Who among us hasn't thought about spending a vacation in the mountains, or hasn't envied beautiful photos from social networks or magazines with images of conquered peaks? We can talk endlessly about the benefits of such a holiday: it is fresh air, new experiences, and physical activity. Going to the mountains, it is not at all necessary to prepare to climb gentle slopes. After all, holidays in the mountains are so diverse that they can satisfy almost any tourist: as they say, for every taste and budget.
By the way, in order to enjoy the beautiful nature, recreation and sports in the mountains, there is no need to prepare a tidy sum and a passport: there are many wonderful places in Russia that allow you to fully admire the alpine landscapes. Mount Elbrus is one of the most popular places for mountain lovers.
Why is it worth going to Elbrus by car?
Traveling in your own vehicle is the best way to go. Why? Everything is quite simple. To the footElbrus, of course, planes do not fly and trains do not go. When you reach a city that has an airport or a railway station, you will have to look for a car in any case to get first to the foot of the mountain, and then to the tourist base on its slope.
Of course, Elbrus is very popular with tourists, and transport goes there daily. But you must admit: getting to Elbrus by car is easier than planning a route taking into account transfers. In addition, when choosing a car, you will not have to wait for the departure time of the transport and be afraid to miss your bus, you will not have to drag your suitcase from one place to another.
On the way to Elbrus there are several small towns and villages with interesting traditions and cultural monuments, the population of which gladly accepts tourists. In addition, the road runs through very picturesque places. Most likely, you will want to stop and take a picture or look at an interesting place along the way more than once. Therefore, it is most convenient to go to Elbrus by car - so you definitely will not miss anything interesting!
Cons of traveling by car
It would be wrong to say that the road to Elbrus by car is a pleasant and easy pastime. When setting off in your own car, be prepared to face the downsides associated with this type of travel.
You should always have an experienced driver who can navigate difficult traffic situations and be ready to drive most of the day. Traveling by car always requires tourists to be more collected and independent. Soberly assess your capabilities and leave yourself time for rest and sleep. Think about it: are you ready for this trip? Perhaps it would be better to limit yourself to a tourist trip to Elbrus and spend a vacation at sea?
What you need to know in advance
Plan your route in advance and find out where hotels, cafes and gas stations are located. Read reviews of hotels and cafes. Even if you don't plan to sleep on the road or plan to spend the night in your car, find your accommodation options in case of force majeure.
To the tourist bases on Elbrus by car you will have to get along the serpentine. Be mentally prepared to drive on a winding mountain road. By the way, according to the stories of tourists, local youth will not be averse to arranging small races with you along a mountain road. Remember that such bravado is dangerous even in ordinary urban environments!
Stock on non-perishable food and water in advance in case you get hungry and thirsty along the way and the nearest store is closed.
Determine where you will sleep. Experienced tourists are advised to stay for the night (in case you do not want to sleep in a hotel) in well-lit and guarded places - for example, in parking lots near gas stations.
Choose the places you must visit on your way to Elbrus. When moving by car, you decide where and how long you can stay!
Experienced tourists warn that there are many traffic police posts on the border territory of Karachay-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkaria, cars forchecks stop quite often. Be prepared for the fact that during the trip you will go through the procedure of document verification several times.
According to local residents, it is better to refuel at the stations of well-known chains. Small local gas stations may sell low-quality fuel.
Many tourists complain that they planned their time incorrectly and regret that they could not stay longer in Elbrus. Based on the reviews, the optimal time to travel to Elbrus by car is 10-14 days.
How to get there
Do you know where Elbrus is? Going to Elbrus by car, knowing that he is “somewhere in the Caucasus” will obviously not be enough. The mountain is located on the border of two republics: Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia and is an extinct volcano. The closest way to get to Elbrus is from Pyatigorsk - from there the path to the foot of the mountain takes from 100 to 150 km.
Stock up with maps of the surroundings in advance and look at the navigator how to get to Elbrus by car.
Choice of clothes
Because the weather in the mountains changes with particular frequency, don't forget to bring both warm and summer clothes with you. Going for a walk, take three types of clothes with you: summer, warm and windproof. By combining them, you can spend your vacation as comfortably as possible. As for shoes, you should not take winter boots and boots with you. Sneakers will suffice. According to experienced travelers, you will not be cold in these shoes, despite the fact that in the mountains you will be surroundedcenturies-old caps of snow.
Local population
So, we figured out how to get to Elbrus by car and what to take with you on a trip. An important question remains: how to behave with the local population? There are quite a lot of various rumors about the North Caucasus and there are many stereotypes. But do not be afraid: the population of the Elbrus region has a very positive attitude towards tourists. All that is required of you is a good mood, common courtesy and respect for another culture.
How to budget
A trip to Elbrus by car, according to reviews, is not too expensive. Most of the money is spent on fuel for the car and food. You can calculate in advance how much money you will spend on gas by looking at the maps, what distance you will have to cover. Please note that a trip to Elbrus will be more fuel-efficient than a descent from it, due to the fact that more gasoline will be spent on the ascent.
According to tourists, about 8 thousand are spent on food for a week for three. But here everything is very individual and depends on where and how you will eat.
Toll roads will take quite a bit of money - about 1000 rubles.
Souvenirs will cost one and a half to two thousand.
When is the best time to go?
According to reviews, the summer season is the most suitable for relaxing in the Elbrus region. At this time of the year, at the foot of the mountain, there is a real hot summer with all its charms, and winter and eternal snow reign on the peaks. The temperature on the slopes of Elbrus can drop to zero degrees and a little lower. However, due to the hot sun andalmost no cold snow.
But going to Elbrus by car in the summer, it is worth considering that the Krasnodar Territory is overflowing with tourists at this time of the year. Therefore, there is a possibility that on the way to Elbrus you will lose time in traffic jams. Experienced tourists are advised to plan their route in such a way as to pass through the places with the greatest concentration of cars at night.
Interesting places on the way to Elbrus
Traveling by car implies complete freedom of movement. Therefore, you need to decide in advance where you would like to go on the way to the treasured mountain. In addition to the fact that you will drive along the road laid in the valley between the picturesque mountains, several beautiful and interesting tourist places will be waiting for you.
The road to Elbrus starts in front of the village of Baksan and moves along the river of the same name. It is a cold and fast mountain river, surrounded by incredibly beautiful slopes and trees. Behind the bridge across the river, the first attraction awaits you - a monument to the conquerors of Elbrus.
Thirty km before Elbrus, the ghost town of Tyrnyauz will be waiting for you. Once, in Soviet times, the town was built and developed due to the work of a tungsten plant there. But the USSR ceased to exist, and the plant closed. People, in search of work and a better life, left the city. Only abandoned high-rise buildings remained, surrounded by beautiful nature.
You can visit the Narzanov Glade, where you can get water from mineral springs, have a snack and buysouvenirs.
Tourists are interested in the village of Terskol, which is now a cozy place for inexpensive accommodation for guests of the Elbrus region.
Elbrus would not be himself if it were not adjacent to Mount Cheget, which complements its greatness and beauty. In translation, "Cheget" means "Being in the shadow." Of course, Elbrus overshadows Cheget with its beauty and grandeur, but this mountain offers the most beautiful view of Elbrus. Local guides advise climbing it first to acclimatize and get used to the pressure in the mountains.
The last sight on the way to Elbrus is Azau glade. Here you can rent a room, buy souvenirs and, finally, park your car and buy a ticket for the cable car to Elbrus!
Where to stay in the mountains
The closest thing would be to stop at the Azau glade or at the Cheget glade. The second most remote option will be hotels in the village of Terskol. And, finally, the village of Elbrus, located a little further away, but still conveniently located for tourists, is ready to offer several hotels with rooms for every taste and budget.
Entertainment on Elbrus
Elbrus, first of all, is a ski resort. Therefore, entertainment here corresponds to this status. You can go skiing and snowboarding, rent a snowmobile, or go hiking or hiking.
If active recreation does not bring you pleasure, you can relax inrestaurants, cafes and bars of Elbrus, sunbathe and take photos against the backdrop of dazzlingly beautiful landscapes.
