Travel to Courmayeur, to arrive in time for the Evening Briefing. Your guide will run through safety routines and kit checks, as well as hand out rental equipment for the week, before we go on to a detailed discussion of everyones ambitions for the week, together with the current weather and mountain conditions and how these affect our planning. We’ll also have maps and guidebooks to show you, so if you’ve any further questions or last minute requests, then this is the ideal time to bring them up before we head on to dinner. PM Overnight in the valley.

In the morning rock climbing training sessions we do – practicing rock climbing up and down, knots for tying on in the middle and ends of the rope, learning how to take in coils and rope up correctly for glacier travel. In afternoon walk up to the Vittorio Emanuele Hut (2719 m) in the beautiful Gran Paradiso National Park – there will be time to make any last minute food purchases etc en route. The hut walk takes about 2-2.5hrs and is the first part of our acclimatisation program – allo wing you to spend as much time at altitude as possible during the week. This extra night sleeping high early on makes a big difference on Mont Blanc.- Maximum ratio 4:1. Overnight in the hut.

After a 6am breakfast, we head up to La Tresenta (3609 m) – a perfect acclimatisation peak not far from the hut. Crampons and ice axe training sessions are undertaken along the way – maximum ratio 4:1. Reaching 3600 m, then spending a second night at altitude is the next important phase of our acclimatisation program – this progressive gain in altitude allows your body time to adapt properly to the reduced oxygen content of the air. Unlike a typical Mont Blanc program, this is also a quiet summit where it’s not unusual to have it all to yourself – the views from the top are excellent. On the way down, we also have the opportunity to cover further alpine skills such as glacier travel , crevasse rescue etc. Overnight in the hut.

Ascent of Gran Paradiso (4061m) -via the classic West Flank. After a pre dawn ‘alpine start’, the route followed depends on conditions – when it’s snowy the glacier is quickest, but in drier conditions the rock ridge is a better choice. At 3700 m, both routes converge, then follow the same line up the glacier to the final summit rocks. Here, a 100 m of trickier scrambling lead to the highest point, with geat views and a welcome rest before the long descent – NB this final section may need to be climbed in 2 shuttles at a maximum ratio of 3:1. Spending 2 nights at altitude, climbing first to 3600 m and then to 4000 m completes our acclimatisation program – using this staged approach and climbing to 4000 m greatly increases both your enjoyment and chances of reaching the summit on Mont Blanc later in the week. PM Return to Courmayeur, overnight in valley.

Day of rest. The advice is to relax. Short walk to Courmayeur for the purchase of gifts or memories of the place. The rest of the day enjoy it in the sun, even on a deck chair to rest. Recover lost fluids by drinking plenty of water. is the best help for a good acclimatisation. In the evening meeting with the Guide for organizing the climb to the summit of Mont Blanc. Two nights in the valley to help the body regain strength needed to climb to the summit of Mont Blanc. Overnight in the valley.

Final preparations in the valley, before heading up to either the Gouter, Tete Rousse or Cosmiques Huts ready to make the ascent Mont Blanc. As far as possible, this is a steady approach day in order to prepare for the big climb ahead. However, it’s still a long way up to the huts (the Gouter Hut especially, which is a 7hr climb from where you leave the mountain railway above Les Houches) – so you need to be prepared for two big mountain days, rather than just one. This is where proper training in the run up to the trip and following a realistic acclimatisation program come into their own – we’ll give you advice on the former and make sure you follow the latter before setting off up Mont Blanc. Maximum ratio 2:1. Overnight in the hut.

Climb Mont Blanc (4808 m) – make the ascent of Mont Blanc via the Gouter Route from the Gouter or Tete Rousse Huts. It’s a long climb through the night, where pacing yourself and having the determination to dig in and rise to the challenge are important. The plan is to reach the summit early in the morning, in order to get the best snow conditions on the descent. Either route is a long commiting day, involving 9 -12hrs climbing at altitude. PM Return to Courmayeur, overnight in valley. Maximum ratio 2:1. End of program

After a night of well-deserved rest, departing from Courmayeur for your destination.