How
many times have you travelled to a UK rock
climb to find three pitches of wet, slimy,
or loose rock with dodgy protection? This
course will show you the best and most exciting
rock climbing in the Chamonix region, climbing
on amazing red granite.
To
experience the best routes you should be capable
of seconding a UK Hard Very Severe (HVS) or
US Grade 5.10 on rock. All
of these classic routes are around the Alpine
D+ grade meaning exposure and excitement!
Examples
of some routes are: Frisson
Roche (D), Papillons Arete (D), Dent du
Geant (AD), Chapelle de la Gliere (AD+),
Charmoz or Grepon (D), La Floria (AD+),
L'Index (D), or the Rebuffat route on Aiguille
du Midi (D).
By
using the many cable cars in Chamonix you
will have access to these fantastic routes
and minimise your length of time spent travelling
or walking into the routes. If
you have climbed in Chamonix before, there
are over 4000 routes so you are guaranteed
not to repeat anything.
Whatever
your previous rock experience, the aim of
this course is also to teach you more skills
and style points useful in your own climbing,
developing your balance, grades and techniques
on different altitude rock routes.
Note
that some of the higher rock routes, may require
the use of ice axe and crampons to access
them, such as the Rebuffat route on the Midi,
or many of the climbs above the Envers des
Aiguilles hut.
This
course can be used as progression from the Technical
Ice & Classics course,
as it is focused on rock rather than ice &
snow, and is less demanding of stamina than
the Saas
Classics course.
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
Sun
Travel
to Chamonix to arrive for the 17:00 check-in followed
by and course safety and itinerary briefings. There
is time for kit checks or rental of equipment. Briefings
are over by 19:00.
Night in Chamonix.
Mon
Climbing
on the sunny side of the valley: the Aiguilles Rouges.
Popular routes include the Chapelle de la Gliere
with its knife edge traverse or the L'Index. Guiding
ratio 1:2 (max). Night in Chamonix.
Tue
Exposed
altitude climbing in the higher Aiguilles du Chamonix,
on routes such as the NNE Arete of the Aiguille
de l'M, Petite Charmoz or the Arete des Papillons. Guiding
ratio 1:2 (max). Night in Chamonix.
Wed
Rock
climbing at high altitude, usually involving slabs
and cracks with great views. Example routes are
Dalles des Envers or the Frisson Roche on Brevent. Guiding ratio 1:2 (max). Night in
Chamonix.
Thu
A
technical day route, e.g. Aiguillette d'Argentiere
or a shorter route followed by a night in a mountain
hut, e.g. Pyramid du Tacul. Guiding ratio 1:2 (max). Night
in mountain hut or Chamonix.
Fri
A
day on the fantastic granite that Chamonix is famous
for, such as the south pillar of Aiguille du Midi,
or the Dent du Geant (if you stayed in a hut last
night). Guiding ratio 1:2
(max). Night in Chamonix.
Sat
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 days guiding, 7 days holiday in total
IFMGA mountain guides for 5 days
£1595
Live
availability
Click
on the planner logo to the right to
see the real time live course availability
How to book
Secure
payments, bonded tour operator
Details of how to book, click
here
Standard
Course Inclusions: 1) IFMGA Mountain Guide
for five days, 2) Chamonix course hosts for logistics
& briefings, 3) Self-catered accommodation in Chamonix
(inc. beddings & towels), 4) Pre course information
booklet, 5) Equipment discount voucher for UK shops, 6)
Free 36 page technical Course Instruction Booklet, 7)
Road transport in Chamonix valley, 8) Evening technical
instruction on nights in Chamonix.
Exclusions:
1) Travel to and from Chamonix, 2) Equipment hire, 3)
Personal laundry, telephone calls, lunches, evening meals
in valley, & any purchases in mountain huts / hotels
/ restaurants, 4) Cable cars and uplift for you and your
guide (many guides have Chamonix cable car pass), 5)
Transport / tunnel ticket outside the Chamonix valley,
6) Costs of any optional nights in mountain huts on half
board basis for you and your guide, 7) Sunday pre-dinner
drinks & Friday celebratory meal & drinks, 8)
Activities insurance, & excess baggage charges.
Notes:
This course price is based on 2 people booking together. If you wish to book for 1:1 guiding, please contact us for a quote for a private week, or for less days at the same budget.
Course
upgrade options
Many clients on this
trip consider upgrading with one or more of
the following course additions...
Private
room
Big
5 Alpine
extensions
Technical
kit rental
Acclimatise
weekend
Upgrade
to single from
£300-£500 in addition to
standard course price,
depending on week.
Extend by 2 days after
to ascend one of the
Big 5 Alpine peaks as
an extra summit.
Rent all technical kit
for a week. Full Alpine
Bundle costs you just
£100 for the week.
Saturday
night spent in
Chamonix, with choice
of self-guided or guided
on Sunday. From £70.
Standard
course accommodation - normally clients are based
in self-catered flats (details),
so take a look, and decide if it's for you. For
more luxury, contact us for quotes in higher standard
apartments, or hotels of any standard required.
If you have / source your own course accommodation,
or we cannot provide an upgrade, the standard course
price has a £100pp reduction applied on your
invoice.
Current
course availability
Course Dates Alpine Tech Rock
[ 2 ] 20 - 26 Jul 2025
[ 2 ] 3 - 9 Aug 2025
[ 2 ] 31 Aug - 6 Sep 2025
NOTE:
This trip has scheduled
dates, but if there are two who
are booking together, it can be
operated on any date you wish
My
fingers and hands look like I had a
bad time, but I'm still buzzing from
the amazing fun I had each day and the
beautiful rock routes we climbed Lou
D , Alpine Technical Rock
Great
choice of routes each day, but my highlight
was the Rebuffat on the Aiguille du
Midi - superb week Nina
R , Alpine Technical Rock
Awesome...
Challenging... Scary... And I got a
fantastic tan! See you all again for
more next year Alan
T , Alpine Technical Rock
Testimonials
Press
& media
Films
& videos
Photo
gallery
Location
data for this trip
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.
View
full course equipment list,
with examples of kit, click
here
Why
choose our trips?
See
our Alpine blog, by clicking on the Word-press logo
to the right.
Itinerary
flexibility to allow you to take full advantage
of the weather windows on any day, to maximise your
summit chances.
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.
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.
