Prices
At ISM, we are committed to ensuring our courses continue to lead the field - not only in quality, but also in value for money.
Prices
At ISM, we believe in clear and transparent course pricing.
Our aim is simple: when you join us in the mountains, we want you to be able to concentrate on the experience rather than worrying about unexpected costs along the way.
Different ISM courses include different services, so the individual course page is always the definitive guide to what is included in the price of your particular programme.
What’s Normally Included
Depending on the course, your ISM course price may include:
- Professional guiding or instruction and associated guide expenses
- Hotel accommodation at the beginning and/or end of the course
- Valley and mountain hut accommodation
- Breakfasts and evening meals where specified
- Transport required as part of the advertised programme
- Cable cars, mountain railways and other mechanical uplift where specified
- Loan of specified technical equipment
Exactly what is included will be clearly stated on the individual course page.
Accommodation
Where mountain hut accommodation is included, this will normally be in shared dormitory-style accommodation. Mountain huts generally do not offer the same choice of rooms or upgrades as hotels.
Where valley hotel accommodation is included, the room arrangements will be explained in the individual course information.
Single-room upgrades may sometimes be available in valley accommodation for an additional charge, subject to availability.
Please check the individual course information for the current accommodation arrangements and any applicable single-room supplement.
What’s Normally Not Included
Unless specifically stated otherwise on the individual course page, the following are normally not included:
- Drinks
- Lunches
- Personal insurance
- Travel to and from the course meeting point
- Personal clothing and footwear
- Personal climbing or ski equipment except where equipment loan is specifically included
- Additional services or activities outside the advertised programme
- Mechanical uplift where specifically excluded from the course price
Changes to the Mountain Programme
Mountaineering takes place in a changing environment, and weather, mountain conditions, hut availability and other factors may occasionally require your guide to modify the planned programme.
Where a change involves significant additional costs — for example, additional transport, accommodation, mountain huts or mechanical uplift not included within the advertised programme — your guide will, wherever reasonably possible, explain and discuss these costs with you before they are incurred.
We don't want clients to encounter unexpected costs without understanding why they have arisen.
Technical Alpine Ascents & Alpine Rock
These programmes may be structured differently from our other alpine courses and may make less use of mechanical uplift.
Where mechanical uplift is not included in the advertised course price but the guide and group subsequently agree that using it would improve or enable the programme, the additional cost will be payable by the client.
Please refer to the individual course page for the current inclusions.
Personal Guiding
Personal guiding is priced differently from our scheduled courses.
Unless specifically agreed otherwise, the guiding fee covers the professional services of your mountain guide.
Additional costs associated with the agreed itinerary — which may include the client's and guide's accommodation, mountain huts, transport, cable cars, food and other expenses — are normally the responsibility of the client.
We will explain the expected arrangements when discussing your personal guiding programme.
Clear Pricing
Our aim is to make the cost of your ISM course as clear as possible before you book.
Because courses and mountain programmes vary, always check the individual course page for the definitive list of what is included and excluded from your particular programme.
If anything is unclear, please contact the ISM office before booking. We're always happy to explain what's included.