Mont Blanc

As a general rule 1-2 litres is the right amount. Carrying more gives additional weight to your pack. We would advise against using Camelbak style systems with drinking straws as they can leak, the tubes freeze, and they often let you down when you need them most. We find that Nalgene-style plastic bottles are the best.

Everyone is different, however it is essential to eat well in the mountains. Sandwiches are hard to beat, supplemented by fruit and chocolate bars. Don’t carry too much food, and remember that some foods will freeze solid unless kept in jacket pockets.

We have the opportunity to get our packed lunches from a local bakery – these aren’t included, as everyone tends to want something different, and there is a lot of variety!

Packed lunches are available from the refuges, request it the night before and budget €10-15.

Mountain huts are mostly owned by the Alpine Clubs. They are there to provide accommodation and food for mountaineers. They often cater for large numbers (>100), and hence can be quite busy. Meals are usually simple but plentiful, and anyone with special dietary requirements must let us know in advance so we can inform the hut guardian. Please note that while huts will usually try and accommodate vegetarians etc they do sometimes struggle with more specialised requirements such as gluten free. Showers and running water are not usually available. Meals, drinks, and snacks can be purchased for cash. As an indicative cost, a 1.5 litre bottle of mineral water typically costs 6-9 Euros and a bar of chocolate 2 Euros. The rooms are usually dormitory style, with large alpine bunks (up to 15 people in a row).

Take some wet wipes to give yourself a clean in the evening. A toothbrush, some wet wipes, and a small tube of toothpaste (shared between several people) is plenty. Some alcohol hand gel is also handy.

All huts have their advantages and disadvantages. The approach route for the Tete Rousse (2-3 hrs) and Gouter Hut is the same, with the Gouter being 400m higher (an extra 2hrs climbing) on the same route. While the Gouter is higher (and thus a shorter summits day) it is not quite as comfortable as the Tete Rousse. The Cosmiques Refuge is comfortable, and has a very short approach (<30mins), however the route from there to the summit is longer and more technical than the Gouter Route. Choice of hut depends on group fitness, technical ability, conditions on the mountain and availability of spaces. Approx timings for routes are as follows:

• Cosmique to Summit 6-9 hrs
• Tete Rousse to Summit 5-8 hrs
• Gouter to Summit 3-5 hrs

Once descent times are added (approx 4-5 hrs) it becomes a long summit day! If climbing from the Cosmique Hut you will traverse Mont Blanc du Tacul and Mont Maudit before reaching the summit. If climbing from the Tete Rousse you will initially cross the “Grand Couloir” before scrambling up a rocky buttress to the Gouter Hut. This couloir is not difficult to cross, but can be prone to rock fall in warm temperatures. From the Gouter Hut the route is relatively straightforward to the summit although the summit ridge is exposed and can be icy.

Please note that there are now new regulations for Mont Blanc and we cannot make hut bookings until we have your full name and your deposit has been received. We will also ask for a copy of your photographic ID, as the huts require this for your booking.

In the event that the huts are unavailable, we will suggest alternative dates or alternatively refund your deposit in full.

Yes. Acclimatisation is absolutely vital for Mont Blanc. Many people spend insufficient time at higher altitudes before attempting the summit, and often fail as a result. Our tried and tested itinerary allows good time to acclimatise, and gives you the best chance at summit success.

There are different types of altitude sickness. Although our acclimatisation regime ensures that everybody enjoys the best possible chance of getting high on the mountain, altitude related problems can happen. The most common of this is high altitude sickness, (AMS – acute mountain sickness).

Symptoms for this generally include headaches, nausea and vomiting, which can sound quite dramatic but generally this is just the process your body naturally goes through to adjust to the higher altitudes and the reduced partial pressure of the atmosphere. For some people the acclimatisation process is a little longer and harder than others.

For our guides this is all part and parcel of trekking at relatively high altitude and although we assess each client’s personal situation carefully we also further consider the compounding affects of dehydration brought on by excessive vomiting and lack of appetite.

AMS might sound frightening but our guides are fully trained (and experienced) in helping relieve your symptoms and providing advice on how to best proceed.

Please note that we don’t recommend using Diamox as a prophylactic and if you have been prescribed it by your GP, please raise this with your expedition leader.

Although you may wish come armed with a course of Diamox or other high-altitude drug on this expedition, we do not recommend that take you these as a prophylactic during the trek or climb. We view Diamox as a treatment drug rather than a preventative medicine. Most adventure medics give similar advice, however we do appreciate this can be confusing, as many GPs (who aren’t necessarily mountaineers) do suggest taking it as a prophylactic.

We pride ourselves on designing all our itineraries with acclimatisation very much front and centre and this expedition itinerary has been carefully designed to allow for your body to adjust to the altitude gradually, safely and comfortably. However, if you find that you are still having problems adjusting to the altitude (see our FAQ on Altitude Sickness) then your expedition leader or expedition medic will recommend the correct course of action regarding taking Diamox.

It is far preferable to take Diamox if and when needed during the course of the expedition. If you are already taking it and then start having altitude related problems you are left with few options but to descend to a more comfortable altitude which sadly often means that the summit is not attainable.

Furthermore, Diamox is a diuretic, meaning you will have to drink a lot of fluid to prevent dehydration. Of course, the upshot of this is you’ll have to pee more which means you’ll probably be having to get up more in the night and take cover behind rocks during the day. Another quite common side-effect is that it can cause your extremities to “buzz and tingle” including your fingers, toes and lips which can feel quite unsettling.  Other side-effects can include dizziness and light headedness with loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Although all these side-effects are manageable when you have symptoms of altitude sickness, we personally believe it is counter-intuitive to take it unless necessary.

Of course, it is totally up to you, this is just our recommendation and we’re not doctors. If you do decide to take Diamox on the advice of your doctor then please do let your leader know in situ so they are aware of this. We also suggest you take the drug for a couple of days a few weeks before travelling so you can experience the symptoms before taking them during the trek.

Any brand will be fine. The most important thing is the SPF – we would recommend at least SPF 30. Creams with UVA and UVB protection are best, and don’t forget lip salve!

Please refer to the kit list for this climb.

Anyone wishing to hire equipment in Chamonix rather than buy it can do so. We use a local shop for boot hire (allow €50 for the week), and other items are available as follows, payable in cash in situ:

• Ice Axe €22
• Harness €16
• Helmet €16
• Crampons €33
• Duvet Jacket €28
• Down mitts €11
• Full Package: Duvet Jacket, Mitts, Axe, Harness, Crampons, Helmet – €99

The costs above are current at the time of writing, but they may change – please check with us for the current info!

The length of days vary when Alpine climbing. Training days will usually start between 06:00 and 08:00, and last for 6-8 hours. Mont Blanc summit day will usually start very early (around 03:00), and can easily last 12 hours.

No previous experience is required, and if you have not used crampons / ice axe before then we will teach / refresh these skills in situ, and you will have the opportunity to practice on the acclimatisation peaks before the main summit.

However, many people struggle with the physical demands of a Mont Blanc ascent. It is a challenging climb, and you do need to be in good physical condition. If you have not undertaken a previous mountaineering trip and are unsure, chat to us about training plans or an expedition such as Monte Rosa or Gran Paradiso – both are excellent introductory climbs.

We often get asked how fit one should be to climb Mont Blanc. You should be capable of a 12 hour day in the high mountains. Of course, this can be difficult to judge at sea-level, but as a rough guide you should be capable of running a half marathon in 2hrs10. As an example, if you have previously climbed Kilimanjaro, you should have found it easy, not challenging. Though of course every body is different, and you will know your own limitations, as a guideline we would suggest a ‘healthy’ BMI (20-25), as often people carrying excess body weight can struggle getting to the summit.

We would suggest that if you are comfortable with month 4, going into month 5 of our training plan (found at the back of the brochure here), this should suffice. Several excellent training plans can also be found online to prepare you for Mont Blanc. We also recommend the thorough advice offered by UpHill Athlete too.

360 always use the very best mountain guides possible. But then every company says that, don’t they? To ensure we genuinely do use the best guides, we pay our guides more than any other guiding company operating on Mont Blanc. That way we always have the pick of the very best.

All guides operating in the European Alps must be internationally certified. Training and assessment takes a minimum of three years and anyone caught operating without a license will be prosecuted.

Occasionally we employ trainee guides (known as Aspirants). They are in the final stages of qualifying as guides and are allowed to operate under the tutorage of a fully qualified Guide.

If you summit early you may have a spare day in Chamonix. If so, there are numerous options for rock climbing, via ferrata, or alpine climbing for the day. The group would not all have to do the same activity as we would still have 1 guide per every 2 team members. There are also plenty of less physically demanding options in or near the Chamonix Valley.

If conditions are really bad we will find an alternative plan. This would usually involve climbing in either Italy or Switzerland. If possible we would still try and climb a major peak >4,000m high.

Increasing temperatures have caused higher levels of rockfall in the Grand Couloir of Mont Blanc. To minimise the risk of this we only guide Mont Blanc in June and September when temperatures are lower. We also use a “two refuge” strategy for the summit attempt, which allows us to stay in one refuge on the way up and another on the way down, thus allowing us to cross the Grand Couloir in the morning when temperatures are lower.

Please contact the 360 office for full advice on transfers, as there are many options available. However, the main company we use is Mountain Dropoffs as they are able to drop you directly to your hotel in Chamonix on arrival. On booking we will send you a discount code for use with them.

With Mountain Dropoffs, you have the option of a flexi fare, currently €50 (€5 with discount) each way, which gives you options to cancel and change times and dates of your transfer. They also have a super-save fare, currently €40 (€35 with discount), but this doesn’t allow changes.

You must carry individual travel insurance to take part in the expedition. We cannot take you on the mountain without proof of insurance.

Our team are insured through True Traveller, and we are part of their affiliate programme. Other recommendations can be found on our links page.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the appropriate insurance for your intended trip, to include (at a minimum) medical evacuation and coverage up to the maximum altitude of this trip.

Your insurance details are requested on the booking form; however this can be arranged at a later date if you wish, though we would always suggest having at least insurance to cover you for cancellation in place at the time of booking. 360 Expeditions will be requesting your insurance details 8 weeks before your departure if we have not received them prior to this.

With advance notice, we can often roll your expedition to a new set of dates, though please do note that there could be a 360 admin fee of up to £150. If your huts have been reserved there will be an additional fee of £15, as we have to put a deposit down for the huts on booking and these unfortunately are non-refundable.

We always do our best to be as flexible as possible, and will be on hand to help if this situation arises. As ever, we would recommend that you get travel insurance at the time of booking to cover you for these eventualities.

We would suggest you avoid carrying bulky SLR style cameras, they can be heavy on the mountain, and slow to use. Compact cameras that fit into a pocket are best. Remember, cameras in rucksacks never take photographs! Digital cameras must be kept warm in a pocket or they will freeze and cease to function.

Some of the mountain huts have chsrging facilities, but there’s no guarantee, we would recommend a power bank – though remember the weight, as you will have to carry it. We use PowerTraveller for our power packs and solar charges and would highly recommend them!