Shkhara is the high point and the eastern anchor of a massif known as the Bezingi (or Bezengi) Wall, a ridge. It is a large, steep peak in a heavily glaciated region, and presents serious challenges to mountaineers. Its north face (on the Russian side) is high and contains several classic difficult routes. The significant sub-summit Shkhara West, at , is a climbing objective in its own right, and a traverse of the entire Bezingi Wall is considered Europe's longest, most arduous, and most committing expedition.