This itinerary is an example of what could be achieved with good weather and the right conditions. It will be changed by your guide to suit conditions and the group. The course starts with an evening meeting between you and your guide at our office. Your guide will go though the plan for the coming days and answer any questions you have.

Vous entamerez la première partie de l’ascension avec la montée au Refuge de Tête Rousse (3167 m) ou au Refuge des Cosmiques (3613 m). Vous arriverez au refuge en début d’après-midi, ce qui vous laissera le temps de profiter du panorama exceptionnel.

Le Grand Jour ! Si les conditions le permettent, vous tenterez d’atteindre le sommet du Mont-Blanc. Il faut compter 6 à 7 heures d’ascension. Vous redescendrez soit par le même itinéraire jusqu’au refuge du Goûter, soit au refuge des Cosmiques où vous passerez la nuit.

Si l’ascension n’a pas pu se faire la veille, vous la retenterez, avec un départ à 1 heure du matin. Après avoir atteint le sommet, vous regagnerez la vallée et serez de retour à Chamonix en milieu ou fin de journée. Votre réussite sera célébrée au bureau.

If you have recently (i.e. maximum 5 weeks prior to your planned Mont Blanc climb) completed one of our courses listed below, this course is for you: 

• Haute Route
• Alpine climbing
• Climb Gran Paradiso
• Climb Matterhorn
• Climb Eiger
• Any private alpine climbing course of at least 3 days duration

If you are unsure of your level you can check with your mountain guide for advice on whether you are ready to climb Mont Blanc; our guides will be happy to advise you or help you with Mont Blanc specific training. 

This 3 day Mont Blanc ascent can only be organised as a private trip for a maximum of 2 people per mountain guide. Please contact us if you are interested in a private 1:1 trip. 

We suggest you bring with you or buy in resort snack food that you can take out on the hill with you each day. Things like cereal bars, dried fruit and nuts, chocolate, sugary sweets or your favourite hill snacks. When you’re staying overnight in huts it's best to take supplies for the days you are away. Huts do sell food but it’s expensive and sometimes stocks run low.

 If you have any food allergies or dietary requirements especially if you are a Coeliac (Gluten free) or have a dairy allergy we strongly recommend you bring some food to supplement your hut dinners. The huts are fairly good at providing for vegetarians but less so for other dietary needs. The huts can provide a small basic packed lunch of bread, salami, cheese and chocolate that you can buy each day but it’s important that you don’t rely on this option only. You do need to carry some snack food for each day.

 You will also generally stop for short breaks every hour where you should eat and drink something in order to maintain your energy levels throughout the day.

The high alpine huts are one of the big attractions to mountaineering or trekking in the Alps. They allow us the time to enjoy the mountains with only light packs and without having to worry about meals or finding somewhere to sleep! Most huts have only very basic facilities. Sleeping arrangements are in mixed sex dormitory-style rooms with bunks; there can be up to 20 people in one room.

Washing facilities are limited and generally there is no running water in any of the huts although this may vary in some huts. There are basins in which you can use bottled water to wash and clean your teeth, but they are NOT generally in private cubicles and are mixed sex. Toilets are generally septic-tank type (so non-flushing) and again mixed sex. You need to be prepared for simple living in the huts and appreciate they are located at high altitude and in inhospitable terrain.

The guardian and his/her team serve a 3-course evening meal and breakfast - food is usually nourishing and filling. Beer, wine, soft drinks and snacks are also available. All food and drink in the huts is delivered by helicopter and consequently prices will be high e.g. between 5 -10€ or 10CHF for a 1.5litre bottle of still water.

There are a few basic hut ‘rules’ that you need to follow so that you (and your fellow climbers) have a pleasant stay:

1) On arriving at the hut you must take off your boots and leave these together with your ice-axe, crampons in the foyer. Be sure to store these carefully as the hut is likely to get very busy and you’ll need to find all your kit in the morning rush!

2) House slippers are provided and must be worn in the hut

3) Your guide will register you with the guardian and will assign you your bunk

4) Follow the instructions of your guide and keep requests to the guardian and his team to a minimum – they are usually very busy sorting out groups, cooking meals, keeping the hut clean

5) In the morning your guide will often want to leave early – be sure to have all your kit ready to go the night before. Be organized and everything will be much easier!

6) It is recommended to bring ear-plugs for the nights – but make sure that you wake up on time!

All Chamex mountain guides are fully qualified, highly experienced and passionate about what they do. Everyone who works as part of the Chamex team has been thoroughly vetting and is trusted by us to give our clients the best experience possible - you are in safe hands! If you would like to know more then you can meet the Chamex team here.

The Bellevue lift and the Mont Blanc train are not operating during the early June and late September. During this time, we organise a 4x4 taxi to drive you to the top of Bellevue lift from where you start the Mont Blanc ascent. Please note that the taxi may not be able to go as far if there is still lot of snow on the route and you may be dropped off before the Bellevue. This will add approximately 1 - 2 hours to the 2.5 hour ascent - descent to the Tete Rousse hut. This will not reduce your chance of summiting the Mont Blanc. As a reward, you will have good climbing conditions and less people on the climb. 

We can help you to organise your transport to/from Chamonix. We work with well established airport transfer companies which use new and comfortable vehicles and which have the capacity and know-how to handle everything from delayed and cancelled flights, to unexpected traffic jams with professionalism and efficiency.

To book your transfer, we will need the following: 

• Your full name 
• Mobile phone number 
• Email address 
• Your destination address 
• Your flight details (date, time and flight number)

SHARED TRANSFERS: 

This is the most economic and ecologically friendly way of travel. The driver will meet and greet you at the airport, gather you and the rest of the passenger group together and then head off to your chosen destination. The door-to-door service means that you will be dropped off and picked up right at your hotel /chalet / apartment. From 40€ per person for one way and 80€ per person for a return trip.

PRIVATE TRANSFERS: 

Private Transfers are the quickest way to get to and from the airport. Your driver will meet and greet you at the airport and guide you to your vehicle. There is no waiting for other passengers. Private transfers are available for one to eight person bookings and travelling together and you are guaranteed sole occupancy of the vehicle for your transfer. And, of course, it's a door to door service, so you won't be lugging any bags very far. 250€ per car for one way and 500€ per car for a return trip.

We don’t include mountain rescue insurance in any of our courses but we strongly recommend that you have it. Mountain rescue may be very expensive, particularly if helicopters are involved. Check with your travel insurance provider if you are covered for the specific activity you are going to do with us.

However, we can organise the mountain rescue insurance for you. The cost is 8€ per person per day for EU residents and 12€ per person per day for non-EU residents. Details of the insurance cover are different for EU and non-EU residents; please contact us for more information.

We highly recommend that you book any equipment with us at least 2 weeks in advance as the hire shops can have limited availability in the busy season.You can collect your equipment the evening before the start of the course and return it in the evening at the end of your course. We work with the following Chamonix ski hire and mountain shop:

• Concept Pro Shop that is conveniently located directly next door from our office. Open 7/7 08:00-19:00

If you wish to book accommodation in Chamonix we would be happy to recommend some local hotels, gites, self-catered apartments, or chalets and advise on the best locations. Please contact us if you would like help finding accommodation in Chamonix.