Mont Blanc Ascent

So you're interested in climbing Mont Blanc? At 4810m, Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in the Alps. It's a tough objective and an awesome peak in a huge range. If successful, you will have the most enormous sense of satisfaction. The highest peak in the Alps is a wonderful summit with great views all the way across to the Matterhorn on a clear day!

We have been to the summit of Mont Blanc hundreds of  times. In the winter, in the summer, on foot, on skis - you name it - we've tried it. This experience has lead to us putting together a programme which gives you a realistic chance of summit success.

The course has six guiding days. This gives you the chance to learn crampon, rope and ice-axe techniques, complete some training routes on smaller peaks and still give sufficient time for the ascent. We recommend this course duration, because it gives you the most realistic chance of summit success by enabling proper acclimatisation.

Click here to see our comprehensive information sheet about Mont Blanc ascents >

• 6 days guiding by experienced mountain guides.
• We'll pick you up and drop you off at Geneva Airport.
  
• Great base hotel in Chamonix.
  
• Weather conditions allow us to run this trip between mid June and mid September
  
• We provide open or bespoke courses for individuals to larger groups
  
• We have many years experience in providing these courses.
• You need to be fit, have a head for heights and be technically coordinated.
  

Join us for a great adventure....

We run a 6 day course, which, with an arrival and departure day, is an eight day round trip. We run the course over this duration because it provides the best chance of your trip meeting the necessary criteria (weather, acclimatisation, ability, fitness) to maximise your summit chances.

You will meet your mountain guide on the morning of the first guiding day. You arrive the afternoon/evening before this for you to be ready for the start of the course, and if possible a day or two earlier than this to enable you to do some walking/acclimatising on your own.

The first days of the course are valuable days to acclimatise, refresh/learn mountain skills and climb some training peaks. These peaks are about 3500m high and no mean feat in themselves. We then attempt the ascent of Mont Blanc either from the Gouter/Tete Rouse sideor a traverse from the Cosmique side. This depends upon your fitness, mountain conditions and availability of huts.

A typical tour itinerary is described below:

Please note: This itinerary is a guide only. It can be subject to change dependent upon viability, course members' fitness, weather conditions, hut availabilityor for any other reason the guide may deem necessary.

To do this trip you will need to be physically fit, with a head for heights and technically coordinated. This is a tough challenge and even though you do not need previous alpine climbing experience to take part in our course (of course it is beneficial) you are attempting to climb the highest peak in the Alps and need to be suitably prepared!

It is physically demanding with a summit day of 12-14hrs, most of which is at altitude. In addition, it contains the need for scrambling to ‘easy' climbing with and without crampons, the ascent and descent of steep snow slopes as well the traverse of exposed ridges. The preparation days are usually of 6-8hrs duration.

We recommend you take part in one of our Scottish winter courses (Jan - Mar) to help you with your preparation for this course.

You should follow a fitness plan in preparation for your challenge. An example of one will be sent to you when you have confirmed your booking.

Although the fitness plan we will send to you has been devised by a fitness professional, this is only provided as a guide and you should seek professional advice before starting your own fitness regime.

Weather and snow conditions permit us to run this course anytime from mid June to mid September. The trip runs from a Sunday to a Sunday or Wednesday to Wednesday.

The S indicates a Sunday to Sunday trip and the W indicates a Wednesday to Wednesday trip.

2013 dates:

These dates are available to individuals and groups.

If the date you want is fully booked or not listed please contact us - we may still be able to help!

If you have a group of 4 or more people we will be happy to run an exclusive trip for your group.

Weather and snow conditions permit us to run this course anytime from mid June to mid September. The trip runs from a Sunday to a Sunday or Wednesday to Wednesday.

The S indicates a Sunday to Sunday trip and the W indicates a Wednesday to Wednesday trip.

Included in the cost of the course:

• Professional event organisation.
  
• Mountain guiding.
  
• Arrival and departure transport between Geneva Airport and Chamonix hotel.
  
• 3 nights twin room accommodation with breakfast in Chamonix Valley hotel. Single rooms are available at a supplement.
  
• 4 nights hut accommodation half board dorm rooms
  
• Group gear - ropes etc.
  
• Group first aid kit with qualified first aiders.
  

2013 price

MONTH OF MAY MONT BLANC MADNESS PROMOTION £1495pp

THIS OFFER HAS BEEN EXTENDED INTO JUNE

Bookings placed before the end of June 2013 receive a £100 discount meaning the price is £1495pp (normal retail £1595pp). This applies for booking placed before the end of June with travel at any time this year.

A deposit of £350 is required upon completion of your booking form. The remainder of the balance is then due 10 weeks prior to your departure.

You may also add the following:

• Hire of technical equipment (crampons, ice axe, helmets, harness) for £75
• Single Room for £45 per room per night

Doing this event for charity? Pay a registration fee (deposit) and confirm with your charity minimum fundraising requirements for the balance. Ask us for details.

Additional costs to budget for are:

• Your personal insurance.
  
• Return flights to Geneva.
  
• Cable cars.
  
• Lunch and evening meals in the valley.
  
• Lunch during the mountain days.

A Mont Blanc ascent is a physically challenging week. We encourage all Mont Blanc participants to complete the appropriate preparation to ensure best performance on the hill.

Ideal courses to take part in before taking part in a Mont Blanc course are a winter course (Dec - March) and a scrambling course around May/June time. This gives you the best combination of practice regarding physical fitness, crampon techniques and scrambling skills.

To this end, we offer a discount of £50 off a Winter Ben Nevis course and a discount of £50 off a Snowdonia scrambling course for all those who have already booked on a Mont Blanc course. Please ask the office for details.

At Maximum Adventure we are aware you have a range of options and companies to choose from in terms of organising your adventure. That is why we continually strive to give you the best service possible. Not only in terms of being friendly and informative on the phone when you call us, but also in the content of the actual event itself.

Our course contains 6 guided days. With a travel day out and a travel day back it means you are away for 8 days. We do not think it is a good idea to offer a shorter one, even though that will save you and us some money. We feel you need 6 days to practice your skills and most importantly acclimatise in order to maximise your summit chances. It also means you may have more summit chances in the case of bad weather.

The three training days of the course are guided at a maximum of 3:1 (3 participants : 1 guide) and the 3 ascent days are guided at a maximum of 2:1.

Furthermore we will pick you up and drop you off at Geneva airport. This takes the hassle out of you getting to the course start.

We can offer hire of your technical equipment for a small supplement of £75. Of course, the group kit (ropes etc) is included. Sourcing technical kit locally (crampons, ice axe, helmets and harness) which are the items you are least likely to have, could add another £150-£200 approximately to your bill.

For full details of what's in and what's out have a look at the course inclusions.

• Established adventure travel business
• Been trading for 11 years
• Financially protected in accordance with 1992 travel regulation
• ATOL bonded
• Knowledgeable and available office staff
• Qualified leaders and guides with ascents ranging from ben nevis to mount Everest
• All activities are risk assessed
• We try to give you the best service we can
• We are aware this is your holiday/your challenge and will do our best to facilitate it
• Repeat clients stretching back many years

You're not the only one! And why not? Why set yourself limits? Every year, people ask us this question.

'Back in the day' people would complete an 'alpine apprenticeship' which would consist of many alpine summers spent practising their skills and climber lower, but not lesser, peaks before tackling the big one.

People have less time (seemingly, although there are still 24hrs in a day), the boundaries of adventure travel have moved on and with the ready availability of the internet for you to research this information, you can, very quickly, decide to take part in an adventure.

Whilst some may think this is a bad thing - we don't. We are, after all, in the business of helping you achieve your goals. So if you decide to have a crack at this you need to know what you are letting yourself in for.

Mont Blanc will maybe be the hardest week you experience in your life. It is high, it is cold and it is exposed. It is also dangerous. Some people say risk is part of the adventure. We don't think so. Risk is something you accept to enable you to achieve what you want to do. We, or anyone, can't eliminate that risk. But we can do our best to reduce it.

So, assuming you decide it is for you, you need to get in shape. Get down the gym. Go running. Go cyling or take part in some of our preparation courses. It is physically tiring and you need to be as best prepared as possible. Do plenty of cardio so you have good stamina and strengthen your legs through cycling and hill days. We will send you a fitness training plan, but also have a look at our preparation courses. They are invaluable in giving you the best chance.

Once you have done all this, we will do our best to get you to the top. But it won't be easy!

Aaron Maierhofer

I just wanted to say thanx to all of you guys for a great time last week. And I also want to say thanx for supporting me with my fear of heights. A lot of people would have just left me and got on with their own issues, as it was not easy for anybody. So thanx a bunch guys I had an amazing time.

Sam Floyd

I've been meaning to send an email since we got back but have been far too busy with work to do it yet.

Anyway myself, Dave, James and Mike had an absolutely amazing week in Chamonix. Everything had been well thought out and exceptionally high standards. Transfers were all on time, the hotel was fantastic and above all the guides were brilliant. Complete respect to Owain, Herbert and Florian who we had a great laugh with and felt 100% confidant the whole week.

Thanks very much for the week, it's certainly started a passion growing in us, we're thinking of Matterhorn next year.

I shall recommend Maximum Adventure to anyone who is looking to go on a course.

Neil Harris

It was one hell of an experience, and I'll never forget it. I'm very proud that we were all so determined. The best time in the world!!!!

Michael Draper

I very much enjoyed the experience..... I thought the course was well organised and well balanced..... Stephan took us to a couple of places that I had not expected but was glad for the experience that gave me some insight into something more than simply trekking.

John Skilton

Arrived back yesterday from Chamonix, just thought I would take this opportunity, to say thanks again for yet another great trip. Fortunately this was to be the year for Mont Blanc success!

Jorn was again superb and the new guide Till I can highly recommend, for without his skill and patience the summit would have again been beyond reach.

La Bagna was also extremely hospitable, Philippe and Marie the perfect hosts. The food without question the best in the valley!

The route via Tacul is, as you know no mean task but I felt prepared following the acclimatisation training. The route took 14 hours to achieve and it was an experience I will never forget.
So on behalf of Steve and myself, thanks again.

Lesley Smillie

Trip was fantastic - so very big thank you from both Ian and I.

Tom is great - he is an excellent guide and I would be more than happy to recommend him to both beginners and experienced climbers alike. Many of my friends have climbed with (name of competitor withheld), but have been unable to reach the summit, partly due to larger parties not coping so well, therefore we really appreciated the 2:1 ratio.

Andrew Hansler

Just wanted to say thanks to you guys for helping turn a childhood dream into a reality, Tom, our guide deserves special thanks for putting up with our limited experience, my obsessive picture taking and having a fantastic sense of humour (he needed it) - a top class bloke and couldn't praise him more, I know I wouldn't have made it to the top without his help & guidance.