The French Alps - Chamonix Adventure Holidays
 

Ultimate Adventure Week in Chamonix

Saturday       Arrival Welcome Drinks & Overview of Activities
Sunday          High level Alpine Walking
Monday         Rock Climbing
Tuesday        Glacier and Ice Day
Wednesday   Personal Day
Thursday       Mountain Biking
Friday              White Water Rafting / Hydro-speeding
Saturday       Departure

Program runs May to October and always starts on a Saturday.

The programme for the week is flexible depending on weather conditions and is aimed at people with a moderate level of fitness.

Wednesday is a personal day to do what you wish. For example: take the bus to Italy to relax at a wonderful spa; enjoy a round of golf at the Chamonix golf course; take a flight over the mountains in a tandem paraglide.  The choice is yours.
 

High Level Alpine Walking

This is usually the first day of your adventure holiday in Chamonix allowing plenty of time for the group and guides to get to know each other. The south side of the Aiguille Rouge, high above the Chamonix valley offer wonderful, sunny alpine walks with some of the best views in the French Alps.

Starting from Argentiere or Chamonix itself, numerous routes allow us to walk steeply out of the Chamonix valley and onto the high alpine meadows. Incredible views of the dramatic Chamonix Aiguilles tumbling glaciers and the mighty Mont Blanc are on offer

Following well-marked paths and with regular stops to rest, take photos or merely feel awed by the situation. Your professional guide will ensure your safety whilst allowing you to benefit from their local knowledge.

The route is weather and condition dependent and alternatives may be found.
 

Rock climbing

Climbing in Chamonix, France is renowned the world over and every year 100,000s of visitors who wish to holiday in the French Alps choose the Chamonix valley.

Your activity holiday would not be complete without safely learning the basics of rock climbing and abseiling.  Our fully qualified professional mountain guides will first equip you with climbing safety helmets, harnesses and rock boots before teaching you that climbing is not the reserve of the super fit and muscle-bound but an intricate and exhilarating sport of balance and technique.  A cool head helps too!

The climbing venue is in a beautiful grassy park close to cafes with the stunning backdrop of the Bossons glacier and Mont Blanc. In this relaxed atmosphere you can safely rise to the challenge of climbing and personally push your limits whether it is going up or abseiling down. 

The day will begin with learning about basic climbing techniques, familiarisation of the equipment, and safely top-roping numerous rock climbs.  In the afternoon your guides will teach abseiling (descending down the rock face on ropes) and may even encourage members of the team to lead easier rock pitches.
 

Glacier and Ice Day

This incredible day allows you to experience what it is like to travel on a glacier and marvel at the spectacular scenery on the Mer de Glace glacier right into he heart of the Chamonix Alps.

A breathtaking train journey from the Chamonix valley to Montenvers, at 1950 metres above the valley floor, is followed by descending 100 metres down specially fixed ladders onto the Mer de Glace glacier.

Learn how to use your ice axe and crampons before journeying up the vast river of ice cutting through the mighty French Alps. 

Peer into seemingly bottomless crevasses and try your hand at scaling steep ice pitches. Your professional mountain guide will explain and show you the basic principles of glacier travel on wet and dry glaciers and point out the majestic and lofty peaks before safely guiding you back to the Montenver train station.  After an extraordinary adventure take the train back to Chamonix and relive the experience over a cold beer.

Normal start time will be 9.30am finishing mid-afternoon.
 

Personal Day

We have included a personal day within your week where you can choose how you wish to spend the day.  Your options are many and diverse from purely relaxing in the Chamonix valley, to being pampered in a spa, playing golf, paragliding over the mountains, or even climbing an Alpine peak.

The possibilities are almost endless however these are the ones that we think you might like:

• Via Ferata

• Tennis

• Canyoning

• Horse riding

• Golf

• Tandem Paragliding

• Swimming

• Alpine climbing

• Relax in a spa

The above options are not included in the price of the holiday, are subject to availability and in some cases weather and conditions dependent.
 

Mountain Biking

As well as being a world famous venue for walking and climbing the Chamonix valley has in recent years become a mecca for mountain biking. A diverse and exciting array of routes is open to us. From gentle trails along the valley floor to tortuous ascents amongst the Alpine pastures and mad hair raising descents down precipitous paths to the valley floor. 

Our professionally qualified mountain bike guides will first familiarise you with your bikes and equipment and choose the route to suit the group.

A number of lifts in the valley are available to take mountain bike groups high into the Alps and avoid some of the more gruelling ascents.  Ever present is the spectacular scenery and your guide will ensure that your chosen route (including a well earned stop for a picnic lunch) is not only challenging but also safe and a highlight on your French alpine adventure holiday.
 

Rafting and Hydo-Speeding

This is normally the final day of your activity week and is a huge adventure.  Firstly we travel down the valley for 20 minutes to meet the experienced rafting guides who will be with you throughout the day.  Once suitably equipped with wet suits, life jackets and helmets and after a comprehensive safety briefing we begin the descent down the River Arve. An action packed morning of adrenalin and laughs as we shoot the white-knuckle rapids on the fast moving river. 

After drying off we head to a local restaurant in La Praz to have a two course lunch. Following lunch we don more specialist equipment and hurl ourselves into the river to experience the fast moving and thrilling sport of hydo-speeding.  Once again the experienced river guides ensure a safe but sensational descent down the swiftly moving river Arve – one moment inside the waves the next on top. It is certainly a thrilling adventure!

Prices Per Person in AUD:

* Hotel options available

The prices for our courses are based on a minimum of 4 people per course but we can run the courses for 2-3 people with a supplement cost.  Clients booking groups of 4+ can have private groups at these rates if they wish.

Price includes:

• Return airport transfers in a minibus from Geneva to Chamonix

• 7 nights accommodation in twin or double beds in Self Catered Apartment in Chamonix

• 3 course local Savoyard Dinner with a half carafe of wine for two

• 2 course lunch in a local restaurant on the rafting day

• Five days of activities with the relevant professional guide

• International Mountain leader to guide high level walk

• Mountain guide to lead rock climbing and glacial day and hire of all equipment

• Mountain bike guide and hire of bikes and helmets

• Rafting and hydro-speeding day

• Transfers to the activities

Price does not include:

Any lifts – weather dependent, any food or drinks except those highlighted, personal expenses, and mountain rescue insurance

This package always starts on a Saturday.

If you wish to tailor an activity holiday in Chamonix to your specific needs please Contact Us.