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Climb the Alpine Classics of Chamonix

Duration
1 day
Season
Spring through fall is the best time for alpine climbing
Group size
Up to 4 people
Difficulty
Beginner to advanced

With its perfect granite rock towers and snow-covered ridges that loom over the picturesque town, Chamonix looks like it fell out of a postcard. Whether you’re looking to conquer your first climb or check a classic ascent off your list, Chamonix has something for everyone. With incredible routes, breathtaking views, loads of climbing history, and amazing food, wine, and culture, climbing in Chamonix will be the experience of a lifetime. Find yourself amongst a plethora of routes suited to seasoned climbers and rookies alike, all easily accessible. Some of the classics include the Cosmiques Arête, Argentiere Basin (Grade II-IV, 5.6 – 5.10+), Aiguille du Tour (easy snow to technical mixed routes), the Dent du Géant, Marbrées & Entrèves Traverses, and more. Find out why Chamonix is called the birthplace of alpinism and all about climbing Chamonix from Brian Monetti, a Brooklyn-based techie, and Jeff Witt, a local professional mountain guide with more than 25 years of experience!

Adventure highlights

  • The mountain guiding industry was born in 1821 right here in Chamonix
  • Climb multi-pitch routes which can take upwards of ten hours
  • Range of alpine experiences provide something for everyone
Highlighted reviews from other travellers
B
Bruno Schull
Great mountain guiding

Rob is a great guide, a great teacher, and a great person. I’ve worked with many guides to expand my range of skills and experiences in the mountains, and Rob is one of the very best. He literally wrote the books about guiding! (Check out his books about climbing and skiing). He is extremely generous with his knowledge and time, he focuses on making sure his clients have a great experience, and he genuinely loves the mountains. I will definitely go climbing and skiing with Ron again!

C
Chris
A days climbing in the Italian Alps!

Originally I was planning to traverse Aiguille Entreves, however, due to severe blisters and mixed weather I asked Rob to come up with a brand new plan that would involve less of a trek but still have all the exposure. No problem for the man from Colorado – what a legend. Within an hour he had made a brand new suggestion to head to Italy for a days rock climbing.

I was picked up at 8am and we were on the rock face by 10am. Di Fronte al Paradiso – a seven pitch 5a. The weather and company was perfect – my climbing however was rusty.

Thanks Rob – see you in May!

Show all reviews

Available itineraries

A Customized Day of Climbing With a Private Guide

Tailored to your specific objectives and climbing experience, a day with a private climbing guide will ensure you make the most out of your time in Chamonix. Newer climbers can develop their techniques on handpicked beginner and intermediate routes, while experienced climbers test their skills in challenging alpine terrain on famous classics. Focus on whatever you want — in the world’s greatest alpine playground, the choice is yours.

Skills Development Course: Partner Rescue

Feel safer in the mountains and improve as a climber by learning the fundamentals of partner rescue. This one-day course covers everything you need to know to rescue a fallen or injured leader — from how to safely get to an injured climbing partner, to what to do when you get there, to how to safely retreat from the route. Bring your partner along and take this course together.

Skills Development Course: Crevasse Rescue

Crevasse rescue is a standard component of mountaineering education and a skill that every alpine climber should have. This course will introduce you to the key elements for safe travel on glaciers, including building snow and ice anchors, ascending out of a crevasse on a fixed line, and extracting an injured victim from a crevasse. Take the guesswork out and learn how to safely rescue yourself or someone else in the unfortunate event of a fall.

Adventure brochure
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If you have questions or need help with planning a trip, schedule a call with one of our adventure experts.

Meet your guides

Rob Coppolillo
5.00
Rob Coppolillo
IFMGA/AMGA Certified Guide

Rob is a AMGA/IFMGA guide who runs ski and climbing trips all over the world — from the Rockies to the Dolomites. We tour at least once a year with him because he always brings out the best in us wherever we go and whatever the objective. Rob is the owner of Vetta Mountain Guides, based out of Boulder, Colorado.

Jeff Witt
5.00
Jeff Witt
AMGA/IFMGA Mountain Guide
Jeff is a professional mountain guide with more than 25 years of experience in the field and the founder of High Peak Adventures. He’s been everywhere and climbed it all — from the U.S. to the Himalayas, the Alps and more. He’s also based out of Chamonix, so he’s got all the insider info that you’d want to know on the area. He’s all yours for an hour, so pick his brain, learn the ropes and get inspired.
Mark Puleio
5.00
Mark Puleio
IFMGA Mountain Guide
Mark is the owner of Alpine Guides International based in Vermont. A hearty, and uncommonly amiable, New Englander, Mark has been immersed in rock, alpine and ski guiding for over 20 years, He is passionate about sharing his knowledge and expertise with countless aspiring adventurers, both through his guiding and as part of outdoor education programs. His specialties are ski mountaineering and alpine climbing, most notably in Switzerland, Italy and France.

Watch our webinar

5.00(2 reviews)
B
Bruno Schull
Great mountain guiding

Rob is a great guide, a great teacher, and a great person. I’ve worked with many guides to expand my range of skills and experiences in the mountains, and Rob is one of the very best. He literally wrote the books about guiding! (Check out his books about climbing and skiing). He is extremely generous with his knowledge and time, he focuses on making sure his clients have a great experience, and he genuinely loves the mountains. I will definitely go climbing and skiing with Ron again!

C
Chris
A days climbing in the Italian Alps!

Originally I was planning to traverse Aiguille Entreves, however, due to severe blisters and mixed weather I asked Rob to come up with a brand new plan that would involve less of a trek but still have all the exposure. No problem for the man from Colorado – what a legend. Within an hour he had made a brand new suggestion to head to Italy for a days rock climbing.

I was picked up at 8am and we were on the rock face by 10am. Di Fronte al Paradiso – a seven pitch 5a. The weather and company was perfect – my climbing however was rusty.

Thanks Rob – see you in May!

Show all reviews
5.00(2 reviews)
B
Bruno Schull
Great mountain guiding

Rob is a great guide, a great teacher, and a great person. I’ve worked with many guides to expand my range of skills and experiences in the mountains, and Rob is one of the very best. He literally wrote the books about guiding! (Check out his books about climbing and skiing). He is extremely generous with his knowledge and time, he focuses on making sure his clients have a great experience, and he genuinely loves the mountains. I will definitely go climbing and skiing with Ron again!

C
Chris
A days climbing in the Italian Alps!

Originally I was planning to traverse Aiguille Entreves, however, due to severe blisters and mixed weather I asked Rob to come up with a brand new plan that would involve less of a trek but still have all the exposure. No problem for the man from Colorado – what a legend. Within an hour he had made a brand new suggestion to head to Italy for a days rock climbing.

I was picked up at 8am and we were on the rock face by 10am. Di Fronte al Paradiso – a seven pitch 5a. The weather and company was perfect – my climbing however was rusty.

Thanks Rob – see you in May!

Things to know

  • 57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.

    We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides and the communities they’re travelling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Chamonix, please refer to the Chamonix-Mont Blanc.

    Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!

  • What you get in this adventure:

      • An experienced, local rock-climbing guide with extensive knowledge of the area
      • A full day of rock climbing

    What’s not included:

      • Transportation
      • Accommodation
      • Meals and snacks
  • To be able to enjoy all Chamonix has to offer, you’ll need to be on a pretty good fitness level. It’s a good idea to prepare yourself with hikes that gain 1,000 vertical feet per mile for several miles to strengthen your legs, arm and back muscles. While you don’t need to be a seasoned climber or have significant experience with winter mountaineering, it will immensely aid you in this challenging terrain. The routes are long; you can expect to spend about a third of the day climbing at high altitude, so prior to conquering the Alps, go out and climb!

  • Chamonix’s versatile, easily accessed routes are part of its charm. While it’s known for technically challenging and daunting terrain, there are plenty of climbs complete beginners can tackle. Regardless of your skill level, there is a peak to conquer waiting for you at Chamonix.

    For intermediate to advanced climbers, Chamonix has loads of routes to spend the day on. Your guide will discuss your objectives and customize the day to your goals. Let your guide plan the day so you can focus on developing your skills while climbing the classic routes or best hidden gems the area has to offer.

  • Here’s a list of the equipment we suggest you bring:

    Personal equipment:

      • Day pack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 30L bag)
      • Glacier glasses
      • Sunscreen
      • Water bottle
      • Toiletries
      • Food you can eat on-the-go
      • Camera — optional

    Technical equipment:

      • Ropes
      • Crevasse rescue kit
      • Harness
      • Helmet
      • Belay device (your typical multi-pitch personal kit)
      • Chalk bag
      • Ice axe
      • Crampons
      • Trekking poles
      • Rock shoes
      • Mountaineering boots
      • Headlamp

    Clothing list:

      • Beanie
      • Base layers (insulating thermal underwear for both top and bottom)
      • Lightweight outer layers (made from moisture wicking materials)
      • Lightweight jacket
      • Medium/heavyweight jacket
      • Shell jacket and pants
      • A pair of climbing pants
      • Gloves
      • Liner socks
      • Socks (wool or synthetic)
      • Waterproof rain jacket
  • All mandatory gear will be provided by the guide if you don’t have your own. As for the personal items:

    Rental location is in Chamonix and should be picked up the night prior to your outing. If you need to rent gear, let us know and we can help make arrangements.

  • Group sizes and prices:

      • For the customized day of climbing with a private guide, the max client to guide ratio is 2:1 and cost is per person. The cost decreases as the group grows, so it’s the perfect opportunity to climb with friends and family!
      • For the rescue clinics, the max client to guide ratio is 4:1 and cost is per person.

    Climbing days can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

    Min. age requirements:

      • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.

    If your group has climbers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

  • Geneva International Airport (GGV) is a one-hour drive from Chamonix. If you’re inexperienced with driving on mountain roads, consider hiring a driver. There’s also private or group transfers between Geneva Airport and Chamonix. If you’re traveling by train, the Chamonix Mont Blanc Station is located in the city center.

    Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet.

  • Day Trips Cancellations
    Fully refundable within the initial 48 hours from booking, unless the trip date is less than 7 days from the time of the booking.
    Cancellations up to 7 days prior to the trip date are refundable 100%.
    Cancellations within 7 days prior to the trip date are non-refundable.

Have more questions? Read our FAQ,
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