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Ice climbing
Duration:
1 day
Price from: 165€
Fitness:
Infobulle physique
Physical Level 1: For individuals who engage in occasional physical activities, positive elevation gain of up to 300m.
Physical Level 2: For individuals who engage in regular physical activities, positive elevation gain of up to 600m or routes above 3500m.
Physical Level 3: For individuals who engage in regular endurance activities, positive elevation gain of up to 900m or routes above 4000m.
Physical Level 4: For individuals who engage in regular endurance activities, positive elevation gain of up to 1300m.
Physical Level 5: For individuals who engage in intensive endurance activities, positive elevation gain exceeding 1300m.
Technique:
Infobulle technique
Technical Level 1: For regular hikers wishing to discover mountaineering. The route is not very steep and is well-marked, or the activity may also take place in beginner-friendly areas.
Technical Level 2: For experienced hikers wishing to discover mountaineering. The route includes short, steep sections and may involve scree or rocky ridges, requiring surefootedness.
Technical Level 3: For occasional mountaineers (2 to 5 recent outings). The route includes steep sections requiring prior climbing experience at a French grade 3c level and/or mastery of crampons and ice axe use.
Technical Level 4: For regular mountaineers (5 to 10 recent outings). The route requires climbing at a French grade 4c level and mastery of mountaineering techniques, including the use of crampons and an ice axe, as well as basic roping and belaying techniques.
Technical Level 5: For experienced mountaineers (more than 10 recent outings). The route requires climbing above a French grade 4c level and mastery of mountaineering techniques, including the use of crampons and ice axes for ice climbing, as well as advanced roping and belaying techniques.
General information
Ice climbing is often seen as a very physical activity, in short, inaccessible. Try the experience supervised by our mountain guides, you will find that this is far from the case. You will quickly discover that finesse and intuition are the key words of this activity! The Chamonix Valley has two crag sites perfectly suited to a safe discovery for beginners : the Crémerie in Argentière and the Cascade de Bérard in Vallorcine. Thanks to our partner Grivel, all technical equipment except shoes is provided: ice axes, crampons, helmet and harness.
From the first cold, taste the pleasure of ice climbing in Chamonix. Discover the use of crampons and ice axes and move through a magical crystalline universe. This activity does not require previous mountaineering and rock climbing experience. The fast approach (20 ’) allows easy access to the sites.
The Bérard icefall crag site is entirely man-made. It was developed by members of the Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix, helped by a collective. They set up a system of heated pipes to provide reliable water supply. Every evening the sprinklers are turned on so that the ice forms. Only one parameter remains uncontrollable: the temperature! Fortunately, thanks to its inertia, once formed, the ice at the Bérard site is resistant, to a certain extent, to periods of warmth.
If you want to go for more, we also run an ice climbing course on two days.
Group booking
The group formula associates people who do not necessarily know each other. It is ideal for people looking for group friendliness and attractive prices.
Dates (group booking) : See online booking for group booking
Guiding policy (group booking) : Group of 4 people maximum per guide. Children minimum 15 years old accompanied by a parent
Meeting Point (group booking) : 8.00am at the Compagnie des guides in Chamonix
Departure (group booking) : The departure is guaranteed with a minimum of 3 registered participants
Price 2025 (group booking) : 165€ per person
Half day outings are not available for the collective sessions
This price includes :
- mountain guides fees
- technical equipment: helmet, harness, crampons & ice axes
- transfer to the activity place
This price does not include :
- specific crampon-compatible high-mountain shoes: high upper and rigid sole. Available for rent from our partners
- lift ticket if needed
- transfer
- Lunch
Private booking
A private formula is the historical relationship that binds a guide to their clients. It allows you to be either alone or in a group of friends with your guide. Your guide can organize your trip to meet your specific needs. It is undoubtedly the ideal formula to realize your projects because it guarantees you a maximum of comfort. You can book a private guide online on a day for an introduction to ice climbing. The half-day and a climb for advanced moutaineers can only be booked by phone, email or directly at the office.
Dates (private booking) : See online booking
Meeting Point (private booking) : Your guide will call you the evening before your trip around 6.30pm to organize the meeting time and place
Guiding policy (private booking) : Group of 1 - 4 people per guide. Children from 12 years old accompanied by a parent
Prices 2025 (private booking) :
- Day
Group from 1 to 2 people : 430€
Group from 3 to 4 people : 460€
- Half Day
Group from 1 to 2 people : 300€
Group from 3 to 4 people : 320€
The price includes :
- mountain guides fees
The price does not include :
- your technical equipment: helmet, harness, crampons and ice axes
- specific crampon-compatible high-mountain shoes: high upper and rigid sole. Available for rent from our partners
- lift passes if needed
- the transfer
- food
Further information
In this section, find all the information about this activity. For further information, please contact our advisor.
Duration : Full day
Place : Argentiere glacier or Berard valley depending on conditions
Ability level : The choice of destination adapted to your level is essential for you to fully enjoy your trip. Ice climbing is intended for people who practice regularly a sporting activity. No previous mountaineering experience is required.
Formality : Make sure you have valid individual liability insurance for the practice of this activity without any location or altitude restrictions, including assistance, search and rescue, and repatriation
Documents available for download
Equipment
We recommend that you take special care in choosing your equipment because it contributes greatly to the success of your trip. As alpine conditions can be highly variable with sudden changes, it can get very cold in altitude, it is preferable to have numerous layers rather than one thick piece of clothing.
Equipment
- Specific crampon-compatible high-mountain shoes: high upper and rigid sole. Available for rent from our partners
- Backpack
Clothing
- Warm and waterproof clothes
- Hat
- Warm gloves
Accessories
- Sunglasses
- Lunch
- Hot drink
Our Rental Partners : You can rent your equipment with our rental shops partners and benefit from special price Millet, Sanglard Sports, Ravanel & Co & Concept Pro Shop
Our Equipment Partners : Millet, Dynastar, Julbo, Grivel & Monnet
Booking
Book your activity
Calculate your carbon footprint
Discover the carbon emissions of this activity and add your trip to the meeting point.
CO2 emitted per person for the activity: 5 kg. Learn out more about the footprint calculation of this activity
CO2 emitted per person for the activity: 5 kg. Learn out more about the footprint calculation of this activity
CO2 emitted per person for this activity & journey(s) = 0 kgIn order to limit global warming to +2°C by 2100, the COP-21 agreement stipulates that each human should emit no more than 2t of CO2 per year. According to the French Ministry of Ecology, today European citizens emit an average of 11t per year, and American citizens emit an average of 21t annually., or 0.5€The price for a ton of CO2 is currently 100€ in the European Union to offset.
Find out more about our zero impact strategy.
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