Accommodation

Hotel

Our hotel base in Leysin is Le Grand Chalet, a comfortable Swiss-style hotel run by the Bonelli family. Both Jacky and his wife Lysianne speak good English. As the highest hotel in Leysin the Grand Chalet enjoys exceptional views - a mountain panorama embracing the highest peaks of the Prealpes, the Mont Blanc Massif and the Dents du Midi.

Rooms are allocated on a room-share basis with other course members. Occasionally in peak season we exceed our room allocation (especially for single room requests) at the Grand Chalet and avail ourselves of nearby accommodation of a similar standard (normally Chalet Ermina), still taking meals and other facilities as normal at the Grand Chalet.

Unless a special arrangement has been made, all courses begin with a welcome drink & informal chat with guides/other course members at 6.45pm in the lounge bar of the Grand Chalet hotel on the course starting date. This is normally followed by a more specific course briefing at 7.00pm, then dinner at 7.30pm. Sometimes circumstances dictate that the course briefing is done the following morning at 8am after breakfast.
If travel arrangements make it impossible for you to attend the evening briefing don't worry - essential information can be relayed to you later.

A few courses (usually in winter) do not convene in Leysin, and for these information on accommodation and travel is sent out well beforehand.

If you plan to spend time in Leysin either side of your course (or if a friend/spouse is accompanying you) please book the extra accommodation directly with the hotel (a credit card number secures the booking).
To contact the Grand Chalet directly:
Tel: +41 24493 0101, or Email: info@hotel-le-grand-chalet.ch , Web: www.grand-chalet.ch/
To contact Chalet Ermina: Tel: +41 24494 1261, or web: http://www.ermina.ch

Information on other hotels in Leysin may be obtained from the tourist office.....
(Tel: +41 24494 2244, Email: info@leysin.ch).

People seeking budget/self catering accommodation in Leysin before or after a course should try the Hiking Sheep Guest House which is situated next to the 'Grand Hotel' railway station. It received the "Lets Go Best Hostel" award for 1998. To contact:

Tel/Fax: +41 24494 3535 Web: www.hikingsheep.com

Mountain Huts

In the high mountains we lodge in alpine huts which are generally owned and run by the Swiss or French Alpine Clubs.

The hut network in the Alps is unique - sited in all the key mountaineering locations they offer comfortable communal accommodation, having a resident guardian and staff throughout the spring ski-touring and summer climbing seasons. Where possible we take half-board at the huts (wholesome evening meal and continental breakfast) so that our clients have to carry lunch food only, saving valuable energy for the mountain activities!
On more advanced courses, where we may be in remoter areas or tackling multi-day climbs, we sometimes camp or use bivouac huts. In this case ISM provides all necessary equipment.