Classic All-In Mont Blanc Climb with Acclimatization

Mont Blanc ascent could be planned only with experienced mountain climbers, customers with some 4.000 meters ascents in the back, or at least, people with recent previous training on a glacier with rope and crampons. If you want to try the attempt, you should have some high-altitude climbs under your belt (over 3,500meters), solid confidence in using crampons on steep and mixed terrains, the ability to climb in a roped-up scenario, basic mountaineering training, and properly acclimatized for the climb.

Mont Blanc ascent requires a very good physical level and some previous experience on glaciers in mountaineering activities (in particular, confidence in progression with crampons on glacier areas and some climbing ability on rocky terrains, with snow and ice).

If you are not sure about your mountaineering skills, we strongly suggest considering our 6-day program, in which we train by climbing the Grand Paradise before Mont Blanc: https://www.explore-share.com/trip/mont-blanc-gran-paradiso-guided-ascent-week-tour/

Keep in mind that having some extra days could mean increasing the summit success rate; you can have a wider window in terms of weather and more flexibility, and when it comes to Mont Blanc, the weather is key in defining whether or not we will attempt the summit. Although this is sometimes an unfortunate fact that we must come to terms with, safety comes first.

To attempt the ascent of Mont Blanc, you need solid physical and technical preparation that is achieved by training consistently over many years. In particular, your endurance level should allow you to walk at a good pace for about 12 hours a day in order to respect the program timetable, which will be very severe due to safety reasons, in particular during the “Big Couloir” crossing. At the same time, given the limited time, we will not have a chance to focus on the technique; you should already have a good background and be familiar with the high altitude, and the severe conditions of temperatures during the first hours of climbing, without light and on very impregnating terrain, which are very steep to hike even with crampons on. This means that you have had recent mountaineering experiences in which to practice.

Feel free to contact us, and we will be happy to recommend the best option for your level and training.

The loan of the personal technical equipment is included in the tariff; the guide provides it on the day of departure. The gear for rental includes a mountaineering helmet, a mountaineering harness, a straight-hand ice axe, and crampons.

In addition, the guide will bring the common safety gear, such as rope, ice screws, daisy chains, and carabiners.

All you need to check and bring is your personal mountaineering clothing, including technical mountaineering boots, waterproof, with rigid soles that are warm and comfortable (please avoid bringing new ones, if you have never used them before the ascent!).

After your booking confirmation, we will send a complete and detailed list of recommended equipment and clothing. If you need anything for rent, we will recommend some shops where you can hire the necessary gear. Boots renting is around 20-22€/day, and trekking poles are 8-10€/day.

Absolutely no porters are expected for this ascent. Each participant should bring a personal backpack and technical equipment, including thermos for tea/water and energy bars/dried fruit and energy food for the trip.

We take care of the reservation at the Goûter and the Tête Rousse huts, with accommodation in half board formula; this means that dinner and breakfast are included, but not the beverages/drinks or extra meals. For this reason, any other meals or beverages (water, beer, sparkling beverages, etc.) are NOT included and have to be covered by the customers directly on the spot and for guide/guides too.

On mountains, weather and conditions can change unexpectedly and very fast, especially in recent years, due to climate changes. In general, forecasts and conditions have to be appropriate to try the attempt, but the final decision regarding the ascent belongs to the guide, who is responsible for evaluating the risks and the safety conditions for the team. Safety is our priority, both for the guide/es and for the customers. If the weather is not good and the forecast is not favorable for the attempt, we prefer to plan an alternative ascent to nearby mountains with better conditions and better chances for a safe summit attempt. Please note that confirming the trip you are booking takes the professional’s availability for the duration of the tour. This means that it will not be possible to cancel at the last minute, due to poor conditions or bad weather. The guide fee could not be refunded. For this reason, in case the Mont Blanc is out of reach, we guarantee our availability to arrange an experience that lives up to your expectations. We know very well and totally understand that this may be a frustrating outcome, however, safety is a top priority for our team of professionals, and every mountain has a lesson to teach to all climbers. Customers' and the guides’ safety is more important than any summit.

Some detailed alternatives to replace the Mont Blanc attempt, in case of bad weather or restrictions to the climbing due to safety reasons, are listed in the options below:

• “Monterosa 4K Seven Summits collection” (Pyramide Vincent, Balmenhorn, Schwarzhorn, Ludwigshöhe, Parrot, Zumstein, Signalkuppe/Punta Gnifetti) - 3 days

• Pollux + Castor starting from Cervinia (overnight staying at refuge Guide del Cervino) - 3 days

• Gran Paradiso and Tresenta summits (overnight staying at refuge Vittorio Emanuele) - 3 days

Yes, there are several special requirements that you need to consider before attempting the ascent of Mont Blanc on the classic route (staying overnight at Goûter/Tête Rousse refuge).

Here are some of them; please read them carefully before confirming the booking.

• Due to French regulations, it is mandatory to show the hut booking confirmation to the authorities before starting the ascent. Peakshunter Mountain Guides will take care of the hut reservation for clients and guides, as a guarantee for the attempt to the summit. In order to give you this extra booking service, the payment confirmation has to be done in advance (even as a deposit of 25% of the total amount) and the submission of your personal information is essential and mandatory to finalize the refuge reservation. You have to share with us your personal info: name, surname, place, date of birth, nationality, address, mail, mobile contact, and a copy of your ID card or passport. By giving this information, you authorize Peakshunter Mountain Guides to use them for the booking process and during all the steps of the tour (planning, reservation, logistics, and contact with guides and professionals involved in the tour).

• There are no specific vaccine requirements for climbing Mont Blanc, but it is always a good idea to check with your doctor or a travel clinic to make sure you are up to date on routine vaccinations. Also, there is no longer a need to provide proof of vaccination, recovery from COVID-19, or negative test results.

• We invite all non-EU citizens to inform themselves about specific permits to travel from Italy to France, in case they decide to arrive at Milan Malpensa/Turin airport and need to cross the border between Italy and France, by the Mont Blanc tunnel.

The maximum number of clients per single guide is 2, thus giving a ratio of 1:2. This is the maximum number in order to ensure safety during the trip and it is established by local regulations. Under any circumstances, we are not going to take more than 2 people for each guide.

If you are a group of more than 2 people, we have more guides available to undertake the adventure. We will be happy to support your group with other professionals on our team!

The best time to attempt Mont Blanc ascent is between June and September.

No, due to guide-to-client ratio (1:2), we can only accept private requests for the ascent. If you are more than 2 participants, you necessary requires to have more than 1 Guide.

Kilimanjaro is a beautiful option for trekking in high mountains; it could be a good experience to test your attitude to stay overnight and to hike in altitude, but the climbing conditions and efforts are completely different and really not technical because on Kilimanjaro you don’t need to be confident in using crampons and in a hike on a glacier area with big crevasses and seracs as on Mont Blanc and on Alps in general. Ultimately, summiting Kilimanjaro is not sufficient training to tackle Mont Blanc. If you have climbed Kilimanjaro and would like to climb Mont Blanc, we strongly recommend you take a look at the 6-day course that includes climbing the Gran Paradiso and Mont Blanc at the following link: https://www.explore-share.com/trip/mont-blanc-gran-paradiso-guided-ascent-week-tour/.

During this stage program, you will properly get acclimatized, you will learn how to use an ice axe and crampons on rope, and you will also practice all the necessary rope progression and basic technical skills on crampons, that you will really need to have for your Mont Blanc attempt.

The hiring of the trek poles and the renting of the boots are NOT included.

If needed, the renting of the boots has to be done by the customers before the trip to one of the shops in Gressoney. We will send you more details in case of need.

The costs for beverages and extra meals for the clients and the guide are NOT included and have to be covered on the spots, sharing the guide’s fee between all the participants.

The transfer to the meeting point is NOT included.

This Mont Blanc program is designed to give you the highest chance to reach the Mont Blanc summit. If you don't have any particular mountaineering experience, during the first few days, we will focus on the main techniques needed to reach Mont Blanc. Please note that physical effort will be intense, so a good fitness level and serious preparation during the months leading up to the trip is a must. Cardiovascular training is very important, with at least 2 to 3 sessions per week of running, biking, or swimming.

If a climber can't make it to the summit, then all of us will go back. For safety reasons, no one will be left alone on the glacier.

The meeting point with the guide is in Les Houches (Chamonix, FR), at the free parking area close to the cable car ticket office. It can be reached by car from Chamonix in about 15 minutes.

If you don't have a private car, the meeting point is reachable from Chamonix by daily frequent bus connections. In any case, we strongly recommend arriving in Chamonix/Les Houces at least 1 day before the trip and staying overnight there.

The meeting with the guide on the first day will be around 10:30/11:00 am (please remember to check the bus timetable in case you need to reach the meeting point by public transport).

Time back to Les Houches on the third day is expected around 12:00 am.

The nearest airport to get to Chamonix is Geneva airport. Chamonix is about 100kms and a 1.5hr drive from Geneva Airport, and there are plenty of car hire services, regular transfer buses, and private taxis as well to go from Geneva to Chamonix.