The summit lies in the central part of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range, to the south-east of Mount Elbrus.

[7] Shkhara is the high point and the eastern anchor of a massif known as the Bezengi Wall, a 11–12-kilometre-long (6.8–7.5 mi) ridge.

Its north face (on the Russian side) is 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) high and contains several classic difficult routes.

The significant sub-summit Shkhara West, at 5,068 m (16,627 ft), 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".

[4] The peak was first climbed in 1888 via the North East Ridge route, by the British/Swiss team of English climber John Garford Cockin and Swiss guides Ulrich Almer and Christian Roth.