MCS AlexClimb sightseeing program
MCS AlexClimbThe value of a real journey is not in achieving a single goal: be it a summit or a new route category.
Impressions should be varied – this makes each of them infinitely more vivid.
Gradually, another layer of travel has grown around my mountain routes – what I jokingly call "the side effect of mountaineering." This is what goes beyond the climb, but makes it even more exciting.
Small towns, museums, ancient castles and strange local legends, streets where you can stroll along after dropping off your heavy climbing backpack at a cozy hotel.
Think about it:
Visiting Peru, even with the most ambitious mountaineering goals, and not seeing with your own eyes the one-of-a-kind monument of the vanished Inca civilization – Machu Picchu?!
Not strolling the narrow streets of Cusco between ancient granite walls, built in mysterious ways by unknown masters? To ignore this whole layer of incredible impressions would be unforgivable.
Still, some places on our planet are worth seeing them with your own eyes at least once!
...When, emaciated, with a nose sunburned from climbing Mount Huascaran, I reached the ruins of Machu Picchu for the first time, my amazement knew no bounds. Expecting to see a boring tourist attraction, I was stunned. The monument was alive, breathing history, filled with a palpable, mysterious atmosphere.
Since then, visiting Machu Picchu has become an essential part of any itinerary for me in Peru. Every time I visit the ruins of an ancient city, I make new discoveries, noticing small details I'd previously missed...
This is just one example of how a historical tour unexpectedly enhances the experience of climbing mountains. I have many successful combinations:
Georgia, Svaneti: Climbing Mount Laila, Tetnuld, or Ushba / Mestia museums
Norway: Ice climbing / excursion to Bergen and a walk along the Bryggen embankment, where the smell of ancient wooden houses mingles with the aromas of fresh seafood
Spain, Mallorca: Rock climbing / exploring the atmosphere of medieval towns of the Island
Italy, Val d'Aosta: Climbing Mont Blanc, Matterhorn, or Monte Rosa / Getting to know the area's feudal history / Trip to Venice
Spain, Menorca: Rock Climbing / Immersion in the mysterious atmosphere of the Talayotic Civilization, which fills every nook and corner of the island
Egypt: rock climbing / visiting the Great Pyramids
Bolivia: climbing Huayna Potosi / trip to the Salar de Uyuni or Lake Titicaca
I could go on and on - believe me. I found, experienced and developed the program for each of these excursions myself, finding the most valuable things to share it with like-minded people.
Museum tours, walks in the ancient atmospheric places, visits to cultural, historical, or natural attractions - all this makes any mountaineering program more complete, emotionally rich, and memorable.
While expanding the range of attention, the core of my programs always remains mountaineering and the mountains.
Climbing to the summit is the central emotion of the journey, and any excursion blocks, regardless of their duration, are merely a "beautiful setting for a precious stone." Inexpensive in itself, it doubles the value of what it contains.
Ready-made excursion blocks are an option; they can be included in the climbing program at your discretion and choice.
The most part of the expenses (airfare, insurance, accommodation, transportation) is usually distributed among the main part of the program – a mountain expedition, climbing, trekking, or training module.
That allows me to organize an excursion program on a significantly smaller budget than if buying a ready-made product from a travel agency.
ll the excursion programs I offer, even the most interesting ones, are rarely organized separately from the mountaineering or climbing – their value lies precisely in the combination of activities! First we climb the mountain, then we enrich ourselves culturally.
Text and photographs by Alex Trubachev
International mountain guide, rock and ice climbing coach
MCS EDIT 2025