What you will experience

Enjoy your first mountaineering experience on the rocky southern face of Mont Blanc – the roof of Europe.

Put on your crampons and harness to cross the Ruitor Glacier, one of the largest in the Tarentaise.

Spend a night in an unstaffed mountain hut at 3,357 metres, facing Mont Blanc and with the Matterhorn behind you — a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Climb the Testa del Rutor (3,486 m) to round off your expedition in style.

Itinerary

1
DAY1/ 3
- Accommodation·Guarded Mountain hut
  Where we'll be spending the night
- D+·1000m
  Vertical ascent
- Distance·6km
  KM covered
We'll meet at La Joux (Val d'Aoste) at 10am to meet the guide and receive our technical equipment (except for the mountaineering boots, which you'll need to take with you). We'll then climb up a wide valley to the small Italian Mountain hut on the shores of Lac d'En Bas, where we'll spend our first night.

From the Mountain hut you can see the Ruitor glacier and the path that leads to the Testa del Rutor (3486m), our goal for the last day.

As we make our way up to the Mountain hut, we can enjoy panoramic views of the La Thuile valley and Mont Blanc, and on a clear day we can also see the Grandes Jorasses and the Grand Combin.

We spend the night at the Mountain hut in a dormitory and have a meal together, before debriefing and preparing for the next day.

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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 the far north of Norway for over 8 years. Skiing in front of the sea, under the northern lights, or simply enjoying nature, that's what makes me tick. Guiding is above all about sharing my passion and helping you discover places that are close to my heart, in a safe environment. Experiencing exceptional moments in the great outdoors is my raison d'être, and that's what I promise you when I accompany you.

⚠️ For this expedition, August may be replaced by another equally experienced guide, depending on availability. All our guides speak English, and many of them also speak French, to ensure you have an equally rewarding experience.

Find out more about August

What's included in the price

Included

Guiding: You will be guided by a UIAGM guide for 3 days.

Accommodation: You will sleep one night in a guarded Mountain hut and one night in an unguarded hut [shared rooms].

Meals: All meals are included, from the evening meal on day 1 to the picnic on day 3.

Not included

Transport to and from the meeting point.

Picnic lunch on Day 1.

Mountaineering equipment: harness, helmet, ice axe and crampons (available to hire at the next stage of your booking).

To ensure optimum comfort, mountaineering boots are not supplied. We strongly recommend that you try them on before setting off.

Everything that is not included in "what is included".

What level should you expect

Level 3

You should be at least 18 years old to participate

WHO IS THIS FOR?

You already have some initial experience in mountain hiking and want to go further, progressing into mountaineering with the guidance of a mountain guide.

You're at the right level if:

You do endurance sport at least 2–3 times a week
You can manage 7 to 9 hours of continuous exertion with 800 to 1,200 metres of ascent
You're comfortable carrying a rucksack weighing 5 to 8 kg
You're already comfortable in mountainous terrain (rocks, snow, glaciers)
You're comfortable with exposed sections
You can cope with high altitudes (up to 4,000 metres)

Getting there

Start · 10h00

La Joux, Aosta Valley

End · 16h00

La Joux, Aosta Valley

Transport

By train

Do you want to avoid traffic jams and travel in peace? The train is your ally. You can easily reach the Aosta Valley from your departure town:

Departure station > Aosta
Aosta > Pré-Saint-Didier (bus, ~30 min)
Pré-Saint-Didier > La Thuile (bus, local line)

From La Thuile, you'll need to get to La Joux, the starting point for the expedition. Your guide will be able to help you organise a car pool or recommend a taxi.

By car

Prefer the freedom of a road trip?

From France, you can easily reach La Thuile via the Mont Blanc tunnel or the Aosta Valley. A car park is available at La Joux, the expedition's starting point, where you can leave your car.

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 128 reviews in this category

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 !

Caroline A.

Expérience extraordinaire et inoubliable pour un premier 4000 avec un guide exceptionnel Merci !

Frequently asked questions

Who is this holiday for?

This course is aimed at people who want to discover mountaineering and glacier climbing in an educational setting. It's ideal if you're already comfortable hiking in the mountains and want to take your mountaineering skills to the next level.

Is it possible to hire mountaineering boots?

No, we do not offer mountaineering boots for hire, as we strongly recommend that you try them out before your expedition.

How heavy will my bag be?

You carry your personal rucksack with some of your equipment and food, particularly for the night in the bivacco. The weight is optimised and shared with the guide to keep it reasonable. This is part of the experience of self-sufficiency in the mountains. You should therefore expect to carry a bag weighing between 6 and 9kg maximum.

How comfortable is the accommodation?

The first night is spent in a guarded mountain hut, accessible on foot. The comfort is simple but warm: shared dormitories, hot meals and a friendly atmosphere among climbers. It's a genuine Italian refuge, with a direct view of the Ruitor glacier and the surrounding peaks. The second night is spent in an unguarded bivacco at an altitude of over 3,300m. Comfort here is much more minimalist: a small high-mountain cabin with a few bunks, no service, no running water or electricity. It's a unique, more committed experience, where the emphasis is on immersion, spectacular views and the feeling of being alone in the high mountains, facing Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn.

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 brea 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.

25% 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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Step onto your first glacier and bivouac facing Mont Blanc

What you will experience

Itinerary