From Crag to Alpine - Chamonix Rock Week
Take the rock climbing you love into the spectacular mountains of Chamonix! Over five days, progress from valley crags to adventurous multi-pitch Alpine rock routes, developing skills, confidence and mountain knowledge. With expert ISM guiding and personal coaching, discover a new world of climbing!
Discover a Whole New World of Rock Climbing
The Chamonix Valley is one of the world's great destinations for Alpine rock climbing, with beautiful granite towers, spectacular rocky ridges and magnificent mountain routes waiting to be explored.
Imagine taking the rock climbing you already love and discovering a whole new world of adventure in the Alps!
From Crag to Alpine is our five-day instructional rock climbing course, designed to open the door to longer multi-pitch routes and adventurous Alpine rock climbing.
Throughout the week, we'll progress from valley crags and enjoyable multi-pitch climbs towards longer Alpine rock routes, learning new skills and putting them into practice through real climbing adventures.
But Alpine rock climbing is about more than climbing longer routes. It's about learning to plan, approach and manage a complete mountain day.
You'll develop your ropework, belay organisation, route finding, abseiling and efficient movement, while learning about mountain conditions, route choice and safe descents.
Working closely with your experienced ISM Mountain Guide, you'll enjoy personal coaching, encouragement and plenty of fantastic climbing as your skills and confidence grow.
Whether this is the beginning of your Alpine rock climbing journey or the inspiration for many more adventures, we hope you'll leave with wonderful memories, valuable new skills and a whole new world of climbing possibilities ahead.
Come and discover the Alps with us!
Is this course for me?
Do you love rock climbing and dream of taking your adventures into the bigger mountains?
Perhaps you regularly climb on the crags of the Lake District, North Wales, the Peak District or Scotland. You enjoy sport or traditional rock climbing, but have never quite known how to take that experience into the Alps.
Or maybe you've looked up at the magnificent granite towers and rocky ridges above Chamonix and thought, “I'd love to climb something like that!”
If you're keen to explore beyond the crag and discover the excitement of Alpine rock climbing, this course could be exactly what you're looking for.
You don't need previous Alpine mountaineering experience or a background in snow and ice climbing. This course is designed for climbers with a good foundation of outdoor single-pitch rock climbing who are ready to explore longer routes and new mountain environments.
Ideally, you'll already be comfortable climbing and belaying outdoors, with experience of sport or traditional rock climbing. You don't need to be an accomplished multi-pitch climber — that's part of what we're here to help you discover.
A reasonable level of fitness, enthusiasm to learn and a willingness to embrace new challenges will help you make the most of the week.
Perhaps this will be your first Alpine rock climbing experience, or maybe you've already enjoyed a few multi-pitch routes and would welcome the opportunity to develop your confidence further.
You don't need to arrive as an Alpine climber. Just bring your existing rock climbing experience, a sense of adventure and the enthusiasm to discover what's possible.
We'll bring the experience, encouragement and support to help you take that next step.
Multi-Pitch & Alpine Rock Climbing
Taking your rock climbing from the crag into the Alps opens up a whole new world of adventure.
Longer routes, spectacular rock faces, exposed ridges and the excitement of climbing high above the valley all bring wonderful new experiences. But they also introduce new skills, challenges and decisions that make Alpine rock climbing different from a day at your local crag.
From Crag to Alpine is designed to help you make that transition, combining practical instruction with the enjoyment of real climbing adventures.
Throughout the five days, we'll progressively build on your existing rock climbing experience, beginning with suitable valley crags and multi-pitch routes before exploring longer, more adventurous Alpine rock climbs as your skills and confidence develop.
You'll discover how to organise efficient belays, manage ropes and changeovers, develop your route finding and abseiling skills, and become more confident moving through varied and exposed rock terrain.
But there's much more to Alpine rock climbing than the climbing itself.
Learning to plan, approach and manage a complete mountain day is just as important as the skills you use on the rock.
We'll explore route choice, weather and mountain conditions, approaches and descents, efficient movement and the decisions that help us enjoy longer climbing days safely and confidently.
As the week progresses, you'll have plenty of opportunities to practise these skills on real routes, learning from your ISM Mountain Guide while enjoying some of the wonderful climbing opportunities around Chamonix.
And as Alpine conditions continue to change, we'll also explore how choosing suitable rock routes, mountain areas and climbing objectives can open up exciting opportunities while developing your understanding of the mountain environment.
Our aim isn't simply to teach you a collection of climbing techniques. It's to help you understand how those skills come together, giving you the confidence, knowledge and experience to begin exploring the bigger mountains.
Perhaps you'll go on to join our Alpine Rock Week, building on these foundations through longer and more adventurous climbing. Or perhaps you'll take your new skills into your own climbing adventures.
Either way, we hope you'll leave with fantastic memories, valuable new skills and the excitement of discovering a whole new world of rock climbing.
Course Highlights
Discover Alpine Rock Climbing - Take your climbing beyond the crag and explore spectacular granite faces, rocky ridges and multi-pitch routes in the Mont Blanc Massif.
Learn New Skills Through Adventure - Develop your ropework, belay techniques, route finding and abseiling skills while enjoying exciting days climbing in the Alps.
Expert ISM Mountain Guides - Learn alongside our experienced ISM Mountain Guides, with professional instruction, personal coaching and encouragement throughout your Alpine adventure.
Build Confidence for Bigger Adventures - Discover how to plan and manage longer mountain routes, developing the skills, knowledge and confidence to open up a whole new world of climbing possibilities.
Course Objectives
Our aim is to help you take the skills you already have as a rock climber and develop the confidence, knowledge and practical experience to enjoy longer, more adventurous Alpine rock routes.
Throughout the week, working closely with your ISM Mountain Guide, you'll develop skills in:
- Efficient and confident movement on Alpine rock
- Multi-pitch climbing techniques and systems
- Building secure rock anchors and organising belays
- Rope management and efficient lead changeovers
- Short pitching and an introduction to moving together
- Understanding the principles of simul-climbing
- Route finding on longer climbs and complex mountain terrain
- Abseiling, retreat techniques and managing descents
- Assessing hazards and making sound decisions in the mountains
- Planning and preparing for a complete Alpine climbing day
- Working safely and efficiently as part of a climbing team
The emphasis is on becoming a confident and competent second on Alpine rock routes, developing your understanding of the mountain environment and building a strong foundation of skills that, with further experience and practice, could eventually lead towards independently leading easier Alpine rock climbs.
Above all, we want you to enjoy the learning process, discover new possibilities and experience the excitement of climbing in the bigger mountains.
Sample Itinerary
Our five-day From Crag to Alpine course combines practical instruction, personal coaching and exciting rock climbing adventures around Chamonix. Each day builds on the experience gained, helping you develop the skills and confidence to explore longer and more adventurous routes in the mountains.
Throughout the week, we'll stay in comfortable valley-based accommodation in Le Fayet, travelling to the most suitable climbing areas each day.
Saturday Evening – Welcome to ISM
Your course begins with a 7pm briefing at Hotel PlanB in Le Fayet, near Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc in Haute-Savoie, France.
This is an opportunity to meet your ISM Mountain Guide and fellow course participants, get to know each other and hear about the exciting climbing adventures ahead. Your Guide will talk through the programme, discuss your previous climbing experience and ambitions, check equipment and answer any questions you may have.
We'll then enjoy dinner together before our first night's accommodation in Le Fayet.
Overnight: Valley-based accommodation, Le Fayet.
Sunday – Rock Climbing and Ropework
Our first climbing day takes us to one of the excellent rock climbing areas around Chamonix, where we'll build on your existing experience and introduce the skills needed for longer multi-pitch and Alpine rock routes.
We'll look at efficient movement, ropework, building secure anchors, belay organisation, communication and abseiling, putting everything into practice through enjoyable climbing.
It's a great opportunity to get to know each other on the rock, develop confidence and prepare for the adventures ahead.
Overnight: Valley-based accommodation, Le Fayet.
Monday – Discovering Multi-Pitch Rock Climbing
Today we'll explore some of the wonderful multi-pitch rock climbing around the Chamonix Valley, perhaps visiting areas such as Vallorcine, Servoz or Barberine.
Building on Sunday's skills, we'll focus on efficient belay changeovers, rope management, route finding and safe descents as we enjoy longer climbs together.
You'll begin to discover how these individual skills come together, learning to move confidently and efficiently as part of a climbing team while enjoying some fantastic rock climbing.
Overnight: Valley-based accommodation, Le Fayet.
Tuesday – Your First Alpine Rock Adventure
Today we take our climbing into the bigger mountains, exploring the spectacular granite faces and rocky ridges of the Mont Blanc Massif.
Using mountain lifts where appropriate, we'll choose a suitable Alpine rock route that allows you to put your developing skills into practice in a more adventurous mountain environment.
We'll look at planning and approaching a route, moving efficiently on varied terrain, route finding and making good decisions together, while enjoying the excitement of climbing high above the valley.
It's a wonderful opportunity to discover how your existing rock climbing experience can open the door to a whole new world of Alpine adventures.
Overnight: Valley-based accommodation, Le Fayet.
Wednesday – Classic Alpine Rock Climbing
With new skills and growing confidence, today we'll look to enjoy another memorable Alpine rock climb, building on everything we've learned so far.
Depending on the weather, mountain conditions and your experience, we may explore one of the beautiful granite ridges or longer multi-pitch routes around Chamonix.
Your Guide will encourage you to take a more active role in planning the day, organising belays, managing ropes and finding the route, helping you develop greater confidence and understanding as part of the climbing team.
The emphasis remains on learning through experience, enjoying the climbing and discovering what's possible in the bigger mountains.
Overnight: Valley-based accommodation, Le Fayet.
Thursday – Putting It All Together
Our final climbing day is an opportunity to bring together the skills, knowledge and experience you've developed throughout the week.
We'll choose a suitable rock-climbing objective that offers another rewarding adventure, giving you the chance to put your developing skills into practice with increasing confidence and efficiency.
Whether we're enjoying a beautiful multi-pitch route or exploring another Alpine rock ridge, the aim is to finish the week with a fantastic climbing experience and a real sense of achievement.
We'll return to the valley in the afternoon, with time to reflect on the week, celebrate your progress and discuss where your climbing adventures might take you next.
Overnight: Valley-based accommodation, Le Fayet.
Friday – Departure
Breakfast is included before departure and the end of your From Crag to Alpine adventure.
As with all Alpine climbing programmes, the itinerary and climbing objectives may be adapted by your ISM Mountain Guide to suit the weather, mountain conditions and the experience and needs of the group. This flexibility is an important part of safe, enjoyable and rewarding Alpine rock climbing.
Course Dates & Booking
Please call for availability
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.
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
- Paying Information
- Booking Conditions
