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Oberland 4000m Peaks 2024
Guiding ratio 1:2 | IFMGA Mountain Guides | 4 nights half-board in huts
Course overview
If you want to climb as many 4000m peaks as possible during a week, whilst staying in mountain huts with amazing scenery, this course is perfect for you. You could also consider the Monte Rosa 4000ers course.
The Oberland massif boats some of the most famous 4000m peaks in the Alps. The course lets you ascend as many of these peaks as you can during the week, staying in remote mountain huts with your Guides.
In order to maximise your guiding time, the course starts and ends in Grindelwald, to provide 5 full climbing days, with Sunday and Friday nights in Grindelwald, which is easily accessed from Geneva airport.
To experience the best routes you should be capable of seconding a UK Severe or US Grade 5.9 on rock, or have previous ice / snow experience such as having completed an Alpine or Scottish Introduction course.
The itinerary for this course is deliberately flexible to allow for changing conditions, your experience and how quickly you acclimatise. We make every effort to match people of similar experience on this course.
This course can be used as an opportunity to spend a week in the mountains and is the same level in a different region offering progression from Technical Ice & Classics or the Chamonix Alpine Rock course.
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.

Brief Course Itinerary
Sun Travel to Grindelwald to arrive for the 16:00 accommodation check-in followed by course safety and itinerary briefings. There is time for kit packing or rental of equipment. Note that normally the guide will meet you the next morning in Grindelwald or at the cable car station. Night spent in Grindelwald.
Mon Meet your guide in Grindelwald, then ascend the Jungfraujoch mountain railway through the Eiger, then cross to a hut, such as the Monchsjochhutte for the night. If the conditions and weather allow, you might well make the ascent of Monch after reaching the hut. Guiding ratio 1:2 (max). Night in mountain hut.
Tue Alpine start for the ascent of a peaks such as the Monch, possibly making the full traverse of the peak, descending towards Jungfraujoch. An alternative objective for the day is to climb the Jungfrau. Guiding ratio 1:2 (max). Night spent in mountain hut.
Wed Another Alpine start for route, such as the classic route on the Jungfrau, one of the most famous peaks in the Oberland region. Alternatively you might takle one of the satellite peaks of the Jungfrau, or traverse to another hut, such as Finsteraarhorn hut. Guiding ratio 1:2 (max). Night spent in mountain hut.
Thu A very early Alpine start to ascend a peak such as the mighty Finsteraarhorn. Even the classic route is a serious undertaking, and the slopes are steep. If you've already ascended this, you could ascend the Gross Grunhorn from Konkordia hut. Guiding ratio 1:2 (max). Night spent in mountain hut.
Fri Your final Alpine start, to take in another summit, then you traverse the upper glacier basin to reach the train at Jungfraujoch, to descend the mountain railway to return to Grindelwald for evening celebrations, or a good sleep after a week in mountain huts! Guiding ratio 1:2 (max). Night in Grindelwald.
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.
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.
Route focus
All of these peaks are included in part of the scheduled course itinerary, and some extra detail on each of the classic routes on each peak is provided below.
Jungfrau 4158m
Mönch 4107m
Finsteraarhorn
Gross Grünhorn
SE Ridge (PD)
This peak is accessed from the Mönchsjoch hut, and is the third highest in the Oberland. Ascend via the SE Ridge. First you cross the Jungfraufirn, and then up some steeper mixed to reach the easy but very exposed summit ridge. The descent is by the same route to Mönchsjoch.
SE Ridge (PD+)
The peak name means the "monk", and it has several classic ridges that are accessed via the Mönchsjoch hut. The most popular is the SE ridge, which is a snow ridge with a few simple rock steps.
SW face ascent &
NW arete (PD)

From the hut ascend the steep snow face to the NW ridge on rock and mixed to reach the summit. The descent is made via the same route all the way back to the hut.
SW Ridge (PD+)
Start from Koncordia hut, the SW ridge is a good route with mixed ground, and is tough for a PD+ grade. From the summit, you descend via the SE face, all the way down to reach the hut.

Course Prices
Standard course
5 days guiding, 7 days holiday in total £1899
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) Alpine based course hosts for briefings and logistics support during your week, 3) Two nights room only accommodation in Grindlewald area (inc. bedding & towels), 4) Up to four nights half board in mountain hut (inc. costs for guides), 5) Pre course information booklet, 6) Equipment discount voucher for UK shop, 7) Free 36 page technical Course Instruction Booklet.
Exclusions: 1) Travel to and from Grindelwald, 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 for you and your guide (approx £200), 5) Meals in Grindelwald, 6) Activities insurance, & excess baggage charges.
Notes: This course assumes 1:2 guiding throughout. Note that if there is just one person on a course, less 1:1 guiding days and half board nights in mountain huts can be offered, and guiding options and locations will be discussed with you within the budget paid.
Current course availability

Course Dates
Oberland 4000ers
  • [ 2 ] 23 - 29 Jun 2024
  • [ 2 ] 7 - 13 Jul 2024
  • [ 2 ] 28 Jul - 3 Aug 2024
  • [ 0 ] 25 - 31 Aug 2024
NOTE: This trip has scheduled
dates, but if there are two who
are booking together, it can be
operated on any date you wish
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Price: £1899 Book online

Alternative courses
Mont Blanc Summit
Techical Ice & Classics

Mt.Blanc+Eiger+Matterhorn

Winter Mount Toubkal

Client feedback


The choice of routes and peaks during the week was amazing. We summited the Jungfrau, Monch, Finsteraarhorn, and others. Cheers for organising this trip for us guys

Andy P , Oberland


The guides explained all the options each day, so we could flex the itinerary and choose some of the routes we wanted to climb

Belinda F , Oberland


This trip was a real step up for me in terms of back to back days, where we summited mountains on every day. The huts were charming

Pete C , Oberland
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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
Preparing for the course
If you are worried about acclimatisation, we recommend that you book on an Acclimatisation Weekend before your course. to help you get acclimatised earlier, leaving you with more summiting weather windows for the peaks.
Pro top tips - geeks corner!
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.



Get in contact to arrange a meeting, and come in for a coffee to discuss your course in person with a trip advisor.


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