A roped team of climbers ascending a snow slope at sunrise, with the peaks of the Écrins below.
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A roped team crossing a glacier, framed by the rocky ridges of the Écrins.
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Two roped climbers on a mound of ice above a glacier cave, during the glacier skills session.
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A roped team crossing the glacier at dawn, with the Écrins peaks lit by the first rays of sun and the moon still visible.
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View from a snowy summit over a vast glacier and a sea of clouds above the Écrins massif.
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A snow and rock ridge seen from above, with a roped team climbing between the boulders and the Écrins peaks on the horizon.
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Two roped climbers on a snowy, rocky ridge, facing the high peaks of the Écrins.
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A climber with crampons and ice axe on the crevassed ice of the glacier, beneath a rocky peak.
1 / 0
A stone mountain hut on the edge of the glacier, facing the rocky, snow-covered walls of the Écrins.
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A group of hikers on the rocky approach trail to the hut, with a glacier and the Écrins peaks in the background.
1 / 0
A glaciated north face covered in seracs in the Écrins massif, rising above a glacier plateau.
1 / 0
A group wearing helmets and crampons on the ice, listening to the guide during the glacier skills session.
1 / 0
A roped team of five climbers on a glacier, with a pointed peak in the clouds.
1 / 0
A mountain hut dormitory with wooden bunk beds, pillows and folded blankets.
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Four friends playing cards at a wooden table in the mountains, facing the tongue of an Écrins glacier.
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Seracs and a glacier slope beneath a deep blue sky, on the ascent route.
1 / 0
A stone mountain hut perched on a rocky spur, facing the snow-capped peaks of the Écrins.
1 / 0
A roped team of climbers ascending a snow slope at sunrise, with the peaks of the Écrins below.
A roped team crossing a glacier, framed by the rocky ridges of the Écrins.
Two roped climbers on a mound of ice above a glacier cave, during the glacier skills session.
A roped team crossing the glacier at dawn, with the Écrins peaks lit by the first rays of sun and the moon still visible.
View from a snowy summit over a vast glacier and a sea of clouds above the Écrins massif.
A snow and rock ridge seen from above, with a roped team climbing between the boulders and the Écrins peaks on the horizon.
Two roped climbers on a snowy, rocky ridge, facing the high peaks of the Écrins.
A climber with crampons and ice axe on the crevassed ice of the glacier, beneath a rocky peak.
A stone mountain hut on the edge of the glacier, facing the rocky, snow-covered walls of the Écrins.
A group of hikers on the rocky approach trail to the hut, with a glacier and the Écrins peaks in the background.
A glaciated north face covered in seracs in the Écrins massif, rising above a glacier plateau.
A group wearing helmets and crampons on the ice, listening to the guide during the glacier skills session.
A roped team of five climbers on a glacier, with a pointed peak in the clouds.
A mountain hut dormitory with wooden bunk beds, pillows and folded blankets.
Four friends playing cards at a wooden table in the mountains, facing the tongue of an Écrins glacier.
Seracs and a glacier slope beneath a deep blue sky, on the ascent route.
A stone mountain hut perched on a rocky spur, facing the snow-capped peaks of the Écrins.
Mountaineering

Dôme des Écrins ascent (4,015 m) from the Glacier Blanc

June to September
4 days| 3 nights
Level 4
Eco-score 4/5

What you will experience

Reach the 4,015-metre summit of the Dôme des Écrins and admire the Barre des Écrins from the heights of the massif.
Spend a night at the Écrins mountain hut, perched at 3,170 m, and enjoy an evening in the mountains with Maëlle and Damien, the hut wardens.
Set off at night with a head torch and reach 4,000 metres at daybreak, facing the mighty peaks of the Écrins.
From the Glacier Blanc to your first summit at over 3,500 m, progress step by step until the final ascent to 4,015 m.

Itinerary

  1. DAY1/ 4
    • Accommodation - Mountain hutAccommodation·Mountain hut
    • D+ - 670D+·670m

    Meet at 9 am in Ailefroide, where we’ll pick you up and introduce you to the group and your guide. From there, we start the day with a hike up to the Glacier Blanc hut, where we leave our rucksacks before heading out onto the glacier of the same name.


    We set up the ropes, practise walking in crampons and go over the essential techniques: roping up, ice axe handling and crevasse rescue. The exercises alternate between short technical pitches and guided progression.


    We make the most of our stops to take in the views of the Pelvoux and the north faces of the Ailefroides. In the late afternoon, we head back down to the hut by the same route, where we share dinner and prepare for the rest of the expedition.

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The guides who will lead your adventure

Guide August - IFMGA Mountain Guide

August

IFMGA Mountain Guide
FrenchFrench
EnglishEnglish

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: Throughout your stay, you will be guided by a high-mountain guide who is an expert in this discipline.
Accommodation: You’ll spend three nights in a dormitory, enjoying the warm and friendly atmosphere of the mountain huts.
Meals: All meals are included, from the evening meal on the first day to the picnic on the last day.
Group mountaineering equipment – ropes, climbing gear and belay equipment – is provided by your guide.

Not included

Transport to the meeting point.
Day 1’s picnic.
Anything not listed under ‘What’s included’.
Mountaineering equipment hire: a harness, ice axe, helmet and crampons are not included (these can be hired at the next stage of your booking).

What level to expect?

Level 4
Participants must be at least 18 years old
WHO IS THIS FOR?
You’re a regular hiker. You’ve already completed multi-day treks and have some basic mountaineering experience.

You’re at the right level if:
  • You do endurance sport at least 2–3 times a week
  • You can manage 10 to 12 hours of continuous activity with an average ascent of 1,200 metres
  • You’re comfortable carrying a rucksack weighing 8 to 12 kg
  • You are very comfortable in mountainous terrain (rocks, snow, glaciers)
  • You are proficient in using crampons and an ice axe
  • You are comfortable with exposed and high-altitude sections (crevasses and seracs)
  • You have already completed a mountaineering ascent
Take the level quiz (opens in a new tab)

Getting there

Start · 10h00

L'Argentière-la-Bessée

End · 15h00

L'Argentière-la-Bessée

Transport

By train

By train

Want to avoid traffic jams and travel in peace? The train is your best friend.

You can get to Ailefroide by train and bus:


  • Departure station > Briançon (train)
  • Briançon > Ailefroide (regional bus)


The expedition meets in Ailefroide, which is also where it ends, so you can head home the same way.

By car

By car

Do you prefer the freedom of a road trip? You can drive straight to Ailefroide, where the expedition starts and ends.

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
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
Une première expérience en montagne, très bien organisée, des gens sympas ! À recommander vivement
Une expérience extraordinaire, une organisation sans faille, des moments d’émotion partagés, des souvenirs magiques plein la tête. A renouveler dès que possible.
Très belle première expérience en alpinisme, avec un Guide (Isidore) qui a fait son maximum pour que l’expérience soit la plus plaisante possible.
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

How comfortable are the mountain huts?

Accommodation is in shared dormitories, often with bunk beds and blankets provided. The atmosphere is simple, warm and authentic, true to the spirit of mountain huts.

Are there showers in the mountain huts?

No, there are no showers in the huts, but there are washbasins where you can freshen up. Bring a microfibre towel: it’s simple hut life in the high mountains, and part of the experience.

Where do I pick up my rental gear?

In Ailefroide, at one of our partner rental shops. You can hire your harness, helmet, crampons and ice axe at the next step of your booking, then simply pick them up on site.

What is the maximum group size?

For this expedition, we are limiting group sizes to three people per guide. If you’d like to go with a group of more than three people, please contact us and we’ll see if we can organise it with two guides.

Can I take part if I’ve never been mountaineering before?

With climate change and changing conditions in the mountains, it is now a requirement to have some prior mountaineering experience in order to climb the Dôme des Écrins.

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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Hassle-free from start to finish.

Full refund if departure is not confirmed
Free cancellation up to 30 days before departure
Instalment facility available

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