Summit: Mont Blanc 4810m is the highest summit in
Western Europe. To get to the 'roof of the Alps',
we normally ascend via the classic Gouter route on the French / NW aspect, starting from Les Houches in the Chamonix valley. The week starts with a 2 day acclimatisation and training ascent of Gran Paradiso 4061m.
USP: Our primary focus is on getting you to the
summit, no faffing, no discussion, no fuss.
If you train hard, are focused, and the weather
plays ball, we'll get you up there. If you
want us to wave a magic wand, and not put
in the training before, this really isn't
the mountain for you! We are doers, not dreamers.
Skills: Pre-requisites: 2+ days of crampon use, graded rock scrambles, and ideally a 4000m Alpine peak. Great balance, and the
ability to move quickly and efficiently over
broken mountain terrain, is essential. You
should be confident on steep ridges. You are taught any necessary
ropework skills during the week.
Effort: Due to the altitude and the length of the
climb, we never declare the ascent to be easy.
It is an unforgettable experience to reach
the summit, and you will test the skills you
have learnt along the way. You need excellent
fitness, aerobic endurance, stamina and determination.
Acclimatisation: Our itinerary starts with an ascent of Gran Paradiso 4061m, to help you to acclimatise, with the night spent in a mountain hut at altitude. You are then ideally prepared for your main ascent of Mont Blanc, climbed over three days, with two more nights spent in mountain huts on the mountain.
Briefings: A
principal feature of this course are the course specific route / weather briefings and kit checks for your climbs. The principle sessions are the welcome briefing on Saturday, a Gran Paradiso briefing and kit checks on Sunday before you set off, and a Mont Blanc briefing on Monday evening before your ascent.
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. To read more about seasons, please click here.
Photo: Climbers
ascending the Bosses Arete towards the summit at dawn,
having ascended via the Gouter.
How
can I improve my chances on Mont Blanc?
Fitness: Don't underestimate an ascent of Mont Blanc - arrive for this course in good physical
condition as the climb will probably be the greatest
physical exertion of your life. You should be at least half marathon
fitness, and hill fit too. We highly recommend that
you read our training pages (click
here) for details.
Weather: We
maximise your summit chances with up to 3 days and 2 nights on Mont Blanc for maximum flexibility. We only offer ascents in the key season where
the weather is typically stable,
not pushing too early (start of June) or late season (mid Sept) where
weather can be more unsettled with fresh snow.
Preparation: To help prepare for an attempt on Mont Blanc, we recommend you book on at least one or more of these training and skills courses. Experience
helps increase flexibility in terms of weather windows,
routes, speed, and safety. Higher experience
will help raise summiting chances. Train hard, climb easy!
Mountain Training
Winter Mt Toubkal
Lakes Rock Climbing
Scottish Winter Skills
Lake District weekend mountain training trips to develop footwork and hill fitness. 1:6 ratio; link
Climb the highest peak in the Morrocan Atlas, and develop crampon skills on the climb; link
Weekend of roped scrambles & multi pitch rock climbing, on a 1:2 instructor ratio ; link
Fort William based winter skills course. 2 days guiding 1:6 to build your crampon skills; link
Photo: Chris
& Joe on the summit of Mont Blanc 4810m, ascent via
Traverse, descent via Gouter.
Why
you should climb with Icicle
Experience: Icicle
has been offering guided ascents on Mont Blanc for nearly three decades, so we have excellent
local contacts and detailed knowledge of conditions
to optimise your summitting chances, not to mention
being highly aware of the localised objective risks, and how best to keep you safe too.
Permits: For the past few years, a new 'permit' system was introduced
on Mont Blanc, where proof of hut bookings was required
and checked by Gendarmerie on the mountain. This
changed nothing for our groups, as hut spaces are
guaranteed. It does help enforce a 1:2 guiding ratio
(1:1 on Traverse) for safety.
Flexibility: After
climbing Gran Paradiso (1:3 on summit day, compared to 1:4 by most competitors), the rest of the week at a 1:2 guiding ratio. This gives flexibility on the mountain for your summit attempt, or to adapt to suit your training needs / weather / conditions, to help maximise your summit chances.
Honest: Many of those who are thinking of booking a Mont Blanc trip, find our 'The Hard Facts' booklet a useful and honest reality check. We encourage all climbers to give it a read before they book; click
here. You won't find a more brutally honest, and realistic summary out there. If it puts you off an ascent, that's probably for the best for everyone. Mont Blanc isn't an ideal first 4000m peak, it's ascent has a potential of relatively high objective dangers, and it's physically harder than almost every climber thinks. Please read it!
Photo: Headtorches
of teams illuminating the route from the Col du Dome to
Vallot shelter and the summit ridge.
Our
ethics for Mont Blanc ascents
Ethics: We
only offer honest and ethical ascents of Mont Blanc.
Read
our blog post about it (click
here). We only accept bookings from adults aged over 18 on this course, due to the significant objective risks. Our course itinerary has been significantly updated for the 2026 summer season.
Seasons: All our trips are offered in the core season, when all the mountain infrastructure is open. We have found that by trying to push the season to start in late May or early June is generally too snowy and unsettled, as it is in mid to late September, when it's too cold (-24C in mid Sept 2024). Our season is deliberately condensed to offer you only the weeks of season where your summit chances are maximised.
Huts: On
the normal route there are two huts you could stay
in; the Tete Rousse 3167m or Gouter 3835m. To reach
the Tete Rousse takes approximately 2 hours from
the Nid d’Aigle, and the Gouter is a further
2-3 hour climb above. We elect to use the Gouter 3835m / Cosmiques 3613m / Tete Rousse 3187m (hut / base camp) / Gonella 3071m, choosing a hut dependent on conditions, spaces, ratios, and weather.
Principles: By
sticking with our principles, we are making the
summit a more realistic goal for you, and we are
focusing on safety. We believe that for those of
you who really do their research, you will be more
attracted to a company who wants you to succeed
more than the others. It isn’t therefore a
case of how often we operate this trip, but when
and how we operate it. Your safety and success are right at the forefront.
Photo:
Jo & Jonathan on the summit of Mont Blanc 4810m,
having climbed via the Gouter Route.
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 decade of experience, we have found that hardly two
weeks ever run the same, and even on a particular week
sometimes different summit groups go on different days
from different huts. Whilst the itinerary notes outline
this, it is imperitive that you understand how flexible
this course must be. You are dealing with the high mountains
and extreme altitude, not a prescribed coach tour!
Day 1 | Saturday
Travel to Chamonix. Accommodation check in at 17:00. Mont Blanc specific course safety and itinerary briefing at 17:30.
There is time for kit checks or fitting rental equipment after.
Briefings are over by 18:30 and then you are free to go out for dinner / drinks. Many clients opt
to travel out a day or two early to start their acclimatisation at Aiguille du Midi or with a night in a mountain hut (e.g. Cosmiques or Albert 1er). Night in Chamonix. Gallery: Chamonix town
Day 2 | Sunday
After breakfast you meet our resort team, and guide, for a weather briefing and final kit checks for Gran Paradiso. You are driven by private minibus shuttle through the Mont Blanc tunnel to Pont in Val Savaranches in Italy, then ascend to the Rifugio Vittorio Emanuele II or Chabod mountain hut, where you spend the night on a half board basis. Guiding ratio 1:3 (max) in hut, or 1:6 (max) for approach. Night in mountain hut in Italy. Gallery: Paradiso National Park
Day 3 | Monday
Alpine start (c.4 am) to climb Gran Paradiso 4061, the highest peak completely in Italy. There are 4 possible normal routes to the summit, to cater for conditions / experience, all of which converge on the Col Montcorve. The route steepens to the final summit ridge, which although short is quite exposed, but well protected. The summit views are stupendous in all directions! Descend to Pont for return transfer to Chamonix.
Night in Chamonix. Gallery: Gran Paradiso 4061m
Day 4 | Tuesday
The next 3 days are geared to your Mont Blanc ascent. There are several route and hut choices, depending on conditions / weather / spaces, but the most popular is to ascend to the Tête Rousse hut today. This is reached by a 2 - 3 hour hike up from the Nid d'Aigle terminus of the Tramway du Mont Blanc, accessed from the Bellevue cable car. Guiding ratio 1:2 (max). Night in mountain hut on Mont Blanc. Gallery: Mont Blanc Gouter
Day 5 | Wednesday
Typically summit day starts soon after midnight, to cross the Gouter couloir in the coldest part of the night. You scramble up past the Gouter hut after c.3 hours, and after a quick rest you start the final push for the summit over Dome du Gouter and the Bosses Arete, taking another c.4 hours. After the summit celebrations, you descend to Gouter hut, to sleep for the night, as it might be too late to cross the couloir.
Night in hut on Mont Blanc. Gallery: Mont Blanc Gouter route
Day 6 | Thursday
After breakfast in the Gouter hut, you quickly descend to cross the couloir while it is still cold, and rockfall risks are minimised. You soon reach the Tête Rousse hut, and then the dangers are over, and you hike down the trail back to the Nid d'Aigle, to catch the tramway and cable car down to Les Houches. Guiding ratio 1:2 (max). Return and hire equipment at 17:30. Most teams opt to go out later to celebrate. Final night in Chamonix. Gallery: Mont Blanc Gonella route
Day 7 | Friday
Breakfast then the accommodation check out by
10:00. Most arrange transfers for around this
time for a flight from Geneva about midday. Some
opt to book a tandem paraglider flight in
the morning, or to go rafting, mountain biking, or trail running, if you still have the energy! Our resort team can advise you on where to arrange any of this, or routes. For those departing late, bags can be stored during the day. Depart for home. Gallery: Icicle Windermere office
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 itinerary
as a guide to the types of route / activity you attempt.
Photo: Climbers
arriving at the Gouter mountain hut, which is on the most
popular route choice for our teams.
Meet
our team to answer your queries
Before Mont Blanc, you'll have loads
of queries. Many prefer
to speak face to face, rather than sending loads of e-mails, so we offer 3
options; Book in a meeting in our Windermere office Attend UK
Alpine Training weekend; dates >> Join a pre-trip Zoom / Facebook presentation Human - it's
what sets us apart from web-based
companies. Meet the people in our UK office, who manage logistics before and
during your trip. Our infrastructure is tangible from start to finish.
Exclusions:
1) Travel to and from Chamonix, 2) Equipment hire, 3)
Cable cars & uplift for last 3 days (c.40€ total return for Bellevue cable car and Mont Blanc tramway) for you and your guide,
4) Lunches & snacks for during the days, 5) Evening meals in Chamonix, & any purchases in mountain
huts, 6) Activities insurance.
Discounts:
If you book an upgrade from our shared accommodation (details) or have your own accommodation in Chamonix, let us know at the time of booking, and we will apply a £200 discount to your balance.
Early bird bookings Book your 2026 trip before 01 Nov 2025, and receive a £50 *voucher for online / mail order equipment purchases from the Icicle Windermere shop. Voucher expires 01 April 2026. *Note: voucher is your course invoice, showing date of booking. Voucher is non transferable. Can be applied to any order over £100 in total.
An
action filled week, and a perfect ending
reaching the summit of Mont Blanc
on a clear day. From the top we could
see hundreds of miles Alan
N , Mont Blanc Summit
Climbing
Mont Blanc was harder than I thought,
but so rewarding too Sally
P , Mont Blanc Summit
100%
summit, 100% happy, 100% thanks! A once in a lifetime holiday. I can't explain how much your support
and knowledge meant to me. It gave me
a total sense of confidence and trust,
which was essential during the final
steps Steve
R , Mont Blanc Summit
The
trips are based 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
Films
from the summit
Free
resources
FREE
Podcast Training
for Mont Blanc
A no holes barred podcast, to fully
explain what an ascent entails physically
and technically, including several examples
of hill training.
We
send a course specific equipment list to all those booking
on our courses, but due to the popularity of this course,
we outline a typical packing list for the Mont Blanc summit
day in the list below.
Basic
clothing - Light coloured long
sleeve wicking layer
- Schoeller / soft shell climbing trousers
- Mid layer fleece jacket / gillet
- Fleece hat and gloves, and sunhat / cap
- B2 (or B3) mountain boots, and gaiters
Equipment - Harness, helmet, ice
axe (without leash)
- 12 point crampons andanti-balling plates
- 1 x 120cm Sling, 1 x karabiner, 1 x prussic
- Telescopic trekking poles with snow baskets
- Head torch (LED style is lightest type)
Altitude
gear - Synthetic or down insulation
jacket
- Goggles in case of high wind
- Neoprane face mask in case of wind
- Thick waterproof over gloves
- Windproof over trousers (eg PacLite)
General
kit - Close fitting sun glasses
(Factor 4 for snow)
- Pocket snacks for summit day (eg Haribos)
- Water bottle (bladder type may freeze)
- Rucksack (up to 35 litres max is ideal)
- Basic blister kit, Aspirin, suncream
View
full course equipment list,
with examples of kit, click
here
Climbed Gran Paradiso?
If you've already climbed Gran Paradiso, and want an alternative objective, we offer a 2 person Mont Blanc week (2 people booking together) on every week we offer Mont Blanc. On the first two days of the trip, you climb Aiguilles Marbrees and Aiguilles d'Entreves, with the night in the Rifugio Torino to acclimatise.
This course is 5 days of 1:2 guiding, and is bookable until 31 Dec 2025, so we can book extra hut spaces. Contact us to upload a private date for you. The cost per person for this option is £2795.
Why Icicle for Mont Blanc?
Well over 25 years experience of running these ascents safely, and with high summiting records.
Great guide ratio's on Mont Blanc (1:2), and Gran Paradiso (1:3) on summit days, to keep you safe.
Up to 3 nights in huts included, 1 on Gran Paradiso, and 2 on Mont Blanc, to acclimatise you well.
Resort team to help you with kit checks, briefings, forecasts, and all the logistics for the week.
Itinerary
flexibility to allow you to take full advantage
of the weather windows for your
summit climb.
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.
In event Mont Blanc is not possible, there are tens of contingency routes and options to explore link.
No need to check out of our valley accommodation when you are staying in mountain huts.
UK office for you to contact or to meet us, to help you prepare, and maximise your summit chances.
See
our Mont Blanc blog, by clicking on the Word-press
logo to the right.
Why
others cost more
There's
many offerings out there that cost upwards of £1000
more than us. Why? In most cases this is for their luxury chalet accommodation in Chamonix.
We save you c.£100 per night on these prices.
Our company is run very lean, and you aren't paying for big admin or marketing teams! If you want to pay for their flash web design, feel free to go for it, but that won't help you reach a summit.
Some operators are hot-bunking chalets, with you packing up evey night you aren't in town, running off-set courses to pack people in. Their focus is on business, not on the mountains or you the client!
Prefer a virtual ascent?
Google
Streetview and Mammut 360 provide images of virtual ascents,
so you can 'climb', from your sofa ;-) Click on the images
below to link...
Any
further questions?
A
key part of choosing a company is being able to come and
talk about your plans with an expert climber
face to face. In an increasingly virtual world, we know
our clients value speaking to real people, for 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, or online,
with a trip
advisor.
Many people opt for this,
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.
Feedback & photos from Mont Blanc summit... To read more specific feedback about this trip click
here.
"Excellent
photos! And what a fantastic trip! Memories that will last
forever! A huge thank you to the best team and to Icicle and
all our guides! Spot on!" Jo W, Mont Blanc
"Low
on frills. High on skills. A no-nonsense week exactly as you
advertised. Great team both on and off the mountain, who all
made it happen for us" Stephen R, Mont Blanc
"So
happy to have reached the summit. Gio was a great guide, who
took care of us, and always made us feel safe. We couldn't
have do it without him" Sophie McM, Mont Blanc
"Just
wanted to say a massive thanks (and to the other guys in the office
and the guides) on behalf of me and A, for your support and advice
during the week, and for rearranging the schedule and sorting the
extra night in Gouter at such short notice to allow us to summit safely.
I know that must have been a challenge and just wanted to say it was
much appreciated. We had a fantastic time - a really tough challenge,
but you guys made it so much better and took a lot of the worry and
stress away. Hope to see you again on another trip somewhere" Vinny H, Mont Blanc
& Mont Blanc 4810m 
Mountain Training
