From Introduction Level | Private Guiding
From Introduction Level | Private Guiding
✦ Experienced UIAGM/IFMGA mountain guides
✦ Flexible dates
✦ Group sizes up to 6 skiers per guide
✦ High safety level
- location | Chamonix
- Season | December - May
- dURATION | Any number of days
- Guide Ratio | 1-6
- Technical Level | From S2/T1
- Fitness Level | A
- Minimum Age | 12
Check our Grading Page
Book as early as you can.
Particularly when we need to book huts.
Private Mountain Guide in Chamonix
Explore Chamonix’s internationally acclaimed ski touring terrain alongside an experienced and local UIAGM/IFGMA guide. The potential for ski touring is unlimited in the mountains around Chamonix, and we will always be able to find exciting itineraries.
Flexible Dates, number of days, and focus
You can book a single day or several consecutive days of private ski touring.
The guide will suggest tours that fit the expectations and level of the group.
Book well in advance, and we will do our best to ensure it’s the same guide for all the days.
From February, we can also fit in hut nights.
Group Sizes
A guide will take a maximum of 6 skiers on normal, easy-intermediate ski tours in Chamonix.
If you desire to do more difficult ski tours, you should plan on being a maximum of 2 participants pr. guide.
If you are looking for a group course, please have a look here – Click here
Hut nights
It is possible to plan one or more hut nights for private guided ski touring.
While a few of the huts easily reached in the Chamonix Valley are good for a single overnight stay, we recommend planning at least 2 hut nights for any tour demanding driving and a longer hut approach. We have several good touring options that often require 1-2 hours of driving from Chamonix.
Check our more comprehensive ski-touring equipment list for the additional items we bring along for hut nights – Click here
For private ski touring, hut nights are generally not included in the price unless so requested. The group will cover the hut expenses for the whole group (including the guides).
Any other costs hereby related will also have to be covered by the group (transport, gas, tunnel fee, autoroute, parking, etc.).
Valley Transport
If you live in Chamonix town, the guide will most likely be able to pick you up in the morning, but if this is not possible (no car available or too large a group), you can reach the meeting point for the day, with local bus/train or your own car/transportation.
Note: If you use the guide’s car to get around, compensate the guide for fuel/parking and tunnel fees going through the Mont Blanc tunnel.
Avalanche & glacier gear
We have a limited number of avalanche transceivers, shovels and probes, which you can borrow from us.
For skiing on a glacier, you can borrow a harness from us. Please let us know, and we will put it aside for you.
If we haven’t got enough for the whole group or borrowed out elsewhere, you can rent these items in a shop.
Check-list
To get the most out of the day and maximize our possibilities of skiing the best snow at the right time, this is a list that is logical but can be a help for you:
1. Be fresh and well-rested in the morning
2. Rent equipment or retrieve your skis from service the day before.
3. If possible, sort your lift passes out the day before.
4. Get your backpack ready the evening before
5. Be on time for the rendezvous. Check the itinerary and the time it will take you to get to the meeting point.
6. Remember your passport if we are off to Courmayeur (Italy).
7. Bring money and a credit card for expenses.
Travel, accommodation, Insurance.
Please consult our FAQ page for information about travel, accommodation, insurance, booking process, and other general information. Click here.
Winter 2024
| No. of Participants | Guide-fee 1 – 2 days booked | Guide-fee ≧ 3 days booked |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 600€/day | 575€/day |
| 2 | 650€/day | 600€/day |
| 3 | 700€/day | 650€/day |
| 4 | 750€/day | 700€/day |
| 5 | 800€/day | 750€/day |
| 6 | 850€/day | 800€/day |
The guide fee is shown as the rate per day booked. If you book 3 or more days, we offer a discount.
If the request is for a guide travelling to other resorts, expect a supplementary add-on for any preparation time and travel expenses.
Included
Planning & logistics
Assignment of guides, planning, and information prior to the course, reservation of lifts.
UIAGM/IFMGA guides
The guides working with us hold the highest recognized mountaineering certificate. They are equally a friendly and sociable group of guides used to handling groups and climbs in the Alps.
Avalanche Gear
We can provide avalanche transceivers for the group, shovels, and probes.
If you have your own kit, we recommend you use this.
Group equipment (ropes & safety gear)
The guides provide the group security gear (rope, glacier travel equipment).
You only need to make sure you have your personal equipment.
Excluded
Any cost not mentioned in the “Included” section. The most important ones are:
Transport to Chamonix
Read more under “More information.”
Transport in Chamonix Valley
Either with your car, the guide car or communal transport.
If the guide car is used, please reimburse expenses directly to the guide, such as petrol, tunnel fee, and parking.
Accommodation in the valley
Read more under “More information.”
Mountain huts
If you go to a hut, you will cover the hut expenses for the group and the guide (overnight stay on half-board pension, and any other expenses (drinks, lunches..).
Lift-ticket
Mostly, we only need a single ticket specific to the ski tour we plan on doing. This is often in Chamonix but could also be in a nearby resort, not included in the Chamonix ski pass. Sometimes, we start from the valley and won’t use the ski lifts.
If you are skiing for a full week, you might choose to buy a ski pass for the full duration.
Personal ski gear
Check the gear section.
Lunches & drinks
Mostly, you would bring a sandwich, and we find a nice place to enjoy the view and rest while eating lunch.
Insurance
You should make sure you are adequately insured. Check our page on insurance.
Private guided days are often more flexible regarding the program than what we can provide on grouped courses and tours, where we offer more fixed programs and numbers in the group can be larger.
The possibilities are endless. The ski touring potential in the mountains around the Mont Blanc is enormous. During the same week, we will often be ski-touring in France, Switzerland and Italy—all venues within a 30-45mn drive.
The guide will propose days that fit the number of days booked, the number of participants, the group’s skill level, the weather forecast, snow stability and glacier conditions.
Check the weather and dress accordingly. The list below should give you a general idea about what to bring. As private guiding days go, we will establish a program with each group, and the equipment might be slightly different from group to group, particularly if we decide to do some touring as well. We will let you know in advance.
Shell jacket – You need a lightweight yet relatively sturdy shell jacket that is stowed away and doesn’t take to much space. The jacket should have a good hood. Most jackets today have vents under the arms for ventilation.
Shell pants – They will be the best protection against the element. For pure off-piste skiing, you will be best off with bibs/salopettes that rise over the waistline to avoid snow coming in.
Base layers – Top and bottom thermal underwear. You can adjust these to be either a light or warm version. It all depends on the temperatures of the day.
Mid-layer – A mid-grade fleece sweater or jacket is excellent.
Extra warm layer – Light fiber and down jacket.
Warm hat – That covers the ears.
Neck gaiter – Something that can warm your neck and protect against wind and bad weather. A “buff” or other balaclavas are great.
2 Pairs of gloves – It’s always wise to have a spare pair of gloves in your backpack. They can get very wet and then cold if you take some tumbles. E.g., bring a pair of warm and less warm gloves.
Socks – Choose a pair of socks that will keep you warm.
Backpack – 30l-40l durable and lightweight. Should have straps or a system to carry skis comfortably. You need at least one ice-axe holder. If you like to use the backpack for hut-to-hut trips later, you can opt for a size of 40-45l.
Skis* – You need touring skis with ski-touring bindings. Which ski to choose has much to do with the desired ski tour, but a ski intended for touring, of 90-100mm width (waist) of the same height as the skier is a good mark.
Ski touring boots* – Normal or Lightweight touring model, w. good “walk-mode,” “Vibram-sole,” and “tech binding inserts.” You can use heavier boots that are more of a “hybrid” between touring and off-piste. Beware that these can be quite heavy and maybe too much to go for more than 1h of touring.
Skins – Skins must be cut to the ski you will be using. Should have a maximum of 1-2mm to the edge, and clip on the back tail—only glue skins.
Ski crampons* – Make sure to get these ahead of your visit to Chamonix, as they come specific to the binding you have, in sizes matching your skis. It can be a frustrating task to find them last minute in Chamonix.
Ski poles* – Normal ski poles of the right length are fine. Light versions are great, but check that they don’t break easily. Make sure to choose a good brand (E.g. Leki).
Crampons* – You can either rent them in Chamonix or if you plan to use them later on it is worth buying a pair. If you buy crampons make sure they can be used for e.g. Haute Route (Full steal or a hybrid model with steel front teeth and aluminum back-piece).
Ice-axe* – You can either rent or buy. If you want to buy an ice-axe make sure to get a short and light ski-touring model.
Avalanche beacon* – Choose a trusted model w. 3 antennas.
Avalanche shovel* – A lightweight extendable model of good quality.
Probe* – At least 2m long
Ski helmet – We recommend all participants wear helmets. Today’s lightweight ski touring model helmets are well-ventilated so you can wear them all day, and not have to carry them while ski touring.
Ski strap – Used for various things, but mostly to keep your skis together and to attach the tips when carrying them on the backpack.
Items marked * can be rented in Chamonix
Water bottle – 1l water bottle. Water systems will freeze.
Snacks – A few snacks, nuts, and a small sandwich. We can also eat in a restaurant/cafeteria.
Suncream & sun-stick
Snow goggles
Sunglasses
Personal items – Money, passport, social security card, insurance card, etc.
Phone – Type in the emergency number and keep it warm/dry during the day.
Tour Grade: From S2/T1/A
Please read through the requirements for participating in this tour and follow the link to the “grading page.”
Technical Level
You need to be a good off-piste skier and handle most types of snow without falling over excessively. You should be able to make short controlled turns on steep terrain (35 degrees) and side-slip controlled down 40-45 degrees.
Fitness
Ski touring takes good fitness and stamina. We can easily adjust the length of the tour to the fitness of the group. An easy day of ski touring would not be much harder than a normal day of skiing, but any touring at altitude and for longer distances and height gains demands a very good fitness level.
General Information
Getting to Chamonix or the course venue
For most of our clients, the easiest way to get to Chamonix or the Alps, in general, is by plane. The nearest airport is Geneva.
Read more about getting to Chamonix here – Click here.
Valley accommodation
Not everyone wants the same accommodation type, so we rarely include Valley accommodation. Check our suggested hotels, B&B, and campsites on this page – Click here.
If you want us to include hotel nights in the price, please let us know what standard you are looking for.
Insurance
You must take out search & rescue, repatriation, and cancellation insurance. Read more about insurance here – Click here.
Safety
We believe our finest task is to give every client a unique mountain experience without taking unnecessary risks. The experience of the mountain guide, access to the most recent weather forecasts, and information sharing between guides are some of the important elements for making good and sound judgment calls. Suppose conditions or other situations render an attempt at a peak dangerous, avalanche conditions of a ski tour no longer possible, etc.. In that case, the guide will do his/her best to devise a good alternate plan. This might be a 100% change of the program. Emphasis is put on staying safe and having a great time!
Mountain huts
In some of our courses, we stay in mountain huts. On hut-to-hut trips, they are part of the itinerary; at other times, we use them as the starting point for a climb or ski tour.
The mountain huts offer basic accommodation in bunk-style rooms. Blankets and duvets are in the huts, so you don’t need to bring a sleeping bag. It is obligatory to bring a sleeping bag liner.
We are served a simple breakfast and a 3-course dinner (soup, main meal, dessert).
We will let the guardian of the hut know if you are on a special diet (vegetarians, allergies, etc.). Vegans will need to bring supplementary food.
There are hut slippers available for use inside the hut.
It’s helpful to bring cash for personal expenses (water, soft drinks, beer, lunches, etc.)
There is mostly no tap water in the huts, and you must buy bottled water.
You will be able to charge your phone.
Some mountain huts have showers. You must mostly pay for this; only a few huts can provide towels.
Make a booking
Please read through all the course information. Please make sure that you have the required level to join the course.
Contact us if you have any questions.
Read more about the booking process here – Click here.
We will need all to join a course to complete our “Participation Form.”
