Mont Blanc
Getting you to the summit of Mont Blanc climb is the ultimate goal of our ‘Desk to Summit’ packages, but the journey there is half the adventure.
“This is real fun, this is the adventure…”
Adrian Manistre – Director, Eutopia Solutions
After 3 months of training and a number of mountain days under your belt, you’re finally here. The Alps. Based in Chamonix, you’ll spend the next 6 nights here, with 5 days on the Mont Blanc Massif and the focus, the Mont Blanc (4,806m) summit itself.
The Mont Blanc climb is the ultimate goal of our program. Initially our IFMGA Guides will give you 2 days of basic Alpine training including crampon, ice axe and rope work on either the Mont Blanc Massif or another 4000m peak (weather dependent), before moving onto the next 3 days, where you’ll make a push for the ultimate goal of climbing and summiting Mont Blanc (4809m). All of our Alpine Guides are IFMGA (International Federation of Mountain Guides Association) accredited and offer essential training on mountaineering for moving safely on the glacier. Our ratios are on a strict 2:1 to ensure you get the focus and support you need when developing your new skills and giving you the best chance of summitting Mont Blanc in a safe and controlled manner.
The Itinerary
- Day 1 – Picked up at Geneva airport with your team for a transfer to Chamonix and where you’ll be staying (based on your package). Here you’ll settle in before meeting your mountain Guides for the week for a thorough safety briefing and break down of the week. (Chamonix Hotel stay)
- Day 2 – Into the mountains for acclimatisation and glacier instruction either on the Mont Blanc Massif itself with some high-altitude scrambling (eg Petit Flambeau, 3,440m) or beginning an acclimatisation peak (Gran Paradiso, 4,061m) (Mountain Hut stay)
- Day 3 – More time in the mountains taking in the high-altitude mountain air either with a more technical scrambling routes (eg a portion or all of the Aiguille d’Entrèves Traverse, 3,600m) or maybe even a higher trekking peak (Mont Blanc du Tacul, 4,248m) or completion of another (Gran Paradiso, 4,061m) before heading back down to Chamonix for a recovery night to aid acclimatisation. (Chamonix Hotel stay)
- Day 4 – We start our ascent of Mont Blanc with an easy day trek up to the Tête Rousse Hut (3,167m) with a front row view of the infamous Grand Couloir. (Mountain Hut stay)
- Day 5 – This is our preferred Summit Day for Mont Blanc 4,809m. Conditions dependent, you’ll have an early Alpine Start up the Couloir and across the Dôme du Goûter, onto the Bosses Ridge and finally the summit of Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Western Europe. After handshakes, pictures and taking in the views, we’ll head back down to Goûter Hut, 3,835m for the night and well-earned rest. (Mountain Hut stay)
- Day 6 – Here we either head home, guided back safely down the Grand Couloir and back to Chamonix, or if the weather has stopped us the day before, we’ll make your summit push with a long descent down. You’ll then need to get cleaned up for your final dinner of the trip with your team. (Chamonix Hotel stay)
- Day 7 – Time to get packed up, buy presents and souvenirs and before heading home.
We can’t emphasise enough that we dictated by the weather and conditions rule in the Alps for the safety of the team and guides. The guides will move the days and locations around in accordance with this. Their job is to maximise your experience, chances of summiting and ultimately keep you safe and enjoying the adventure.
