Attractions / 22.09.2022

Ski resorts Elbrus and Cheget (Elbrus region). Russia Elbrus Garabashi

Mount Elbrus is the highest point in Europe, and the Elbrus region has always attracted many tourists. But the Elbrus region is especially attractive for skiers. Some slopes of the mountains are covered with snow all year round, which allows not to close the ski season. In addition to skiing, tourists will find many interesting entertainments here. The most popular slopes of the Elbrus region are Elbrus (Azau) and Cheget. Both resorts are located near the village of Terskol in Kabardino-Balkaria.

Slopes and stations of Elbrus

Since then, the popularity of Cheget has not fallen not only in the country, but also in the world, although its tracks are still considered one of the most difficult tracks in the world. Trails on Azau are much easier and more comfortable.

However, the lifts here are still the same - the old Soviet ones, in other words, slow, uncomfortable and unreliable. If you need comfort and smooth slopes, Cheget is not for you. Ratraks do not touch these slopes, here you are alone with the natural relief of the Elbrus region.

Cheget is a Mecca for experienced riders. Many dream of experiencing its untouched virgin soil, slopes of rough terrain, slopes from 20 to 45 degrees.

The highest point of the trails is 3050 meters, with a mountain height of 3700 meters. The lower station is located at an altitude of 2100 m. The total length of the tracks is 20 km. The ski season lasts from November to May.

Tracks and cable cars of Cheget

The tracks of Cheget are beautiful and dangerous. Only experienced skiers can ski here. If you go away from the lifts, then you can ride only in a group, with a full set of avalanche equipment. Avalanches are frequent here, especially on the northern slopes. The southern slopes are more gentle and even. Often the tracks are closed due to high. The mountain rescue service is constantly on duty.

The famous Cheget hillocks deserve special attention, skiing on which develops control over skis and a sense of balance. The mounds are located on the second stage, incl. under the cable car.

There are 11 slopes on Cheget, they are different in their complexity. Ratraki pass through them very rarely. Let's study the slopes of the resort and start from the top of Cheget:

Section 3070 meters - Station "Cheget-3" (3000 m)

At the top of Cheget, the easiest green track originates, the height is 3000-3070 meters. Its length is only 300 meters. It is good for beginners to ride here to hone their skills. You can climb to the top using the "Mops" type. From the top, the majestic Elbrus opens in all its glory.

Section "Cheget-3" (3000 m) - "Cheget-2" (2750 m).

From the station "Cheget-3" more difficult routes of red and blue color begin. The site is served by a single-seat cable car. Near the lower station of this section is the famous cafe "Ay", where Yuri Vzibor liked to stop and the film "Breakfast with a View of Elbrus" was filmed. The observation platform at the cafe offers a beautiful view of the two-headed peak of Elbrus, the Donguzorun, Nakra and Kogutai mountains.

Section "Cheget-2" (2750m) - Polyana Cheget (2100m)

This track is also quite steep, but marked in blue. In the Cheget glade, life is in full swing, there are many cafes, restaurants, and shops. The site is served by single-seat and double-seat cable cars. Once again, we note that these are old and worn-out lifts that break down quite often.

The northern slopes of Cheget are more suitable for extreme lovers. The most famous descent among the common people was named "Dollar" for its curves, this is a real test even for an experienced skier. The southern slope is flatter and wider - for lovers of measured driving and snowboarders, but it also has a difficult terrain.

Cheget lift prices

The cost of a subscription for a day is 800 rubles. Excursion rise - 500 rubles for 1 time. There are no multi-day ski passes.

How to get to Cheget

By plane to Mineralnye Vody or Nalchik, then transfer to a regular bus to Terskol.
By train to Mineralnye Vody, Nalchik, Pyatigorsk or Prokhladny, after transferring to a regular bus or taxi to Terskol.
Ordering a group taxi from Mineralnye Vody, Prokhladny, Nalchik.

Accommodation

You can explore the slopes of Cheget for more than one day, so the best option would be to rent a room in a local hotel. There are many of them on Cheget. You can stay in the hotel of the same name at the foot of the mountain, or you can rent a room in Terskol. But the hotels on the Cheget glade are more attractive for tourists, because the ski lifts are no more than 5 minutes walk away.

Our advice: Before setting foot on the tracks of Cheget for the first time, carefully study the slopes and the schemes of the tracks, the tracks do not have markings, but you will determine in which zone you are on the ground. It is better to start riding with an instructor, guide or in a group, because. there is a great danger of getting lost. It is better not to leave the rolled places. On Cheget there is a high probability of injury, so follow the safety rules.

If you have ever visited the Elbrus region, do not hesitate - you will want to return there again and again. And each time will be full of impressions and emotions.

Rate	Cost, in rubles
	low season 11.01.17 - 17.02.17 14.03.17- 29.12.17		Average season 18.02.16-13.03.16
	Adult	50% benefits	Adult	50% benefits
Art. Azau - st. Stary Krugozor - st. World
1 day	1600	800	1800	900
2 days	3100	1550	3500	1750
3 days	4600	2300	5200	2600
4 out of 5 days	6100	3050	6900	3450
5 out of 6 days	7600	3750	8600	4300
6 out of 7 days	9100	4550	10300	5150
7 out of 8 days	10600	5300	12000	6000
Half day (from 12:00)	1200	600	1300	750
	550	275	550	275
	500	250	500	250
Art. Peace - Art. Gara-Bashi
1 day	500	250	500	250
2 days	1000	500	1000	500
3 days	1500	750	1500	750
4 out of 5 days	2000	1000	2000	1000
5 out of 6 days	2500	1250	2500	1250
6 out of 7 days	3000	1500	3000	1500
7 out of 8 days	3500	1750	3500	1750
Half day (from 12:00)	400	200	400	200
Tourist lift (1 lift)	200	100	200	100
Tourist slope (1 slope)	200	100	200	100
Art. Azau - st. Stary Krugozor - st. Peace - Art. Gara-Bashi
1 day	2100	1050	2300	1150
2 days	4100	2050	4500	2250
3 days	6100	3050	6700	3350
4 out of 5 days	8100	4050	8900	4450
5 out of 6 days	10100	5050	11100	5550
6 out of 7 days	12100	6050	13300	6650
7 out of 8 days	14100	7050	15500	7750
Half day (from 12:00)	1600	800	1700	850
Tourist lift (1 lift)	750	375	750	375
Tourist slope (1 slope)	700	350	700	350

Note: lift prices PJSC Elbrus Resort"can change.

50% discount is provided*:
- children from 6 to 13 years old inclusive (upon presentation of a birth certificate)
- persons over 70 years old (upon presentation of a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation)
- disabled people of II and III groups (upon presentation of a certificate of disability)

Free of charge services of the cable cars of OJSC "Elbrus Resort" are used by **:
- disabled people of group I (upon presentation of a certificate of disability)
- veterans of the Great Patriotic War (upon presentation of relevant documents)
- people over 75 years old (upon presentation of a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation)
- children under 7 years old (upon presentation of a birth certificate)

* When purchasing a ski pass through the terminal, benefits are not provided.
** Lifts of PJSC "Elbrus Resort" can change the conditions of benefits.

Prices for Cheget lifts 2017

Elbrus lifts

On the mountain Elbrus lifts include 2 lines of a new gondola-type cable car, 2 lines of a pendulum lift, one chairlift and 2 ski lifts.

1 turn: Azau-Krugozor

At the first stage, there are two cable cars: the old pendulum road and the new gondola road.

Pendulum cable car "Elbrus 1" starts from the station Azau (2350 m) and reaches the station "Staryi krugozor" (3000 m). There are cafes and shalyk shops at both stations. The travel time of the old pendulum road is 15 minutes.

New cable car "Poma 1" gondola type was opened in December 2006. It connects the lower return station on the Azau glade with the upper drive station "Staryi Krugozor" and is installed parallel to the already existing pendulum cable car. This is the latest model of gondola-type cable car with detachable gondolas. The capacity of one gondola is 8 people. 58 gondolas operate at the same time. The length of the route is 1740 m, the difference in the road is 580 m. The travel time of the new gondola road is 5 minutes. Productivity - 2400 persons/hour.

On the glade Azau near the road complex there are catering points of the "bistro" and "bar" type, there is a ski equipment rental point, vending machines for coffee and tea at the lowest prices.

2 turn: Krugozor - World

The old pendulum cable car "Elbrus-2" and the new cable car "Poma 2" of the gondola type operate on this line.

Pendulum cable car "Elbrus - 2" starts from the station "Staryi Krugozor" (3000 m) and goes to the station "Mir" (3500 m). On the territory of the station there is a cozy cafe "Mir" and the Museum of military glory of the defenders of Elbrus and the Caucasian passes during the Great Patriotic War.

New cable car "Poma 2" gondola type was opened in April 2009. It is the latest model of a cable car with 8-seater gondolas manufactured by the French company "ROMA" - one of the world leaders in the field of cable transport systems. The road connects two ski stations: Stary Krugozor (3000 m) and Mir (3500 m). The length of the road is 1800 m, the capacity is 2400 people per hour. Travel time in one direction - 5 minutes 13 seconds.

3rd turn: Mir - Garabashi

The Elbrus chairlift and a new gondola lift operate on the 3rd stage.

Cableway "Elbrus" starts from the Mir station (3500 m) and goes to the Gara-Bashi station (3850 m). The single-seat lift, although old, works stably. From here, from a height of 3800 m, the certified route No. 1 begins to the Azau glade 2300 m.

New gondola lift "Poma-3" has been operating since the end of December 2015. Its opening took place on the day of the official start of the ski season in the Elbrus region. To date, this cable car is the highest in Europe. Its lower station is located at an altitude of 3455 meters above sea level, and the upper one at an altitude of 3847 meters above sea level. The total length of the road is 1675 meters. The lift is equipped with modern comfortable 8-seater cabins. Some gondolas are adapted for people with disabilities. Their width allows a wheelchair to pass freely inside, and the level of the cabin floor is aligned with the level of the landing area both at the lower and upper stations. In addition, special lifts are equipped for people with limited mobility to access the boarding area. To date, the capacity of the new gondola road is 750 people per hour.

Also on the 3rd stage there is a network of drag and tow roads.

The main characteristics of the ELBRUS cable car complex

queue number	Name	Height, m	Long- ness, m	Time in way, min	Notes
1	New gondola road "Poma-1"	2366-2945	1740	5
1	Pendulum cable car road "Elbrus-1"	2300-3000	1900	12	From the station "Azau" to the station "Staryi Krugozor"
2	New gondola road "Poma-2"	3000-3500	1800	7	From the station "Staryi Krugozor" to the station "Mir"
2	Pendulum cable car road "Elbrus-2"	3000-3500	1800	12	From the station "Staryi Krugozor" to the station "Mir"
3	Chairlift road "Elbrus"	3500-3780	1000	15
3	New gondola road "Poma-3"	3445-3847	1675		From Mir station to Gara Bashi station
5	towing road VL-400	2300-2500	400	5	Roll-out on the glade Azau

Cheget lifts

Stage 1: Polyana Cheget - Cafe Ai (2750 m)

On the mountain Cheget lifts operate in 2 stages. At the first stage, two branches were built: a single-seat chairlift "Cheget 1" and a paired chairlift (PKD).

Cableway "Cheget 1" departs from the lower station "Polyana Cheget" and goes to the station cafe "Ay" (2750 m). The cafe station "Ay" has an observation deck with a magnificent view of the mountains.

The steam chair road "Parnaya" duplicates the KKD and also goes from the lower station "Polyana Cheget" and reaches the station of the cafe "Ai".

Stage 2: Cafe Ai - Cheget-3 (3083 m)

The chairlift "Cheget-2" operates on the 2nd stage.

On Cheget, the cable car of the second stage departs from the Ai cafe and goes to the Cheget 3 station. On the way, a very beautiful picture opens up: on the right are the snow-white caps of Elbrus, on the left - the peaks of Donguzorun, Kogutai and Nakra sparkling with eternal snow.

There is also a network of drag and tow roads.

The main characteristics of the CHEGET cable car complex

Queues	Name	Height in meters	Length, m	Travel time, min	Notes
1	Chair lift "Cheget-1"	2700-2750	1600	11	From the Cheget glade to the cafe "Ai"
2	Chair lift "Cheget-2"	2750-3000	900	6	From cafe Ai to the 3rd stage
3	Steam chair road "Steam"	2700-2750	1600	17	Duplicates 1st queue

On Elbrus, the third line of the cable car was opened at the section "Station Mir" - "Station Garabashi" and a new ski slope with a length of about two thousand meters.

The new line from the station "Mir" is located at an altitude of 3455 meters, the highest point of the rise of Garabashi is 3847 meters.

Today we are opening the ski season on the highest mountain in Europe - Elbrus, - said the Minister of the Russian Federation for the North Caucasus Lev Kuznetsov at the opening ceremony. - It is significant that we will associate with this mountain a unique lift, which was built this year from Mir station to Garabashi station.

The head of the Minkavkaz thanked the builders who were able to build a unique structure in a short time in difficult natural and climatic conditions and stressed that the implementation of this project will allow our skiers to ride Elbrus for a longer period of time.

Through this project, we also give the Russians the opportunity to look more at domestic resorts and understand that today they are competitive, - said Kuznetsov.

The new cable car on Elbrus has become the highest mountain lift, which has no analogues in Russia and Europe. Prior to this, the highest cable car in Europe was considered the lift at the top of the Aiguille du Midi in the western part of the Mont Blanc massif, which is connected to the French resort of Chamonix. Here the upper station of the cable car is located at an altitude of 3842 meters - five meters lower than on Elbrus. In the conditions of construction in the mountains, taking into account the difference in heights, this is a significant difference.

The length of the new cable car is 1675 meters, 12 supports were installed for its operation. During the construction, French equipment was used. The lift is equipped with eight-seater gondolas, its capacity is 750 people per hour, and in the future it will be increased to 1.5 thousand people. The project was implemented by JSC "Resorts of the North Caucasus", the volume of capital investments in construction amounted to over 1 billion rubles.

In Europe, they don’t build higher, and in Europe they don’t ride higher, - stressed the head of Kabardino-Balkaria, Yuri Kokov. - But we understand that this is only the first step, that it is necessary to develop the infrastructure of the resort so that it meets world standards. And we have a real chance to make a truly world-class resort in Russia.

Skiers have been waiting for the opening of the third phase of the Mir for a long time - after the commissioning of the new lift, the Elbrus resort can rightly be called all-season, since snow lies at these heights almost all year round. By the way, 50 meters from the new station is the famous shelter for climbers "Barrels" - these are residential houses in the form of metal cylinders that were used in the construction of the Baikal-Amur Mainline.

Importantly, the new section of the cable car is also accessible to people with disabilities - the width of some gondolas allows you to enter them in a wheelchair. For boarding the gondola, the platform level is aligned with the gondola floor level both at the lower station and at the upper one. To access the landing site from ground level, there are special lifts. The level of the combined site of the second and third phases at Mir is combined, and a ramp has been installed here.

The opening ceremony of the new ski lift kicked off the ski season. All sorts of promotions and competitions were held in the Azau glade for tourists and vacationers. An instaprinter was installed on the photo zone decorated with ski paraphernalia, which printed out photos of tourists who published their photos on Instagram under the hashtag: #open_kurortelbrus. During the event, a prize was awarded for the most "likes".

In addition to the new gondola road, lovers of skiing and snowboarding will find a new track on the Garabashi-Mir section, a wide roll-out to the Mir station and another new skiing track on the Mir-Krugozor section.

In advance, work was carried out to ensure the safety of the ski slopes - all problem areas along the ski areas, from which stones were periodically torn off, were reinforced with special nets. A large ski equipment rental, a new sportswear store and a service center appeared.

This year, from January to March, Elbrus region was visited by 123 thousand people. The upcoming ski season - 2016 may well break this record. As the head of the press service of the administration of the Elbrus region, Alisa Tarim, said, places for the New Year holidays in hotels in the Elbrus region were completely sold out back in August-September. And, first of all, apartments and suites were purchased. And in early October, it was almost impossible to book a place in an economy class room. Thus, for the New Year holidays, about 6-7 thousand people will be at the ski resort at a time - and these are only those who live in hotels. If we take into account people who come on excursions, more than 40 thousand people will visit the Elbrus region in the first days of January.

It can be predicted that at least 120,000 people will have a rest here during the winter season,” Tarim says. - And perhaps more.

Until 2020, it is planned to allocate more than 6 billion rubles for the development of the Elbrus special economic zone, said Oleg Gorchev, general director of JSC NSK. Ultimately, it is planned to create an integrated infrastructure at the site of the Elbrus resort, designed for a comfortable stay of 15,000 tourists a day. The total length of the tracks on Cheget and Elbrus will be more than 100 km, and the maximum capacity of all cable cars will reach 54,000 people a day.

By the way

The highest mountain gondola roads are located in Bolivia at the ski resort on Mount Chacaltaya - an altitude of 5422 meters, in China, on the Himalayan Dagu glacier - the height of the station is 4843 meters, and in Indonesia at the Jaya resort - an altitude of 4800 meters above sea level.

The Elbrus Azau ski complex began its work in the middle of the 20th century. The first stage of the Elbrus cable car from the Azau station to the Krugozor station began operating in 1969, serving tourists from all over the world. Since then, the Elbrus Azau ski complex has been a special place for lovers of mountain slopes.

Two peaks of an extinct volcano (western and eastern) are almost year-round covered with snow and ice, which allows skiing all year round on some separate sections of the Elbrus slope. The two-peak giant Elbrus captivates its guests with wide trails that are suitable for both skiers and snowboarders.

Mount Elbrus is the highest peak not only in Russia, but also in Europe. The western peak has a height of 5642 m, the eastern peak is 5621 m. The maximum ascent height on cable cars is 3780 m (Gara-Bashi). And skiers say with confidence: "Elbrus is the largest ski mountain in the world."

The Elbrus Azau ski complex originates in the Azau glade, located at the foot of the majestic Elbrus. There are two cable car stations on the Azau glade:

"old" pendulum
new gondola road

Both ropeways run parallel to each other. There are 2 stages of both cable cars, the 3rd stage is under construction. On the 3rd stage there is also a single-seat cable car, but it does not always work. From the 2nd stage (Mir station), those who wish go up on snowcats, the time to get to Shelter-11 is 20 minutes.

Cableways Elbrus - Azau

Queues	Travel time (min)	Throughput, pers. / hour	Height difference (m)	Track length (m)
A yoke on the glade Azau 2300m-2500m	5 minutes		200	500
1st turn Azau (2350m) - Staryi Krugozor (3000m)	12 min	100 people / hour	650	1740
1st turn Azau (2350m) - Staryi Krugozor (3000m)	5 minutes	480 people/hour (design - 2400)	580	1740
2nd turn OldKrugozor (3000m) - World (3500m)	12 min	100 people / hour	500	1800
2nd turn OldKrugozor (3000m) - World (3500m)	5 min 12 sec	480 people/hour (design - 2400)	514	1800
3rd turn Mir (3500m) - Gara-Bashi (3780m)	12 min	130 people /hour, on repair	250	1500
3rd turn Mir (3500m) - Gara-Bashi (3780m)	5 minutes	under construction	374	1500

Prices for lifts Elbrus-Azau

Ski slopes Elbrus

Skiing on the slopes of the Elbrus Azau ski complex is much more comfortable than on Cheget. The skiing area on the slopes of Elbrus is suitable for both beginners and experienced skiers.

Officially, the Elbrus Azau ski resort has 7 tracks with a total length of about 11 km. In fact, the slope of Elbrus is one continuous track where skiers and boarders of all skill levels ride. The length of the route from the shelter "Barrels" (Gara-Bashi station) to the Azau glade is 6 km, from "Shelter-11" - 8-10 km, depending on the chosen descent option.

In general, the slopes of Elbrus are wide and gentle "blue" tracks, with small elevation changes and short "red" sections. And although there are few nets and limiters, you should not go beyond the marked trails.

Scheme of tracks and lifts "Elbrus - Azau"

On most of the slopes of the Elbrus Azau complex, the skiing season lasts from October to May.

At an altitude of more than 3780 m (from Gara-Bashi and above) it is possible to ride all year round. Climbing Mount Elbrus in this area is carried out on foot or on snowcats. Alpine shelters also work for guests of the Elbrus Azau ski complex. As a rule, tourists stop in these mini-hotels with a limited range of services before climbing the peaks of the great Elbrus.

Mini-buildings of shelters protect from snow and wind, they have electricity, gas and water. Small rooms of mountain shelters are always equipped with sleeping places (blankets and pillows are available) and have a dining area. Here, tired climbers can hide from the weather, gain strength, acclimatize, and spend the night. Skiers and snowboarders who want to relax after descending from the top of Elbrus are frequent guests in mountain shelters.

The complexity of the descent from the point "Shelter-11" 4050m to the "glade Azau" 2350m

Green - easy section, blue - more difficult, red - difficult section of the track, black - very difficult.

The Elbrus-Azau ski complex can be recommended to beginner riders who want to hone their skills, as well as to those who prefer calm skiing for their own pleasure.

For beginners, the Azau clearing is equipped with a VL-400 "mop" yoke that serves a gentle "green" slope.

Characteristics of the tracks "Elbrus-Azau"

The slope of Elbrus conditionally consists of five sections:

"Shelter-11" (4100 m) -> station "Gara-Bashi" (3780 m)

Cableways: lifting only on snowcats.
Track: mostly red and black, suitable for experienced riders.

Station "Gara-Bashi" (shelter "Bochki") (3780 m) -> station "Mir" (3500 m)

Cableways: single-seat CD, or lifting on snowcats.
Track: mostly blue, up to "Barrels" - flat and wide, quite steep, and after the shelter "Barrels" keep to the left edge, because. on the right, the trail is narrower and steeper.

Mir station (3500 m) -> Staryy Krugozor station (3000 m)

Cableways: pendulum "Elbrus-2" and gondola "PUMA-2".
Track: at the beginning the track is black, quite steep, then the track gradually widens and turns into a wide blue one.

Stariy Krugozor station (3000 m) -> Azau glade (2350 m)

Cableways: pendulum "Elbrus-1" and gondola "PUMA-1".
Track: at the beginning the track is red, rather narrow and steep, then the track gradually widens and turns into a gentle blue one.

prielbrusie-ski.ru

Slopes and stations of Elbrus

The Elbrus Azau ski complex opened in the middle of the 20th century. Since then, tourists from different countries have been continuously flocking to the resort to ride on the slopes of the resort. The tracks here vary in difficulty, everyone will find a track to their liking. On the slopes, a mesh fence is installed, which creates a certain level of safety for skiers.

Elbrus slopes

The slopes of Elbrus can be divided into 5 sections. Let's go down from the highest point

At an altitude of 4100 m, "Shelter 11" is located and there is a descent to the Gara-Bashi station "Shelter Bochka", an altitude of 3780 m. You can climb here only on snowcats or on foot: there are no cable cars here. You can ski all year round.
From Gara-Bashi station (Shelter "Bochka") to Mir station. Here the height decreases from 3780 m to 3500 m. The difficulty of the route is marked in blue, it has a varied terrain - up to the shelter it is flat and wide, and then it is narrow and steep.
From the station "Mir" from a height of 3500 meters we descend to 3000 meters, where the station "Staryi Krugozor" is located. Two cable cars operate on this section: the Elbrus-2 pendulum and the Puma-2 gondola. The track at the beginning of the descent is very steep and narrow, belongs to the black category of difficulty, and then turns into a wide blue one.
From the station "Staryi Krugozor" from a height of 3000 meters we descend to the Azau glade to a height of 2350 meters. Two cable cars are also launched here, of the same types as in the previous section: Elbrus-1 and Puma-1. The slope starts with a difficult narrow and steep red run and ends with a blue run that is flat and wide.
Glade Azau. The height difference here is 200 (2500-2300) meters, this is a kind of "splash pool" for beginner skiers. There is a ski lift of the "Mop" type.

Although the slopes are conditionally divided into sections depending on the level of ascent and difficulty, in reality, the slopes of Azau are one continuous track, intended for skiers and snowboarders of different levels of training. Extreme lovers can try out the untouched virgin lands of Elbrus, of course, accompanied by an experienced instructor. You will have to get to the virgin lands by helicopter or by snowcat.

Shelters of Elbrus

Shelters (mini-hotels) are located on the high points of the Elbrus-Azau complex. Designed for tourists to relax before or after climbing Elbrus. Skiers can also relax here after a long descent from the top.

The old shelters were not distinguished by a high level of comfort, but here one could find the most necessary things: heat, light, water, gas, and a sleeping place. More modern shelters, like the Italian-built Leap, are much more comfortable.

Prices for Elbrus lifts - Azau

The price of a one-day adult ski pass for the Elbrus resort in the 2017/2018 season is 1550-1900 rubles, depending on the high or low season. When buying a ski pass, there are discounts on lift services. For children under 5 years old, disabled people of the 1st group and disabled children under 18 years old, pensioners over 75 years old - free of charge. People aged 65-75 years - 10% discount.

How to get to Azau

Azau can be reached in many ways, train, plane, bus, transfer.

By plane to Mineralnye Vody or Nalchik, then by bus or taxi to the village of Terskol.
By train to Mineralnye Vody, Nalchik, Pyatigorsk, Prokhladny, then by bus or taxi to the village of Terskol.
From Mineralnye Vody, Prokhladny and Nalchik, you can use a shuttle service to Terskol.

A trip to Terskol by transfer or taxi takes an average of 2.5-4 hours. Depends on the distance of the starting point of departure.

Ski complex "Cheget"

The second popular complex of the Elbrus region is Cheget. The opening of the resort took place in the middle of the 20th century, when the first chairlift in the Soviet Union was put into operation. The tracks of Cheget have become the most difficult in the country. After the opening in 1963, a winter sports day was held here. The chairlift gave a powerful impetus to the development of skiing.

Cheget is a Mecca for experienced riders. Many dream of experiencing its untouched virgin soil, slopes of rough terrain, slopes from 20 to 45 degrees.

Tracks and cable cars of Cheget

The tracks of Cheget are beautiful and dangerous. Only experienced skiers can ski here. If you go away from the lifts, then you can ride only in a group, with a full set of avalanche equipment. Avalanches are frequent here, especially on the northern slopes. The southern slopes are more gentle and even. Often the trails are closed due to the high risk of avalanches. The mountain rescue service is constantly on duty.

The famous Cheget hillocks deserve special attention, skiing on which develops control over skis and a sense of balance. The mounds are located on the second stage, incl. under the cable car.

There are 11 slopes on Cheget, they are different in their complexity. Ratraki pass through them very rarely. Let's study the slopes of the resort and start from the top of Cheget:

Section 3070 meters - Station "Cheget-3" (3000 m)

At the top of Cheget, the easiest green track originates, the height is 3000-3070 meters. Its length is only 300 meters. It is good for beginners to ride here to hone their skills. You can climb to the top by a tow ropeway of the "Mop" type. From the top, the majestic Elbrus opens in all its glory.

Section "Cheget-3" (3000 m) - "Cheget-2" (2750 m).

Section "Cheget-2" (2750m) - Polyana Cheget (2100m)

The northern slopes of Cheget are more suitable for lovers of extreme skiing and freeride. The most famous descent among the common people was named "Dollar" for its curves, this is a real test even for an experienced skier. The southern slope is flatter and wider - for lovers of measured driving and snowboarders, but it also has a difficult terrain.

Cheget lift prices

The cost of a subscription for a day is 800 rubles. Excursion rise - 500 rubles for 1 time. There are no multi-day ski passes.

How to get to Cheget

By plane to Mineralnye Vody or Nalchik, then transfer to a regular bus to Terskol.
By train to Mineralnye Vody, Nalchik, Pyatigorsk or Prokhladny, after transferring to a regular bus or taxi to Terskol.
Ordering a group taxi from Mineralnye Vody, Prokhladny, Nalchik.

Accommodation

If you have ever visited the Elbrus region, do not hesitate - you will want to return there again and again. And each time will be full of impressions and emotions.

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Active recreation in the Elbrus region

The North Caucasus attracts modern extreme people no less than their much more active predecessors who lived in the 20th century. In those days, the mountains were not intended for romantic walks, but served as a kind of “scale” for measuring willpower and endurance.

Elbrus cable cars have made this area much more attractive for connoisseurs of mountain air and selfie lovers. Especially popular is the Shelter of Eleven, the highest mountain hotel located in the southeastern part of Elbrus, at an altitude of 4130 meters above sea level. The height of the peaks of Elbrus (this mountain is an extinct volcano) is 5621 and 5642 meters.

Today, a trip along the Elbrus region can be made less extreme and more colorful. With the advent of the "track" of multi-tiered cable cars, impregnable peaks became accessible even for unprepared travelers. It all depends on the intentions and plans of climbers, skiers and vacationers.

On the cable car - to Elbrus!

The cableways of Elbrus originate from the Azau glade, located at an altitude of 2350 meters above sea level. From here, from the Azau glade, all the hiking trails leading to the top begin.

The Azau glade is not a deserted, snow-covered corner of nature, but rather a modern tourist center equipped in accordance with the latest progressive developments: here, in addition to rental points for the necessary equipment and sports equipment, there are many pharmacies, shops, hotels and cafes.

Even beginners can tame a snowboard or skiing. The main desire! Thanks to the instruction of experienced mentors, a person who has never been involved in winter sports before will learn to overcome the descent from the Krugozor station in just one day. This is the name of the first alpine point, for which the first cable car was built in these places. Elbrus (photo below) is not yet visible from here. But, if you transfer to the trailer going to the next station - "Mir", the travelers will finally have a view of Elbrus.

Hotel above the clouds

The highest point of the second stage (from the station "Krugozor" to the station "Mir"), launched in 1976, reaches 3470 meters. The traffic pattern on this section is similar to the previous one: next to the old, pendulum cable car, a new one is functioning - gondola. After the construction of the “Great Elbrus cable car” was completed, the hotel above the clouds (as the “Shelter of Eleven” is unofficially called) finally became available for tourists of different levels of training, as well as for those who found themselves so high in the mountains for the first time.

There are two legends associated with the official name of the hotel - Shelter of Eleven. According to one of them, eleven climbers who were captured by a snowstorm once froze to death here. According to the second legend, a local resident gave the name to the hotel when he stayed for the night with his wards - students of a rural school.

The second stage of the cable car lay over the icy peaks and non-melting snows of Mount Elbrus. Did the high-rise builders who erected the second stage guess that after a few decades the Elbrus cable cars would lift a person even higher?

Final stop - "Gara-Bashi"

Since December 27 last year, at the service of tourists, climbers and just vacationers who came to see Elbrus, there is a cable car, the height of which reaches 3847 meters. The Gara-Bashi station and (so far) this cable car are the highest in Europe. Previously, the cable car with a lift to the Aiguille du Midi, the western peak of Mont Blanc, was considered the highest mountain.

The new ropeway, according to experts, compares favorably with the French one, as it is suitable for servicing all categories of skiers. The capacity of the Mir-Gara-Bashi cable car is 750 people per hour. More than a billion rubles were allocated for its construction and improvement. In the foreseeable future, the organizers of the ski resort areas of the Elbrus region plan to simultaneously host up to 12,000 winter sports enthusiasts.

Shelter "Bochki"

Of course, the cable cars of Elbrus are not designed to deliver travelers to the very end point of the journey. Before climbing to the top, tourists acclimatize by settling in one of nine six-seat vans that are surprisingly similar to barrels for several days. Having got used to the local climate, travelers will leave the Barrels shelter and climb to the top of the "two-headed dragon".

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How to get to Elbrus and Elbrus

By plane

From distant places it is convenient to fly to this ski resort by plane. Tickets must be taken to the airports of Mineralnye Vody (you can allocate half a day to explore this city) or Nalchik.

Specify the exact price of air tickets for the dates you need:

By train

If trains are closer to you, then in addition to Nalchik and Mineralnye Vody, you can go to Prokhladny or Pyatigorsk.

There are trains from many major Russian cities to Mineralnye Vody and Pyatigorsk.
Travel time from Moscow: 1 day

To the slopes of Elbrus and Cheget by bus/car

From these large cities, excellent bus traffic is organized to the Cheget and Elbrus-Azau highways. In addition to relatively cheap regular buses that will take you in 2.5-3.5 hours, there are also minibuses and regular taxis, which will be somewhat more expensive, but without reference to the traffic schedule. It is better to bargain with taxi drivers. At the peak of the season, the price is so high that you can persuade the driver to 2/3 of the originally announced price.

The distance to the slopes from Nalchik is 130 km. A little further from Mineralnye Vody - 180 km.

When driving by car, you need to get to the post of the city of Baksan, and then keep heading for the villages of Tyrnyauz and Elbrus, behind which the resort area will be located.

Villages of the resort area

In total, there are 6 villages in the resort area, which stretch along the Baksan Gorge for 16 km, but have a developed infrastructure for tourism 3. From the villages to the ski lifts, they get by taxi.

ski season

The skiing season is from October almost to May, and the slopes above Garabashi are in acceptable condition all year round. The most pleasant time is February, March, April. In March, the weather is so good that you can see sunbathers on the slopes.

Buying a ski pass for the entire stay on vacation you save money;
Don't wait in line to buy a one-time ski pass.

A small clarification: if you want to use the drag lift, then the general ski pass does not apply to it. You will need to buy a single ticket.

There are two main ski areas in the Elbrus region: Elbrus Azau and Cheget. We will tell you more about them.

Elbrus - Azau

You need to start your acquaintance with alpine skiing from the Elbrus slope in the first stage.

Manifestations of the disease are not pleasant: fatigue, shortness of breath, headache, heart palpitations, flatulence, nausea, up to vomiting. Therefore, do not deny your body the period of adaptation and get used to the height gradually.

A beautiful official video about the 2015/16 season on Elbrus:

Prices for ski passes for cable cars of the Elbrus-Azau slope

For the Elbrus-Azau tracks, there is a tariff scale for cable car services of 8 options. For the 2016-2017 season, the prices on the official website have not yet been published, be guided by the last season. The price of holidays and weekends is given in brackets:

Excursion one-time rise - 500 (600) rubles.
Subscription for half a day is valid from 12 am - 800 (900) rubles.
Daily subscription - 1300 (1500) rubles.
For two days - 2500 (2900) rubles.
For three days - 3700 (4300) rubles.
For four days - 4900 (5700) rubles.
For five days - 6100 (7100) rubles.
For six days (actually for eight, two days of which you will not use the subscription, enjoying other types of recreation) - 7300 (8500) rubles.
Children under 6, adults over 75, disabled people of group I pass for free.

In addition to the actual cost, they will also charge you 100 rubles for a plastic card ski pass, and will refund the amount after the card is returned.

Cableways

There are as many as 7 of them on the slope of Elbrus, one of which is still under construction. The length of the roads is divided into 3 parts - 2 transfers.

First of all goes from the station "Azau" to the "Old Outlook". You can go up on the new Roma-1 gondola cable car in 5 minutes, or use the Elbrus-1 pendulum cable car, which will take you in 12 minutes. The length of the tracks in the first case is 1740, in the second - 1900 meters, passing at an altitude of up to 3000 meters above sea level.

Second stage goes from the Staryy Krugozor station to the Mir station, lifting you to a height of three and a half thousand meters in 7 minutes on Roma-2 or 12 minutes on Elbrus-2. During this time you will cover a distance of 1800 meters.

Third line will take you to a height of 3780 meters in 15 minutes on the Elbrus chairlift. The gondola cable car duplicating this kilometer-long lift is not yet ready for commissioning.

You can climb even higher - to "Shelter-11", using a snowcat or snowmobile. The ascent will take about 20 minutes and will cost from 400 rubles.

The drag road goes along the Azau glade for 5 minutes and raises it from the mark of 2300 meters to 2500.

Elbrus-Azau tracks

There are 7 tracks on the slopes of Elbrus, which are more suitable for beginners and amateurs than the tracks of Cheget. Although in fact the tracks are not separated from each other in any way and represent a wide common strip for skiing.

From "Priyut-11" to "Gara-Bashi" there is a wide gentle slope, suitable for teaching beginners when they get used to the highlands.
From "Gara-Bashi" to the station "Mir" the height difference will be 280 meters. Gently sloping and wide, the track is quite steep and has been assigned an average degree of difficulty. The right is narrower and steeper than the left.
From the "Mir" to the "Staryy krugozor" the height difference is 500 meters. The beginning of this section is only for the most experienced. A little lower the descent will be within the power of an amateur who is firmly on skis.
From the "Krugozor" to the Azau glade, the difference is 650 meters. Narrow and steep at first, the trail gradually widens to medium difficulty.

Here on this video you can clearly see the descent from the Mir Station to the Azau glade, 4.5 km:

The total length of the slope from the Garabashi point to Azau is 6815 meters, with a track width of 60 to 80 meters, which meets international standards for skiing.

Garabashi Gorge, Terskol Gorge, Observatory and Semifinal, as well as several smaller life-threatening trails, are used by freeriding fans.

People die due to negligence, avalanches or falling into cracks twenty meters deep outside the areas of rolled tracks.

Cheget

The slopes of Mount Cheget are definitely not for beginners.

Ski pass on Cheget

If you have already bought a ski pass for the slopes of Elbrus, you will have to buy it separately for Cheget. There are only two options for sale: excursion for 500 rubles and for the whole day for 800.

Cheget cable cars

There are only three cable cars and two queues on Cheget. You can get from the Cheget glade to the Ai cafe on the Cheget-1 chairlift or the double chairlift. The climb of 1600 meters in the first case will take you 11 minutes, in the second - 17. During this time you will rise from a height of 2700 to a height of 2750 meters above sea level.

Chair "Cheget-2" of the second stage raises to a height of 3000 meters in 6 minutes. In these minutes, 900 meters of the mountain slope will fly under you.

Tracks of Cheget

In total, there are 15 tracks on Cheget, with a total length of 20 km. The height difference from the top to the bottom is 950 meters.

Roughness, steep slopes, pine forest attract freeriders. Snowboarders prefer the southern slope - it is wider, although it retains the steepness of the slope.

There is nothing for beginners to do here. Unless there is a small piece of an easy track 350 meters long at the very top - above the station "Cheget 3", which can only be reached by yoke. Everything else is marked as a high level of difficulty - for professionals and freeride descents. An additional risk is created by the likelihood of avalanches and rocks.

Video of freeriders on Cheget:

Housing

Boarding houses and hotels

The easiest option to rent a hotel is to choose and book it on the official website of the resort: http://prielbrusie-ski.ru/view/accommodation/ or in a specialized housing aggregator in the Elbrus region - nedoma.ru

Or use hotel aggregators (Booking, Ostrovok, Oktogo) - there you can find true reviews and take advantage of aggregator bonuses.

Private sector

If you prefer apartment conditions, then it is better to stay in Terskol - this village is the closest to the ski lifts. The cost is from 500 rubles per person per day. The farther from the ski slopes, the cheaper the housing. Consider options in Baidaevo, Tegenekli, Elbrus, Neutrino. The latter is located at a distance of 16-18 kilometers from Cheget and Azau.

Information about rented apartments or rooms can be easily found on the spot in any store or cafe. Do not wonder. This is one of the features of the resort area. But if you are embarrassed to ask or prefer to analyze as many options as possible, the Internet is at your service. People are increasingly posting their rental ads there, for example, here: https://www.airbnb.ru/.

Accompanying services

rental

The resort has about a dozen shops where you can buy special equipment for sports or mountaineering. But such a purchase is not always justified. Therefore, it is easier and cheaper to contact rental offices. All rentals are carried out in the same stores or at special rental points in the Azau and Cheget valleys. Sometimes this service is provided in hotels for residents.

Rent per day is considered. A deposit and/or document is required for equipment or equipment.

You can take a set at once: skis + sticks + boots or snowboard + boots. A child costs 600 rubles, an adult 900 rubles - on the first day. In subsequent or if you pay for several days at once - it's cheaper, on January holidays it's more expensive. Also available for rent are glasses, helmets, jackets, overalls, tents, sleds, waterproof trousers and many other things that beginners don’t even think of.

Rental locations often provide repair services for damaged equipment.

Shops with sports equipment

Terskol: "Alpindustriya", "Tourist Equipment", "Elbrus Navigator", "Open World"
Glade Azau: "Vertical"

Pharmacies

At the station of the cable car "Azau"
In the boarding house "Cheget" and the hotel "Snow Leopard" on the glade Cheget
In the post office building in Terskol
In the village of Tyrnauz

ATMs

In the village of Terskol - "Eurokommerz" and "Sberbank of Russia" in the hotel "Elbrussia", the Caucasian Development Bank at the tourist center "Terskol"
Polyana Cheget - "Sberbank of Russia" in the boarding house "Cheget"

Personal instructor

For those who want to study with an instructor, you need to keep in mind that you need to sign up in advance. Their work is in high demand. Approximately one hour of individual lessons costs 1000 rubles.

There are instructors teaching children.

You can catch such an important person near the lifts or directly during the briefing in the clearings.

If this is your first time skiing, don't skimp on beginner advice. They can not only bring you pleasure, but also keep you healthy.

Transfer

You can order cars of different classes and different capacities, up to minibuses and trucks. They will come to you at the time specified by you and take you where you need to go. Possible meeting at the airport or railway station.

You can order a transfer in advance here: http://prielbrusie-ski.ru/order-transfer/

Connection

At the ski resorts of the Caucasus, the communication of mobile operators Megafon, MTS and Beeline works best. Do not forget that you will be in the roaming zone. Incoming calls are charged, outgoing calls are charged. Check the cost of services with your telecom operator.

Use walkie-talkies to communicate with friends on the slopes.

Wi-Fi and internet cafe

There is a cafe for access to the network in the boarding house "Cheget" on the glade of the same name. Another one in Terskol. Wi-Fi is provided by many hotels and boarding houses.

The highest altitudes in Europe, long slopes for descents of various degrees of difficulty, a pleasant climate, snowy winters, comfortable temperatures and a lot of sun - these are the factors for which the mountains of the North Caucasus are so loved.

The Elbrus region attracts many lovers of skiing and freeride, from professionals to beginners. If the Elbrus Azau resort is perfect for the latter, then professionals should pay attention to Cheget.

We have studied all the features of the infrastructure and slopes of the resorts so that you can prepare and make an informed choice, as well as update the prices for the 2016/2017 ski season.

By plane

From distant places it is convenient to fly to this ski resort by plane. Tickets must be taken to Mineralnye Vody airports (you can set aside half a day for) or Nalchik ().

Airport Mineralnye Vody: direct flights from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Yekaterinburg, Lipetsk, Norilsk, Simferopol, etc. From other cities, a flight with a transfer in Moscow is possible.
Travel time from Moscow: 2 hours
6,000 - 9,000 rubles

Nalchik Airport: direct flights from Moscow. From other cities, a flight with a transfer in Moscow is possible.
Travel time from Moscow: 2 hours
Average round-trip ticket price: from 11 000 rubles

Specify the exact price of air tickets for the dates you need:

By train

If trains are closer to you, then in addition to Nalchik and Mineralnye Vody, you can go to Prokhladny or Pyatigorsk.

There are trains from many major Russian cities to Mineralnye Vody and Pyatigorsk.
Travel time from Moscow: 1 day

To the slopes of Elbrus and Cheget by bus/car

The distance to the slopes from Nalchik is 130 km. A little further from Mineralnye Vody - 180 km.

When driving by car, you need to get to the post of the city of Baksan, and then keep heading for the villages of Tyrnyauz and Elbrus, behind which the resort area will be located.

Villages of the resort area

ski season

Buying a ski pass for the entire stay on vacation you save money;
Don't wait in line to buy a one-time ski pass.

A small clarification: if you want to use the drag lift, then the general ski pass does not apply to it. You will need to buy a single ticket.

There are two main ski areas in the Elbrus region: Elbrus Azau and Cheget. We will tell you more about them.

Elbrus - Azau

You need to start your acquaintance with alpine skiing from the Elbrus slope in the first stage.

A day or two is definitely needed to get used to the climate. If you immediately rise to the maximum height, you can easily catch altitude sickness.

A beautiful official video about the 2015/16 season on Elbrus:

Prices for ski passes for cable cars of the Elbrus-Azau slope

There are three lifts on the slopes of Elbrus-Azau - the first, second and third stages. The price of the ski pass depends on the number of days for which the ski pass is purchased, the dates (holidays are more expensive), and the lifts used. Below is information from the official website of the resort at prices for the season 2018/2019:

In addition to the actual cost, they will also charge you 100 rubles for a plastic card ski pass, and will refund the amount after the card is returned.

The first turn is the lowest point for skiing, the third is the highest. The higher you are going to climb and the longer the slopes available to you, the more expensive the ski pass will cost.

Below we will analyze which lifts go where and how these queues differ from each other.

Cableways

There are as many as 7 of them on the slope of Elbrus, one of which is still under construction. The length of the roads is divided into 3 parts - 2 transfers.

Third line will take you to a height of 3780 meters in 15 minutes on the Elbrus chairlift. The gondola cable car duplicating this kilometer-long lift is not yet ready for commissioning.

You can climb even higher - to "Shelter-11", using a snowcat or snowmobile. The ascent will take about 20 minutes and will cost from 400 rubles.

The drag road goes along the Azau glade for 5 minutes and raises it from the mark of 2300 meters to 2500.

Elbrus-Azau tracks

From "Priyut-11" to "Gara-Bashi" there is a wide gentle slope, suitable for teaching beginners when they get used to the highlands.
From "Gara-Bashi" to the station "Mir" the height difference will be 280 meters. Gently sloping and wide, the track is quite steep and has been assigned an average degree of difficulty. The right is narrower and steeper than the left.
From the "Mir" to the "Staryy krugozor" the height difference is 500 meters. The beginning of this section is only for the most experienced. A little lower the descent will be within the power of an amateur who is firmly on skis.
From the "Krugozor" to the Azau glade, the difference is 650 meters. Narrow and steep at first, the trail gradually widens to medium difficulty.

Here on this video you can clearly see the descent from the Mir Station to the Azau glade, 4.5 km:

The total length of the slope from the Garabashi point to Azau is 6815 meters, with a track width of 60 to 80 meters, which meets international standards for skiing.

Garabashi Gorge, Terskol Gorge, Observatory and Semifinal, as well as several smaller life-threatening trails, are used by freeriding fans.

Despite a serious rescue service and the presence of guides who can warn about the dangers and features of a particular route, accidents sometimes occur.

People die due to negligence, avalanches or falling into cracks twenty meters deep outside the areas of rolled tracks.

Cheget

The slopes of Mount Cheget are definitely not for beginners.

Ski pass on Cheget

Cheget cable cars

Chair "Cheget-2" of the second stage raises to a height of 3000 meters in 6 minutes. In these minutes, 900 meters of the mountain slope will fly under you.

Tracks of Cheget

In total, there are 15 tracks on Cheget, with a total length of 20 km. The height difference from the top to the bottom is 950 meters.

Roughness, steep slopes, pine forest attract freeriders. Snowboarders prefer the southern slope - it is wider, although it retains the steepness of the slope.

Video of freeriders on Cheget:

Housing

Boarding houses and hotels

Or use hotel aggregators (Booking, Ostrovok, Oktogo) - there you can find true reviews and take advantage of aggregator bonuses.

Private sector

Accompanying services

rental

Rent per day is considered. A deposit and/or document is required for equipment or equipment.

Rental locations often provide repair services for damaged equipment.

Shops with sports equipment

Terskol: "Alpindustriya", "Tourist Equipment", "Elbrus Navigator", "Open World"
Glade Azau: "Vertical"

Pharmacies

At the station of the cable car "Azau"
In the boarding house "Cheget" and the hotel "Snow Leopard" on the glade Cheget
In the post office building in Terskol
In the village of Tyrnauz

ATMs

In the village of Terskol - "Eurokommerz" and "Sberbank of Russia" in the hotel "Elbrussia", the Caucasian Development Bank at the tourist center "Terskol"
Polyana Cheget - "Sberbank of Russia" in the boarding house "Cheget"

Personal instructor

There are instructors teaching children.

You can catch such an important person near the lifts or directly during the briefing in the clearings.

Each coach has his own approach. It will be better if you observe his work for a while from the side, and then make a decision to hire or not.

If this is your first time skiing, don't skimp on beginner advice. They can not only bring you pleasure, but also keep you healthy.

Transfer

Connection

Use walkie-talkies to communicate with friends on the slopes.

Wi-Fi and internet cafe

There is a cafe for access to the network in the boarding house "Cheget" on the glade of the same name. Another one in Terskol. Wi-Fi is provided by many hotels and boarding houses.

Sights and entertainment of Elbrus region

There is one on our website, including one near Elbrus - it will help you plan your visit.

You can diversify your leisure time in the Elbrus region by visiting such places:

National Park "Prielbrusye"
Valley of Narzanov
Chegem waterfalls
Waterfall "Girl's Braids"
Bezengi Glacier
Blue Lake

You can also play paintball in Terskol, learn helibiking - mountain biking, ride horses of the famous Karachay breed, visit a nightclub, a disco bar, a sauna, of which there are plenty right on the glades of Cheget and Azau. Many hotels organize billiard tournaments.

Legislative framework of the Russian Federation Order 1085 on the licensing of pharmaceutical activities

Rules for the passage of passengers and the carriage of luggage in shuttle buses