The Eiger climbing course starts with an evening meeting with your mountain guide at the Chamonix Experience office opposite the Aiguille du Midi lift station. Your mountain guide will go through the plan for the week and answer any questions you may have. You should bring your equipment (rental and/or personal) to the meeting, for your guide to check that you have everything you will need for the course.

We start the Eiger climbing course with rock climbing at one of the great multi-pitch areas in Chamonix to refresh our rope work skills. We will choose nice easy itineraries that will give us the opportunity to check your level and work on improving your climbing and rope skills. Les Aiguilles Rouges or Plan des Aiguilles offer some great climbing and scrambling terrain to practice on.

Today we will do an ice axe, crampons and rope skills refreshment on the glacier at Mer de Glace. Your mountain guide will also teach you crevasse rescue skills which are essential for safe travel on glaciers. You will then hike up to the Couvercle hut, where you will spend the afternoon refreshing your rock climbing skills. There are very nice rock routes of all difficulties around the hut. You will spend the night in the hut, sleeping at altitude is an excellent way to acclimatise.

Today is an early start to climb the Aiguille du Moine at 3412m via the normal route, on a south face over mixed terrain of rock and ice. Aiguille du Moine is a magnificent mountain; you'll have a great climb and a long day! You will descend back to Chamonix after the climb and your guide will drop you back at your accommodation.

Today we tackle the normal route on the Aiguille du Peigne; it is 500m long, but a relatively easy and fast climb (4b max). The Aiguille du Peigne will give you a good idea of what to expect on the Eiger climb: a quick simul-climb up and down the mountain, while being protected by your guide on a ‘short rope’.

Your 4 days of training are completed and you're ready to climb the Eiger! With your guide, you will drive over to Grindelwald where you will hike up to the Mittellegihütte (3355m). The hike takes around 2.5 hours over rocky and glaciated terrain up to the hut, where you will spend the night. Get a good night's sleep, as tomorrow we begin our ascent of the Eiger!

Today is the big day! We usually do our ascents via the Mittellegi ridge which is the most spectacular. The climb is 615m over a rock and mixed terrain of up to 5b. If the conditions are not good for the ridge, we will choose another itinerary, such as the classic South Ridge (AD or III). These itineraries are not technically very difficult, but they involve a full day of scrambling over tricky terrain where you have to stay well focused. After the descent we will travel back to Chamonix, where the course will finish over a well-deserved glass of beer.

• You need to be an experienced alpine climber on rock, snow and ice.
• You should be experienced and comfortable climbing PD+ or harder, climbing and traversing on a steep and exposed terrain, climbing in crampons on rock, snow and ice.
• You need to have multi-pitch climbing rope skills including belaying the lead climber, abseiling in full independence, using prussic and securing yourself on belay points.
• You have to have an excellent level of fitness and stamina. You must be able to climb for 10-15 hours over technical terrain without losing focus and confidence.

The best preparation for this course is regular running, hiking, swimming and biking with focus on endurance, ideally 4-5 times per week. Keep your rock climbing level up with regular indoor or outdoor climbing sessions, you should be confident and quick climbing routes up to French grade 5b.

Do not hesitate to contact us if our existing course dates are not convenient for you. We will be happy to customise a set of dates according to your holiday plans.

Day 1 - 4 : 2 clients for 1 guide

Day 5 - 6 : 1 client for 1 guide

Chamonix is one of the easiest alpine resorts to get to, being just over an hour's drive from Geneva international airport. Lyon, Turin and Milan airports are also all within a few hours drive. The best way to get from Geneva airport to Chamonix is by transfer bus, either shared with other passengers or private. You will be met in the arrivals lounge by your driver and dropped at your accommodation in Chamonix; there is no extra charge for your luggage or equipment. We work only with the most reliable transfer companies in the valley and are happy to organise your journey for you, please contact us for prices and booking.

Please see the list of recommended equipment on the other tab. Most technical equipment can be rented here in Chamonix, please contact us if you would like prices and advice on whatever you need. Chamonix has dozens of outdoor shops selling everything from basic head torches to expedition standard sleeping bags, so whatever you don't already have you can find it here.

We highly recommend that you take out specific insurance for mountain activities. We can organise this at a cost of 8€ per day for EU citizens and 12€ per day for non-EU citizens. This will cover you for search and rescue services, evacuation by helicopter and emergency medical treatment. You should also make sure that you have adequate travel insurance that covers you for the usual things such as cancelled flights, lost luggage, hospital treatment, etc. Please contact us to organise mountain rescue insurance for your trip.

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.

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.