High mountain bivouac | Chamonix Guides

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Category: Multi-day mountaineering

Duration: 2 days

Level:

Price from: 310 €

The Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix has developed a set of trips with night in bivouac to give you an extraordinary experience right in the heart of the mountains.

- Bivouac trapper, 2 days: Immerse yourself in the daily life of a trapper
- Night in an igloo village, 2 days: Comfortable evening surrounded by nature
- Bivouac hike, 2 days: Rediscover the path to freedom facing the Mont Blanc
- High mountain bivouac, 2 days: Spend a night as close as possible to the stars

Live a unique experience by sleeping one night in a tent in the heart of the Vallée Blanche on the Glacier du Géant. Enjoy the magical atmosphere of the high altitude night landscapes made up of silhouettes, shadows and stars. In total autonomy, the know-how of your guide will allow us to return to our roots with ease. This atypical trip is for people wishing to live in either summer or winter, the unique experience of a night in a tent in the high mountains, benefiting from the advice of a specialist.

Thanks to our partner Samaya, all the bivouac equipment is at your disposal to keep you warm and to make the most of this extraordinary night.

Day 1 : Towards the Vallée Blanche
After a short late morning transfer from Chamonix via the Mont Blanc tunnel, the Skyway cable car drops us off at the top of Pointe Helbronner (3,462m or 11,358ft), the start of our journey. We set foot on the Glacier du Géant and head towards the foothills of the Dent du Géant (4,001m or 13,126ft). After an hour's walk, we set up our bivouac in sunlight near the Pointe Vallet (3,445m or 11,302ft). We spend an enjoyable evening before sleeping in the warmth of our tents under the stars. Your guide will give you all the advice and tips to make you comfortable and to fully enjoy this exceptional experience. They will share with you the stories and anecdotes of their most memorable nights high up in the mountains !
Elevation gain: 100 m

Day 2 : Sweet return
Waking up in our sleeping bags allows us to fully enjoy the start of the day. Without leaving a trace, we dismantle our tents and then make our way back. We take the opportunity to explore the area during a short hike. Return to Chamonix early afternoon.
Elevation drop: 100 m

This programme is meant as a guide only. Depending on the abilities of the group and the conditions in the mountains, your mountain guide may alter the route.

Group session associates several people who don’t know each other. It allows for a planned program to benefit from an attractive price on fixed dates. This formula is ideal for people looking for the friendliness of a group.

Dates : See online booking

Price 2023 : 330€ per person - based on a minimum of 4 participants

Included in the package :
- IFMGA English speaking mountain guiding service
- bivouac kit : tent, sleeping bag, stove, cutlery
- dinner & breakfast
- lift pass
- transfer to Italy
- snowshoes, poles, avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe in winter

Not included in the package :
- personal technical equipment including your mountaineering shoes and harness
- crampons and ice axe in summer
- take out lunches and daily snacks
- drinks (make sure you have at least 2 litres of water)
- repatriation insurance (mandatory)
- transport to the meeting point

Private booking is the historical relationship that binds a guide to his/her client. It allows you to be alone, or in a constituted group, with your guide that meets your specific needs. It is undoubtedly the ideal formula to realize your projects because it guarantees you a maximum of comfort. You are free to choose your departure date and the itinerary can be adjusted, according to your specific expectations.

Prices 2023 :
2 people : 745€ per person
3 people : 530€ per person
4 people : 420€ per person
5 people : 355€ per person
6 people : 310€ per person

Not included in the package :
- personal technical equipment including your mountaineering shoes and harness
- crampons and ice axe in summer
- take out lunches and daily snacks,
- drinks (make sure you have at least 2 litres of water)
- repatriation insurance (mandatory)
- transport to the meeting point

Find in this in this section, all the information about this activity. For any further information please contact our advisors (contact details above).

Meeting point : meet at 11:30am at the Compagnie des Guides office in Chamonix - 190 place de l'Eglise 74400 Chamonix.

Ability level : Discovery special. No previous experience requested. 2 to 3-hour hike with average vertical gain between 100 m and 200 m. Nevertheless, this trip takes place at high altitude - 3500 m

Important information: A night at high altitude can cause inconvenience such as : headache, nausea, insomnia.

Guiding policy : From 4 to 6 people.
Children minimum 16 years old accompanied by a parent.

Accommodation : night under the tent

Documentation : Participants must have an insurance with repatriation cover. Cancellation insurance is highly recommended. You can take out insurance offering both of these types of cover when you sign up.

Preparing for the trip : one week before the trip, the mountain guide will be in contact to answer any questions you may have.

We recommend you to pay particular attention to the choice of your equipment. It contributes greatly to the success of your stay. Weight is decisive: you always have to evaluate the ratio weight/comfort, to find the best compromise. In a general way, it is better to pile up several light coats rather than wear one big clothing.

Hiking boots
- Mountaineering boots that are not too tight

Back-pack
- Minimum size 40 L (a back-pack with extra room is better than too small).
- Once everything is packed, make sure there is enough room to fit your picnic lunch.
- Although backpack covers are very convenient in bad weather, we recommend using a very large plastic bag as a pack-liner to protect your personal belongings from getting wet.

Clothing
Underwear : avoid using cotton. Compared to technical synthetic material, it is heavier and it dries slowly. Wool is also getting popular amongst sportswear brands. Synthetic and wool are warmer ; they dry fast, and allow you to pack light.

Carrying weight
Taking enough time to pack is essential, as you are going to carry every item for several days in a row. Avoiding extra weight can easily be done by packing your clothes tightly, placing heavy items at the bottom of the pack, and avoiding empty spaces. As a result weight is better spread throughout your back and weight impression diminished).

Daily needs
- 1 synthetic long-sleeve shirt,
- 1 light polar fleece,
- 1 pair of Goretex pants, 1 long synthetic underwear to wear under your trousers,
- 1 a pair of wool socks,
- 1 Goretex jacket,
- 1 pair of fleece gloves, 1 pair of mittens, 1 pair of silk gloves,
- 1 warm hat, a scarf or neck warmer,
- 1 water bottle (1.5 quart, to 2 quarts minimum) isothermal if possible,
- 1 pocket knife + 1 « spork »,
- Cap or sun-hat and sunglasses (category # 3 minimum), sunscreen (face and lips),
- a camera and a pair of binoculars (optional).

What you need for the entire trip
- Down jacket or warm polar fleece,
- long underwear or sweat pants for the evening,
- changes of clothes: (T-shirt, underwear and socks) prefer synthetic to cotton,
- Pocket light or head lamp,
- Individual first aid kit *,
- Ultra-light shower kit (feel free to customize …) + synthetic « dry fast » towel,
- 1 one-person sleep-sheet (silk is the most comfortable and remains the lightest),
- ID card or passport + spare change for personal expenses + paper tissues and toilet paper,
- gaiters (recommended if your Goretex pants don’t have a boot-skirt).
- enough food for 4 meals (picnic, dinner and breakfast). eg : bread, dried meat, ham, cereal bars, hard fruit (apple), grain and nut mix and at least 2 litres of water.

* Elastoplast (stretchable strapping tape), band-aids, second skin, medicine for common aches and pains (diarrhea, headaches, sore throat…). Don’t forget to bring personal prescription treatment if you have one. Mountain leaders also carry a complete first aid kit.

Our Rental Partners : You can rent your equipment with our rental shops partners and benefit from special price Sanglard Sports, Ravanel & Co & Concept Pro Shop
Our Equipment Partners : Millet, Dynastar, Julbo, Grivel & Monnet

Carbone Calculator

CO2 emitted per person for the activity: 14 kg. In order to limit global warming to +2°C by 2100, the COP-21 agreement stipulates that each human should emit no more than 2t of CO2 per year. According to the French Ministry of Ecology, today European citizens emit an average of 11t per year, and American citizens emit an average of 21t annually.

CO2 emitted per person for this activity & journey(s) = 0 kgIn order to limit global warming to +2°C by 2100, the COP-21 agreement stipulates that each human should emit no more than 2t of CO2 per year. According to the French Ministry of Ecology, today European citizens emit an average of 11t per year, and American citizens emit an average of 21t annually., or 0.4€ to offset.

Find out more about our zero impact strategy.