This trek is suitable for experienced hikers, although no previous technical mountaineering experience is required. You'll need to muster a high level of mental and physical strength to summit this 5054m peak, so a good level of fitness is required. This trek is suitable for those who exercise regularly and who have some recent prior experience of multi-day hiking, and ideally trekking at altitude. The summit day is a long and tough day involving approximately 11 hours of trekking and 1400m of ascent and 2040m of descent. You must come prepared for the cold on summit day, and with suitable equipment to deal with this. Although the route has been designed with acclimatisation in mind, the thin air at these altitudes will make this feel tougher. In terms of terrain, you will be walking on some narrow rocky trails and on snow and ice - crampons will be needed on multiple days of the trek. It's very important you bring or hire the correct equipment. You'll be roped up for the glacier traverse and the summit attempt for safety, as well as during any adverse weather. Your guide will provide some basic training on aspects such as the use of crampons, ice axes and walking in a rope team prior to the ascent.

When you trek in the mountains, there's always the risk of getting altitude sickness, regardless of how old, young, fit or unfit you are. We would expect most trekkers to feel some mild symptoms of altitude sickness (headache, sleeplessness, heavy breathing) when over 3500m. Our guides are trained to identify the symptoms of altitude sickness so if any more serious symptoms are noted, there is a strict procedure regarding extra care or a rapid descent if needed. All of our trips have been designed with altitude best practice in mind so acclimatisation days have been built in.

Your trip will be led by English-speaking internationally certified mountain guides to ensure your safety throughout. They will be assisted by 2 - 4 local guides depending on the size of your group. All of the guides are local residents of the Republic of Georgia.

On this tour, there is a planned ‘summit day’ on Day 4, followed by a ‘reserve day’ on Day 5. Your guide will decide on which of these days to make your summit attempt based on the best weather window for doing so. Please note, however, that only one summit attempt is included in the price of the tour. It is common practice for guides in this region to charge an additional fee of €500 per guide (there is one guide for every three customers) for any additional summit attempts. An additional summit attempt will not be offered if your first attempt fails due to the physical abilities of your group. If however, your initial summit attempt is curtailed due to the weather closing in, and there is a brighter outlook for the reserve day, then it may be possible to make a second summit attempt (for an additional charge - paid locally to your guides).

If everything goes according to plan and the weather is favourable on the planned summit day, you will descend as per the itinerary and enjoy some time in the beautiful village of Stepantsminda where you can explore the rich culture of Georgia.

Mountain climates are notoriously unpredictable so it is essential to bring cold weather gear and layers to adjust your temperature as required. At low elevations the average daytime temperature from June to September is 20-25˚C, however, at 5000m the temperature will drop considerably. For every 1000m of ascent, the temperature can be expected to drop by approximately 6.5°C. From July to August the temperature at Base Camp is usually between 0°C and 10°C (although it's not unknown for it to fall to -10°C or colder). At the summit it's typically -10°C to -20°C (but in extreme conditions, it can be much colder).

Sure can! Over 50% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Any excess luggage can be safely left with your local host at the start of the trip. Any kit needed on the mountain will need to be packed into your main 65-70-litre rucksack, which will be carried to Altihut where it will be stored until your descent. Beyond Altihut and for summit day you will need to take only your 35-litre daypack. On summit day you can store any unnecessary equipment at Mateo Station and pick it up again on the way down - a 35-litre pack will be sufficient to carry your essentials for the push to the summit.

We recommend checking out the country specific information here and also talking to a travel nurse.

For current advice about travelling in Georgia, have a read of the UK Foreign Office pages here.

Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.

Travel insurance is compulsory on all of our adventures. Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure.

Your insurance policy should also include specific Covid-19 cover, including cancellation and curtailment cover if you, your travel companion or a close relative are diagnosed with Covid-19.

We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.

You're in good company. Our adventures are typically made up of a mix of solo travellers and small groups of two or three friends who simply love adventure, pushing themselves and meeting awesome like-minded people. See here for more info about our lovely bunch of Much Better Adventurers.

Want to book a private trip? Just tap ‘Private Group’ in the dates and prices tab.

Your trip is led by carefully curated local hosts and expert guides. See here for more info about the guides we work with.