Mont Blanc | France
Price Range:
$5,995USD
Elevation:
15,774ft
Duration:
7 Days
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Route:
Goûter Route (Normal Route)
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Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in Western Europe, making it one of the most sought-after summits in the Alps and earning its spot in the Alpine Big Three along with the Matterhorn and the Eiger. Perched along the France-Italy border, this lofty summit offers climbers breathtaking views while simultaneously testing their endurance abilities and advancing their mountaineering skills on one of the most accessible peaks in the Alps.
The Goûter Route is about as classic as it gets when it comes to the Alps. This route is demanding in altitude and terrain, but it is suitable for climbers who have a strong base fitness level and are looking to advance their mountaineering skills. Climbers that are looking to learn or solidify technical mountaineering skills like cramponing, self-arrest, and fixed-line climbing will excel during this climb.
This expedition starts and ends in Chamonix, France – the birthplace of alpinism. Several factors have contributed to Chamonix’s status, including its proximity to Mont Blanc. The combination of challenging peaks, early exploring, alpine clubs, skilled guides, and modern-day infrastructure leaves a legacy that has become emblematic in the mountaineering and alpine world.
The “Big Three” in alpinism refers to three of the most iconic and challenging peaks in the Alps: the Eiger, the Matterhorn, and Mont Blanc. These mountains are renowned for their difficulty, technical climbing challenges, and historical significance in the world of mountaineering. An expedition to Mont Blanc will set you up perfectly to take on the increasingly challenging summits of the Matterhorn and the Eiger. You can add these climbs to your Mont Blanc expedition, making it the ultimate trilogy.
For those of you on track to complete the Seven Summits, please note that we are now recognizing Mont Blanc as the acting European Seventh Summit in place of Mount Elbrus.
For this expedition, CTSS works exclusively with Adventure Base, an authorized concessionaire based out of Chamonix, France. Mike Hamill, Owner of Climbing the Seven Summits, selected Adventure Base as our partner because of our shared philosophies and high-level of standards, including logistics, professional support, and local knowledge. Together, we crafted this custom itinerary specifically for our CTSS clients, including the option to add on the Alpine Big Three. Every guide for this expedition is an IFMGA/UIAGM/UIMLA Mountain Guide and has been handpicked by our teams.
Expedition Highlights
- Stand on the highest point in Western Europe
- Advance your mountaineering skills with world-class guides
- Pair with the Matterhorn and the Eiger to complete the Alpine Big Three
- Summit Mont Blanc, now recognized by CTSS as one of the Seven Summits
- See the sunrise over the Alps from the highest point in Western Europe
- Experience life in the birthplace of alpinism: Chamonix, France
Team Departure: $5,995 USD
Private Climb Options: Please contact us for pricing.
Dates: July 22-28, 2024 – (sold out) JOIN OUR WAITLIST
Our Mont Blanc expeditions run from July through September to take advantage of the best weather and most favorable summit conditions. Whether you’re looking for a group climb or want a customized private climb to expand your skill set, we can arrange an expedition that fits your style and timeframe.
- If these dates don’t work for you, or you would like a private trip and private guide, we also build custom itineraries for many of our climbers.
- You can climb Mont Blanc as a stand-alone climb or dovetail it with other climbs in the Alps, including the Matterhorn and the Eiger. Together, Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, and the Eiger make up the Alpine Big Three, the ultimate trilogy for any mountaineer.
Our seven-day Mont Blanc expeditions offer a challenging ascent, requiring physical fitness, technical climbing skills, and mental endurance. It’s an infamous and highly sought-after summit that sits on the border of France and Italy with sweeping views that have been enticing climbers for years.
Itinerary:
This itinerary is only a rough estimate and will be determined by weather and conditions. This is adventure travel, meaning things rarely go as planned, and this schedule will likely change. Climbers need to be adaptable and positive.
We always recommend climbers arrive in Chamonix one day early to avoid travel delays or issues with lost baggage. Added expenses (hotel/food/sightseeing) of this extra day are the client’s responsibility.
- Day 1: Arrival day, gear checks
- Day 2: Train and acclimatize on the Mont Blanc range (ex. Aiguille du Midi)
- Day 3: Train and acclimatize on the Mont Blanc range (ex. Punta Hellbronner)
- Day 4: Begin Mont Blanc climb (Les Houches to Tête Rousse Hut)
- Day 5: Summit day (Tête Rousse Hut to Goûter Hut)
- Day 6: Return to Chamonix
- Day 7: Departure day
Our expeditions are designed to be fully inclusive, except for some services/items of a personal nature like flights, gear, insurance. Here’s a detailed list so you know what to expect
Included in the Mont Blanc Expedition
- IFMGA Mountain Guide at a 2:1 guide-to-client ratio for your summit day and a 4:1 ratio for your training days.
- Summit attempt of Mont Blanc plus 2 training days in the Mont Blanc range
- All accommodations, including 4 nights at a hotel in the Chamonix Valley, as well as 2 nights at mountain huts
- All meals, including a team dinner on the first night in Chamonix. You will need to bring your own selection of snacks for fuel during the training days and summit climb. We recommend a variety of your favorite snacks, enough for 5 snack breaks at 300-400 calories per break.
- All transport within the itinerary, including cable cars and trains
- Airport transfers from the Geneva Airport (Switzerland)
- All group gear, including mountaineering tents, cooking gear, stoves, ropes, etc.
- Group first aid equipment
Excluded from the Mont Blanc Expedition
- Flight costs
- Snacks and drinks during the expedition. You will need to bring your own selection of snacks for fuel during the training days and summit climb. We recommend a variety of your favorite snacks, enough for 5 snack breaks at 300-400 calories per break.
- All personal climbing equipment is the responsibility of the client.
- In the event of a rescue, evacuation, or early departure from the group, any rescue expenses or excess expenses above and beyond our normal trip costs, including transport, hotels, evacuation, flight changes, and gear shipping, are the responsibility of the client.
- Guide tips (customary, but optional)
- Costs incurred as a result of events beyond the control of CTSS above and beyond the normal expedition costs
- Required trip insurance policy (for trip cancellation, interruption, rescue & evacuation, medical treatment, repatriation, etc.)
Allowing you to customize your expedition to suit your needs is a huge priority for us.
As mountaineers ourselves, we understand that it’s the little things that can make the difference. Comfortable, well-rested climbers are successful climbers, and climbers who have objectives that are suited to their skill level are happy climbers.
Do I need to have any prior climbing experience?
This trip is open to all individuals in good physical condition. There are no technical climbing prerequisites to join this program. However, having some baseline experience with alpine and glacier climbing, cramponing, and ice axe arrest is ideal. If you are looking for a skills-based course and climb to hone your technical mountaineering skills prior to your expedition, check out our Australian Alpine Academy and Mount Baker Alpine Academy.
What is a good fitness and training program for this climb?
- Climbing conditioning – pack-loaded uphill hiking, walking, and stair climbing
- Strength training – for the lower and upper body
- Cardiovascular training – including both aerobic and anaerobic workouts without pack weight
- Flexibility training
How does this fit into my climbing progression?
Mont Blanc is a great training peak for bigger expeditions like our 3 Peaks Nepal (Lobuche, Pokalde, and Island Peak) and Ecuador Volcanoes Climb (Cayembe and Cotopaxi). Many climbers compare Mont Blanc to Mount Rainier in North America in terms of training and preparation.
If you are progressing through all the Seven Summits, this would be an excellent expedition to complete after you’ve climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kosciuszko to prepare yourself for bigger objectives like Denali and Aconcagua.
Do I need to acclimatize due to altitude?
Yes, we have built in two training days to support acclimatization into this expedition.
How heavy will my pack be?
You will likely be carrying 15 – 25 lbs (5kg – 10kg) in a 30 to 40 L pack.
Will I need to purchase trip insurance?
Yes. Trip delay and cancellation, rescue, repatriation, and medical insurance are mandatory for this program for your own benefit. We have seen too many times people need to cancel their trip either before or during the expedition for reasons such as injury, health, family, and business matters. With such a long trip and so much at stake, climbers need to be prepared for contingencies.
Didn't find an answer to your question? Don't hesitate to ask us.
Free Expert Advice
When you sign up for an expedition you become CTSS family.Which means a free expert consult with Mike Hamill - the man who literally wrote the book ‘Climbing the Seven Summits’ or one of his expert team.
Personalised strategy, progression planning, expert coaching, insight and advice on how to get the most out of your climbing journey!
6x Reasons to Choose CTSS
Safety
Your safety and success are our priorities in that order. We make conservative decisions, plan redundancies and all our guides have wilderness medical training, safety & rescue plans & access to doctors 24/7 to help keep you safe.
Value for $
We keep our overheads low to pass savings on to you. We are proud to offer the best service for the most competitive price, without skimping on safety or taking shortcuts with logistics, staffing and infrastructure.
Holistic Approach
Our service goes far beyond the mountain. Think of us as your climbing coach, we’ll be there from start to finish to prepare, debrief and plan your progression as a mountaineer, whether your goal is a single summit or the Seven.
Guides & Team
Guides can make or break your climb. We hand pick the most qualified, tenured, tested and personable guides and Sherpa in the world. Owner and mountaineer Mike Hamill personally oversees the management of each expedition.
Our Values
We care about you, our people and the planet and we walk our talk by donating a percentage of every expedition to Tiger of the Snows fund which supports outdoor tourism workers all over the world and following strict Leave No Trace principles amongst other initiatives.
Success
We have an unparalleled summit success rate. How? We do it in a myriad of ways; like a great chef’s secret sauce, we've fine tuned the recipe over decades but most importantly, we believe in you & your ability to achieve your goals and are invested in putting you on top.
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