Alpine Introduction - Chamonix

Overview

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Introduction

This course is an introduction to Alpine Mountaineering and culminates with an ascent of Gran Paradiso (4,061m), the highest peak entirely within Italy. The week starts with three days of training around Chamonix, France, where you’ll learn how to use ice axe and crampons and how to rope up for journeying across glaciers. You’ll also overnight in mountain huts to carefully acclimatise.

On Wednesday morning you’ll be transported through the Mont Blanc tunnel to the Aosta Valley from where you’ll walk up to one of the mountain huts on Gran Paradiso. An early start the following morning will see you make the glacier on snow and ice, with a short section of rock scrambling at the very top. After soaking up panoramic views across the Alps, you’ll return to the hut before descending back to the valley and returning to Chamonix the next day.

Experience required

The week is designed for summer hill walkers. No previous climbing or mountaineering experience is necessary.

Start point: Chamonix, France

Typical Programme

Day 1:	Meet at the hotel at 7pm. Briefing on the week's activities in the evening.
Day 2:	Ascend to mountain hut - Refuge Albert Premiere (2,706m). Training in ice axe and crampon use, as well as ropework.
Day 3:	Ascent of the Petite Fourche (3,520). Overnight at the Trient Hut.
Day 4:	Ascent of the Pointe d Orny (3,269m), an ascent mostly on rocky ground. Descend to the valley in the afternoon. Overnight hotel.
Day 5:	Morning road transfer to Gran Paradiso. We have the option of climbing either from the Vittorio Emanuele hut (2,735m) on the western aspect of the mountain, or from the more northerly Refugio Chabod (2,750m). Either involves a c900m ascent from the valley, which normally takes 3.5 – 4 hours of walking.
Day 6:	Ascent of Gran Paradiso (4,061m). Under normal conditions the route involves a straightforward glacier walk to the col at 3,700m from where steeper snow slopes lead to the final obstacle, a short rocky section to the summit. This is well protected by the Guides.
Day 7:	Descend to valley and return to Chamonix.
Day 8:	Dispersal.

Further Information

Find out more about our Guides and Ratios, Alpine Grading and Equipment... read more

Additional Information

If you wish to discuss any aspect of the course or your suitability for it, please phone +44 (0)114 276 3322 or contact us.

Dates & Prices

Date	Meeting in		Availability
Sat 20 Jun – Sat 27 Jun 2026	Chamonix		full Enquire »
Head of Course Tomaz Jakofcic Course Guide/Instructor Rich Manterfield	£1,695
Sat 4 Jul – Sat 11 Jul 2026	Chamonix		Trip Guaranteed Book now »
Head of Course Graham McMahon 1 place left	£1,695
Sat 18 Jul – Sat 25 Jul 2026	Chamonix		Available Book now »
	£1,695
Sat 15 Aug – Sat 22 Aug 2026	Chamonix		Trip Guaranteed Book now »
Head of Course Andy Owen Course Guide/Instructor Caroline Ogden 1 place left	£1,695
Sat 19 Jun – Sat 26 Jun 2027	Chamonix		Available Book now »
	£1,795
Sat 3 Jul – Sat 10 Jul 2027	Chamonix		Available Book now »
	£1,795
Sat 17 Jul – Sat 24 Jul 2027	Chamonix		Available Book now »
	£1,795
Sat 14 Aug – Sat 21 Aug 2027	Chamonix		Available Book now »
	£1,795

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Group size: 3 – 8 people.

Single room supplement: £165

For comparison, this course starts from £242 (GBP) per day (price Without Flights).

What the price includes

• 3 nights' hotel accommodation in Chamonix on a twin-sharing (occasionally triple/quad), half-board basis
• 4 nights' mountain hut accommodation in a shared dormitory bunk, half-board basis
• 6 days guiding with a qualified IFMGA Mountain Guide.
• Transport (by public means, private hire vehicle, minibus or guides' cars) to fulfil the course programme
• Group mountaineering equipment such as ropes and other technical equipment
• Ice axes, crampons, harnesses & helmets, when booked in advance

What the price does not include

• Travel to/from Chamonix (a shared transfer from Geneva Airport can be booked through Jagged Globe)
• Lunch
• Cable cars, mountain railways and mechanical uplift (estimated cost £30)
• Personal climbing equipment and clothing (including boots, which can be hired locally)
• Mountaineering and travel Insurance

Please note that the costs for mechanical up-lift are not included in the overall course cost because these can vary, depending on the weather and routes selected. This means that we are not restricted by a budget. Also, if we spend less on up-lift than expected, you make the saving rather than us.

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Travel & Venue

Fly to Geneva. A 50 minute airport transfer to Chamonix can be booked through Jagged Globe via your on-line account.

Valley accommodation is in La Chaumière Mountain Lodge. The accommodation is provided on a twin-share (or occasionally, triple/quad), half-board basis. A single room supplement is payable should you want to have a room to yourself.