Mont Blanc climbing holiday
| country: | France |
| location: | French Alps |
| departures: | 2009: 20 Jun, 25 Jul |
| price: | From £1150 (7 days) excluding flights. High season surcharge applicable 24 Jun - 2 Sep. We can arrange flights from the UK |
read 2 travellers reviews
the amazing things you'll be doing
This is a classic ascent on Mont Blanc (4807m) - the highest peak in the European Alps. The itinerary is designed to allow reasonably fit people who have little or no experience in mountaineering to appreciate the exhilaration of summiting an alpine peak.
Acclimatisation and basic technical training are part of the program for the first three days, with the added bonus of exploring the stunning Mont Blanc range. We familiarise you with the use of an ice axe, crampons and basic rope techniques crossing mountain passes and glaciers. Fully prepared we focus on our two-day ascent of Mt Blanc where the preparation of the previous days and the inclusion of a contingency day, will maximise our chances of summit success.
Price includes accommodation, most meals, UIAGM Certified High Altitude Mountain Guide(s), full mountaineering instruction, all climbing gear and lift transfers.
Grading
Grade 3, challenging: Involves trekking on remote trails in variable weather conditions for up to eight hours a day. This may include spending successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 5,500m.
You will need an excellent level of fitness, be prepared to carry a daypack weighing up to 8kgs and be completely comfortable in adverse weather conditions. Suggested preparation: One hour of aerobic type exercise, four to five times a week for three to six months before your trek. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions is also recommended.
Acclimatisation and basic technical training are part of the program for the first three days, with the added bonus of exploring the stunning Mont Blanc range. We familiarise you with the use of an ice axe, crampons and basic rope techniques crossing mountain passes and glaciers. Fully prepared we focus on our two-day ascent of Mt Blanc where the preparation of the previous days and the inclusion of a contingency day, will maximise our chances of summit success.
Price includes accommodation, most meals, UIAGM Certified High Altitude Mountain Guide(s), full mountaineering instruction, all climbing gear and lift transfers.
Grading
Grade 3, challenging: Involves trekking on remote trails in variable weather conditions for up to eight hours a day. This may include spending successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 5,500m.
You will need an excellent level of fitness, be prepared to carry a daypack weighing up to 8kgs and be completely comfortable in adverse weather conditions. Suggested preparation: One hour of aerobic type exercise, four to five times a week for three to six months before your trek. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions is also recommended.
what's included on our Mont Blanc climbing holiday
6 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 6 dinners, 3 nights accommodation in a two star Chamonix hotel, 3 nights accommodation in mountain huts, high altitude mountain guide (ratio of 1 guide to 2-6 climbers from Days 2-4 and 1 guide to 2 climbers on Days 5 and 6), all common climbing gear (ropes, carabiners etc), telepherique and lift transfers day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Join Chamonix |
| Day 2-4: | Commence glacier instruction and basic mountaineering skills training on the many glaciers, passes and steep snowfields in the area, overnighting in mountain refuges |
| Day 5: | Ascend to Gouter refuge (3800m) |
| Day 6: | Ascend Mt Blanc, return to Chamonix |
| Day 7: | Trip concludes |
travellers' tales
I think the attempt to reach the summit of Mont Blanc and in spite not having made it due to bad weather conditions it was still nice to have been to the Dome de Gouter. Other moments were the stunning landscapes. (more)
highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2006 First Choice Responsible Tourism Awards the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society. Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
|
The alpine landscapes you will experience on this climbing trip are simply stunning so it is essential then, that our small groups of 4-8 climbers minimise our impact on the mountain to ensure that they remain so for future generations. All rubbish will be carried out of the mountains and disposed of sensibly. The mountain huts and their immediate environment are particularly sensitive to degradation and it is up to us to ensure that we use the facilities sensibly and leave them as we would expect to find them.
Our starting point of Chamonix is heavily geared up for tourism but this does not mean that everyone is a tourist or understands our language. It is up to us to make all reasonable effort to communicate in the local language and to fit in with the local way of life. All travellers are provided with our award-winning 20 page Responsible Travel Booklet which outlines our environmental guidelines and practices and will provide you will clear details on how you can play a vital part in reducing your impact on the fragile environments and cultures around the world. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |