Climbing Banguriani - Classic Route

Characteristics of Banguriani

Mount Banguriani reaches 3,837 meters above sea level and sits on the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus, in Mestia Municipality. The beautiful town of Mestia is stretched at the foot of the peak.

On the way to the summit, you will come across an alpine zone, ridges, rocky slopes, and snow-covered terrain.

Day One

From the town of Mestia, you can arrive at the starting point of the route by car. From there, at an altitude of 1,962 meters, follow the footpath that goes, through the forest and climbs the ridge. After passing the ridge, you will arrive at the campsite at 3,000 meters above sea level, in the alpine zone, on rocky terrain. From there, you can see all of Mestia, several nearby villages, and the rocks of Chalaati.

The vertical ascent on this day is 1,038 meters and takes around 7 hours.

Day Two

You will leave the camp early morning on a rope team and follow the rocky ridge, with several snowy sections on it, leading to the summit.

From the top of the peak, you will have a chance to enjoy spectacular views of Kabardino-Balkaria mountains and the surroundings of Mestia. Stay on top for five to ten minutes and then start your way back down to the campsite.

The vertical ascent is 838 meters and takes around 5-6 hours.

Day Three

From the campsite, return to the starting point following the same route. The way back will take about 4 hours and in case of bad weather or acclimatization difficulties, add an extra day to the itinerary. 

Additional Information

The best time to climb Banguriani is from mid-July to the end of September.

The starting point of the route is 7 km away from the center of Mestia and you can rent an off-road vehicle at the Mestia bus station.