PROGRAM
Mont Blanc is the King of Alps and reaching its summit is the dream of every mountaineer. Nevertheless, the challenge is demanding and requires good technical skills, good physical fitness and acclimatization to altitude.
Our Stage Mont Blanc program is designed to give you the best chance of reaching the summit, with gradually approach to high altitude, glacier progression training and good management of physical energy.
But that’s not all, because the Mont Blanc stage is a unique experience in the Alps: first of all, we will climb Gran Paradiso, the highest peak entirely on Italian land, famous to be quite easy and at same time breathtaking.
Spending two nights at the comfortable Chabod Hut we will ensure the best acclimatization, getting ready to afford the Mont Blanc summit. So, moving at Chamonix, in France, we begin our final ascent.
If you dream to climb the highest summit of Europe, get in touch with our expert and local Guides, we will help you plan your Mont Blanc Stage!
As alternative, take a look to 3-days Mont Blanc Goûter Route ascent.
Note
For Mont Blanc ascent it is necessary to book the refuge (Tête Rousse or Goûter) a few months in advance of the date scheduled for the summit ascent. From 2019, the ascent to the summit is conditional on the mountaineers having a reservation for the refuge. We suggest to reserve your place before December in order to ensure your ascent in the next season.
In case of impossibility in climbing Mont Blanc, due to bad weather or insufficient skills, the second part of the trip will be moved in agreement with the Guide to the Monte Rosa area.
GROUP DEPARTURES
Difference in altitude: 900 m
Ascent time: 2/3 hours
Meeting point: meeting in Pravieux (Valsavarenche, AO) at 2.30 pm for equipment check and a short briefing.
From the parking area close to the river, we start our 6-days adventure following the path in the woods that leads to the Chabod Hut (2,710 m): the hiking up to the refuge is on an easy path and it will take around 2,30 hours.
Before dinner, the Guide will make a fast briefing, to refresh the required equipment, its use on the itinerary and check the backpacks for the ascent.
Dinner and overnight at refuge.
Difference in altitude: 900 m
Ascent time: 2/3 hours
Meeting point: meeting in Pravieux (Valsavarenche, AO) at 2.30 pm for equipment check and a short briefing.
From the parking area close to the river, we start our 6-days adventure following the path in the woods that leads to the Chabod Hut (2,710 m): the hiking up to the refuge is on an easy path and it will take around 2,30 hours.
Before dinner, the Guide will make a fast briefing, to refresh the required equipment, its use on the itinerary and check the backpacks for the ascent.
Dinner and overnight at refuge.
Difference in altitude: 1300 m
Ascent/descent time: 10/11 hours
At 3.00am we wake up for breakfast, to start 1 hour later as maximum from the Chabod Hut and take the Normal Route to Gran Paradiso summit. During the ascent, we will have a stop at “Donkey Shoulder”, to have a short break and drink something.
The last part of the hike requires good confidence in using the crampons on steep and iced slopes; by a short climbing passage on rocks, equipped with some anchor points, we finally reach the statue of the Virgin Mary on the highest summit at 4,061m.
We get back to Chabod Hut in the early afternoon, where we will take a well deserved relaxing time. We will spend a second night over 2,500 m, to increase altitude acclimatization and recover after the efforts of the summit.
Dinner and night at the refuge.
Difference in altitude: 1300 m
Ascent/descent time: 10/11 hours
At 3.00am we wake up for breakfast, to start 1 hour later as maximum from the Chabod Hut and take the Normal Route to Gran Paradiso summit. During the ascent, we will have a stop at “Donkey Shoulder”, to have a short break and drink something.
The last part of the hike requires good confidence in using the crampons on steep and iced slopes; by a short climbing passage on rocks, equipped with some anchor points, we finally reach the statue of the Virgin Mary on the highest summit at 4,061m.
We get back to Chabod Hut in the early afternoon, where we will take a well deserved relaxing time. We will spend a second night over 2,500 m, to increase altitude acclimatization and recover after the efforts of the summit.
Dinner and night at the refuge.
Difference in altitude: –900 m
Descent time: 2 hours
On the third day, after breakfast at refuge, we’ll take our time to go back to Pont Valsavarenche.
For this day, we can keep flexible options, depending on the customer’s level of tiredness after the summit experience.
We can decide to make an easy hike to Vittorio Emanuele Hut (3 extra hours hiking at about the same altitude) or go down to Pont Valsavarence to afford some rock training on the cliff close to the parking area, or take a complete break.
In the last option, we will spend the rest of the day in the Valsavarenche Valley, to relax and recover, before moving to our accommodation.
Night in B&B (Pont Valsavarenche, Introd village, Saint Pierre or Aosta town).
Difference in altitude: –900 m
Descent time: 2 hours
On the third day, after breakfast at refuge, we’ll take our time to go back to Pont Valsavarenche.
For this day, we can keep flexible options, depending on the customer’s level of tiredness after the summit experience.
We can decide to make an easy hike to Vittorio Emanuele Hut (3 extra hours hiking at about the same altitude) or go down to Pont Valsavarence to afford some rock training on the cliff close to the parking area, or take a complete break.
In the last option, we will spend the rest of the day in the Valsavarenche Valley, to relax and recover, before moving to our accommodation.
Night in B&B (Pont Valsavarenche, Introd village, Saint Pierre or Aosta town).
Difference in altitude: 1,450 m
Ascent time: 3/4 hours
Meeting point: meeting at the B&B for equipment check and short briefing.
After a good breakfast, we will move to Chamonix-Les Houches, where the Mont Blanc ascent begins. From the parking of Les Houches, we’ll take a cable car to Bellevue-Téléphérique. From there, with a 3 hours hike, we will reach the Tete Rousse Hut, where we stay for dinner and overnight.
Difference in altitude: 1,450 m
Ascent time: 3/4 hours
Meeting point: meeting at the B&B for equipment check and short briefing.
After a good breakfast, we will move to Chamonix-Les Houches, where the Mont Blanc ascent begins. From the parking of Les Houches, we’ll take a cable car to Bellevue-Téléphérique. From there, with a 3 hours hike, we will reach the Tete Rousse Hut, where we stay for dinner and overnight.
Difference in altitude: 1650 m
Ascent/descent time: 11/12 hours
In order to take advantage of the sunlight, from Tête Rousse Hut we start around 3.00 am: we go up to the Goûter Hut (3,817m), crossing the “Grand Couloir” with the least risks of rocks falling, to arrive at the refuge for a short break.
After that, we will face a glacial plateau before arriving at the Dôme du Goûter, at 4,250 meters of altitude. From there, we’ll keep ascending up to the Vallot Hut, where we usually take a short break to drink something and rest. Resuming the climb, at the end of the stunning Bosses Ridge, we’ll finally reach the summit of Mont Blanc, at 4,810 meters of altitude.
We’ll return down to the Goûter Hut for a well deserved dinner and overnight stay.
Difference in altitude: 1650 m
Ascent/descent time: 11/12 hours
In order to take advantage of the sunlight, from Tête Rousse Hut we start around 3.00 am: we go up to the Goûter Hut (3,817m), crossing the “Grand Couloir” with the least risks of rocks falling, to arrive at the refuge for a short break.
After that, we will face a glacial plateau before arriving at the Dôme du Goûter, at 4,250 meters of altitude. From there, we’ll keep ascending up to the Vallot Hut, where we usually take a short break to drink something and rest. Resuming the climb, at the end of the stunning Bosses Ridge, we’ll finally reach the summit of Mont Blanc, at 4,810 meters of altitude.
We’ll return down to the Goûter Hut for a well deserved dinner and overnight stay.
Difference in altitude: -2050 m
Descent time: 5 hours
Wake up at Goûter refuge: we start early in time to cross the “Grand Couloir” with the best conditions and reaching the Tête Rousse for breakfast, before returning to Les Houches, hiking down on the same itinerary of the first day.
When we arrive at the parking area, we will have time for a good lunch and a beer to celebrate the summit with the Guide.
We suggest to the customers planning to stay overnight in Chamonix, to avoid the risk of losing transport (train or flight) in case of late arrival back after the trip.
Difference in altitude: -2050 m
Descent time: 5 hours
Wake up at Goûter refuge: we start early in time to cross the “Grand Couloir” with the best conditions and reaching the Tête Rousse for breakfast, before returning to Les Houches, hiking down on the same itinerary of the first day.
When we arrive at the parking area, we will have time for a good lunch and a beer to celebrate the summit with the Guide.
We suggest to the customers planning to stay overnight in Chamonix, to avoid the risk of losing transport (train or flight) in case of late arrival back after the trip.
DETAILS
RATES
- the Mountain Guide’s expenses (lifts, transfers, meals and accommodation)
- liability insurance
- safety gear used by the Guide (eg rope)
- loan of personal equipment (harness, ice axe, crampons and helmet)
- tickets for lift facilities
- booking assistance service (including assistance for refuges and lifts reservation)
- 5 nights accommodation: four nights in refuge in half board and one night in B&B
The rate does not include
- research and rescue insurance with UVGAM coverage (recommended): €12 per person for 7 days
- transfers
- single camera supplement
- extra meals and beverages (for the participants and for the Guide)
- anything that is not mentioned under "The rate includes"
