Kazbek South-East

South Caucasus. Georgia. Climbing Mount Kazbek (5033 m) from South East via Devdorak gorge (Old classic route)

Altitude: 5033 m
Program category: Mountain Climbing
Difficulty: basic (SPECIAL SKILLS ARE NOT REQUIRED)
Duration: 6 days
Season: June - September
Program price from: 750 Euro

• 26.06.21 - 03.07.21Group 8 part. 750 EURO booking

The forgotten classic of the famous Mount Kazbek (5033 m) old route from South East via Devdorak gorge.

Amid the apparent rise in popularity of the climbing Mount Kazbek among tourists and climbers from many countries, almost all the activity on Mount Kazbek is concentrated on its south-west side, from which hundreds of outdoor enthusiasts climb daily along a fairly well-trodden and garbage marked trail. Certainly, Mount Kazbek is a very interesting and beautiful peak, the ascent of which can become a really bright achievement for any person, who is keen on the outdoor activities and mountaineering. However, not everyone understands how the impression of being in the mountains can be spoiled by crowds, abundance of human garbage along the entire ascent route to the desired summit. Unfortunately, these inevitable companions of a sharp rise of the popularity in all their glory are visible if one is climbing Mount Kazbek from Georgia, via the normal route from Gergeti plateau starting from Stepantsminda village. The route, not known to anybody 20 years ago, today attracts huge crowds of visitors both trekkers and climbers.

For having a good time in the mountains, the peace, silence and clean environment are vitally important - you must agree, without these attributes, the nature of the mountains loses its most valuable trait, so precious for the climbing people. Guided by this postulate, I try to avoid as much as possible the super-popular routes, passing to the routes which are not that popular and sometimes more complex technically, but retaining their original purity of the ascent lines to the summits. In the case of Mount Kazbek, originally at the moment there are two basic routes from the South - Georgia (Gergeti) and from the North – Russia (Karmadon), in 2019 it was decided among the MCS AlexClimb guides to expand the collection of our climbing Kazbek routes. We decided to include into our program of the climbs for 2019 an old and undeservedly forgotten climbing route to the famous Mount Kazbek via Devdorak glacier which flows from the summit to the South East side. At the dawn of Soviet mountaineering, this line of ascent to the top of Mount Kazbek was so popular that a mountaineering shelter was built on the side moraine of the Devdorak glacier. But now only ruins remain of that shelter. Today, all of the Mount Kazbek’s popularity is focused on the South route using the facilities of the Meteo Station shelter, but if you are looking for something different in the mountains than bazaar bustles and piles of shitty rubbish around crowded tourist camping sites, then this option should definitely interest you - climbing Mount Kazbek via the Devdorak Gorge route is a completely new look at the famous mountain, your way to get the new and vivid impressions of the pure beauty of the fantastic Caucasian mountains.

This 6-day program "Climbing Kazbek through the Devdorak Gorge, Georgia" is designed for people who have basic experience of climbing mountain peaks and who are physically fit enough to go for an autonomous alpine climbing route without extra support, porters, shelters. The route is of the moderate technical difficulty level and, in addition to basic climbing skills, requires good physical condition. Regardless your climbing experience, we recommend the Course of general physical preparation and passing MCS AlexClimb Course of Mountain Technique (advanced level) before participating in this program.

The First Principle of MCS AlexClimb
The First Rule, by which we are guided in the development of our mountain programs - is safety. Professional Guides lead the group, the highest quality certificated equipment and the most modern navigation equipment are used. This guarantees the highest possible level of your safety in the mountains, which is the most important side of our work. As for Kamchatka programs - in addition to our climbing safety issues, the armed ranger accompanies the group to protect participants from too close contact with the wild life.

Program Schedule

The AlexClimb Georgia climbing schedule (Climbing Mount Kazbek via Devdorak gorge 2021 from Georgia):

Guided ascent of Kazbek (5033 m) South East Route
Easy Climb, Basic level

Day 1 – Pick up in Tbilisi, excursion to the Dzhvari monastery, transfer to Stepanzminda village, overnight in the hotel.
Day 2 – 4x4 transfer to the base of the South East route, overnight at the old camping site by the ancient shelter ruins, Camp I 1800 m.
Day 3 – Approach to the middle morain camping site on the Devdorak glacier, setting the Camp II 3800 m, overnight in the tents
Day 4 - Night Summit attempt – if the condition of the group and the weather permit – climbing the Summit of Kazbek (5033 m) via the North ice plateau where all the Kazbek routes merge for the Summit part. Descent to the Camp II, overnight in the tents.
Day 5 - Spare Summit day, overnight in the tents
Day 6  - Descent to Stepanzminda  village, transfer to Tbilisi

Prices and conditions

The price of the "Climbing Kazbek from South East via Devdorak Gorge 2021 from Georgia":

750 Euro* - standart group 5-10 participants
1100 Euro* - mini-group 3-4 participants
1580 Euro* - private program for 1-2 participants
* price per person

You have to be ready for:

• 4-5 days of camping life in the field conditions;
• Cooking your meals by yourself while climbing mountains;
• Carrying a 15-20 kg backpack;
• Air temperature can be down to -20°C on the altitude higher than 3000 m;

Conditions: minimum 6 participants, the Brief AlexClimb course of mountain technique is recommended before the trip.
The price includes: Professional mountain guide services, rent of the communal equipment (ropes, belaying and navigation equipment, cooking gear), hotel accommodation, transfers from the point of the beginning of the program to its end (Tbilisi), using the communal basic medical kit, local registering and climbing permits, food for outdoor part of the program.
The cost does not include: Georgian visa charges*, International and domestic flight expenses to and from the point of the beginning of the program (Tbilisi), obligatory climbing insurance, rent of the personal equipment, food and drinks while being in cities, using the satellite phone.
Group capacity: 8
Guides: 2

*Most European citizens do not need visa for entering Georgia, check that in Georgian consulate in your home country.

Detailed conditions and limitations on the program "Georgia. Climbing Kazbek" can be read in the Offer section