Program

- Meeting point at the Skyway cable car departure point in Entrèves at 8.30/8.45 am
- Participants will be provided with harness and avalanche transceiver
- Briefing on the schedule for the day and cable car ride up to Punta Helbronner (3466 mt)
- Visit to the view terrace of the cable car station to enjoy the stunning vista of the surrounding Aosta Valley summits

- Walk to Col Flambeaux with our skiing gear for about 15 minutes
- From here, ski descent to the Vallée Blanche along the “Mer de Glace” glacier. Arrival in Chamonix approx. 5 hours later. Scheduled stops to snap pictures of the unique scenery, have a packed lunch, and enjoy the sun
- If the snow conditions and the participants’ skill level allow it, ski descent directly into Chamonix. If not, arrival to Chamonix by the little Montenvers train (the 30,00€€ fair is not included in the program price). In both cases (descent by ski to Chamonix or descent by train), it will be necessary to walk uphill 15 to 20 min to reach from the bottom of the glacier the downhill piste, or the Montenvers train station.
- After a glass of beer in Chamonix ‒ a must-do ‒ return trip to Courmayeur with a 35-minutes bus ride (the fair is included in the collective price) through the Mont Blanc Tunnel
- Arrival in Courmayeur between 4pm and 5pm.
- Remember to take your passport or ID cart
- In case of deep snow the wide skis are Mandatory

Equipment

PERSONAL TECHNICAL GEAR
- 30 liters backpack 

- Skiing gear: snowboard and 1 pole or freeride skis. Please indicate if you are with skis or snowboard. In the collective we don't mix skiers and snowbaorders.
- Security kit: avalanche transceiver, harness
- Helmet

CLOTHING AND USEFUL GEAR
- Glacier glasses
- Sunscreen and lip balm
- Wool cap
- Neckwarmer
- Ski gloves + 1 pair of lighter gloves
- Breathable T-shirt
- Fleece
- Waterproof jacket
- Down jacket
- Ski pants
- Ski socks
- One extra T-shirt
- Ski goggles
- Camera  
- Paper handkerchiefs
- Cap
- Sandwich, small water bottle, chocolate bar
- Remember to take your passport or ID card
- In case of deep snow only with wide skis

Rates

You can choose to perform the trip in a "Collective Group" or with a "Private Guide"

COLLECTIVE
You'll be added in an a group with other people.
Groups:
- max 6 people per Mountain Guide
The trip will be confirmed ONLY by reaching the number of 6 clients. If not, the Guide Office will suggest you some alternative ski trips.
In the collective we don't organise mixed groups of skiers and snowboarders.
Cost per person: 140,00€ (from monday to thursday excluding public italian holidays)
Cost per person: 155,00€ (from friday to sunday and every public italian holidays)
The price includes:
- the assistance of the Mountain Guide
- Emergency rescue insurance
- security kit: avalance transceiver and harness
- bus ticket to come back to Courmayeur
The price does not include:
- The SkyWay Monte Bianco cableway ticket: 48,00€ per person or 43,00 € per person if you buy the ticket online
- Montenvers train ticket 33,00€ per person (the use of the train to go down to Chamonix depens by the snow coverage)
- Montenvers train ticket for the Mountain Guide 20,80€ has to be payed by the group

PRIVATE GUIDE
You can book a private Mountain Guide at disposal of your own group.
Cost for private group:
1-2 people: 455,00€
3 people: 495,00€
4 people: 550,00€
5 people: 600,00€
6 people: 675,00€    
The price includes:
- the assistance of the Mountain Guide 
- emergency rescue insurance
- security kit: avalance transceiver and harness
The price does not include:
- SkyWay Monte Bianco cableway tickets 48,00 € per person or 43,00 € per person if you buy the ticket online
- Montenvers train tickets 33,00€ per person (the use of the train to go down to Chamonix depends by the snow coverage)
- Montenvers train ticket for the Mountain Guide 20,80€ has to be payed by the group
- The cost of a private bus to come back to Courmayeur

Note

- The Vallee Blanche descent is suitable for good skiers who use to ski on all kind of slopes with parallel skis and a good skis control. Please be aware that It is an off-piste route. 
- the Ski descent of Vallée Blanche is an OFF PISTE descent: we suggest freeride ski equipment!
- In case of bad weather, we will suggest an alternative day to perform the same trip
- The 3-day or more Courmayeur, VDA and Mont Blanc Unlimited skipasses include the SkyWay cable car fares
- As this trip begins at an altitude of  3466m, you are required to inform our office about any respiratory or heart diseases upon booking the trip.

Search and rescue insurance details:
emergency rescue insurance

IT'S REQUESTED A VALID EUROPEAN HEALTH INSURANCE CARD (EHIC) TO HAVE A PERSONAL HEALTH INSURANCE

Multimedia

Photo

Video

Evaluate your Level

Physical condition levels

Skiing and ski-touring Technical Ratings

Alpinism and ice-climbing technical ratings

Booking

Bookings must be made either by phone at +39 0165 842064 or by email at info@guidecourmayeur.com indicating:
- participants' name and surname;
- telephone number, address, Italian taxpayer identification number or, in its absence, place and date of birth;
- technical skill level;
- date and program of your choice;
- parental consent for underage participants.
After having made arrangements with our main office (by phone or email) an advance payment (by wire transfer) is required in the amount of:
- the TOTAL price for 1-day, 2 and 3-days programs;
- 50% of the total price for multiple-day programs from 4 days;
- 50% of the total price for MONT BLANC ascents and STAGE MONT BLANC (summer programs). Full payment of the balance of the total participation fee must be made within 15 days prior to the start of the program selected.
No booking will be accepted before the requested payment has been received.
Bookings made after the payment deadline require full payment of the total participation fee without any deferments or deposits.

There is an additional charge of 7,00€ per person per day for insurance for non-EU residents.

Bank details:
Heading: SOCIETA' GUIDE ALPINE COURMAYEUR
IBAN: IT10N0858731560000200100250
BIC: CCRTIT2TVAL
Bank details: Banca di Credito Cooperativo Valdostana Scrl
Viale Monte Bianco, 30
11013 Courmayeur (AO)

Bank transfer fees + Bank currency conversions fees MUST be debited to you. If not, these fees have to be refounded at our office before the start of the selected trip.

Administrative expenses, the amount of which is fixed at 5% of the activity price, with a maximum limit of €200.00, are never refundable.

Variations to the program scheduled

If weather or mountain conditions do not allow for the activities to be carried out as scheduled, we will offer you an alternative program as replacement, or alternative dates for the same program selected (clients will be promptly informed of any additional costs relating to the proposed alternative solutions). Should it not be possible to set an alternative date or to agree upon an appropriate alternative trip, Society Guide Alpine di Courmayeur will issue  a credit, which you can use within the following year for the same program. Except for the Stage Mont Blanc 6days and the Mont Blanc Ascent in 2/3days, the alternative program will take place in the Monte Rosa area or Gran Paradiso.

For all the bookings of group activities: in case we do not reach the minimum number of clients, the Mountain Guide Office will offer you an alternative program. We will offer you: - book privately a Mountain Guide, with, probably a money adjustment
- change the scheduled program for a different one
- change the date of the scheduled program

Cancellation and withdrawal policy

If you wish to cancel your booking of a program for which you have already paid a deposit by way of subscription (or the total participation fee), the following cancellation fees will apply:
- 10% of the total participation fee for withdraws notified before 30 business days prior to the start of the program selected
- 25% of the total participation fee for withdraws notified 29 to 21 business days prior to the start of the program selected;
- 50% of the total participation fee for withdraws notified 20 to 11 business days prior to the start of the program selected;
- 75% of the total participation fee for withdraws notified 10 to 3 business days prior to the program selected;
No refunds for withdraws notified 3 business days prior to the start of the program selected

Assignment of a subscription to third parties

In the event that you are not able to attend the program you have booked, Società Guide Alpine di Courmayeur allows you to assign your subscription to a specific program to third parties (that meet the requirements provided), prior notice must be made to Società Guide Alpine di Courmayeur at least 4 days before the start of the trip.

Consapevolezza E’ Sicurezza

Frequentare l’Alta Montagna è attività impegnativa che non può essere intrapresa con leggerezza , e richiede tutta una serie di attente valutazioni sia sulle proprie condizioni fisiche sia sulle condizioni che si andranno ad affrontare, e quindi anche delle proprie capacità e competenze.
L’Alta Montagna è un ambiente magnifico, maestoso, sublime, ma che nasconde insidie e comporta prudenza, attenzione e perizia.
Per questa ragione, le Guide di Courmayeur ritengono opportuno informare, attraverso questo piccolo vademecum, circa tutte quelle situazioni che possono verificarsi durante lo svolgimento delle attività in Alta Montagna.
Vediamo alcuni aspetti che possono influenzare le nostre gite in alta quota.

Pressione e Alta Quota

La pressione atmosferica diminuisce mano a mano che saliamo di quota. A 5.000 mt è la metà della pressione rilevata al livello del mare. Ciò comporta conseguenze dirette sul nostro organismo, che in molte sue parti subisce questa depressione.

QUOTA (mt) OSSIGENO DISPONIBILE (%) 0 mt 100% 2000 mt 80% 4000 mt 60% Monte Cervino 5000 mt. 50% Monte Bianco

L’abbassamento di pressione comporta una diminuzione della concentrazione di ossigeno nell’aria. Più la pressione dell’ossigeno nell’atmosfera diminuisce, meno i nostri polmoni sono in grado di captarlo, diminuendone dunque la concentrazione nel sangue e, di conseguenza, la performance fisica. L’organismo umano, con un sufficiente allenamento, è comunque in grado di adattare e migliorare le proprie capacità in un ambiente con ossigeno rarefatto, grazie all’acclimatamento, che deve essere più o meno lungo a seconda della quota che dovremo affrontare.

Freddo e Vento

In quota, la T diminuisce mediamente di 1 °C ogni 150 mt. Ciò comporta un aumento del rischio di ipotermia e di congelamento.

QUOTA (mt)	0	1000	2000	3000	4000	5000
TEMPERATURA (°C)	15 °C	9 °C	2 °C	-5 °C	-8 °C	-18 °C

Il vento inoltre accentua gli effetti della temperatura sull’organismo. Esso, per vivere, ha bisogno di mantenere la propria temperatura attorno ai 37 °C.
Per mantenerla nell’ambiente ostile dell’alta montagna, in condizioni di esposizione a temperature fredde, l’organismo consuma le proprie riserve di energia. E’ importante dunque seguire alcuni principi :
- bere e nutrirsi (prevedere dunque scorte adeguate)
- restare asciutti (utilizzare quindi abbigliamento adeguato e prevedere un ricambio)
- proteggersi dal vento con abbigliamento specifico
- rimanere attivi
In montagna, il vento amplifica i propri effetti. Ha un potere di raffreddamento del corpo di 0,5 °C per km/h ed inoltre contribuisce a disidratare l’organismo.

Umidità

E’ la concentrazione di vapore nell’aria. Essa diminuisce all’aumentare della quota, ciò comporta un aumento del pericolo di disidratazione, sia per via cutanea che per via respiratoria.

Sole ed Irraggiamento

L’irraggiamento è prodotto dai raggi ultravioletti (UVA/B/C) e dai raggi infrarossi (IR).
UVA ed UVB sono i più aggressivi per la pelle e per gli occhi. L’intensità dell’irraggiamento aumenta di circa l’ 1% per ogni 100 mt di quota. La neve ed il ghiaccio ne aumentano e ne accentuano gli effetti. Bisogna quindi prevedere una adeguata protezione per la pelle e per gli occhi.

Per tutte queste ragioni, è importante essere a conoscenza dei rischi ai quali si va incontro frequentando l’alta montagna, e delle nostre condizioni fisiche.
E’ necessario, prima di affrontare una attività, essersi sufficientemente preparati fisicamente, su sforzi di lunga durata, e possibilmente in quota.
E’ altresì necessario ed estremamente importante fare un esame quanto più onesto e obiettivo delle proprie capacità tecniche, ed essere consci che si va in ambiente ostile che comporta anche imprevisti ai quali occorre reagire.
Una buona valutazione delle nostre capacità tecniche e del nostro stato fisico ci permetterà di affrontare più serenamente l’ambiente dell’alta montagna e le insidie ad esso connaturate.