Discover ice climbing in Les Ecrins – 5 days

Discover the ice climbing course Écrins in the heart of France’s premium ice climbing region. The Hautes-Alpes offer exceptional frozen waterfalls and reliable winter conditions, making this the perfect setting for an unforgettable guided ice climbing experience in the French Alps.

Ice climbing courses

MAKE ENQUIRY

INSTRUCTIONAL ICE CLIMBING COURSE

Learn the fundamentals of ice climbing and progressively develop your technique under the supervision of certified UIAGM mountain guides in the Écrins massif.

EXPLORE A NEW ICE CRAG EVERY DAY

Discover a different ice climbing venue each day, with access to some of the finest frozen waterfalls and ice lines in the French Alps.

WIDE VARIETY OF ICE CLIMBING ROUTES

Climb on a diverse range of grades and terrain, allowing steady progression and skill development throughout your ice climbing course in Écrins.

DISCOVER WHY THE “ECRINS” IS CONSIDERED FRANCE’S FINEST ICE CLIMBING VENUE

Have you always dreamed of climbing frozen waterfalls and learning how to move safely in steep winter terrain? This ice climbing course in Écrins is designed to introduce and develop your skills in one of the best ice climbing regions in the French Alps.

Located in the heart of the Hautes-Alpes, the Écrins massif offers exceptional conditions for ice climbing thanks to its high altitude valleys, varied exposures, and reliable winter ice formation. Iconic areas such as Ceillac, Crévoux, Les Orres, Fressinières, Le Fournel, and La Grave provide an incredible diversity of frozen waterfalls and alpine ice lines, allowing you to climb in a different valley almost every day.

5-DAY GUIDED ICE CLIMBING COURSE IN ÉCRINS

Over five days, you will progress step by step under the supervision of certified UIAGM mountain guides. This guided ice climbing course in Écrins is focused on personal improvement, safety, and maximum time spent climbing on real ice.

Efficiency, technique, and safety are the core principles of the program.

PROGRESSION ON REAL ICEFALLS AND MIXED TERRAIN

The first two days focus on single-pitch ice climbing crags, where you will learn essential skills such as rope handling for ice, crampon technique, and ice tool placement. These fundamentals prepare you for more advanced terrain.

The final three days are dedicated to larger icefalls and more sustained routes, offering the opportunity to climb some of the most impressive frozen waterfalls in France. You will also be introduced to dry tooling and mixed climbing, an increasingly popular discipline that combines rock and ice techniques.

COMFORTABLE BASE IN L’ARGENTIÈRE-LA-BESSÉE

Throughout the course, you will stay in a comfortable hotel in L’Argentière-la-Bessée, a central hub for ice climbing in the Écrins. From here, each day offers quick access to different valleys and climbing areas, maximizing your time on the ice.

A COMPLETE ICE CLIMBING EXPERIENCE IN THE FRENCH ALPS

This ice climbing course in Écrins is perfect for climbers looking to develop their technique, gain confidence on ice, and experience some of the best frozen terrain in Europe with expert guidance.

From: 2390 €

Price per person for groups of minimum 2 participants

Beginner

You have no previous experience in ice climbing and you have never used crampons and ice axes before. You may have some basic rock / indoor climbing experience.

Fitness level 3/5
Guiding ratio: first 2 days 1:4 guiding ratio and last 3 days 1:2
5 days of climbing
Available mid December – March
5 nights Accommodation

View dates

Climbing with Chamex guides - discover ice climbing in les Ecrins

Climbing the nice structured ice in Les Ecrins

Itinerary

Arrival day

Meeting at 6pm in your hotel close to L’Argentiere la Besee where your guide will check your gear and brief you for the week. You will have a nice dinner and a good nights rest.

Day 1

Your guide will pick you up at 8.00 for your first day of ice climbing. You will go to Fressinieres or Aiguilles to learn the basics. How to use your axes and crampons, repelling and belaying. On this first day we will work a lot on technique.

Day 2

After a hearty breakfast your guide will pick you up for a second day of practice. You will go to Cervieres where the ice is a bit steeper and you will also try to use your ice tools on the rock, mixed climbing (rock and ice) is great fun! Learn to use screws, make V threads and the basic rope technics we use on multi pitch climbs. You will also have basic avalanche rescue training as this is one of the major risks in ice climbing.

Day 3

Time to go multi-pitch! You will climb your first full sized ice climb. Celliac is a great place for this. If you feel like it you can even try to lead a pitch. We will work on the dangers inherent to ice climbing: how to assess if a climb is safe. This is one of the most important parts of becoming a true ice climber.

Day 4

More ice. By this time you will have become an (n)ice addict. Les Orres has some long and major classics waiting for you. Keep building up your technical skills and work on how to make the right decisions, never easy in the mountains.

Day 5

Early start today (6:00) as we will do a big climb and hit the road to go back to the airport. Fournel or Fressinieres, which host some of the biggest and baddest ice climbs in the world will be you climbing ground. Today you will swing your axes with all the skills you’ve built up during the week. This is the last day of the course, you will be free to leave or stay longer if you prefer.

Please keep in mind that the program is adaptable to ice and snow conditions, your guide will be there to choose the best and safest places for you to climb.

Level requirements

Physical fitness

The 5 days of the course are demanding as some approaches can be more than one hour long and be through deep snow followed by a full day of climbing on ice, which is quite strenuous for the arms. It’s a full body workout so make sure you are fit. You should be able to complete a 6-8 hour day of hiking and climbing and not be too tired the next day.

Experience

If you have some experience with rock climbing and ropes it will certainly help but there are no technical prerequisites for this course.

Training

General fitness is important so any sports that involve cardio training will help : swimming, running, biking etc…
Climbing at the local gym will also help for strength in the arms and upper body.
If you need more info on how to prepare please contact us.

Equipment

Included or not

Technical gear

Mountaineering boots

Clothing

Warm hat

Clothing

Thermal underwear

Clothing

Fleece or woollen layers

Clothing

Light puffer jacket

Clothing

Windproof and waterproof jacket

Clothing

Windproof and waterproof trousers

Clothing

Warm gloves

Clothing

Gaiters

Clothing

Thin gloves with leather palms for better grip

Clothing

Belay jacket – warm puffer jacket that fits over your layers

Technical gear

Climbing harness

Technical gear

Telescopic poles

Technical gear

Screwgate carabiner x3

Technical gear

Belay device

Technical gear

Climbing helmet

Technical gear

Pair of technical ice axes

Technical gear

Ice climbing crampons

Technical gear

Lanyard

Technical gear

30 litres backpack

Technical gear

60 cm tape sling or cordelette for prusik

Technical gear

Snowshoes

Safety Equipment

Avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe

Other essentials

Sunglasses

Other essentials

Sun cream high protection (for lips and face)

Other essentials

Headlamp with fresh batteries

Other essentials

Washbag and toiletries

Other essentials

Towel

Other essentials

Thermos

Included in price

Mountain Guide Fees

Our course includes 6 days of guiding and instruction by experienced UIAGM qualified mountain guide. All our guides have been chosen for their lovely personality and high standard of skills.

Accommodation

5 nights in a hotel. Accommodation is on shared basis with breakfast and dinner.

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.

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.

Transport to L’Argentière-la-Bessée

Transport is not included. Closest airports to arrive there are Torino (2h drive), Grenoble (3h drive), Lyon (3h30 drive). Best way to get from any of the airports is to rent a car and drive to L’Argentière-la-Bessée.