A WARM WELCOME to the International School of Mountaineering, an organisation dedicated to sharing the skills, enjoyment and adventure of mountaineering in all its aspects.

Our expertise has been developing through 40 years of operation and the combined experience of our guiding team is probably unrivalled anywhere in the world. This is the key to our continuing success in striving to provide the best mountaineering courses, Ski-Tours and High Alpine Treks while maintaining an outstanding safety record.

We look forward to climbing with you!

ISM Activities through the Year

The ISM year begins with Ice Climbing Courses in the Alps, Norway and Canada, taking advantage of the very reliable ice climbing conditions to be found in these world-renowned icefall climbing venues. By late February, temperatures in the Alps are beginning to rise a little and the days get longer – this is when our Ski Touring courses and Off-Piste Ski weeks begin in earnest. Our earlier alpine ski touring courses focus on building skills, while during the later weeks we ski the finest alpine Haute Routes, including the famous high level route from Chamonix to Zermatt.

Throughout the spring in the UK we run a personalised and flexible programme of Rock Climbing courses and Alpine Training days, both to introduce novices to the sports of rock climbing and mountaineering and to prepare people for any alpine courses they might be aiming to do in the summer. For experienced climbers we offer guided climbing on the best UK rock climbs as well as rock climbing holidays in Sardinia (perhaps the best of the ‘Sun Rock’ venues in the Mediterranean).

The first of our regular Expeditions – Andes Summits – sets out around the end of May to climb Alpamayo and other peaks in the fabulous Cordillera Blanca in the Peruvian Andes, then once into June the spring snows in the Alps have compacted enough to allow us to launch into our main Summer programme of Alpine Mountaineering Courses.

We offer the widest range of summer alpine courses available, with something for all mountain-lovers whether you want to learn the skills of alpine climbing, climb famous peaks like Mont Blanc, the Eiger and the Matterhorn, climb the Alpine 4000m Peaks or trek hut-to-hut over the glaciers and high passes on one of our summer High Alpine Treks. Our mountaineering courses and 'Haute Route' Treks range over the whole of the Western Alps, from the Bernese Oberland in the north to the Gran Paradiso and Mont Blanc Massif further south. We also run customised programmes in such far-flung areas as the Dolomites, the Ecrins, the Vanoise and Bregaglia.

Our summer season of Alpine mountaineering courses extends well into September, while at the start of this month our longest-running mountaineering expedition - Virgin Peaks of the Tien Shan - sets off to one of the most remote mountain regions in the world, the Tien Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan. ISM has been at the forefront of exploring the Tien Shan mountains (with ten expeditions over as many years) and one of the most rewarding times of our guiding year is to share with our clients the great adventure of tackling a previously untouched peak.

October is the month when the ISM guiding team gets together to review our year’s programme in the light of your feedback, and to add any newly-inspired peaks and itineraries to our schedule. Then, while the Alps take a rest from the tread of mountaineers and gradually build up their cover of winter snow, many of our mountain guides are off on their own climbing projects mixed with mountain guiding assignments in Europe and further afield. By the close of the year we’re razor-keen to get back on the ice, as our ice climbing courses commence again on the wonderful icefalls of the Alps, Norway and Canada.

Wishing you a great year in the mountains,


Pat Littlejohn - Director, International School of Mountaineering Limited