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Alpine climbing course in Chamonix – Level 1

Learn to climb like a true alpinist in Chamonix, the capital of mountaineering. This course covers all the essential basics of alpine rock & mixed climbing and glacier travel safety skills.

UIAGM MOUNTAIN GUIDES

Fully qualified English & French speaking guides ensuring optimum safety & expert tuition.

SMALL GROUP SIZES

Allowing a flexible & personalised approach to help you learn & progress quickly.

OVER NIGHT IN A MOUNTAIN HUT

Gain crucial experience staying over night in a mountain hut, rewarded with the most epic alpine sunset and sunrise.

5 DAYS OF TUITION, INSTRUCTION AND FUN CLIMBING

If you have always dreamed of climbing mountains and you don’t know where to start, this course is specially designed for you. Our Alpine climbing course is challenging and our professional UIAGM / IFMGA mountain guides are there to teach you all the techniques you will need to tackle different types of mountain terrain. By the end of the week you will be familiar with how to safely travel through glaciers, rocky ridges, rock faces and steep snow slopes.

The course is ideal for beginners but if you already have some experience then that’s great, you will build on what you already know and develop your existing skills. Our guides will adjust the pace and level of the course to suit the participants. This course is a genuine mixture of learning new skills and enjoying great alpine climbs in Chamonix, the capital of Alpinism.

The course is a weeklong journey into the vertical mountain world. The objective is to learn the basics of alpine climbing in the field. There are three essential components – rock, ice, and mixed (snow/ice/rock). An ability to employ the skills learned in these domains allows one to climb the majority of the Alpine summits by their easier or “normal” routes. Welcome to a new world!

The journey starts with a day on the rocks. The fundamentals of rope work – belaying, rappelling, use of anchors, and some basic climbing principles are taught on one of the many cliffs in the Chamonix area. These principles can then be applied throughout the week (and beyond!), as your understanding of the concepts will accompany you in your new career as an alpinist.

Next – Ice! The use of the ice axe and crampons are essential skill sets of a mountaineer. Covered this day – Correct/ Appropriate use of different axe and crampon techniques, using ice screws, and building a belay in the ice. The skills learned here, with the skills from the previous day allow us to move into the high mountain domain and climb mixed routes.

The course moves to the high mountains for some experience with mixed and the basics of safe glacier travel. Orientation fundamentals are taught, and route planning. On the last 3 days of the course the client to guide ratio is 1 guide to 2 clients. The end of the week provides more intimate instruction, tailored to the client. A night in a high mountain hut is included in the course. This allows participants to live the dream they’ve been practicing for, and spend a long day in the mountains climbing one of Chamonix’s summits.

From: 1770 €

Beginner

  • Fitness level 1/5
  • Guide ratio 1:2 on the last 3 days
  • Groups of 6 maximum
  • 5 days course
  • Available June – October
  • 1 night in a mountain hut
  • Lift passes included in price

Dates

Alpine climbing course in Chamonix – Level 1
Start dateEnd dateSpacePrice
Monday 5 May 2025
Friday 9 May 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 12 May 2025
Friday 16 May 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 19 May 2025
Friday 23 May 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 26 May 2025
Friday 30 May 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 2 June 2025
Friday 6 June 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 9 June 2025
Friday 13 June 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 16 June 2025
Friday 20 June 2025
Guaranteed
1770 €
Monday 23 June 2025
Friday 27 June 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Sunday 29 June 2025
Thursday 3 July 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 7 July 2025
Friday 11 July 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 14 July 2025
Friday 18 July 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 14 July 2025
Friday 18 July 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 21 July 2025
Friday 25 July 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 28 July 2025
Friday 1 August 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 4 August 2025
Friday 8 August 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 11 August 2025
Friday 15 August 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 18 August 2025
Friday 22 August 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 25 August 2025
Friday 29 August 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 1 September 2025
Saturday 6 September 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 8 September 2025
Friday 12 September 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 15 September 2025
Friday 19 September 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 22 September 2025
Friday 26 September 2025
Guaranteed
1770 €
Monday 29 September 2025
Friday 3 October 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 6 October 2025
Friday 10 October 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 13 October 2025
Friday 17 October 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 20 October 2025
Friday 24 October 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 27 October 2025
Friday 31 October 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €

Dates

Alpine climbing course in Chamonix – Level 1
Start dateEnd dateSpacePrice
Monday 5 May 2025
Friday 9 May 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 12 May 2025
Friday 16 May 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 19 May 2025
Friday 23 May 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 26 May 2025
Friday 30 May 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 2 June 2025
Friday 6 June 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 9 June 2025
Friday 13 June 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 16 June 2025
Friday 20 June 2025
Guaranteed
1770 €
Monday 23 June 2025
Friday 27 June 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Sunday 29 June 2025
Thursday 3 July 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 7 July 2025
Friday 11 July 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 14 July 2025
Friday 18 July 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 14 July 2025
Friday 18 July 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 21 July 2025
Friday 25 July 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 28 July 2025
Friday 1 August 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 4 August 2025
Friday 8 August 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 11 August 2025
Friday 15 August 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 18 August 2025
Friday 22 August 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 25 August 2025
Friday 29 August 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 1 September 2025
Saturday 6 September 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 8 September 2025
Friday 12 September 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 15 September 2025
Friday 19 September 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 22 September 2025
Friday 26 September 2025
Guaranteed
1770 €
Monday 29 September 2025
Friday 3 October 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 6 October 2025
Friday 10 October 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 13 October 2025
Friday 17 October 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 20 October 2025
Friday 24 October 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Monday 27 October 2025
Friday 31 October 2025
Two more to guarantee
1770 €
Clothing
Mountaineering boots
Clothing
Warm hat
Clothing
Thermal underwear
Clothing
Fleece or woollen layers
Clothing
Windproof and waterproof jacket
Clothing
Windproof and waterproof trousers
Clothing
Warm gloves
Clothing
Thin gloves with leather palms for better grip
Clothing
Gaiters
Clothing
Sun hat
Clothing
Climbing shoes
Clothing
Light puffer jacket
Clothing
Climbing pants
Technical gear
Ice axe
Technical gear
Climbing helmet
Technical gear
Crampons
Technical gear
Screwgate carabiner x3
Technical gear
Belay device
Technical gear
Climbing harness
Technical gear
Lanyard
Technical gear
25 – 30 litres rucksack
Technical gear
60 cm tape sling or cordelette for prusik
Other essentials
Sunglasses
Other essentials
Water bottle – Ideally two 1L bottles
Other essentials
Sun cream high protection (for lips and face)
Other essentials
Headlamp with fresh batteries
Other essentials
Sleeping bag liner – lightweight
Included in price

Guide Fees

5 days of guiding and instruction by a UIAGM qualified mountain guide.

Mountain hut

1 night in a mountain hut with breakfast and dinner included.

Lift passes

The cost of any lift access that is required during the course for the itinerary described above.

Local Transport

Any local transport that is required during your course.

Group Equipment

Ropes, safety equipment, etc will be provided when needed by your guide.

Office Support

Our team is based at the foot of the Aiguillle du Midi cable car and will be happy to help you with any questions you may have before, during or after your trip to Chamonix.

Not included in price

Personal Equipment

Please see the “Equipment” tab to find out what you will need on this trip / course.  For private customised guiding, please contact us directly to confirm your personalised kit list.

Food & Drink

The price does not include lunch or snacks. You can bring your own food and we can stop for a picnic, or there may be the option to buy lunch at a mountain hut. Please make sure that you are carrying sufficient water and snacks as we will be in the mountains for a number of hours.

Accommodation in Chamonix

Accommodation in Chamonix is not included in the price but we would be happy to advise or organise it on request.

Travel to Chamonix

The price does not include flights, airport transfers or any other travel to/from Chamonix. However, we can organise airport transfers for you on request, please contact us for details.

Insurance

Travel insurance including a mountain search and rescue insurance is mandatory on all our trips (we can organise the mountai search and rescue insurance for you on request). We highly advice to have a policy covering the cost of medical treatment and to protect the value of your holiday in the event of cancellation. When taking out insurance please ensure the policy you choose covers you for the activities and altitude included in your itinerary.