The nearest airport is in Geneva, but Lyon, Nice, Milan, or even Zurich can also be considered. The transfer from Geneva is inexpensive - around 20 euros, and will only take an hour, while from other cities it will take significantly longer to get there. A car can be rented at Geneva airport, and it's cost-effective to do it in advance.
Public transport consists of trains and buses. Trains - SNCF. Excellent transfer operator - AlpyBus. Besides that, there are Flixbus, Easybus and Swisstours.
In addition to mountaineering, Chamonix (Chamonix-Mont-Blanc) offers a variety of other activities and attractions. These include a tour of the Mer de Glace glacier, a room with a glass floor at the top of Aiguille du Midi, tandem paragliding, rock climbing, bike rides on rental bikes, a lake a 20-minute drive away - a great place to relax after climbing. And of course, there are various spas and thermal baths.
In Chamonix, there are many cafes and restaurants, including vegan and vegetarian cuisine options. There are also large grocery stores within walking distance.
The Chamonix Valley is a resort area. Accommodation can be quite expensive, but you can also stay at one of the campsites. When looking to rent accommodation, consider Chamonix, Les Houches, Les Bossons, Le Taconnaz, and Le Praz. Public transport is quite good, and there are no problems getting to any point in the valley.
The Alps are practically a continuous national park, and camping is often prohibited. Fortunately, there is a well-developed network of mountain shelters where you can eat, spend the night, and rest before climbing for a moderate fee.
The main trick is that you need to arrange your accommodation with the refuge staff in advance. This is mainly done online, but sometimes you may need to call them.
There is mobile coverage in the valley. Therefore, activate roaming and pay for it to avoid being without communication. There is Wi-Fi available in cafes and hotels. However, mobile coverage in refuges is not always stable and sometimes absent altogether.
If the tour includes a transfer to another location, an additional booking and payment for the transfer is required. Local transfers are paid on-site at a rate of 100€ per 100km. This rate includes the driver's services and fuel. Toll roads and tunnels are paid separately by the guests.
If the weather does not allow for ascents in the valley, there is the possibility to go to Italy through the tunnel and catch good weather there. The guide, having studied all the forecasts, will suggest an interesting alternative to the main program. In the worst case scenario, we will have a training session in a climbing gym or just take a walk around museums and relax.
With the proper selection of equipment and individual items, the weight of the backpack should not exceed 10 kg.
When booking refuges, half-board is usually ordered, which includes breakfast and dinner. It is possible to request a vegetarian menu.
Please note that tea and water are not included in the offered dinner and are paid separately in the refuges. Breakfast is quite modest, at best - muesli, milk, toast with jam, cheese, sausage, tea, juice, or coffee. It makes sense to bring snacks with you (bars, nuts, or sandwiches).
Personal equipment (climbing harness, crampons, ice axe, helmet, carabiners, boots) can be rented at numerous outdoor shops in Chamonix.
Recommended rental points are Concept PRO, Snells Sport, Technique Extrême, and others.
I often hear questions about preparation from my future guests. I see either excessive anxiety about their physical shape or, on the contrary, a careless attitude towards it. Nevertheless, it's worth going through my checklist and improving weak points:
- Strong physical fitness. Ability to hike uphill for 2-3 hours with a backpack weighing 6-8 kg on a difficult or non-existent trail at a speed of 500 meters per hour. In urban conditions, I ran up stairs.
- Experience at high altitude is welcomed. You will know how your body reacts to altitude and how quickly you adapt. If you have been at high altitude, please inform the guide.
- Having a minimum of mountaineering experience or experience hiking in crampons is welcomed.
- For some tours, participation in tours of a lower level difficulty or completing rock climbing training is required.
- Absence of fear of heights. You must be confident that you do not panic when approaching the edge of a cliff. It's normal to feel fear, but paralyzed limbs and panic are another matter. Check how well you control your fear by visiting a climbing gym. Let the guide know about any concerns you may have.
- Check if you have any of desiases on this list. Inform the guide if you are unsure. Do not hide your health problems - it can save your life.