Alpine Giants Trilogy 2026   
Mont Blanc 4810m, Matterhorn 4478m, Eiger 3970m |
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| Course
overview |
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This
course is no amuse bouche, as the photo
galleries above show (click on camera symbols below each peak), with
photos of our clients summiting the three
Alpine giants of Mont Blanc, Matterhorn and
the Eiger. This fortnight course enables you
to ascend this mighty trilogy with qualified
IFMGA guides. |
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Each
year we get many clients wanting to climb
all three of these classic Alpine giants in
one trip. We offer this as a space on a scheduled
Mont Blanc trip on the first week, so you
are trained and acclimatised, then on the
second week you climb 1:1 to attempt both
the Matterhorn and Eiger. |
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The
easiest of the trilogy is Mont Blanc in both in terms
of technical difficulty and physically. The Matterhorn is the next hardest, as although slightly lower, is a very physical and aerobically demanding climb. Out of the three, the Eiger is the hardest climb technically (and with a super long descent), despite being the lowest of the Alpine Trilogy, and the exposure on the route is incredible. |
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To
book on this Alpine Trilogy course you should
have the pre-requisite experience to book
on any of the courses independently. Just
to clarify, it is not good enough to book
to hope that you gain enough skills on Mont
Blanc to attempt the other peaks, as with
the best will in the world, you won't as the
mountains are so different in terms of types
of terrain. |
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For
the Matterhorn or Eiger we advertise your
experience as that you should be very fit,
have good footwork on steep ground, be good
with exposure and have good ropework skills
(previous skills: Alpine AD- / Grade II or III Ice
/ UK Severe / US 5.9). Please ensure that
you meet all of these requirements. If you
are in absolutely any doubt, then please get
in touch with one of our course advisors. |
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To
be honest, this course will not appeal to
many people in terms of the number out there
who have sufficient fitness, skills, and determination!
If you are up for a challenge, then they don't
come much bigger than this. |
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Already
climbed Mont Blanc, but fancy this course?
Don't worry, we can substitute the first week,
with a space on another course. For example
you could do the Monte Rosa course instead,
and the price of this course would change
the difference in prices for the first week
of this course. A popular alternative to the first week is to substitute Mont Blanc for Dufoursitze (link), on weeks it is scheduled. |
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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 imperative that you understand how flexible
this course must be. You are dealing with the high mountains
and extreme altitude, not a prescribed coach tour!
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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Days 7 - 9 | Friday - Sunday
Rest, rest, rest. Gently acclimatise, maybe by going up cable cars for a few hours each day, then some light active rest, perhaps some hikes or a trail run or two. Keep yourself moving, but recover from the efforts of Mont Blanc. These 3 days also provide some flexibility in case we need to adapt or advance plans for the next climbs, to take the best weather windows. Meet up on the Sunday evening to confirm plans for the next days.
Gallery: Icicle Windermere office |
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Day 10 | Monday
Today
is fairly straightforward, as you drive over to
Tasch. Here you park and take the train to car free
Zermatt, then ascend the cable cars to Schwartzee.
From here it is a two to three hour hike up to the
Hornli hut. There are no technical difficulties
on the approach, but you get stunning views up the
arête
that you will be on the next day. Guiding ratio
1:1 (max). Night in the Hornli mountain hut on the Matterhorn.
Gallery: Matterhorn Hornli |
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Day 11 | Tuesday
A
very early start to ascend the Matterhorn. Usually
you are climbing by 04:00am, and it should take
four hours to reach the summit. On this peak the
timings are very important to reduce the risks of
being blocked by slow groups and to reduce the risk
of rockfall. From the summit, you descend the same
route to reach the hut and then return to Chamonix
in the late afternoon. Guiding ratio 1:1 (max). Night in Chamonix.
Gallery: Matterhorn Lion |
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Day 12 | Wednesday
Today
is a buffer day to allow for flexibility for weather
windows. Normally there is no guiding, unless the Eiger ascent needs to be pulled forward, in order to give you a rest day after the Matterhorn, to dry kit and wash clothes, and to prepare and pack for the Eiger attempt.
Some people take the whole day off, whilst others
find a walk or gentle trail run is a great way to stretch and
relax again. Night in Chamonix.
Gallery: Chamonix rock climbing |
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Day 13 | Thursday
Today
you drive over to Grindelwald, and catch the train
up the Eiger. The route usually ascended is the
Mittellegi ridge, in which case you exit the train
at the Eismeer station, then climb to the hut. An
alternative is to take the train to Jungfraujoch
and to stay in the Monchsjoch hut, if opting to
ascend by the SW ridge. The Mittillegi hut is spectacularly
situated actually on the ridge. Guiding ratio 1:1
(max). Night in hut on the Eiger.
Gallery: Eiger Mittellegi arete |
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Day 14 | Friday
Alpine
start for the ascent of the Mittellegi ridge of
the Eiger. After you reach the summit, you then
descend the normal route to Monchsjoch, then
traverse the glacier to Jungfraujoch to catch the
Eiger train which descends to Grindelwald, from
where you return
to Chamonix.
Guiding ratio 1:1 (max). Evening instruction session, then a celebratory
meal, with the final night spent in Chamonix.
Gallery: Eiger Mittellegi arete |
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Day 15 | Saturday
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 |
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| ITINERARY
NOTES: Where possible we follow itineraries. Mountain
adventures are weather and conditions dependant,
so occasionally 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. |
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Course
Prices
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| Standard
course |
9 days guiding, 15 days holiday in total
IFMGA mountain guides for 10 days |
£6295 |
| Live
availability |
Click
on the planner logo to the right to
see the real time live course availability
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| How to book |
Secure
payments, bonded tour operator
Details of how to book, click
here |
Book
online |
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| Standard Course
Inclusions |
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1) Hand picked IFMGA Mountain Guide
for 9 days (2d @1:3, 3d @1:2, 4d @1:1) |
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2) Chamonix course hosts for briefings, logistics, expert advice, and support |
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3) Pre course information dossier, with training plans and specific kit lists |
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4) Safety briefing on the first evening, with latest updates and weather reports |
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5) Equipment discount voucher for our Windermere mountain shop / online |
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6) Self-catered flat in Chamonix for 14 nights, with no moving out when in huts |
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7) Mountain huts up to 3 nights half board (Gran Paradiso x1, Mont Blanc x2) |
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8) Private return minibus transfer to / from Chamonix to Italy for Gran Paradiso |
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9) Evening drop-in sessions for instruction / route briefings / equipment advice |
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10) Free 36 page
technical Course Instruction Booklet of Alpine safety skills |
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11) Driving costs for travel to Tasch (Zermatt) & Grindelwald road tolls & parking |
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| Exclusions:
1) Travel to and from Chamonix, 2) Equipment hire, 3)
Cable cars and uplift for you and your
guide (if required) for Mont Blanc week and the Matterhorn and Eiger week, 4) Up to two nights in second week in mountain
huts on a half board basis for you and guide, 5) Personal
laundry, telephone calls, lunches, evening meals in valley,
& any purchases in mountain huts / hotels / restaurants,
6) Activities insurance. |
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| 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 £400 discount to your balance. |
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Current
course availability
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| Testimonials |
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| Press
& media |
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| Films
& videos |
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| Photo
gallery |
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| Location
data for this trip |
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| The
trips start 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. |
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Time
Difference
GMT +1hr |
Local
Currency
€ Euros |
Travel
from UK
1hr flight |
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| Buy key items for this trip |
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FREE post for
UK orders over £30
FREE Icicle
neck gaiter for
orders over £50
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Shopping
cart |
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Click
above to view online shopping
basket & pay. |
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Chamonix
1:25k map
£11.95 |
BD
Cosmo headtorch
£29.99 |
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BD Vector helmet
£74.99 |
Extremities
Guide glove
£29.99 |
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Matterhorn 1:25k map
£10.99 |
BD Sabretooth
£135.00 |
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Grivel
Air Tech Evo axe
£130.00 |
Eiger 1:50k map
£21.99 |
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View
full course equipment list,
with examples of kit, click
here |
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| Free
resources |
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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. |
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FREE
Podcast
Climbing the Matterhorn
If you've ever wondered what it is like
to attempt this peak, the skills required,
and the suggested training for this
peak, then this podcast answers it all... |
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Equipment - summit
day kit list...
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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 summit day in
the list below. |
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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 technical mountain boots, & gaiters |
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Equipment
- Harness, helmet, ice
axe (without leash)
- 12 point crampons and anti-balling plates
- 1 x 120cm Sling, 1 x karabiner, 1 x prussic
- Belay device for abseils (if required)
- Head torch (LED style is lightest type) |
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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) |
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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 |
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Preparation - altitude
& training...
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An
ascent of these peaks should not be underestimated,
and you should arrive for this course in good physical
condition as the climb will probably be the greatest
physical exertion of your life. Please don't ignore
this issue... We highly recommend that you read
our training page (click
here) for details. |
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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 mountains. |
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| Why
choose our trips? |
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See
our Alpine blog, by clicking on the Word-press logo
to the right. |
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Itinerary
flexibility to allow you to take full advantage
of the weather windows on any day, to maximise your
summit chances. |
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Our
prices are fixed in £ Sterling, to protect
you from euro fluctuations, so you can budget accurately. |
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There
is a choice of routes to opt for, depending on the
weather, conditions, and your experience. |
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| Any
further questions? |
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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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