Skiing Vallée Blanche

The Vallée Blanche, the most famous glacier off-piste descent in Europe.

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Duration

Destination

Season

Difficulty

Skiing Vallée Blanche is a unique opportunity to discover the world of high mountains: its glaciers, its vastness, its grandiose panorama. The summit of the Aiguille du Midi at 3842m: a breathtaking view.
here begins the "Vallée Blanche", the most famous off-piste glacier descent in Europe. With a 22 km descent to Chamonix you ski in a unique and unforgettable atmosphere. This descent is more than a classic day of skiing, it is the most exciting way to discover the high mountains.

Program

Detailed program for Skiing Vallée Blanche

The day before
Meeting at 6.30 pm at the guides' office where you will meet your guide.

Day 1
Departure in the morning (meeting place and time are determined with the guide the day before) to take the Aiguille du Midi cable car (3842 meters): acclimatization and first photos on the terraces. With the skis on the backpack we go down the ridge in a roped party.
After the first tracks, the guide chooses a route depending on the level of the group. Picnic or hot meal in the Requin refuge. Depending on the conditions, the descent continues to Chamonix by ski or via the Montenvers train down.

Depending on the weather and the skill of the participants, the guide may modify the program.

Download the information file

Registration

You can register from October 9th either directly online below, or by returning the completed 2024 registration form by e-mail, dated and signed.

For further information, please contact us by e-mail or telephone on +33 (0)4 50 47 76 55 (Saint-Gervais) or +33 (0)4 50 47 10 08 (Les Contamines). We’ll be happy to guide you in the realization of your project.

Details

All the practical details for skiing Vallée Blanche.

Our assets

  • For the descent to be more pleasant we recommend that you meet your guide and the other participants the night before to provide a full briefing about your outing.
  • We book your cable car to avoid the queue at Aiguille du Midi.
  • During the descent, our guides take the time to show you the surrounding mountains and to immortalize these magical moments.
  • Depending on the temperatures, it will be possible to eat at the Requin refuge or enjoy a picnic in the sun facing the mythical peaks of the mountain range.

2024 dates

From January to April.

Group sessions : Wednesday, Friday, Sunday.
Private sessions: every day.

The opening date of the descent from the Aiguille du Midi depends on the placement of fixed ropes on the ridge (between early January and early February depending on snow conditions).

Before this period we can leave from Helbronner (3425m) in Italy.
For this alternative, from Chamonix, we take a bus through the Mont Blanc tunnel: the descent from the top of the Italian ski lifts joins the classic route and the Montenvers train.

Guiding

Maximum 6 people per guide.
Children from 15 years old, accompanied by a parent.
Group departure guaranteed from 4 to 6 registrations per guide.
Depending on mountain conditions, the number of participants per guide may be reduced.

Snow conditions

Snow conditions can vary. After a few days of good weather, the route is easier, flattened by the passage of other skiers. But after a day of bad weather, the snow can be deep.

Requirements

A good physical condition is required. A good condition is important to be able to ski the entire distance.
Knowing how to turn parallel, master the snow plow and slip at an angle, and be able to ski on any snow types.
Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any doubts about the required level.

Itineraries and alternatives

Find all the information to make this ski descent in the best conditions, as well as to present you with different options to enhance your day according to your desires (in french): Descente de la Vallée Blanche : itinéraires

Lunch

Provide a picnic or money for lunch at the Requin refuge. The decision to picnic or eat at the refuge is made during the briefing the day before, depending on the expected temperatures and the preferences of the majority of the group.

Transportation to Chamonix

The transfer to Chamonix will be in the vehicles of the participants, the guide will organize the carpool the day before (it is customary for the clients to transport the guide). Let us know if you are not driving.

2024 rates

If you are alone or less than 4 and want to benefit a more interesting price, you can choose the group formula.

If you want a private session for you and your friends or family, to enjoy the steeper and less busy variants you can choose the private formula!

Price of the group sessions (per person):
€220 / person (departure guaranteed from 4 participants)

Price of the private session (per person) :

1 participant: €540
2 participants: €330 / person
3 participants: €270 / person
4 participants: €230 / person
5 participants: €210 / person
6 participants: €190 / person
7 participants: €245 / person
8 participants: €230 / person

If you already have the Unlimited ski-pass, contact us.

The price includes

  • Supervision by a mountain guide
  • The Unlimited day ski-pass or the bus and the gondola on the Italian side
  • Use of avalanche beacon and harness

 

The price does not include

  • lunch or picnic
  • your personal insurance
  • your skiing equipment
  • transportation
  • everything that's not mentioned in "the price includes"

Insurance

To be covered by an insurance «assistance-repatriation» is mandatory to participate in our stays.
If you do not have «assistance-repatriation» insurance, we can offer you one at the price of €5 per day.
We also offer optional cancellation insurance at a rate of €12 (this insurance does not take into account the sporting nature of our activities).
The insurance booklets can be downloaded here for cancellation and assistance-repatriation.

Rendez-vous

The day before we meet up for a briefing where you will meet your guide and the group, we expect you at 18h30 at the guides' office at Saint Gervais, we can advise you for accommodation on site. Our address : 43 rue du Mont Blanc, 74170 Saint Gervais les Bains

If you are unable to attend, please call us around the same time so the briefing can be done by phone.

Equipment list

Equipment provided by your guide – Please let us know if you already have some.

  • Avalanche beacon
  • Harness

 

Technical equipment

  • Skis with a clean base
  • Telescopic poles with wide washers for snowboarders
  • Ski boots
  • Crampons for the Aiguille du Midi ridge (optional – can be rented)

 

Clothing and accessories

  • Ski trousers and jacket
  • Polar fleece or down jacket
  • Technical thermal shirt and tights
  • Warm waterproof ski gloves
  • Hat or buff®
  • Backpack with possibility to attach your skis (+/-25L)
  • Thermos
  • Sunscreen and lip protection + sunglasses (cat. 4)
  • Passport and insurance papers (unless you’ve subscribed our insurance). Covid-safe pass (FFP2 mask for the italian side).
  • Some cash money

Summary