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Why take this trip

Learn the basics of technical climbing in the beautiful Chamonix area that intersects France, Switzerland and Italy. Get to the summit of Gran Paradiso, the highest mountain in Italy as you acclimatize for Mont Blanc. Mont Blanc is a great place to learn the ropes with some of the best guides on a challenging mountain.

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Who is this for

This trip needs a high level of fitness and moderate experience trekking and climbing. A lot of what you will need to learn will be taught on the mountain. It is important to have had experience on mountains prior to this trip in order to focus purely on technical skills.

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What’s next

Once you’ve climbed Mont Blanc you will have gained the necessary altitude experience to climb higher, bigger, and more challenging mountains, such as Mount Nun, Aconcagua, and Kyajo Ri.

After arriving in Geneva, a Wild Guanabana rep will be waiting outside the airport gates to take us to our hotel in Chamonix. Once we’re all settled in, we’ll meet our personal guides for a gear check and in-depth briefing.
After having breakfast in Chamonix, we’ll drive about an hour and a half to Gran Paradiso National Park where we’ll start the three-hour trek to the first hut – Victor Emmanuel Hut (2,735 m). When we get there, we’ll go over all our previous lessons and rope skills we need to learn so we can prepare for the big climb the next day.
Today’s the day! We’re heading up to the summit of Gran Paradiso at 4,061 m through the West Flank, which will take approximately 5 – 6 hours. Once we summit, we’ll take in the spectacular view from atop the highest point in Italy before descending for 3 – 4 hours down to Victor Emmanuel and spending the night in Gran Paradiso.
After breakfast we’re descending to Pont, a two-hour trek back down to 1,960 m. After descending, we’ll drive back to Chamonix for a well-deserved night of rest ahead of the big climb.
Are you ready for the big climb? Grab your breakfast and gather your things, we’re heading off to ride the téléphérique to Aigullie du Midi. Once we arrive, we start the one-hour trek to our first stop on Mont Blanc – Cosmiques Hut at 3,613 m.
Summit day calls for a breathtaking sunrise on the mountain before we start our seven-hour traverse of Mont Blanc via the same route to Cosmiques Hut. Once we arrive, we’ll be standing on the highest point in Eastern Europe; make sure your cameras are ready, because the summit view is absolutely incredible.
We’re heading back down to Chamonix today to debrief about our incredible adventure and spend the remainder of the day relaxing, walking around town, and enjoying a delicious celebratory dinner. We’ve accounted for this spare day in case of any unforeseen bad weather during our ascent earlier in the trip. The weather is always unpredictable on the mountain, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Today we’re being transferred to the airport to catch our flights back home.
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Weather

Weather in Chamonix can be pretty hot and sunny in summer in the valley down below and cooler as you go higher up, while in the winter temperature always drop below zero and can reach -20o c much often on the mountain

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Food

On this trip, you will be passing through 3 different countries (Italy, France and Switzerland), all of which are considered from the most culinary delicious countries so your food will be one of the definitive highlights of the trip.

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Accommodation

In the villages, you will be staying in small cosy boutique hotels surrounded by the stunning landscape and Alps mountain ranges. On the mountain, you will be staying in mountain lodges with dorms style rooms.

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Terrain

With snow covered rocky-peaks rising over 4000 meters off the valley floor, the terrain in the Chamonix valley is unparalleled, creating the border between France, Italy and Switzerland. Beautifully uneven edged mountains decorate the skyline while glaciers keep many of them white year-round. Crevasses are also found all over the place, adding to the challenge of the terrain. The mountain is completely covered in snow which will give you some experience in with the crampons and ice axe.

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Overall Difficulty

D

Technical Skills

/5

Days

/5

Fitness level

/5

Altitude

Technical Skills

No experiences is needed: Anyone can join this trip.
Minimal experience: You should probably have some hiking experience to join this trip. It is advisable to have gone on a hike for at least 2 days prior to joining this trip.
Moderate experience: You should have some climbing experience to join this trip. It is advisable to have been on at least a 4-day climb before joining this trip.
Technical experience: You should have technical climbing experience before joining this trip. It is recommended that you have experience with crampons, skis, ropes and belays.
Advanced technical experience: You should have technical climbing experience to join this trip. Depending on the climb, you will need a specific set of skills.

fitness level

Occasional workout, no fixed routine.
Workout routine with at least 2-3 workouts a week, overall in good shape. Trekking days on this trip are around 3-4 hours long each day with little elevation.
Workout routine with at least 4-5 workouts a week, overall in great shape. Trekking days on this trip are around 4-5 hours long each day with moderate elevation.
Workout routine with at least 5 workouts a week. Trekking days on this trip are around 5-7 hours long each day with high elevation.
Specified workout routine with at least 5 workouts a week as well as technical training. Trekking days on this trip are 8 hours long each day with extreme elevation.

Altitude

1,500m - 2,999m
3,000m - 4,499m
4,500m - 5,999m
6,000m - 7,499m
7,500m - 8,999m

Climbing Days

0 - 4 Days
5 - 9 Days
10 - 12 Days
13 - 15 Days
16+ Days

PRICE

$2,800

best time to travel:

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Ideal time to travel
  • Good time to travel
  • Unpredictable time
  • No trip

PRICE INCLUDES

    • Transfers between Geneva and Chamonix in a private car.
    • Professional world-class mountain guides with a ratio of 2:1 during the Mont Blanc portion.
    • Group technical equipment: ropes, ice screws, snow stakes
    • Meals as mentioned above (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
    • 3-star hotel in Chamonix on a B&B basis
    • Huts on the mountain
    • All park, cable car, ski lift, and tunnel fees
    • Transfers in France.

PRICE EXCLUDES

    • International flights to/from Geneva, Switzerland.
    • Personal medical & travel insurance 
    • Visas
    • Tips & gratuity
    • Meals not included in the itinerary
    • Personal mountaineering equipment