Climb the Mont Blanc Summit
Mont Blanc is the highest summit in Western Europe and a classic mountaineering challenge. Our training and acclimatisation program involves reaching 4000m summits in the Monte Rosa range prior to making the final ascent. Acclimatising properly like this makes a huge difference on the final summit day…
On Mont Blanc, we allow two days to make our climb to the summit via the The Goûter Route. If the mountain is not in condition, or if poor weather means we are unable to attempt Mont Blanc, we have the option of climbing Gran Paradiso (4,061m), a fine alterative. Gran Paradiso is the highest mountain entirely within Italy.
The best time to Climb Mont Blanc.
Please note that our program dates below are either early or late summer season and start early week. In our experience this approach helps to give you the best possible experience on the mountain in terms of conditions and avoiding the overcrowded & hot mid-summer period. Stone fall in the Grand Couloir also generally presents more of a problem in July and August than in June and September and this is another major reason why we run our program towards the beginning and end of the summer season.
Important: hut bookings
We advise that you book your Mont Blanc course before the mid March, otherwise it is unlikely that there will be beds available in the Mont Blanc huts for you. Your course booking is not confirmed until we have confirmed your beds and we cannot book your beds without your name, nationality and date of birth. Please do not arrange your travel to Courmayeur until we have confirmed your hut bookings.
DURATION
Six days in the mountain
DATES 2024
FITNESS LEVEL REQUIRED
GROUPS
2 peoples.
COST
€ 1800 per person.
$USD 1,919 per person
£ 1,552 per person
INCLUDE
✓ Services of an Mountain Guide
✓ All transfers as shown in the program
✓ The cablecars tickets as shown in the program, including cablecars tickets of the Mountain Guide
✓ Half board in the huts, including the halfs boards of the Mountain Guide
NOT INCLUDE
✗ Accomodation
✗ Lunch in both mountain and valley
✗ Mountaineering – Off Piste/Ski Mountaineering Insurance IMPORTANT: Please read this section.
✗ Transfer from/to airport,
✗ Airfare
✗ Anything not specified
NB Trip is confirmed from 2 peoples.
Day 0 - Sun
Arrival
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.
Day 1 - Mon
8.30am – 4.00pm: Glacier around Punta Helbronner 3462m. Refresh rock and ice climbing skills to analyse the personal technical level. Acclimatisation day.
We climb with Sky Way cable car to Punta Helbronner 3462m and on the Glacier around to the Punta refresh rock and ice climbing skills sessions practicing rock and ice 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 the afternoon with the Sky Way lift from the Helbronner back down to the valley. This is the first part of our acclimatisation program – allowing you to spend as much time at altitude as possible during the week.
This day you’ll need a packed lunch, as we’ll be out all day.
Day 2 - Tue
7.00am – 4.00pm: Continue refresh rock and ice climbing skills to analyse the personal technical level and we go up to Mantova hut.
Early morning drive to Staffal (Gressoney La Trinité), which is about a 1.30 - 2.00 hrs drive from Courmayeur. From Staffal we head up by two lifts to the Indren glacier (2900m). In the morning refresh rock and ice climbing skills sessions practicing rock and ice 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 the first afternoon we reach the Mantova Hut (3498 m). The hut walk takes about 1hr . This is the second part of our acclimatisation program – allowing you to spend as much time at altitude as possible during the week. Sleeping at high altitude early on makes a big difference on Mont Blanc.
Overnight and Half board in the hut
This day you’ll need a packed lunch, as we’ll be out all day.
Day 3 - Wed
3.30am – 4.00pm: Ascent of SignalKuppe (4554m) – via the normal route.
Climbing of the Tops – Today we reach along the Lys Glacier the Margherita Hut, which is the highest building in Europe on the summit of the Signalkuppe at (4554m). On the descent to Mantova Hut along the same route if our fitness condition is correct and we are in time we can climb the Parrotspize (4432m) or the Ludvigshohe (4341m). From Mantova hut return to Courmayeur via Idren lift and by car from Staffal.
This day you’ll need a packed lunch, as we’ll be out all day.
Round trip ~6-9hrs
Day 4 - Thu
Rest Day.
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.
Day 5 - Fri
5.45am – 3.00pm: Courmayeur – Gouter hut 3817m.
Early morning transfer to Les Houches and heading up to the Gouter Hut 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 hut (it is a 5hrs - 6hrs 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.
Overnight and Half board in the hut
This day you’ll need a packed lunch, as we’ll be out all day.
Ascent ∼5hrs - 6hrs
Day 6 - Sat
1.30am – 5.00pm: Ascent of the Mont Blanc (4807m) – via the normal route.
Climb Mont Blanc (4807m). – 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 6hrs - 7hrs climbing at altitude. In afternoon return to Courmayeur
This day you’ll need a packed lunch, as we’ll be out all day.
Round trip ~10-12hrs.
End of Program
Day 7 - Sun
Return home.
After a night of well-deserved rest, departure from Courmayeur for your destination.