Mont Blanc Ascent

Climb Western Europe's highest peak ~ Acclimatise on Petite Fourche or Aiguille du Tour ~ Choice of routes to the top of Mont Blanc on summit day

Climbing Mont Blanc (4807m / 15767ft) the highest peak in the Alps and Western Europe, affords a summit panorama that includes the Eiger, Matterhorn and Monte Rosa. Climbing Mont Blanc presents one of the great challenges of the Alps, requiring a high level of fitness and adequate acclimatisation. Basic mountaineering skills tuition will be provided during a week of training that will include ascents of the Petit Fourche (3520m / 11,545ft) and the Aiguille du Tour (3542m / 11615ft). Working out of our comfortable chalet base in Argentiere, near Chamonix, and also making use of the Albert Premier Hut and the Trient Refuge, we can provide excellent all round preparation for the climb. For the ascent of Mont Blanc, we offer a choice of either the classic route to Mont Blanc's summit, via the Dome de Gouter, or the longer traverse of the North-East Ridge via Mont Maudit and Mont Blanc du Tacul.

Trip Guide:
This is fundamentally an Alpine climbing holiday. Led by professional IFMGA guides, it is aimed at giving instruction to fit hill-walkers with some basic experience of using crampons and a single ice axe, either in the Alps, the UK in winter or the Colorado Rockies. The three peaks included in the itinerary will be strenuous on account of the altitude and will involve glacier travel, easy snow-slope climbing and some easy scrambling and exposed ridges. Ropes, crampons and an ice axe will be used. Given our high guide to client ratio (1:4 during the acclimatisation period and 1:2 during the ascent of Mont Blanc) and the non-technical nature of the climbing, this mountain holiday should be feasible for novice alpinists with a good level of fitness.

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Itinerary / Highlights

Day 1: Rendezvous at the group's chalet in Argentiere in the Chamonix Valley. The guide will chat about the days ahead and check out your equipment before dinner.

Day 2: We drive to Champex in Switzerland (approx 1 hr), from here we take a chair lift and then a 2 hour hike brings us to Orny Hut (2,831m). The afternoon is spend going through crampon and ice axe skills.

Day 3: An early 4 am start and we set out for the Aiguelle de Tour 3,542m. Cross back into France and stop at the Albert Premium Hut for lunch before descending back into the valley and the Lodge in Argentiere.

Day 4: We take the Aiguille Midi cable car to the Aiguille Midi (3800m). Cross the Vallee Blanche to Hellbronner, return by cable car to Chamonix.

Day 5: First day climbing Mont Blanc, we can tackle either the 'Normal Route,' via the Dome du Gouter, or the longer 'Traverse Route' via Mont Blanc du Tacul and Mont Maudit. Your guide will decide on the route depending on the groups ability and prevailing weather conditions. Overnight in a hut on either route.

Day 6: An early start for the ascent to Mont Blanc's summit (4807m). Mostly open snow-slope climbing on either route. Return to the hut.

Day 7: If the conditions were poor the previous day, we attempt the summit Mont Blanc today and return to the lodge in Argentiere. Tonight we have a celebratory evening meal at the chalet.

Day 8: KE Group Package Services end after breakfast.

Other Details

Accommodation Details

Comfortable fully serviced chalet in Argentiere, near Chamonix for 4 nights and 3 nights in a mountain refuge.