Climb Mont Blanc
- Trekking peaks
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Arrive at Geneva airport and transfer to the beautiful mountain town of Chamonix. The drive from the airport is roughly 90 mins and on arrival, you can check in at your hotel and spend some time exploring the town. Later you will attend a pre-climb briefing with your Guide to prepare you for your climb. There are many typical Savoyard restaurants close to your hotel where you can sample some alpine specialities, such as cheese fondue, tartiflette or raclette.
We will spend the morning in Chamonix with our guide, reviewing the itinerary, checking kit and assisting with any equipment rental that may be required. We will then depart for the village of Le Tour, where we will take a small two-stage cable car to the Col de Balme (2204m). From here we will begin our trek to the Albert Premier refuge on the Glacier du Tour (2702m). Here we will spend the afternoon training in the snow and ice climbing on the glacier.
Today we will climb the glacier from the refuge to La Tête Blanche (3429m). We will then cross the Col Supérieur du Tour to reach the Trient refuge.
From the Trient refuge, we will climb back over the Col Supérieur du Tour and head down the slope, passing the Albert Premier refuge (where we can have a short but well-deserved break). Once we are back in the village of Le Tour, the guide will brief us on the following days’ programme. Details will include weather conditions in the mountains and he will pair you up for the ascent of the Mont Blanc (depending on who you are travelling with and your ability level). We will return to Chamonix to rest for the night.
Our ascent of Mont Blanc begins fairly easily. We take a minibus to Les Houches and then the cable car to Bellevue train station. From here, we catch the Victorian rack railway – “Tramway du Mont Blanc” – to Nid d’Aigle (2372m). We then walk up a winding track, offering stunning views over the Chamonix valley. After a short walk we arrive on a snow-covered area leading to the brand new Tête Rousse refuge (3167m). We can spend the afternoon relaxing and acclimatising, and admire the view of the north face of the Aiguille de Bionnassay.
Setting off in the early hours, we start climbing the rocky tracks of the Aiguille du Goûter. A wide passage in the lower slopes in prone to rock fall, so it is very important to follow the guide’s instructions through this section. The rest of the ascent has sections equipped with cables or ropes, and requires some scrambling. Trekking in the darkness we will soon reach the Dôme du Goûter (4304m). As we continue towards the summit, we will reach the Vallot Bivouac, an unmanned refuge usually used for emergency protection for mountain climbers. By now the sun will be coming up, providing us with a much-needed boost as we begin to climb the Bosses Ridge. For 2-3 hours, we climb the ridge to the summit, which can be narrow and exposed, but we are rewarded with spectacular views in all directions. From the highest point in Western Europe at 4810m, we can see deep into the French, Italian and Swiss alps. After celebrating our achievement, we begin the descent. We retrace our footsteps down the Bosses Ridge and overnight at the futuristic-looking Goûter refuge, perched on a cliff on the Aiguille du Goûter (3835m).
We continue our descent on the same route back to the Nid d’Aigle where we will catch the Tramway du Mont Blanc once more. A final cable car journey will take us back to Les Houches for a celebratory lunch. We will then return to our hotel in Chamonix.
Farewell Chamonix. After breakfast we will transfer to you to Geneva airport for your flight home.
Please note: there is only one transfer to Geneva which departs at 9am.
Please note that this itinerary is indicative. If conditions make an ascent of Mont Blanc impossible, this will not result in any refund or payment of compensation. Many factors can affect climbing in high mountains including weather conditions and individual member's abilities. If we find ourselves unable to attempt to climb Mont Blanc due to poor weather or adverse conditions, we will organise an alternative programme (Monte Rosa peaks, the Bishorn, Gran Paradiso etc). Please use this outline itinerary as a guide to the types of route and activities that you will experience.
This is a serious mountaineering trip and a very high level of fitness is recommended as well as a good head for heights and exposure. A solid training plan will help you to better prepare for the climb and will make your time on the mountain far more enjoyable. What all successful climbers share though is a real Kandoo attitude and that means high levels of grit and determination. If you are comfortable walking for 6-7 hours with an ascent of over 1200m then you are certainly fit enough to succeed on Mont Blanc.
This trip is on a full board basis
(except for nights in Chamonix). For your evening meals in Chamonix there is a
wide range of local restaurants for you to sample. If you have a dietary
requirement or are a vegetarian then just let us know when you book so that we
can plan a suitable menu.
The refuges provide hearty traditional and
generous meals prepared by the refuge keepers. Drinks are not included with
dinner, so please make sure you have some Euros and Swiss Francs (Trient
refuge on day 2) with you.
Packed lunches will be produced by your
guide and include local meats and cheeses, crusty bread and fresh seasonal
vegetables. The lunch items will be shared between all of the group for
carrying each day.
Remember
to bring your favourite snacks (cereal or energy bars, dried fruits, chocolate)
with you to keep you going through the day
Accommodation
in Chamonix will be in a 3-star
hotel in twin rooms. You will stay in Chamonix on the first, the 4th
and the last night of the trip. Please note that your evening meal is not
included when you are in Chamonix.
During the training and climb, you will
carry your own personal equipment in your rucksack. You will go out twice for
three days of hiking, with a return to Chamonix in between. Plan to bring a
40-50 litre rucksack to carry everything you need for three days of hiking,
including all your climbing equipment and your packed lunch.
UPPER
BODY
LEGS
OTHER
ACCESSORIES
RENTAL GEAR
We recommend that wherever possible you use your own gear for your
climb as this is the best way to ensure your comfort and enjoyment. We
recognise though that the cost of some items is very high and this may not be
possible. We do not have our own gear available for rental but there are many
places offering gear for rental in Chamonix. It is your responsibility to
check carefully the condition of any item you rent. We accept no
responsibility for the quality of equipment hired.
Please
note that you will require two locking carabiners and these cannot be
rented. You must
bring your own
From | To | Price | Availability | Book | Enquire |
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25/06/2023 | 02/07/2023 | $4,095 £3,149 |
Sold out
|
Sold out | Enquire now |
16/07/2023 | 23/07/2023 | $4,095 £3,149 |
Sold out
|
Sold out | Enquire now |
03/09/2023 | 10/09/2023 | $4,095 £3,149 |
Sold out
|
Sold out | Enquire now |
23/06/2024 | 30/06/2024 | $4,225 £3,249 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
14/07/2024 | 21/07/2024 | $4,225 £3,249 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
01/09/2024 | 08/09/2024 | $4,225 £3,249 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
Want to ask us a question or book a private trip? Don't hesitate to contact us!
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