Alpine Rock
Level 3 : Guided Climbing
Enjoy a fantastic week of classic alpine rock climbing around Chamonix and the Aosta Valley. Build on your rock climbing experience, tackling adventurous granite ridges, spires and longer multi-pitch routes in spectacular alpine settings.
The Alps offers access to some of the finest rock climbing in the world, with lovely limestone walls, granite towers, long alpine ridges and classic multi-pitch routes set amongst spectacular mountain scenery.
Our Alpine Rock Week is all about getting out and enjoying these classic climbs, building on your existing rock climbing experience and discovering the adventure of climbing longer, more involved routes in the alpine environment.
Throughout the week, you'll explore a variety of climbing areas and tackle some fantastic alpine rock routes, with your ISM Guide choosing objectives that suit your experience, ambitions and the conditions. From enjoyable multi-pitch climbs to more adventurous alpine ridges, you'll experience the challenge, satisfaction and excitement of climbing in the bigger mountains.
Along the way, you'll naturally develop your climbing movement, ropework and confidence on longer routes, learning from your ISM Guide's experience and enjoying the opportunity to take your climbing further.
Above all, this is a week about great climbing, shared adventures and enjoying some of the very best rock routes the Alps have to offer.
Course Highlights
A fun multi-pitch alpine rock climbing week
Enjoy some of the best alpine rock routes and summits in the Alps
Expert guiding and instruction from experienced ISM Guides
Price includes breakfasts and evening meals, vehicle transport and accommodation (excludes mechanical uplift*)
Is The Course For Me?
Are you looking to take your rock climbing into the bigger mountains, enjoying longer multi-pitch routes and classic alpine climbs in spectacular mountain settings? If so, our Classic Alpine Rock week could be the perfect next adventure for you.
You don't need to be an experienced lead climber to join us, as this is very much a guided climbing week. If you already enjoy rock climbing, whether indoors or outdoors, and would love to build on your existing skills and experience, this is a fantastic opportunity to take your climbing to the next level. We'll focus on enjoyable classic-grade alpine rock routes, giving you the chance to experience longer, more adventurous climbs with the encouragement and support of your ISM Guide.
Throughout the week, you'll enjoy a variety of classic alpine rock routes, with your ISM Guide choosing climbs that suit your experience, ability and ambitions. You'll build on your existing climbing skills, develop your movement and ropework on longer routes, and gain confidence in the alpine environment, with plenty of encouragement and coaching along the way.
Although this is predominantly a rock climbing week, some routes may involve approaches or descents across snow or short sections of glacier, where crampons and an ice axe may be needed. You don't need extensive alpine mountaineering experience, and your ISM Guide will help you develop the skills required for the terrain encountered.
Above all, your Alpine Rock Week is about enjoying fantastic climbing, sharing memorable mountain days with like-minded climbers and experiencing the adventure of classic alpine rock routes.
Rock Climbing In The High Alps
If you're comfortable following rock climbs around UK Severe/Hard Severe, a whole new world of alpine rock climbing opens up to you. From the fantastic granite ridges and spires of the Mont Blanc Massif to the quieter valleys and impressive rock faces of the Aosta Valley, there's an incredible variety of classic alpine routes to explore.
What makes climbing in the high Alps so rewarding is the opportunity to take your existing rock climbing experience onto longer, more adventurous routes. The climbing itself may be at a familiar grade, but the length of the routes, the exposure and the bigger mountain environment create a completely different experience. It's about enjoying the climbing, finding your rhythm on longer routes and experiencing the satisfaction of completing a classic alpine climb.
We operate with a low 2:1 client-to-ISM Guide ratio, giving us the flexibility to choose routes that suit your climbing ability, experience and ambitions. Whether we're enjoying a shorter multi-pitch climb or tackling a longer alpine ridge, your Guide will help you make the most of each day, offering encouragement, coaching and sharing their knowledge along the way.
Some routes involve mountain approaches, sections of snow or glacier terrain, and occasionally a night in a high alpine hut. These are all part of the experience of climbing in the bigger mountains and add to the adventure of your Alpine Rock Week.
For UK-based climbers looking to develop or refresh their rock climbing skills before heading to the Alps, our UK Rock Climbing courses provide a great opportunity to build confidence and prepare for longer multi-pitch routes.
Peaks and routes climbed this week
Classic Alpine Rock Climbs and Routes
The Mont Blanc massif offers some of the finest alpine rock climbing in Europe, with an incredible variety of granite walls, soaring pillars, beautiful ridges and classic multi-pitch routes. From the spectacular Italian valleys of Val Veny and Val Ferret to the granite climbing above Chamonix, there's something special about climbing in this magnificent mountain environment.
During your Classic Alpine Rock week, we explore a selection of these fantastic climbing areas, choosing routes to suit the group's experience, ability and the prevailing conditions.
Some of the classic climbs and areas we may visit include:
- Velociraptor, Val Veny – Approximately 400m of enjoyable slab climbing, with difficulties up to 5b/c, on the approach to Rifugio Monzino.
- Aiguille Croux (3,250m), Cheney Route – A beautiful 400–450m alpine rock climb, with difficulties up to 5b and spectacular views towards the Frêney and Brouillard pillars.
- La Beresina, Val Ferret – An impressive granite pillar offering approximately 450–500m of climbing, with difficulties up to 5c, accessed from Rifugio Dalmazzi.
- Rifugio Dalmazzi, Val Ferret – A fantastic selection of granite rock climbs, many starting almost directly from the hut.
- Aiguilles Rouges, Chamonix – A wonderful choice of classic multi-pitch routes with spectacular views across to the Mont Blanc massif.
- Chamonix Valley Crags – Excellent rock climbing venues offering a variety of routes and grades, ideal for making the most of the available time and conditions.
Whether we're climbing a long granite ridge, enjoying the movement on beautiful slabs or tackling a classic alpine pillar, the emphasis is always on great climbing, memorable mountain days and enjoying the adventure together.
Sample Programme
Our Classic Alpine Rock week combines fantastic guided climbing, classic multi-pitch routes and the adventure of exploring some of the finest rock climbing areas of the Mont Blanc massif. Each day offers something different, from beautiful granite slabs and impressive alpine ridges to longer, more involved routes, with opportunities to build on your existing climbing experience throughout the week.
Sunday Evening – Welcome & Course Briefing
We meet at 6.45pm at Hotel PlanB in Le Fayet, Saint-Gervais, where you'll meet your fellow climbers and ISM Guide. We'll discuss the week ahead, check equipment, answer questions and enjoy dinner together.
Monday – Val Veny & Rifugio Monzino
We travel to Italy and head into beautiful Val Veny, beneath the impressive south side of Mont Blanc.
On the approach to Rifugio Monzino, we'll enjoy some fantastic multi-pitch rock climbing. One possible route is Velociraptor, offering around 400m of enjoyable slab climbing, with difficulties up to 5b/c.
From the top of the climb, it's approximately another 30 minutes to the hut, where we'll spend our first evening in the mountains.
Tuesday – Aiguille Croux (3,250m)
An early start takes us onto the classic Cheney Route on Aiguille Croux, a beautiful alpine rock climb on solid granite.
With approximately 400–450m of climbing and difficulties up to 5b, this is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy a longer alpine route, with superb views towards the famous Frêney and Brouillard pillars of Mont Blanc.
After reaching the summit, we'll abseil back towards the hut before descending to the valley for a well-earned shower and a relaxing evening.
Wednesday – Val Ferret & Rifugio Dalmazzi
Today we enjoy a more relaxed start before travelling into Val Ferret and making the approximately two-and-a-half-hour walk up to Rifugio Dalmazzi.
After lunch at the hut, we'll head out for an afternoon's climbing on one of the many excellent granite routes that begin almost directly from the hut terrace.
We return to the hut for dinner and another evening surrounded by the spectacular mountains of the Italian Alps.
Thursday – La Beresina, Classic Granite Pillar
An alpine start takes us towards La Beresina, an impressive granite pillar approximately an hour from Rifugio Dalmazzi.
Today's climb offers around 450–500m of excellent granite climbing, with difficulties up to 5c. It's a fantastic opportunity to enjoy a longer, more sustained alpine rock route, building on your experience and confidence throughout the week.
The descent involves approximately 11 abseils, making this a full and rewarding mountain day. We return to the hut for a well-earned dinner.
Friday – Chamonix Valley Rock Climbing
After breakfast, we'll descend from Rifugio Dalmazzi and return to the Chamonix Valley for our final day's climbing.
Depending on the time available and the weather, we'll enjoy some fantastic rock climbing at one of the valley's excellent crags or, if conditions allow, head higher into the Aiguilles Rouges for a final alpine rock route overlooking the Mont Blanc massif.
It's a great way to round off the week, enjoying some more climbing together before returning to Hotel PlanB in Le Fayet during the late afternoon.
Saturday Morning – Departure
Breakfast at the hotel is included before departure.
A Flexible Mountain Programme
This is a sample programme, and the routes, climbing areas and order of activities may change depending on weather, mountain conditions and the experience of the group.
Your ISM Guide will choose suitable objectives to provide the best possible balance of adventurous climbing, safety and enjoyment throughout the week.
Course Dates & Booking
Meet the Team
Christian Türk
IFMGA Swedish Mountain Guide
Christian was born in Sweden and had his first skiing experience in Austria as a youngster.
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Carlo Cosi
IFMGA Italian Mountain Guide
Carlo Cosi was born in Padua, northern Italy, and has been a Guide since he was 23. He is a National Climbing Instructor and has a degree in Physical Education.
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Adrian Nelhams
ISM Director and IFMGA British Mountain Guide
As a Director of ISM, Adrian splits his time between guiding, the ISM office, family and climbing for himself. During his 30+ year commitment to the team, Adrian has played a key role in the development of ISM.
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Terry Ralphs
IFMGA British Mountain Guide
Terry learnt to climb on the gritstone edges of the Peak District then after graduating from Leeds University he decided to make his living in the outdoors, moving to North Wales to work at Plas y Brenin…
Read MoreVital Information
Please check the vital information below to help when booking a course
- Equipment
- Prices
- Getting to Le Fayet Saint Gervais, Mt Blanc
- Insurance Information
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