Week-end in the Vallée Blanche

The Vallée Blanche is one of the most beautiful and famous off-piste ski run in the world. It is located in the French Alps and is a fantastic 22-kilometer-long ski descent. In fact, it’s one of the longest in the world! 

This exciting 2-day trip starts in Chamonix, at the Aiguille du Midi cable car station. When at 3842m, your specialized guide will show you the amazing view of the Mont Blanc massif. You then descend the Aiguille du Midi snow ridge roped up with the guide and start your run from the easiest way, in order to enjoy the breathtaking landscapes peacefully. After a rewarded lunch break with a fantastic view, you descend the Mer de Glace before reaching Chamonix by the famous skiable path running in the forest. On the second day of this weekend, you will discover a wilder route to descend the Vallée Blanche. You will navigate between seracs and crevasses, heaps of fun! During all the descents, our guides will ensure your safety and open the way. They will also teach you the secrets of off-piste skiing. You will end the weekend, sad to leave but happy to have lived this amazing experience!

Itinerary

  • Day 1 Discovering the Vallée Blanche

    We meet with our expert guide at 9 am at the Aiguille du Midi cable car station. He will check our equipment before taking the cable car. Up there, we discover one of the most beautiful panoramas of the Alps. The biggest peaks of the massif seem to be very close: Mont Blanc, Dent du Géant, Grandes Jorasses, Aiguille Verte...
    We descend the Aiguille du Midi snow ridge roped up with the guide and begin our classic route run (few difficulties but magnificent scenery: Gervasutti eperon, Mont Blanc du Tacul). The guide always goes first to ensure our safety. When passing through the seracs of the Glacier du Géant, we have to be extremely careful and do precisely what the guide tells us. This requires a good ski control. Just after this passage, we will take time to eat our packed lunch and drink a warm tea! We then reach the flat surface of the Mer de Glace glacier. We have to ascend a steep 100m rocky slope to reach the skiable path which will get us back to Chamonix. If there is not enough snow, we will go back by the Montenvers railway station.

    Positive difference in altitude : 100m | Negative difference in altitude : 2800m | Max Altitude : 3842m | Accommodation: hostel or lodge

  • Day 2 Second itinerary in the Vallée Blanche

    Today is an ambitious adventure day in high mountain!
    After a good breakfast, we leave to the Aiguille du Midi cable car at 10 am (or earlier if conditions require it). We put our skis back on up there and descend through more secret off-piste routes (e.g. Petit Envers or Grand Envers route) chosen by the guide, such delightful runs! Sometimes we will ski really close to the crevices, so we must carefully follow the guide's way. We will probably be back in Chamonix around 4pm to say goodbye.

    Positive difference in altitude : 100m | Negative difference in altitude : 2800m | Max Altitude : 3842m

ITINERARY CHANGE

The program can be modified by your guide due to weather conditions or participants physical conditions. For safety reasons and to ensure a uniform level corresponding to the one announced, the supervision and organisation boards have the right to interrupt your participation if your technical or physical level are lower than the one required. The interruption will not give you any right of refund or payment of compensation.

Dates & prices

International departures:

No departure for now

Trip code: SVBA

Included

A deposit of 30% of the trip’s price will be needed during the booking, the whole price must be paid at least 30 days before departure.
  • Technical organisation of the trip
  • Aiguille du Midi cable car (2 trips)
  • High mountain guide
  • Collective equipment (carried by the guide)
  • Loan of safety harness, avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe for 2 days
  • 2 picnics (1 for each day)
  • Montenvers train tickets if there is not enough snow to reach Chamonix by the skiable path
  • Saturday night accommodation in Chamonix (hotel)

Not included

  • All transports around the valley
  • Flights
  • Insurance and assistance
  • Individual equipment (skis, shoes, sticks)
  • Personal expenses
  • Snacks
  • Sunday night diner in Chamonix
  • Anything that is not mentioned in the "price includes" section

International flights

If you wish, we can take care of booking your international flights to the closest airport of your destination. 

Terms and conditions

Booking conditions

Booking a trip with Montagne Expedition implies acceptance of the terms and conditions of sale. Each customer is required to complete a registration form and, subject to availability at the time of registration, travellers are expected to pay a deposit of 35% of the total price to complete their booking. Payments can be made online or by bank transfer. You will receive an e-mail with your booking confirmation.

Invoice procedure

Once your booking is confirmed you will receive an invoice by e-mail. The full balance of the trip must be received at least 30 days before your departure date. Montagne Expedition reserves the right to cancel your booking, free of charge, if this deadline is not respected.

Cancellation policy

If for any reason you have to cancel your trip, Montagne Expedition requires written confirmation of your decision. The money you have paid will then be refunded according to the following deductions:
  • Cancellation received more than 30 days prior to the departure date: a sum of €50 per person will be retained
  • Cancellation received 30 to 21 days before the departure date: your deposit, 30% of the total trip price will be retained
  • Cancellation received 20 to 14 days before the departure date: 50% of the total trip price will be retained
  • Cancellation received 13 to 7 days before the departure date: 75% of the total trip price will be retained
  • Cancellation received less than 7 days before the departure date: 100% of the total trip price will be retained

Special cases:
Please note that, regardless of the date of cancellation or modification if you have agreed to pay for services such as hotel reservations, flights or additional activities, these services are usually non-refundable so additional fees may apply.
  • Fixed airfares: if your airline ticket was issued in advance, often done to avoid significant surcharges, you will be charged 100% of any non-refundable fees if you wish to change or cancel your flight plan.
  • Fixed in-country costs: early charges for firm bookings will be charged if you cancel or modify your trip.
  • Insurance costs: if you have taken out comprehensive or cancellation insurance, the cost of insurance is due and cannot be refunded.

Please note that fees apply according to the date Altaï Canarias receive your cancellation or modification request in writing

If we have to cancel a departure due to an insufficient number of participants, you will be informed no later than 21 days before departure and a full refund will be issued, you will not be entitled to further compensation. We reserve the rights to cancel departures due to exceptional circumstances which may impact the safety of participants. Such circumstances include those amounting to 'force majeure' in which case participants will receive a full refund but they will not be entitled to any compensation.

Changes to travel contract

If you wish to make a change to your booking please contact us in writing; you will be expected to pay any fee which might arise from this change. In the event of unforeseen external events, Montagne Expedition may change some aspects of the travel contract. If any changes are necessary you will be informed as quickly as possible.

Pricing

The prices on our website are updated regularly and all of the prices we advertise are accurate when published. Montagne Expedition reserve the rights to make changes to any of these prices. Before you make a booking we will give you the up-to-date price of your chosen holiday including any supplements, upgrades or additional activities you may have requested. If the number of travellers is fewer than the indicated number of participants on the website, a small group surcharge may be applied. For all of our trips we include details of services, prices and what is/is not included but please be aware that changes to the prices may be necessary in accordance with exchange rates or price changes of various components of the journey.

Contract transfer

If you are unable to travel for any reason with Montagne Expedition, you can transfer your booking to another person in which case our modification conditions apply. Both the transferor and transferee will be jointly and severally liable for payment of the total holiday price and other associated expenses. Some airline carriers treat name changes as cancellations and you may be required to pay for the cost of a new ticket.

Insurance

We recommend you to get your personal insurance before your departure to cover the activities undertaken by Montagne Expedition. If you have not purchased any of our insurances, we ask you to email us your insurance contract information (company, contract name, contract number, phone number) and bring those information with you on your trip. 

Practical info

Staff

Your trip will be supervised by a high-mountain guide who will teach you technical elements needed for the good progress of your stay. He may need to modify the program in order to ensure safety regarding weather conditions and participants physical conditions.

Food

Meals 
  • Picnics for lunch
  • Bring some snacks according to your tastes (cereal bars, dried fruits, etc...).

Drinks
  • Bring a 1L water bootle
  • Drinks aren't included in the price of your trip

Accommodation

We will stay in a nice and cozy lodge in the bustling heart of Chamonix.

Transportation

Access : 
  • By train : SNCF Saint Gervais les Bains le Fayet train station then the touristic Mont Blanc Express TER to Chamonix. Timetable and prices on : www.voyages-sncf.com
  • By road : A40 "Autoroute Blanche" to Chamonix 

Dispersion :
  • In the end of the afternoon in Chamonix (74)

Lodge before or after the trip :

Budget & exchange

France is in the Eurozone. Therefore, the unit of the currency is the Euro.

Credit cards and debit cards are very useful for cash advances (but don’t forget to bring your PIN number!). 
ATMs are available in Chamonix, but there are no guarantees that your credit card will actually work in France.  It is best to bring cash, just in case!
Be aware of the fees usually applied when purchasing products or services on a credit card. 

Always take more rather than less, as you don’t want to spend your trip constantly feeling short on funds. As currency exchange rates can often fluctuate, we recommend to check the following website for daily exchange rates: https://www.xe.com/

Tips

Clients usually pay for the guides’ drinks : you might find it practical to make a group kitty at the beginning of your stay (no obligation). 

Supplied equipment

  • Collective technical equipment (ropes, carabiners)
  • Individual safety equipment (avalanche transceiver, probe, shovel) + harness

Vital equipment

Technical equipment

Skis
  • 1 pair of skis
  • 1 pair of ski shoes
  • Telescopic poles

Other
  • Safety equipmet : avalanche transceiver, probe, shovel
  • Crampons with "Antibott" system
  • Ice axe
  • Harness and carabiners
  • Survival blanket
  • Pocket knife
  • Thermos and water bottle

Personal equiment

Head
  • Bonnet
  • Hat or cap
  • Scarf to put around your neck
  • Sunscreen (face and lips)
  • Sunglasses suited for glaciers (category 4) + ski goggles

Upper body
  • Technical breathable long sleeve underweartype "Carline" (no coton that dries too slowly)
  • 1 shirt to put under your jumper (breathable and technical)
  • 1 thick fleece jacket
  • 1 duvet jacket
  • 1 windstopper and waterproof jacket type Goretex
  • 1 pair of mitains (fleece or wool)
  • 1 pair of globes (fleece or wool)
  • 1 pair of silk under gloves 

Lower body 
  • 1 pair of windstopper and waterproof trousers type Goretex
  • 2 pairs of socks : 1 thick 1 thin

Other
  • 1 toiletry bag
  • Cream for sunburns (Biafine)
  • Biodegradable toilet paper
  • 1 bag to put over your bag in order to protect your belongings from getting wet in case of rain
  • 1 waterproof pouch in which you will put your identity papers, your phone, your money and your insurance/assistance documents with all of your emergency phone numbers

Luggage

  • You will carry your belongings and your technical equipment in a 40L alpinism backpack. 
  • Your personal belongings will stay at the lodge in Chamonix (you can bring them in a second bag)

Medicine

You guide will be carrying a collective first aid kit. However, it is important for you to bring your individual pharmacy, checked with your general doctor : 
  • Personal medication
  • Pain killers (preferably Paracetamol)
  • Double skin
  • Elastoplast (excellent to prevent blisters)
  • Bandages
  • Disinfectant  
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Antispasmodic
  • Anti-diarrheal 
  • Anti-vomiting
  • Intestinal antiseptic
  • Eye drops
  • Light sleeping pills
  • Ear plugs
Non exhaustive list

Passport

Please make sure your passport and travel documents are valid.

Visa

  • Up to 90 days visit in France : citizens from most countries do not need a visa to visit France.
  • Over 90 days visit in France : non-EU or non-EFTA citizens must have a visa to visit France over 90 days.

For further information, please check the following website : https://france-visas.gouv.fr/

Identity card

For EU citizens, you can use your identity card to travel to France. 

Mandatory vaccines

No required vaccination. 

Health information & recommendations

It is important to consult your doctor for medical travel information well before departure. We recommend that you carry a First Aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements. 
Please keep in mind that we are often in remote areas, away from medical facilities. Please carefully read the brochure and itinerary when selecting your trip, to make sure our style of travel suits you. 
Please note you will travel to high altitude. Most people can travel to 2 500m with minimal effects. However, everyone reacts differently to altitude and altitude sickness can occur. 
For details on how to best prepare your trip please consult your physician. 

Weather

The weather in the French Alps varies up and down the mountain chain. It is a mountainous region between 800 and 4000 meters, so altitude plays a big part in the local weather. 
As you climb higher into the mountains it gets 1 degree cooler every 100 meters. It is the case all year around but other factors such as temperature inversions and winds influence the climate.  The sun plays a very important role too. In the winter, when the sun is lower in the sky, some lower or north facing valleys are blocked from the sun by mountains for a large part of the day and are colder.  

Spring can be a bit unpredictable : rain, sometimes even some snow interspersed with hot sunny days. 
It can be quite hot in summer: around 20 to 30 degrees, but the fresh mountain air cools you down during your hike. 
In autumn, temperatures start to cool down, but it is still perfect conditions for a walking holiday.  
During winter time, the higher you get, the more snow you will see. Snow usually starts to fall in November and stays until April. 

Keep in mind that weather conditions are unpredictable. Therefore, the trip organization can me modified for your safety. 

Electricity

There will, of course, be electricity in Chamonix. If you are scared to run low on battery, we advise to bring an external battery charger.  
Power plugs in France have the particularity of being male and female at the same time : they have 2 prongs and a receptacle. If you need an adapter, please purchase if before departure.
In France the power plugs and sockets are of type E. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.

Local time

France is in the Central European Time Zone. Central European Standard Time (CET) is 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+1).

Like most states in Europe, Summer Time (Daylight-Saving) is observed in France, where the time is shifted forward by 1 hour; 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+2). After the summer months, the time in France is shifted back by 1 hour to Central European Time (CET or GMT+1).

Sustainable tourism

We do our best to offer trips subscribed to the principles of responsible and sustainable tourism. Our aim is to allow visitors to discover the many facets of France by taking you off the beaten path and getting you in touch with its nature and residents, while ensuring that your visits do not have a negative effect on its natural environment and people.

  • Most of our accommodations are run by locals, thus ensuring that the largest part of the revenue generated through your trip will stay within the region.
  • France is known for its exquisite cuisine. The art of cooking and the joy of eating are part of everyday life. Each region has its particular foods and flavors which we would like you to explore and appreciate.
  • Water is a precious and rare good. Our team and those travelling with us are thus advised to use it with consideration and avoid excessive water use where possible.
  • Please try to recycle your waste whenever possible, even though recycling may not be a well-known concept in all areas.
  • Be cautious and respectful when hiking. Make sure to wear suitable footwear and avoid picking flowers, moving stones or lighting fires.  
Request a quote
Region
France
Activity
Freeride Ski
Duration
2 days
Group
4 to 6 people
Code
SVBA
Price
From €495
Level
3/5
Comfort
3/5
Language(s)
English

Strengths

  • Two mythical descents of the Vallée Blanche during the weekend.
  • Maximum safety due to the presence of a high mountain guide.
  • A warm and comfortable accommodation in Chamonix.

Guide's advice

The Vallée Blanche offers a unique opportunity of skiing in high altitude. But since we are not on ski slopes, we must be extremely careful. My work is to show you the way and guarantee your safety !

Required level

You must have an excellent ski level (red/black tracks) and a good experience in off-piste skiing (not compulsory). There are many challenging variations of routes down the Vallée Blanche and you must have a good ski control : you have to follow the exact guide’s marks.  

Download trip details

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