Mont Blanc Extension

Overview

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Introduction

This 3-day Mont Blanc extension is designed for those have completed an Alpine Introduction course in Arolla the week before. You may also join this course having completed any of our week-long Alpine Courses the previous week. To have the best shot at Western Europe's highest mountain, we climb via the Goûter Route (Alpine grade PD), the most assured route for reaching the summit.

Important: hut bookings

We advise that you book your Mont Blanc course before the end of March, otherwise it is unlikely that there will be beds available in the Mont Blanc huts for you. Your course booking is not confirmed until we have confirmed your beds and we cannot book your beds without your name, nationality and date of birth. Please do not arrange your travel to Chamonix until we have confirmed your hut bookings.

The Goûter Route (PD)
The Goûter Route is the most frequented ascent route on Mont Blanc. The technical difficulty involves climbing snow-covered rock on the section to reach the Goûter Hut, and exposed snow crests in the upper part. The section crossing the Grand Couloir is exposed to stone fall. Overall, the route is physically challenging and requires a good degree of fitness and stamina.

The Goûter Route is our first choice of route on Mont Blanc, as it is in condition far more consistently than the 'Three Monts' route (PD+/AD) from the Cosmiques Hut. The 'Three Monts' route is longer and more technical and nowadays it is only guided at a 1:1 ratio.

On the Goûter Route, we utilise either the Goûter Hut (3,817m) or the Tête Rousse Hut (3,167m), or both on our ascent and descent. Occasionally we also use the Refuge du Nid d'Aigle (2,482m). Our Guides will decide the strategy for the climb, depending on the team's fitness and conditions and the confirmed bookings that we have at the huts. For example, having taken the Tramway du Mont Blanc to Nid D'Aigle, it takes approximately 3 hours to ascend to the Tête-Rousse Hut. From the hut, we cross the Grand Couloir and climb snow and rock to reach the Goûter Hut. Moderately angled snow slopes lead to the Dôme du Goûter. From here we climb the Bosses Ridge and eventually, the summit ridge. It is normal to take 8 hours to climb from the Tête-Rousse Hut. Descent is via the same route, sleeping at either the Goûter or Tête-Rousse huts.

Mont Blanc – in the event of bad weather or if the mountain is not in condition
For those taking part in our Mont Blanc courses or extensions, if the mountain is not in condition, or if poor weather means we are unable to attempt Mont Blanc, we have the option of a short journey through the Mont Blanc tunnel to climb Gran Paradiso (4,061m), a fine alterative. Gran Paradiso is the highest mountain entirely within Italy.

Typical Programme

Please note that this programme is flexible. The Guides will decide on the best strategy for the climb depending on the weather conditions and the fitness of the group.

Day 1:	Saturday. Course participants meet at the course base at 7pm. In the evening we will have a briefing, covering what you should expect on Mont Blanc.
Day 2:	Sunday. Morning preparation for Mont Blanc. Train/cable car to Nid D'Aigle. Climb to Tête-Rousse Hut (3 hours).
Day 3:	Monday. Ascent of Mont Blanc, descend to Goûter Hut (8-12 hours round trip, depending on fitness and snow conditions).
Day 4:	Tuesday. Descend to Nid D'Aigle and return to Chamonix.
Day 5:	Wednesday. Dispersal. Breakfast will be provided on the last morning before you leave the course.

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 28 Jun – Wed 2 Jul 2025	Chamonix		full Enquire »
	£1,695
Sat 30 Aug – Wed 3 Sep 2025	Chamonix		full Enquire »
Head of Course: Andy Owen Course Guide/Instructor: Catalin Fratila Course Guide/Instructor: Caspar McKeever	£1,695
Sat 6 Sep – Wed 10 Sep 2025	Chamonix		full Enquire »
	£1,695
Sat 29 Aug – Wed 2 Sep 2026	Chamonix		Available Book now »
	£1,695
Sat 5 Sep – Wed 9 Sep 2026	Chamonix		Available Book now »
	£1,695
Sat 12 Sep – Wed 16 Sep 2026	Chamonix		Available Book now »
	£1,695

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Group size: 2 – 6 people.

Single room supplement: £120

For comparison, this course starts from £424 (GBP) per day (price Without Flights).

What the price includes

• 2 nights hotel accommodation in Chamonix on a twin-sharing (occasionally triple/quad), half-board basis
• 2 nights mountain hut accommodation in a shared dormitory bunk, half-board basis
• 3 days guiding with a qualified IFMGA Mountain Guide. Ratio 1:2 maximum
• Transport (by public means, private hire vehicle, minibus or guides' cars) to fulfil the course programme (including travelling to Gran Paradiso in the event of bad weather or if Mont Blanc is not in condition)
• 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

• Transfer from Arolla
• Travel home from Chamonix (a shared transfer from Chamonix to Geneva Airport can be booked through Jagged Globe)
• Lunch
• Cable cars, mountain railways and mechanical uplift (estimated cost £25)
• Any costs associated with travelling outside of the Chamonix Valley in the event that the weather/conditions are too bad to attempt Mont Blanc (other than to Gran Paradiso)
• 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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Leader Reports

• Mont Blanc Extension - 25 to 27 August '19
  “A Mont Blanc extension to a week’s Alpine climbing is a great way to conclude an alpine adventure. Climbers arrive in Chamonix well prepared and sufficiently acclimatised for the challenge. Anthony, James and Nick had...”
  report added 29/Aug/19
• WN, Alpine Intro Mont Blanc Extension '11
  “The guides were amazing. They did an excellent job and I felt totally safe the whole time we were out on the mountain. They worked really hard to keep us safe, motivated, and organised on the summit day. They gave us a really clear...”
  report added 05/Aug/11

Travel & Venue

The efficient Swiss Railway system is normally the best means of transferring from your previous course venue. You can plan your journey at www.sbb.ch. For your return home at the end of the course, 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.