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3 Countries Summits 2024
Climb in up to three Alpine countries during this week of summits!
Course overview

This is a week of summit bagging, designed for those who want to progress from an Alpine Intro style course, with more nights in mountain huts, and a full week of Alpine mountaineering routes on glaciated terrain. The course is based in Chamonix, and you have a couple of two-day mini expeditions with nights in mountain huts, and an extra day for acclimatisation / flexibility / training / contingency, as required.

During the week, you frequently get the opportunity to climb in three different Alpine countries, as a couple of the routes in the itinerary straddle the borders. It's typical to climb in France, Italy and Switzerland. There are many choices of which peaks you can ascend, so this course provides real flexibility for you to tackle good routes in condition.
The mountain huts we use are comfortable, and you are booked in on a half board basis, and are well fed with a three course evening meal, as well as a breakfast early on the morning for your Alpine starts. There are up to two nights included in huts on a half board basis during the week, if required.
This trip is a good alternative to our Monte Rosa 4000m week, for those who do not wish to spend as many nights in mountain huts during the week, or who have some issues with acclimatisation.
This course is designed for either those with a little previous climbing experience, or those keen on developing their crampon skills and gain acclimatisation, as Mont Blanc can be attempted after the course on an extension (see: Mont Blanc Extension). For those who do not want a 'technical climbing' course, yet want to experience remote and easy Alpine summits, this is the holiday for you. If you are looking at more of a 'skills' course, consider the Alpine Autonomy Techniques course, and for details click here.
Dates: these are listed in the column on the right, and they show the live availability from our secure online booking system. When you book online, you receive immediate confirmation, your Alpine Information Booklet, course specific kit list and invoice.

Daily Course Itinerary

Sun Travel to Chamonix to arrive for the 17:00 check-in followed by and course safety and itinerary briefings. There is time for kit checks or rental of equipment. Briefings are over by 19:00 and the Chamonix hosts accompany the group to pre-dinner drinks to answer any queries. Night in Chamonix.
Mon Meet your guide in the morning, and drive up to the village of Le Tour at the head of the Chamonix valley. Here you take the cable car, then chair lift, to access the trail that leads you up to the Albert Premier hut. After a break for lunch, you spend the afternoon on the glacer / snowfields close to the hut, to refresh your crampon skills, and practice walking roped up with Alpine coils. Night spent in the Albert Premier hut, which has been recently refurbished to a high standard. Guiding ratio 1:3 (max). Night in hut.
Tue A very early start to cross the boulder field behind the hut, to reach the glacier, then it's crampons and harnesses on for the ascent to the Aiguille du Tour 3544m, which straddles the Franco-Swiss border. On the glacier you are roped up for safety, and it is a long but gradual ascent to Col Superior du Tour, where you cross into Switzerland, then turn left to just below the summit, where you scramble up to the top. The descent is made by the same route, to Le Tour. Guiding ratio 1:3 (max). Night in Chamonix.
Wed Typically a day route, and you drive to Argentiere and ascend the Grands Montets cable car. Descend the stairs onto the glacier surface, where you rope up, and start ascending towards the rimaye / bergschrund on the Petite Aiguille Verte. Once this is crossed you soon reach the summit ridge, where you turn left and head upwards to the rocky summit block. On the top you are rewarded by the view onto the North Face of Les Drus, and down into the Chamonix valley. Guiding ratio 1:3 (max). Night in Chamonix.
Thu Today you take the cable car to the Aiguille du Midi 3842m, and descend the ridge onto the Col du Midi, before crossing it to then climb Pointe Lachenal 3613m. Descend to the glacier again, and traverse the whole Vallee Blanche to reach Punta Helbronner in Italy. This traverse crosses complex glaciers, in spectacular scenery. You reach the Rifugio Torino, which looks down to Courmayeur, and spend the night in this mountain hut. Guiding ratio 1:3 (max). Night in hut.
Fri An early start to ascend the Aiguille du Toula 3538m (3 clients), or possibly the Aiguilles Marbrées 3535m (if 2 clients). Both these routes are situated on the Franco-Italian border, offering you the opportunity to finish week of summits in a trilogy of Alpine countries. Return to Punta Helbronner, and take the cable car back across the Vallee Blanche to Aiguille du Midi, and down to Chamonix. In the evening all the different course clients meet up to celebrate. Guiding ratio 1:3 (max). Night in Chamonix.
Sat Breakfast then the accommodation check out is by 10:00. Most arrange their airport transfers to leave around this time, to catch a flight from Geneva about midday. Depart for home.
n.b. ITINERARY NOTES: Where possible we follow itineraries. Mountain adventures are weather and conditions dependant, so occasionaly we are forced to alter the plans. If this is the case, suitable alternatives are offered. Please use this outline itinerary as a guide to the types of route / activity that you will attempt.
Course Prices
Standard course
5 days guiding, 7 days holiday in total £1499
Live availability
Click on the planner logo to the right to
see the real time live course availability
Latest Availability
Secure online booking system
Standard Course Inclusions: 1) IFMGA Mountain Guide for five days, 2) Chamonix course hosts for logistics & briefings, 3) Self-catered accommodation in Chamonix (inc. beddings & towels), 4) Up to two nights half board in mountain huts (inc. costs for guides), 5) Pre course information booklet, 6) Equipment discount voucher for UK shops, 7) Free 36 page technical Course Instruction Booklet, 8) Road transport in Chamonix valley, 9) Evening technical instruction when in Chamonix.
Exclusions: 1) Travel to and from Chamonix, 2) Equipment hire, 3) Personal laundry, telephone calls, lunches, evening meals in valley, & any purchases in mountain huts / hotels / restaurants, 4) Cable cars and uplift as required (budget on about £80 for the week), 5) Transport / tunnel ticket outside the Chamonix valley, 6) Sunday pre-dinner drinks & Friday celebratory meal & drinks, 7) Activities insurance, & excess baggage charges.
Notes: Group size 2 - 3 clients per guide. This trip can be operated as a private course for a group of 3 people booking together, at a 1:3 ratio throughout, on any date you wish throughout the summer season.
Course upgrade options
Many clients on this trip consider upgrading with one or more of the following course additions...
 
Private
room
Big 5 Alpine
extensions
Technical
kit rental
Acclimatise
weekend
  Upgrade to single from
£300-£500 in addition to
standard course price,
depending on week.
Extend by 2 days after
to ascend one of the
Big 5 Alpine peaks as
an extra summit.
Rent all technical kit
for a week. Full Alpine
Bundle costs you just
£100 for the week.
Saturday night spent in
Chamonix, with choice
of self-guided or guided
on Sunday. From £70.
  Click for details Click for details Click for details Click for details
 
Standard course accommodation - normally clients are based in self-catered flats (details), so take a look, and decide if it's for you. For more luxury, contact us for quotes in higher standard apartments, or hotels of any standard required. If you have / source your own course accommodation, or we cannot provide an upgrade, the standard course price has a £100pp reduction applied on your invoice.
Current course availability

Course Dates
3 Countries Summits
  • [ 3 ] 14 - 20 Jul 2024
  • [ 3 ] 11 - 17 Aug 2024
NOTE: This trip has scheduled
dates, but if there are three who
are booking together, it can be
operated on any date you wish
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Price: £1499 Book online

Alternative courses
Mont Blanc Achievements
Mont Blanc Summit
Alps Autonomy Techniques
Winter Mount Toubkal

Client feedback


An amazing week! The summit views were fantastic, and each country was so different, so it was a good way of getting three different trips in one. Our Guides were friendly and seemed to know everyone in the huts so we were never short of food or entertainment

Stuart P , Glacier Summits

All the peaks were so different, as were the views, cultures and food in each country, which made the week for us

Martha C , Glacier Summits

A brilliant and varied week, with a very different 'feel' on each of the three peaks we climbed

Lee B , Glacier Summits

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Location data for this trip
The trips meet in the Chamonix valley in the French Alps, at the foot of Mont Blanc. It is easily accessed via a 90 minute transfer from Geneva airport.
Time Difference
GMT +1hr
Local Currency
€ Euros
Travel from UK
1hr flight
Why choose us
Great guiding ratios of 1:3 for every single day of the holiday, to maximise flexibility and summit chances.
The highest quality and qualifications possible for leaders, as you are led for five days with IFMGA Guides.
Up to two nights spent half board in comfortable mountain huts in the remote areas.
Itinerary flexibility to enable you to take in three peaks in three countries during the week.
Suggested reading and kit
View full course equipment list, with examples of kit, click here
Why choose our trips?
See our Alpine blog, by clicking on the Word-press logo to the right.
Icicle Blog
Itinerary flexibility to allow you to take full advantage of the weather windows on any day, to maximise your summit chances.
Our prices are fixed in £ Sterling, to protect you from euro fluctuations, so you can budget accurately.
There is a choice of routes to opt for, depending on the weather, conditions, and your experience.
Any further questions?
A key part of choosing a company is being able to come and talk about your plans with an experienced course advisor face to face. In an increasingly virtual world, we know our clients value speaking to real people, getting open and honest advice. The vast majority of our clients are British, and our office and outdoor store is based in Windermere in the English Lake District. Arrange a meeting, and come in for a coffee to discuss your course in person with a trip advisor. Many people opt for this service, and it is an integral part of what we offer, to ensure that you are prepared as possible.



As well as talking though your course, most clients have queries about the kit they will require, to avoid expensive mistakes, and we can show you some examples of that to consider. Others have training queries, about how to best prepare for your trip, and we will be able to steer you in the right direction. No question is too silly, and we'll have heard them all before! An integral part of booking is the ability to get good knowledgable advice, and a highly personal service. Unlike companies that only exist virtually in cyberspace, we are staffed by real people, in a real office, who offer real honest advice. Because we are tangible, we are accountable, and we take great pride in that and the service that we offer you. Get in touch to come in for a chat soon.


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