The day before – Welcome in Saint-Gervais
Meeting with your guides and the other participants at the Saint-Gervais Guides’ Office at 6:30 pm for a briefing and a welcome drink. This meeting will be an opportunity to review the itinerary and the essential equipment for the first three days, based on the forecast weather conditions.
Overnight accommodation of your choice.
Tuesday – Rock climbing school and ascent to the Tré-la-Tête Hut (1,970 m)
Departure at 9:00 am from Saint-Gervais to reach the village of Les Contamines (private vehicle or carpooling, organized the evening before during the briefing). On the way to the Tré-la-Tête Hut, a rock climbing school in mountaineering boots to better prepare for the ascent of the Aiguille du Goûter during the Mont Blanc climb.
Elevation gain: +960 m – approximately 2 hours 30 minutes of walking.
Overnight in a dormitory at the Tré-la-Tête Hut.
Wednesday – Ice school and ascent to the Conscrits Hut
Departure from the hut in the morning. A full day dedicated to learning crampon techniques and roped glacier travel on the Tré-la-Tête Glacier. Progressive ascent to the Conscrits Hut at an altitude of 2,600 m.
Elevation gain: +745 m – approximately 5 hours of walking.
Overnight in a dormitory at the Conscrits Hut.
Thursday – Ascent of the Aiguille de la Bérangère (3,425 m)
Departure around 5:00 am for the ascent of the Aiguille de la Bérangère. You will put into practice the skills acquired over the first two days: roped travel, pace management, and adaptation to altitude. A long descent, similar to that of Mont Blanc, followed by a debrief of the first three days over a meal at the Tré-la-Tête Hut.
Return to the valley, then back to Saint-Gervais.
Elevation gain: +830 m / -2,250 m – approximately 10 hours of walking, including 6 hours of descent.
Overnight accommodation of your choice.
At the end of the first three days of the course, the decision to undertake the ascent of Mont Blanc will rest solely with the guides. If your level is deemed insufficient to form a rope team, you will be required to leave the course and the remainder of the stay will not be refunded.
Friday – Rest day
A free day to recover before the ascent. Take the opportunity to visit the Saint-Gervais thermal baths. Overnight accommodation of your choice.
Saturday – Ascent to the Goûter Hut (3,835 m)
Morning departure by the Mont Blanc Tramway. Ascent to the Tête Rousse Hut, then climb of the Aiguille du Goûter via a steep route involving easy scrambling over 600 meters of elevation gain. Arrival at the Goûter Hut in the early afternoon.
Elevation gain: +1,470 m – approximately 5 hours of walking.
Overnight in a dormitory at the Goûter Hut.
Sunday – Mont Blanc Summit
Departure by headlamp around 3:00 am for the final ascent. Climb toward the Dôme du Goûter (4,304 m), then continue on snow to the Vallot emergency shelter before following the majestic Bosses Ridge to the summit of Mont Blanc. This section is steep and airy, yet of unmatched beauty. The descent follows the same route, with a midday meal shared at the hut or down in the valley. Return to Saint-Gervais in mid-afternoon.
Elevation gain: +1,050 m / -2,520 m – approximately 11 hours of walking.
The guides may adjust the program according to the weather, mountain conditions, and the participants’ skill level.
This 5-day Mont Blanc course is the most comprehensive option for experiencing the ascent in the best possible conditions. The first three days are dedicated to technical training and acclimatization in the wild Tré-la-Tête Glacier area, before the two-day ascent of Mont Blanc (4,808 m).
Led by experienced high-mountain guides, you will progress in a small rope team, alternating between learning crampon techniques, rock climbing, and glacier travel. This trip is designed for very fit individuals looking to turn a dream into reality.
Possible postponement of the Mont Blanc ascent in case of unfavorable weather: a rare level of flexibility to maximize your chances of success.
Supervision by the Saint-Gervais guides, experts of the Mont-Blanc massif, with in-depth knowledge of every section of the Goûter route and the Tré-la-Tête Glacier area.
Hot meals served at the huts each lunchtime for greater comfort and optimal recovery throughout the course.
A personalized briefing the evening before departure, shared in a friendly moment with your guide to calmly prepare for your ascent.
Comprehensive support before and during the course, with guidance on physical preparation, equipment, and trip organization.
A technical training and high-altitude acclimatization program, specifically designed to ensure the success of the final Mont Blanc ascent.
A complete course in a wild, unspoiled setting, far from the crowds, on the magnificent Tré-la-Tête Glacier.
Group departures from Tuesday June 9 to September 22 (except Tuesday July 28, which will be moved to Monday July 27).
Private group departures available depending on hut availability (except the first weekend of August, which coincides with the Val Montjoie Guides’ Festival): please contact us.
Directly on our website or using the dated and signed registration form, accompanied by a 40% deposit and any optional insurance fees. The balance must be paid 60 days before departure.
You will be in a group of up to 8 participants. You may join alone, as a pair, or in a larger group. For the Mont Blanc ascent, you will climb in pairs; during the first three days, the guides will form the rope teams according to your level and affinities. You will be supervised by a UIAGM-certified high-mountain guide or aspirant guide.
The ascent of Mont Blanc is a true physical challenge: between 1,600 and 2,500 meters of elevation gain per day, up to 11 hours of hiking, temperatures that can drop below –20°C, and carrying a 10-kilogram pack. This course is designed to prepare you technically for the Mont Blanc ascent, but it will in no way prepare you physically. You must arrive in excellent physical condition if you want to successfully reach the summit of Mont Blanc.
During the preparation days, you must be able to ascend comfortably at a minimum pace of 400 meters of elevation gain per hour.
If you have any doubts about your physical ability, we recommend starting with the 4-day Mont Blanc preparation course, which will allow you to discover the environment without the pressure of the summit and return the following year with the benefit of your first experience and your guide’s advice.
Endurance training
You will be required to hike between 6 and 12 hours per day. You should therefore prepare by practicing long-duration cardio activities. Endurance sports: 2 to 3 sessions per week of cycling or running. We recommend increasing the intensity of your training six months before your course.
Training on varied terrain
From the second day onward, you will no longer be on a hiking trail, but moving through often very technical terrain (slabs, scree, rock, snow, and ice). You can prepare by hiking in mid-mountain terrain and venturing off-trail in forested areas. Rock climbing is also excellent training.
By the end of your training, you should be able to easily manage 1,500 meters of elevation gain and loss in a maximum of 5 hours.
Keep in mind that for five days you will be hiking with an 8 to 10 kg backpack, which significantly increases the effort required. During your training outings, gradually practice hiking with this additional weight.
After your registration, you will receive a physical preparation guide prepared by our guides. You can also call us or send us your training schedules.
The group rate is set at:
€2,480 per person
The private rate is set at:
1 participant: €4,390 per person
2 participants: €2,680 per person
3 participants: €2,580 per person
From 4 participants: €2,480 per person
The price includes
The price does not include
Repatriation
Having “assistance–repatriation” insurance is mandatory to take part in our trips: it must cover you in high mountains for search and rescue by helicopter. If you do not have “assistance–repatriation” insurance, we can provide one at a rate of €5/day.
Cancellation
We also offer optional “cancellation” insurance at a rate of €12/day. This insurance does not take into account the sporting nature of our trips. It must be purchased at the time of registration to take effect.
As a reminder, cancellation insurance covers you from the moment you register until the start of your trip if something happens and you cannot attend. We apply cancellation fees as specified on our registration form and in our terms of sale. These fees may be reimbursed by the cancellation insurance if your reason for cancelling is covered.
If you pay by credit card, feel free to check the insurance included with it.
As a reminder, in the event of cancellation you must file your claim with the insurer within 5 days of the accident or reason for cancelling, otherwise it will not be valid (then check whether the reason for cancellation is covered).
Insurance fees are non-refundable.
Not everything listed here will necessarily be needed during the first three days of preparation; your guide will let you know during the briefing what to bring for those initial days.
Technical equipment
Technical equipment is available for rent from our partners:
For Saint Gervais : blanc-sport-saintgervais.com/ www.unlimited-saintgervais.com,
For les Contamines : www.intersport-lescontamines.com/
Clothing
Essential accessories
Feel free to contact us if you need advice on physical preparation, gear selection, or organizing your trip.
You will meet the guides the day before departure at the Saint-Gervais Guides Office (43 rue du Mont Blanc, 74170 Saint-Gervais), located inside the tourist office in the village center, at 6:30 p.m. Please let us know if you cannot attend; the briefing can be done by phone.
In the mountains, weather conditions are a key factor for your safety. It is difficult, if not impossible, to obtain a reliable weather forecast more than three days in advance. The first three days of the course cannot be postponed, as you must be technically prepared for the Mont Blanc ascent.
If the weather does not allow for the Mont Blanc ascent:
In consultation with your guide, if you decide to attempt Mont Blanc and are caught by bad weather, no refund or credit will be possible.
As a reminder, if your guide deems your level insufficient, no refund will be issued in the event of bad weather.
For all the latest news, you can follow us on social networks, here are the upcoming events.
Site under construction
Our website is currently in its finalization phase.
If you notice any issue or error, please feel free to let us know!
You can call us at (+33)4 50 47 76 55.
