Acclimatization and ascent of Mont Blanc - 100% female
In summary
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Sports
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Duration6 days
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LevelAdvance
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DestinationChamonix-Mont-Blanc / Mont Blanc Massif - France
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AgeFrom the age of 18
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CO₂-Emissions34.09 kg CO2
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Type of stayIn a group
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Languages
French
In a few words
Reaching Mont Blanc , the roof of Europe, is a legendary adventure. Designed exclusively for women , this 6-day course offers optimal preparation and a shared experience built on trust.
The first three days are dedicated to gradual acclimatization to altitude . On the Tour and Trient glaciers , you'll master ice climbing techniques and all the essential glacier hiking skills : walking with crampons , using an ice axe , and rope work . The ascent to the Tête Blanche (3,429 m) will solidify these essential skills before a night's rest in Chamonix .
The second part of the trip is dedicated to conquering the summit. Guided by your high-mountain guide , the all-female rope team sets off on the classic route via the Dôme du Goûter and the spectacular Bosses ridge . At the end of this intense collective effort, the summit of Mont Blanc (4,810 m) offers an unforgettable panorama in the heart of the Alps. A demanding climb, but made accessible thanks to a carefully adapted pace.
The highlights
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Climbing Mont Blanc via the normal route in three days - 100% female
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Glacier training to learn cramponing and belaying techniques
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1 guide for 2 people for the 3-day ascent of Mont Blanc
Photos
Sport
Level
Mountaineering
The expert's opinion
The ascent is long and takes place almost entirely above 4,000 meters. Therefore, excellent physical condition (endurance) and acclimatization to the altitude are essential. Note: the first two departures in June (which are cheaper) do not use ski lifts for the ascent of Mont Blanc, which significantly increases the elevation gain and thus the physical difficulty.
Are you ready for your stay? Assess your abilities!
Before you leave, it's important to be in good physical condition for the planned activity. Regular endurance exercise is essential for mountain activities. This could include jogging, cycling, swimming, or brisk walking. If you're not at all fit, you won't be able to undertake any mountain activity without risking significant physical difficulties.
Training advice, to be validated with your doctor: six months before departure, plan to do, if possible, 1 to 2 endurance sports sessions of at least one hour per week and a hike during the weekend of at least 6 hours with a significant elevation gain.
In figures
Mountaineering
- Average duration/day: 4h
- Average distance/day: 8 km
- Average daily elevation gain: 760 m
- Maximum altitude: 4810 m
- Exposed Passages: Yes
Management
French
The trip is led by a high-mountain guide for a group of 4 to 6 participants, who will provide the necessary technical information for a successful trip. The guide may need to modify the program to ensure safety, depending on mountain weather conditions or the physical condition of the participants. For the ascent of Mont Blanc on days 4 to 6, one guide is provided for every two participants .
Program
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Welcome and departure for the first day of ice and snow school
- Activity Mountaineering
- Duration of the activity 3h
- Distance 6 km
- Positive elevation gain 600 m
- Maximum altitude 2702 m
- Exposed passages Yes
- Accommodation Refuge
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
This morning, you'll meet your guide at the equipment rental shop: fitting of individual equipment (collection for those who requested it in their booking), briefing. Departure for the village of Le Tour, 20km away, by minibus. Then, you'll take the ski lifts to the Col de Balme, before reaching the Albert 1er refuge, located at 2702 meters altitude on the right bank of the Glacier du Tour. Snow and ice school in the afternoon near the refuge.Day 1 -
Ascent of Tête Blanche
- Activity Mountaineering
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Distance 9 km
- Positive elevation gain 800 m
- Maximum altitude 3429 m
- Exposed passages Yes
- Accommodation Refuge
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Starting from the Albert 1er refuge, we put on crampons for the ascent of Tête Blanche, a summit reaching 3429 meters in altitude, then we cross the Col Supérieur du Tour to reach the Trient hut (3170m).Day 2 -
The ascent of the Col Supérieur du Tour, descent to the Tour
- Activity Mountaineering
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Distance 8 km
- Positive elevation gain 800 m
- Maximum altitude 3429 m
- Exposed passages Yes
- Accommodation Refuge
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Starting from the Trient hut, ascend the Col Supérieur du Tour. Then, return to the Albert 1er refuge for a short break. Afterwards, descend to the village of Le Tour. Settle into the gîte and rest. The guide will gather you to discuss the rest of the program based on the weather forecast and mountain conditions. He will also form the rope teams for the ascent of Mont Blanc.Day 3 -
Mont Blanc Tramway, Eagle's Nest, Tête Rousse Refuge
- Activity Mountaineering
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Distance 8 km
- Positive elevation gain 800 m
- Maximum altitude 3400 m
- Exposed passages Yes
- Accommodation Refuge
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
The first easy stage of our Mont Blanc ascent: we set off late morning to reach the village of Les Houches. The support guides join the group, and the rope teams are formed for the climb. We take the cable car to Bellevue and then the Mont Blanc tramway to the Nid d'Aigle. The first section is easy, following the Rognes ridge and a quick traverse on the north face, before we emerge onto a snowy plateau at the end of which lies the Tête Rousse refuge. The afternoon is dedicated to rest and acclimatization, enjoying the magnificent view of the north face of the Bionnassay.
(In the event that weather and/or safety conditions do not allow the initial program to be carried out, a modification of the latter will take place and a replacement program will be put in place with for example the ascent of Monte Rosa or Gran Paradiso).
Day 4 -
Ascent of Mont Blanc and overnight stay at the Goûter Hotel
- Activity Mountaineering
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Distance 8 km
- Positive elevation gain 800 m
- Maximum altitude 4810 m
- Exposed passages Yes
- Accommodation Refuge
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
This ascent is made via the rocky face of the Aiguille du Goûter. A wide couloir at the bottom of the slope is exposed to rockfall, so it is very important to follow the guide's instructions carefully. The rest of the climb follows a shallow spur with sections equipped with cables or ropes: these require the use of hands and at times resemble scrambling. As night falls, the sense of time disappears, and we soon reach the Dôme du Goûter at 4304m. We are at the Vallot bivouac refuge, which is unguarded and theoretically serves as a shelter for climbers in difficulty. It is often here that the sun joins us, bringing with it a renewed vigor. The summit draws nearer, the Bosses ridge begins, and for a few hours we will be suspended between sky and earth on a magnificent and sometimes airy ridge. The guide will then ask you to ensure that the rope is taut. Finally, after one last bump, the ridge widens and the summit appears, vast and welcoming. Welcome to 4810m!Day 5 -
Back to Chamonix
- Negative elevation 1300 m
- Maximum altitude 3167 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
The descent follows the same route back to the Nid d'Aigle, where we board the Mont Blanc Tramway. We return to Les Houches by cable car, where we meet up with our vehicles. You will have lunch either at the Bellevue cable car station or in Chamonix after returning your equipment.Day 6
Note
Warning! The success rate for climbing Mont Blanc with a guide is around 70%. Most failures are due to weather conditions. It's important to know that above 4,000 meters, wind or bad weather often makes the ascent impossible or too dangerous. We strive to anticipate these factors and make the best decisions to help you reach the summit.
In all cases, our priority will always be safety. The high-mountain guide accompanying you knows Mont Blanc perfectly and will be best placed to assess the feasibility of the ascent. As a last resort, they will make the decision to continue or not. For this course, we confirm the possibility of attempting the climb three days before departure. However, it is possible that the weather may ultimately be different from what was forecast (a frequent occurrence in Chamonix). In this case, the guide may still decide to modify the program or cancel the attempt on the morning of departure.
For safety reasons and to ensure a consistent level of competition as advertised, the organizers and staff reserve the right to discontinue your participation if your technical skill level and/or physical fitness do not meet the required standards. Under no circumstances will this discontinuation entitle you to a refund or compensation.
NB: Since the summer season of 2021, all reservations in the mountain huts are nominative.
Accommodation
You will be sleeping in dormitories in the mountain huts. Blankets are provided; you should bring a sleeping bag liner. Slippers are available, so there is no need to bring shoes for the hut.
Please note: As the refuge reservation is non-transferable, no refunds will be issued. If you cancel your stay without having booked the Flex rate, the refuge will not be refunded (€60 per night).
Access
Go to the starting point
From the train station:
- On foot: The Chamonix Sud district is directly accessible in 3 to 10 minutes on foot depending on the stop where you get off.
- By bus (Chamonix Bus / Chamo'n Bus network): The free valley shuttles ( Le Mulet or Line 1 ) serve the Chamonix Sud stop in a few minutes from the central station.
- By taxi / private hire vehicle: The journey takes approximately 2 to 5 minutes from the station (estimated fare between €10 and €20 ).
Price details
The price includes
- The stay will be supervised by high-mountain guides.
- The technical organization of the circuit
- Accommodation in a gîte (dormitory style) in Le Tour on day 3
- Accommodation in mountain huts for the remainder of the stay
- Half-board (breakfast and dinner) at the gîte and mountain huts
- Picnics during the six days of the training course
- The ski lifts (Les Houches-Bellevue cable car, Le Tour-Balme gondola & chairlift, the Mont Blanc tramway) necessary for the normal running of the program (except for the first 2 departures in June when the ski lifts are not yet open)
- Collective safety equipment (ropes, etc.)
The price does not include
- Transportation to and from the place of stay.
- Travel within the valley (carpooling arranged for people without their own cars)
- Individual technical equipment (crampons, ice axe, harness, helmet, mountaineering boots, backpack, poles, etc.) is available for rent. Contact our partner, Concept Pro Shop, at +33 4 50 54 21 43 to reserve your equipment. You will receive a 10% discount when you mention that you are booking through our agency. The meeting point for the first day will be at this shop.
- Drinks (a bottle of water costs between €5 and €10 in the refuge) and personal expenses
- Race provisions
- Anything not listed under "Price includes"
Options
- Flex fare and insurance
Practical information
Specific formalities
Specifics
Before your departure, check with the embassy or consulate regarding the entry and stay requirements for your destination country. You can also find this information on the France Diplomatie website ( https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/dossiers-pays/ ).
In the case of flights with stopovers operated by different airlines, also check the entry requirements of the countries you are transiting through.
It is your responsibility to ensure you are in compliance, particularly regarding the validity of your identity documents (for example, some countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after your return) , visa requirements, necessary vaccinations, and health recommendations. And don't forget to consider any customs restrictions and other potential requirements of your destination or transit country.
ℹ️ Information may change up to the departure date, remember to regularly check official websites.
Equipment
Equipment provided on site
Equipment to bring
• High mountaineering boots with rigid soles and crampon compatibility are mandatory: trekking type shoes are not sufficient.
• A comfortable 40/50 litre mountaineering backpack: it must have attachments for crampons, ice axe and helmet.
• An ice axe, crampons, a harness equipped with a screwgate carabiner (note that carabiners cannot be rented, you will need to buy some if you do not have one), a helmet.
• One or two telescopic ski poles (depending on your habits): we highly recommend them, especially for downhill runs.
• A water bottle/thermos of at least 1.5 liters.
• A headlamp, with spare batteries and bulbs.
• A pocket knife.
• A bag cover in case of rain (not mandatory).
• 1 waterproof pouch with your money, identity papers (+ if possible blood type / contact lens wearer, etc...), insurance/assistance contract and emergency telephone numbers.
• A pair of gaiters (not available for rent).
• A sleeping bag liner (mandatory, and there are blankets in the refuge): SLEEPING BAG IS UNNECESSARY.
• A Zyploc bag with medications and toiletries (bare minimum: toothpaste + lens solution + hydroalcoholic lotion to clean hands): no running water in shelters in general, bring some alcohol-free wipes if you wish (be careful of the weight).
• A small tube of SPF 50 sunscreen (face and lips) + after-sun lotion
Clothing to bring
• Bonnet.
• Hat (or cap) for sun protection and/or scarf.
• Glacier glasses (category 4 index) + ski mask.
• A balaclava (like a balaclava that covers the whole head) (very useful in very cold weather)
• 1 pair of very warm mittens.
• 1 pair of fleece or wool gloves.
• 1 pair of inner gloves.
• 2 or 3 breathable, long-sleeved technical underwear.
• Breathable technical base layer (carline, lightweight fleece...)
• Thick fleece jacket.
• Down jacket or vest (not mandatory but appreciated if it is very cold on the day of the summit).
• 1 windproof, waterproof and breathable Gore-Tex type jacket.
• 1 pair of comfortable mountain pants for approach trails.
• 1 pair of Gore-Tex type windproof trousers when you are on a glacier.
• 1 pair of breathable technical tights.
• Socks: 3 thin pairs and 2 thicker pairs.
• 1 night outfit for the evening of Day 3 at the Tour chalet + toiletries
• A few hand and/or foot warmers can be useful for those who get cold easily on summit day
This list is generic and is intended to cover all the weather conditions you might encounter in the high mountains. It should be adapted to the conditions forecast for the day of your stay.
But keep in mind that temperatures drop considerably with altitude and wind chill. Therefore, always pack warm clothing, even when temperatures are high in the valley.
