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Ski Ascent of Mont Blanc 2024
Ski touring the highest peak in the Alps, over a week of 1:2 guiding
Reflections of Mont Blanc summit in ski goggles
Course overview
For the ultimate mountain challenge, this week makes a ski touring ascent to the highest summit in Western Europe, Mont Blanc 4810m. If there is sufficient snow, you can descend by ski right down from the summit to Chamonix, a vertical drop from the summit to the town of nearly four kilometers!
The itinerary is deliberately highly flexible, with a 1:2 guiding ratio throughout, to ensure you can go for the summit on the best day possible. This increases your summit chances immeasurably, and we focus on helping you acclimatise as much as possible before too. Our focus is the summit too.

This is a physically demanding route that requires a high level of fitness and stamina. As with a summer mountaineering ascent of Mont Blanc you should be capable of running a half marathon as a minimum. The fitter you are the more breath you will have to enjoy the route and the views.

You should already be a strong off piste skier, have previous crampon experience (Alpine PD or Scottish Grade II) and previous advanced ski touring experience (several week long tours e.g. completion of Haute Route).

In the mountain huts you get a good three course cooked meal after the efforts of each day, and breakfast, which avoids you having to carry heavy stoves and pans. Support and assistance from the Icicle Course Reps is provided throughout for logistics, advice, valley travel, equipment fitting, and route briefings.

Split-boarders are accepted only if they are booking with another split-boarder. We do not match together a skier and split-boarder, due to timing issues, and also a choice of the lines that are descended. Single split-boarders, should book a bespoke 1:1 trip, though we can advertise to try and find you a partner.
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


Please note that whilst the itinerary below is an ideal, the weather and conditions, as well as your skills, fitness, experience and acclimatisation all play a part too. In our nearly two decades of experience, we have found that hardly two trips ever run the same. Whilst the itinerary outlines this, it is imperative that you understand how flexible this must be. You are dealing with the high mountains and extreme altitude, not a prescribed coach tour!
Sunday
Travel to Chamonix to arrive any time after 16:00, to check yourself into the accommodation. Some people arrive early, and use the day skiing, to test out the kit, and get their ski legs back. This is especially useful if you are renting kit, to familiarise yourself with it. In the evening, you can meet up with others on your course, or other trips, then it's time for you to prepare your kit and pack your bags for the next day. Night in Chamonix.
Monday
Meet your guide in the morning for a briefing and kit checks, then head to a ski area, such as Grands Montets, for a challening day of
ski touring, to kick start your acclimatisation, and to refresh techniques. As you are a small team at a 1:2 ratio, you can push into steeper terrain, to develop your skills and confidence better for Mont Blanc. The guide will get a good idea from the day of how to adapt the itinerary for the week. Night in Chamonix.
Tuesday
Typically today involves glacier off piste and perhaps a slightly longer ski tour, such as skiing onto the Argentiere glacier and ascending to the Col du Tour Noir, or even across the Col de Passon to ski down to le Tour village. Both these itineraries provide stunning views of the glacier basins, which normally hold the snow conditions well
. Again your continued acclimatisation is really important, and so more time at altitude is key. Night in Chamonix.
Wednesday
This day is your last preparation before you start your ski ascent of Mont Blanc, and so is tailored to what you need to maximise your chances. It may include further skills work on ski technique, more acclimatisation, or safety coaching on transceivers or crevasse rescue. Many groups opt for a second night in a mountain hut, either for acclimatisation, or to split Mont Blanc over three days
. Mountain hut for the night on half board basis.
Thursday
Today you move up to the hut on Mont Blanc, as by now your acclimatisation should be very good. The most popular hut choices are either the Grands Mulets on the original ascent route of Mont Blanc, or the Cosmiques hut close to the Aiguille du Midi. After reaching the hut, it's time to rest before your summit day starting during the night. Evening meal in the hut is provided, as is breakfast the next morning. Mountain hut for the night on half board basis
.
Friday
Alpine start, to start the ski tour by head torch, threading your way up the glaciers, via either the Grand Mulets route to the Vallot, and the ridge to the summit, or via the Trois Mont Blancs traverse. Once the summit is reached, you ski the North Face, or from the Vallot if the very top dome is too icy. Descend via the Plan d'Aiguille to Chamonix. In the evening most head into town for social drinks and a celebratory meal. Nigh
t in Chamonix.
Saturday
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.

Course Prices
Standard course 5 full days IFMGA guiding, 1:2 max ratio
7 days holiday in total, Sunday-Saturday
£1999
Live availability Click on the planner logo to the right to
see the real time live course availability
Latest Availability
How to book Secure payments, bonded tour operator
Details of how to book
, click here
Book online
Standard Course Inclusions: 1) IFMGA Mountain Guides for five days, 2) Discount voucher for client rates in our Windermere shop, 3) Pre course information booklet, 4) Equipment discount voucher for UK shops, 5) Six nights self-catered accommodation in Chamonix (inc. bedding & towels), 6) Free 36 page technical Course Instruction Booklet, 7) Road or rail transport in Chamonix valley to and from the slopes each day, 8) Preferential rates on ski and safety equipment hire, 9) Two nights half board mountain huts for you and guide.
Exclusions: 1) Travel to and from Chamonix, 2) Cable cars as required, 3) Ski and equipment hire, 4) Personal laundry, telephone calls, lunches, & any purchases in mountain huts / hotels / restaurants, 5) Any optional stays in a mountain hut on a half board basis for you and the guide, 6) Transport outside the Chamonix valley, 7) Sunday pre-dinner drinks & Friday celebratory meal & drinks, 8) Activities insurance, excess baggage charges.
Discounts: If you do not need any accommodation for the course, a £100 discount per person is offered. This course assumes 1:2 guiding throughout. Note that is there is just one person on a course, less 1:1 guiding days and half board nights in hotels can be offered, however accommodation will be provided for the whole week, and guiding options and locations will be discussed with you within the budget paid.
Current course availability

Course Dates
Ski Mont Blanc
  • No Dates Available
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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Scheduled courses
Price:
£1999 Book online


Bespoke course? If your ideal date is showing as full on the list above, get in contact, as we also offer private 1:2 and 1:1 trips on any date during the season. The 1:1 price is £2399. To book a bespoke 1:1 or 1:2 Mont Blanc ski trip, book one / two places (as required) on the scheduled course, and add the bespoke date in the notes section, and we will adapt the invoice.

Mont Blanc weekend?
Price:
£899 Book online

If you have completed a week long ski tour, such as the Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt, you could extend by a couple of days to ski Mont Blanc. On the first day you ski to the Grands Mulets hut from Plan d'Aiguille, and the next day ski Mont Blanc and descend. The price based on 2 people booking together is £899pp, or if you'd prefer 1:1 with a guide it's £1749.

Alternative courses
Chamonix Off Piste
Haute Route (Cham-Zermatt)
Gran Paradiso Ski Tour
Silvretta Ski Tour

Client feedback


A well planned trip, and the two of us took advantage of the weather window, to reach the summit, on a great day with low winds all the way

Caroline N , Ski Mont Blanc


A good mixture of guiding and also instruction on ski technique

Adrian P , Ski Mont Blanc


Very tough summit day, but the ski down made up for it so much

Ryan C , Ski Mont Blanc

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Location data for this trip
The trips all start in 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
Skis & equipment advice
Because we know it is so important to you to have the most suitable equipment and clothing for off piste skiing and touring, we have devoted a page especially to it, which you can access by clicking on the image, or by clicking here. This page outlines the key equipment you should bring, and gives examples of skis that are suitable for the course. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
Suggested reading and kit
View full course equipment list, with examples of kit, click here
So why choose us?
We are true specialists in ski touring. See our blog, by clicking on the logo (on the right).
Icicle Blog
Itinerary flexibility to allow you to take full advantage of the weather and conditions each day, so that you maximise the amount of time spent skiiing each day.
Our prices are fixed in £ pounds sterling, to protect you from euro currency fluctuations, so that you can budget accurately.
We have a team of over 30 IFMGA guides, and a resort support team, who all want you to have the best skiing possible! For more details on the guiding team and qualifications, please click here.
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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