Whether undertaking a ski touring course or summer alpine guided course, ISM courses allow you to progress in a logical, thorough way through our programme to a level at which you can get full benefit from our most advanced courses, such as the Technical AlpinISM and Chamonix to Zermatt Haute Route.
ISM 'Instruction' courses are primarily dedicated to teaching skills (always within the context of enjoying fine climbing and mountaineering) and may involve lead climbing, while on our 'Guiding' courses the guide will normally be leading the rope.
All of our courses involve a degree of 'Coaching', which we define as constantly improving and refining your existing climbing skills.
Summer Mountaineering
ISM offers an extensive range of both instructional and guided climbing courses as well as bespoke custom and private guiding packages.
- Instructional weeks
- Guided climbing weeks
- Custom weeks for groups
- Private guiding
- Expert guiding and instruction from experienced ISM Guides
- A prestigious English speaking climbing and mountaineering school based in Leysin Switzerland since 1965
ISM offers an extensive range of both instructional and guided climbing courses as well as bespoke custom and private guiding packages.
View all ISM Summer Mountaineering courses.
Ski Touring and Off-Piste
ISM's alpine ski touring courses are distinguished by the depth of experience of the Guides (a crucial factor in determining safe routes) and their detailed local knowledge - which ensures that you get the best ski touring available in the prevailing conditions. Our ski tours (or Haute Routes) take you to the wildest and most beautiful parts of the Alps, well away from overcrowded ski resorts and beaten trails such as the Chamonix-Zermatt Haute Route in peak season.
Ice & Winter Climbing
ISM prides itself in running high quality, adventurous climbing courses, structured around expert guiding and instruction, in a friendly and fun atmosphere.
Ice climbing weeks are no exception to this! Courses are run by professionals who are expert ice climbers having a wealth of experience from around the world.
View all ISM Ice & Winter Climbing courses.
Expeditions
ISM Guides specialise in ‘alpine-style’ expeditions to the Greater Ranges, running trips each year to the Andes and the Tien Shan as well as other ventures offered on a less regular basis. Participants must have mountaineering experience (either gained at ISM or elsewhere) and be conversant with the range of skills and techniques demanded by Alpine climbing (i.e. those taught within our Summits & Skills and Technical Alpinism instructional course programme).
View all ISM Expedition courses.
Sun Rock
After many requests from our clients for rock climbing trips in the months before and after the alpine season, we have decided to offer Sardinia as perhaps the finest of all the ‘Sun Rock’ destinations around the Mediterranean. Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean and lies about 120 miles west of the Italian coast.
View all ISM Sun Rock Sport Climbing courses.
UK Rock Climbing
ISM offers a very personalised and flexible programme of climbing and mountaineering courses based in the famous British climbing areas of North Walesand the Lake District (also other areas by arrangement).
Rather than running courses on set dates, we arrange activities for individuals and groups at mutually convenient times.
View all ISM UK Rock Climbing courses.
