to climb a five-thousand-meter peak, but simply want to walk in the mountains for their own pleasure, there are several dozen routes of varying complexity and duration through the gorges, mountains and glaciers of the Elbrus region. The most popular and picturesque destinations: the Terskol, Shheldy and Adyr-Su gorges, Lake Donguz Orun, the Devichye Kosy waterfall and the Terskol Peak Observatory do not require any special training or equipment from tourists. For true connoisseurs of nature, there are also longer hikes with tents, designed for several days, for example, the transition from Lake Syltran to the Kirtyk gorge. Along these routes, you can not only explore the Caucasus Mountains in detail, but also meet wild animals, for example, mountain aurochs.
The Elbrus region is one of the most popular ski resorts not only in Russia, but throughout the world thanks to its complex scenic slopes and a long, almost year-round ski season. The steep slopes of Cheget have gained popularity among freeride enthusiasts and require athletes to be confident in skiing and snowboarding. And the more flat slopes of Elbrus, equipped with a modern cable car, are also suitable for skiers with more modest training.
In addition to trekking and alpine skiing, ski touring is becoming increasingly popular in the Elbrus region every year. This is a kind of combination of hiking and freeride, when tourists first climb up the mountain on specially prepared skis, and then descend from the top on virgin snow. The Adyr-Su and Adyl-Su gorges are best suited for ski touring, but you can also climb Elbrus itself in this way.
With the return of fashion for such a sport as rock climbing, the culture of mountaineering, abandoned in the 90s, began to revive in the Caucasus several years ago. There are several bases and camps for climbers in the Elbrus region, for example, Ullu-tau. The spartan accommodations at these camps are more than offset by stunning views and excellent climbing opportunities.
Today, the tourism services sector in the Elbrus region is actively, albeit somewhat chaotically, developing: numerous hotels and cafes are opening, roads are being laid, and new cable car lines are being built. For example, in 2013, on the southern slope of Elbrus at an altitude of 3900, the Italian company Lipfactory built the ultra-modern Liprus shelter, so now you can stay in comfort even at altitude. But, despite the rich infrastructure and proximity to civilization, tourists should not forget that the Caucasus Mountains, and especially Elbrus, are fraught with many dangers. Remember that you should always remain vigilant in the mountains and try to objectively take into account your physical capabilities.
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Source: Trip2Caucasus
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