What you will experience

Learn to climb in Les Gaillands, just a stone’s throw from the centre of Chamonix, before heading out onto the glaciers.

Spend the night at 2,702 metres at the Albert 1er hut, overlooking the Tour Glacier, in a friendly atmosphere.

Learn to use crampons and an ice axe and to move roped together during an ice skills session on the Glacier du Tour, in a small group of 4 max.

Walk across the Tour Glacier wearing crampons, then cross over to the Swiss side via the Col Supérieur du Tour.

Set off by head torch for the Aiguille du Tour (3,540 m) and reach your first Alpine summit, across glacier, snow and easy rock.

At the summit, take in the view of the giants of the Mont Blanc massif and the Swiss mountains after three days of introductory training.

Itinerary

1
DAY1/ 3
- Accommodation·Mountain hut
  Where we'll be spending the night
- On the programme·Rock climbing
  Activity of the day
We meet at 10 am in Chamonix, outside our hire shop, to collect the equipment and get to know the guide and the group. We then head to Les Gaillands, just a stone’s throw from the centre, where the day takes the form of a progressive climbing course on beginner-friendly routes.

The guide shows you the basics: putting on a harness, belaying and tying in, then we practise on easy routes to get a feel for verticality and build confidence. The site, bordered by forest and close to a small lake, offers a series of short routes that let you repeat the movements and learn to read the rock.

We finish with a debrief to review what we’ve learnt and pack away the equipment, before heading to our gîte in the valley, in Chamonix, where we spend the first night in a dormitory.

2
DAY2/ 3
- Accommodation·Mountain hut
  Where we'll be spending the night
- D+·600m
  Vertical ascent
In the morning, we drive to the village of Le Tour (about 30 minutes from Chamonix) and leave the cars in the car park for the rest of the expedition. We then take the lifts up to near the Col de Balme (2,100 m) and follow a traversing path onto the moraine of the Glacier du Tour. The walk across the moraine is gentle but calls for careful footing.

We then reach the Albert 1er hut (2,702 m), where we settle in facing the glacier and check our equipment before heading out. The afternoon is devoted to a glacier skills session on the Glacier du Tour: learning the basics of glacier travel, walking in crampons, simple belaying and using an ice axe.

The day alternates between the approach walk, practical adjustments and exercises on snow, before our first evening and night at high altitude.
3
DAY3/ 3
- D-·1440m
  descent
- D+·840m
  Vertical ascent
We set off by headlamp before daybreak, heading for the Aiguille du Tour (3,540 m), the final destination of this three-day introductory mountaineering course.

As soon as we reach the Tour Glacier, we put on our crampons and make our way across the glacier as a rope team, gradually ascending to the Col Supérieur du Tour. We then cross over to the Swiss side, onto the Trient Glacier, as the first light of day gradually reveals the surrounding peaks.

At the foot of the Aiguille du Tour, it’s time for the final stage of the ascent: a few easy rocky sections require using your hands to reach the summit. A great opportunity to put the techniques learnt during the trip into practice and to gain confidence on varied terrain, including snow, ice and rock.

Up there, we take in the panoramic view of the peaks of the Mont Blanc massif and the Swiss mountains before beginning the descent via the same route. We finally reach the village of Le Tour in the middle of the afternoon, where we pick up the cars from the car park and drive back down to Chamonix (about 30 minutes), with three days of mountaineering behind us and our first high-mountain ascent successfully completed.

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The guides who will lead your adventure

August

IFMGA Mountain Guide

French

English

Hi, I’m August, and I’ve been guiding in northern Norway for more than eight years. Skiing by the sea, under the Northern Lights, or simply enjoying nature: that’s what makes me tick. For me, guiding is above all about sharing my passion and helping you discover places close to my heart in a safe setting. Experiencing exceptional moments in the great outdoors is my reason for being, and that’s what I promise when I guide you.

Find out more about August

What's included in the price

Included

Guiding: Over the course of these three days, you will be guided by an IFMGA-certified high-mountain guide who will share their knowledge and passion with you.

Accommodation: You’ll spend one night in a gîte in Chamonix, in a dormitory, then one night high in the mountains at the Albert 1er hut (2,702 m), also in a dormitory, with a friendly atmosphere.

Meals: All meals are included, from the evening meal on Day 1 through to the picnic on the final day.

The ski lifts mentioned in the expedition programme.

Hiring of group mountaineering equipment (ropes, carabiners, etc.)

Not included

Return transport to and from the meeting point.

Mountaineering equipment: Ice axes, harnesses, crampons and helmets are not included in the price (available to hire at the next stage of the booking process).

To ensure maximum comfort, mountaineering boots are not provided. We strongly recommend that you try them on before you set off.

Day 1’s picnic.

What level to expect?

Level 2

Participants must be at least 18 years old

WHO IS IT FOR?

First-time mountaineering experience. You’re fit and comfortable with mountain hiking.

You’re at the right level if:

You exercise at least twice a week
You can walk for 5 to 7 hours with an ascent of 600 to 900 metres
You’re comfortable carrying a rucksack weighing 5 to 8 kg
You’re comfortable on uneven terrain (rocks, snow)
You’ve never been mountaineering before (and that’s fine)
You can cope with high altitudes (up to 3,540 metres)

Take the level quiz

Getting there

Start · 10h00

Chamonix

End · 15h00

Chamonix

Transport

By train

Want to avoid traffic jams and travel stress-free? The train is your best bet. Here’s the route to take to get to Chamonix:

Departure station > Paris Gare de Lyon
Paris Gare de Lyon > Bellegarde-sur-Valserine (2 hours 42 minutes)
Bellegarde-sur-Valserine > Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (2 hours 35 minutes)

You’ll arrive at Chamonix-Mont-Blanc station. The expedition’s meeting point is in Chamonix, outside our hire shop. It’s also possible to reach Chamonix by Flixbus from all major Belgian and French cities.

No car? No problem: for the drive between Chamonix and the village of Le Tour (days 2 and 3), we arrange carpooling with the guide and/or the other participants.

By car

Do you prefer the freedom of a road trip? You can drive to Chamonix, right to the expedition’s meeting point.

During the expedition, the car is also used to get to the village of Le Tour (about 30 minutes from Chamonix), where you can leave it in the car park until you return from the summit.

Do consider carpooling: a WhatsApp group will be set up 10 days before departure so you can organise this with the other participants.

How to register

1

Step 1

Choose your departure date and number of participants

2

Step 2

Book online by paying a deposit or the full amount directly. It is also possible to book by telephone by calling +32 460 25 61 85 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm).

If the minimum number of participants is reached, departure is confirmed!
If the minimum number of participants is not reached, we will give you a full refund.

Departure is confirmed 15 days in advance for adventures lasting more than 4 days. Departure is confirmed 7 days prior for adventures lasting less than 4 days.

3

Step 3

In the case of a deposit, the remaining amount will be debited from your account before departure.

Your reviews

The opinions of our participants who have placed their trust in us

4.7/ 5 · based on 123 reviews in this category

Jean-baptiste D.

Thibaut a été un guide génial et l'organisation complète etait super chouette. Je n'avais jamais fait d'escalade donc une première pour moi mais je me suis régalé Encore merci a Thibaut qui a été adorable

Evan D.

Une première expérience en montagne, très bien organisée, des gens sympas ! À recommander vivement

Bertrand G.

Une expérience extraordinaire, une organisation sans faille, des moments d’émotion partagés, des souvenirs magiques plein la tête. A renouveler dès que possible.

Arnaud L.

Très belle première expérience en alpinisme, avec un Guide (Isidore) qui a fait son maximum pour que l’expérience soit la plus plaisante possible.

Bru T.

Aventure géniale au Grand Paradis, premier 4000m sous des conditions de rêve. Très fier de ma maman qui a réussi ce défis. Et une mention spéciale à notre guide Manu qui a été Tip Top !

Frequently asked questions

What equipment should I bring?

Once your registration has been confirmed, we will send you a comprehensive list of the equipment you need to bring, set out in a personalised roadbook for your expedition.

What is the accommodation like?

You’ll spend the first night in a gîte in Chamonix, in a dormitory, then the second at the Albert 1er hut, in mixed-sex dormitories. Blankets and pillows are provided at the hut, so all you need to bring is a sleeping bag liner!

Will there be showers on site?

You’ll be able to have a shower at the gîte on your first night, but there won’t be a shower at the Albert 1er hut: welcome to the great outdoors!

Are instalment payment options available?

Yes, that's right! At checkout, you can choose the Alma option to pay for your booking in 2x, 3x or 4x. All you have to do is select Alma at checkout and follow the instructions. It's simple, fast and secure.

Can I privatise this expedition for my group?

Yes, all our expeditions can be privatised for a group already formed, on the dates of your choice.

To make your request, go to the expedition that interests you and click on "Privatise the expedition". We'll take care of the rest!

What kind of people usually join Wildhartt expeditions ?

You don’t need to be a top athlete or adventure expert to feel at home. Most Wildhartt participants are between 25 and 60 years old, with a balanced mix of women and men.

Many join solo or in small groups of two or three. They often live in cities and are looking for a meaningful break — some time to reconnect with nature, slow down, and enjoy something real.

They usually have a regular movement practice (hiking, running, yoga...), but not with a competitive mindset. They’re in good shape, but don’t necessarily have technical skills. What brings them together is a shared desire to disconnect, observe, learn, and experience nature in a more grounded, accessible way.

If that speaks to you, you'll feel right at home. The group spirit is kind and open, and the pace adapts to everyone.

What happens if the weather is bad?

At Wildhartt, nature is our playground, rain or shine. Rain, snow or wind: our guides adapt the itinerary, activities and accommodation to guarantee you the best possible experience.
Unless safety is at stake (storm, avalanche, flood...).

In this exceptional case, we can cancel an expedition, at least one week before departure.
If this happens:
→ You can postpone your adventure at no cost,
→ Or receive a full refund.

What does the price of a Wildhartt adventure include?

At Wildhartt, transparency is essential. The price of your expedition reflects a clear breakdown of costs:

30% for our guides, the mainstays of every adventure.
35% for accommodation and meals, essential for your comfort.
10% for equipment and transport, to guarantee safety and fluidity.
24% for organisation and logistics, from first contact to the end of the expedition.
1% for the rewilding of Europe, a concrete commitment to give back to nature what it gives us.

Our priority: to offer you a quality experience, with complete clarity.

Do you have any questions? Contact us.

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What you will experience

Itinerary