To make the most of your climbing experience you must train in the months leading up to your trip. Summit day on Mont Blanc is 10-12 hours long and gains over 1500m in elevation. Combine these factors with an altitude of over 4000m and the need to arrive with a good level of cardiovascular fitness is even more vital.
Learn to climb—and complete an ascent of the highest peak in the Alps at the same time!
The Mont Blanc Course and Ascent is a good option for experienced climbers who wish to brush up on rudimentary skills, as the instructional days are also programmed to deliver vital acclimatisation during the early stages of the course.
Initial instructional days of the Mont Blanc Course & Ascent include snow and ice-craft training, followed by nearby ascents in preparation for the Mont Blanc summit attempt in the final days of the course. Run on a 1:1 or 1:2 ratio, you can come alone or bring a friend to enjoy the exhilaration of a completely new experience and make inroads into the world of mountaineering.
- Learn to climb, and ascend Mont Blanc in the same week
- Enjoy the supportive instruction from our friendly IFMGA guides
Climbing Ability
Climbing Ability
Beginner
Elevation
Elevation
4,807m/15,771ft
Duration
Duration
6 days
Location
Location
Chamonix, France
ITINERARY
DAY 0
Arrive in Chamonix, check in to your hotel. Hotel night
DAY 1
Meet your guide for an early morning briefing and gear check. Either take the Aiguille du Midi lift and Le Panoramique or travel through the Mont Blanc tunnel and ascend via the Funivie Monte Bianco to Point Hellbronner 3,462m/11,358ft. Climb the Aiguille de Toule 3,534m/11,594ft and then spend the afternoon going over crampon and rope skills and travelling over glaciated terrain. Overnight at the Torino Hut 3,375m/11,073ft
DAY 2
Traverse of the Aiguilles Marbrées 3,535m/11,598ft with rock, scrambling and crevasse rescue skills. Overnight at Torino Hut
DAY 3
Climb the Traverse of the Aiguille d’Entrèves 3,604m/11,824ft then either return via the Panoramique lift or head back down the Skyway Monte Bianco and descend to Chamonix for the night
DAY 4
| Take the lift to Bellevue and the Mont Blanc Tramway 2380m/7800ft, and trek to Tête Rousse hut 3,187m/10,377ft or take the Aiguille du Midi lift and trek to Cosmiques hut. Enjoy an early night |
DAY 5
Very early start for the ascent of Mont Blanc - 8 hrs from Tête Rousse, 7 hrs from Cosmiques - and descend to either Goûter or Tête Rousse hut if on the Goûter route or Cosmiques hut if on the Cosmiques route, 5 hrs. Sometimes it will be possible to descend to Chamonix the same day
DAY 6
Descend to Les Houches, transfer to Chamonix. Debrief. Hotel night
DAY 7
| Breakfast, a chance to exchange photographs and departure. Airport transfers are not included but we can arrange this for you |
Departures and Pricing
Note: Dates are subject to change due to many factors out of our control
Already have climbing experience? Book a Mont Blanc Guided Ascent instead
PREPARE
Fitness
Technical Experience
Technically speaking, Mont Blanc is not especially difficult but it is very physically demanding due to the altitude and the length of the summit day, and thus requires a good level of fitness. The Mont Blanc Course and Ascent programme is suitable for people wanting to learn general mountaineering skills and then climb a classic and challenging 4000m peak. Some rock climbing or scrambling experience is desirable but prior use of ice axe and crampons is not required.
Altitude Experience
Summit day on Mont Blanc is 10–12 hours long and gains over 1,500m/5,000ft in elevation. Combine these factors with an altitude of over 4,000m/15,000ft and the need to arrive with a good level of cardiovascular fitness is even more important. Our 6-day itinerary allows you to acclimatise for climbing at 4000m, as during the initial training period you are gaining the acclimatisation advantage of sleeping at altitude.
Why Adventure Consultants?
We only employ IFMGA qualified guides for European ascents and courses and this is the only certification that is recognised in the French Alps. In order to gain these qualifications guides must undergo rigorous training and assessment on climbing skills, instructional skills, avalanche training and assessment, wilderness first aid, rescue training and much more. The qualification takes many years to attain and ensures you are getting a world class professional service.
We operate the Mont Blanc Guided Ascent on a ratio of one guide to one or two climbers. This means you can come by yourself or bring a friend for the 1:2 guided ascent. You benefit from the higher degree of personal tuition from your guide and your skills will be accelerated because of this. If you are a seasoned climber and want to attempt a more technical training climb prior to the Mt Blanc ascent then please enquire at the booking stage for other options.
You will have the undivided attention of your guide throughout the duration of your trip who will be willing to help you revise technical skills throughout the programme. Most other guide companies will amalgamate you into large groups through the acclimatisation stage of the trip then put you with a single guide (or two people with a guide) on summit day as a cost cutting measure. We do not believe this is in your best interest so we adhere to the same guide policy throughout the time you are with us.
Inclusions
The price of your trip includes the following:
- Qualified mountain guide
- Group technical equipment
- Lift passes as per the scheduled itinerary
- Hut accommodation as per the scheduled itinerary
- Hotel accommodation on a B&B basis during trip dates as specified on the schedule, including first / last night of your trip
- Local ground transport as per the scheduled itinerary
- Breakfast & dinner during mountain component of course/trip.
Our Guides
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