What is included in the Vallée Blanche descent?

Your UIAGM mountain guide, all lifts and transport for the day — the Aiguille du Midi cable car, the Montenvers cable car and the Montenvers railway back to Chamonix — plus avalanche safety equipment, harness and crampons.

How many people are in the group?

A maximum of six people per guide. The number may be lower depending on conditions on the mountain on the day.

What level of skiing do I need for the Vallée Blanche?

It depends on the conditions on the day. In good snow, a confident black-piste level is enough. When the snow is harder or more broken up, a solid off-piste level is required. Ask your guide before booking — that conversation is part of the service.

Home · Vallée Blanche

February – May · Chamonix · UIAGM guided

Ski the
Vallée Blanche
from the Midi.

Q: What do I need to bring?

Your own ski equipment and helmet. Anything not listed as included is not provided, so bring your personal skiing kit and mountain clothing.

Q: Do I have to climb down the arête?

Yes. The descent from the Aiguille du Midi starts with the arête, which you walk down on crampons and roped to your guide. The ridge is equipped with fixed ropes. It requires no climbing technique, but it is exposed.

Twenty kilometers of glacier, from 3,842 m at the top of the Aiguille du Midi down to the Mer de Glace. The most famous off-piste descent in the Alps — and one you do roped to a guide who knows where the crevasses are.

Check dates See the day

The day

From the summit
to the train

One continuous line down the mountain. You start at the top of the Aiguille du Midi, walk down the arête on crampons, ski the glacier, and finish by riding the Montenvers railway back into Chamonix. No car, no shuttle, no walking back up.

We meet at the cable car

I hand you your equipment and your lift ticket at the foot of the Aiguille du Midi station, in the center of Chamonix. Nothing to arrange or buy in advance.

Up to the Aiguille du Midi · 3,842 m

The cable car takes us from the valley to the top station in twenty minutes — close to 2,800 m of ascent, and one of the great views in the Alps on the way.

Down the arête — crampons and rope

We put on crampons and harness and walk down the ridge roped together. It is equipped with fixed ropes and needs no climbing technique, but it is narrow and exposed. This is where having a guide starts to matter.

The glacier descent

Skis on at the foot of the arête, and from there the whole glacier is yours. I choose the line according to the snow and the state of the crevasses that day — which is why no two descents are quite the same.

Montenvers — cable car and railway

The descent ends at Montenvers, above the Mer de Glace. A short cable car brings us up to the station, and the mountain railway takes us back down to Chamonix.

1 dayDuration

3,842 mStarting altitude

Max 6People per guide

Feb – MaySeason

from €565guide fee

There is no fixed price for this descent — the final figure depends on the size of your group and the date. Write to me with both and I will give you an exact quote the same day.

Level required. It depends on the conditions on the day. In good snow, a confident black-piste level is enough; when the snow is harder or more tracked out, it asks for a solid off-piste level. Ask me before booking — I would rather tell you honestly than have you spend the day out of your depth.

What you get

Included
& not included

Everything that gets you up the mountain and keeps you safe on the glacier is in the price. What you bring is what you ski on.

Included

UIAGM certified mountain guide for the day
All lifts and transport — Aiguille du Midi cable car, Montenvers cable car, Montenvers railway
Avalanche safety equipment — transceiver, shovel and probe
Harness
Crampons

Not included

Personal ski equipment — skis, boots and poles
Helmet
Mountain clothing and personal kit
Food, drinks and anything consumed on the mountain
Anything not listed above as included

Group size is capped at six people per guide, and may be reduced depending on conditions on the mountain on the day. All tours operate under UIAGM safety standards. Valid accident and mountain rescue insurance is the responsibility of each participant.

Before you book

Common
questions

What level of skiing do I need?

It depends on the conditions on the day. In good snow, a confident black-piste level is enough. When the snow is harder or more tracked out, it asks for a solid off-piste level. Write to me before you book and tell me honestly where you are — that conversation is part of what you are paying for, and it is how we both know you will enjoy the day rather than survive it.

Do I have to climb down the arête?

Yes — it is how the descent begins. You walk it on crampons, roped to me, and the ridge is equipped with fixed ropes. It asks for no climbing technique, but it is narrow and exposed, and most people find it the part they remember.

What do I need to bring?

Your own skis, boots, poles and helmet, plus your mountain clothing. The technical safety equipment — transceiver, shovel, probe, harness and crampons — comes from me, along with your lift pass.

How large is the group?

Six people maximum per guide. Depending on snow and glacier conditions on the day, I may take fewer.

How do we get back to Chamonix?

By train. The descent finishes at Montenvers, where a cable car brings us up to the station and the mountain railway runs down into the center of Chamonix. No transfer to organize.

Is there a tradition I should know about?

Yes, and it is a good one. Here the day traditionally ends with the client buying the guide a drink or a meal once you are back down. It is not part of the price and nobody will ever ask you for it — but it is how most good days end, and it is usually when the day finally gets talked through properly.

Ski theVallée Blanchefrom the Midi.

From the summitto the train

Included& not included

Included

Not included

Commonquestions