Follow us
Biodiversity Excursion around the Mer de Glace glacier
Duration:
3 days
Price from: 750€
Fitness:
Infobulle physique
Physical Level 1: For individuals who engage in occasional physical activities, positive elevation gain of up to 300m.
Physical Level 2: For individuals who engage in regular physical activities, positive elevation gain of up to 600m or routes above 3500m.
Physical Level 3: For individuals who engage in regular endurance activities, positive elevation gain of up to 900m or routes above 4000m.
Physical Level 4: For individuals who engage in regular endurance activities, positive elevation gain of up to 1300m.
Physical Level 5: For individuals who engage in intensive endurance activities, positive elevation gain exceeding 1300m.
Technique:
Infobulle technique
Technical Level 1: For regular hikers wishing to discover mountaineering. The route is not very steep and is well-marked, or the activity may also take place in beginner-friendly areas.
Technical Level 2: For experienced hikers wishing to discover mountaineering. The route includes short, steep sections and may involve scree or rocky ridges, requiring surefootedness.
Technical Level 3: For occasional mountaineers (2 to 5 recent outings). The route includes steep sections requiring prior climbing experience at a French grade 3c level and/or mastery of crampons and ice axe use.
Technical Level 4: For regular mountaineers (5 to 10 recent outings). The route requires climbing at a French grade 4c level and mastery of mountaineering techniques, including the use of crampons and an ice axe, as well as basic roping and belaying techniques.
Technical Level 5: For experienced mountaineers (more than 10 recent outings). The route requires climbing above a French grade 4c level and mastery of mountaineering techniques, including the use of crampons and ice axes for ice climbing, as well as advanced roping and belaying techniques.
General information
Overlooking the Mer de Glace, the balcony trails offer unique views of how the high mountains are evolving in response to climate change, particularly through changes in flora and the accelerated melting of glaciers. Frequented since the 19th century, the Mer de Glace balconies remain exceptional today for their beauty, isolation, and the richness of their alpine flora. Over the course of three days, you will not only explore these mountain landscapes but also observe and better understand the transformations of the Mont Blanc Massif. This excursion is designed for experienced off-trail hikers with a curiosity for nature. Our high mountain guides will accompany you on this immersive journey, with the legendary Couvercle and Leschaux huts as your stages along the way.
On the itinerary: glacier trekking, traversing moraines, and hiking steep paths with ladder crossings. The summit you will reach is one of wonder and discovery, confronting a mountain that is ever-changing, yet still retaining its beauty and mystery.
Group booking
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 below for the group booking module
Price 2025 : 750€ per person, based on a minimum of 3 persons
Minors aged 16 and over must be accompanied by an adult
Including in the package :
- mountain guiding services
- 2 nights in mountain hut with half-board
- lift tickets
Not included in the package :
- daily lunches & snacks, drinks
- personal equipment
- mandatory repatriation insurance
Private booking
Private hiring 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 (depending on the availability of the huts) and the itinerary can be adjusted, according to your specific expectations.
Prices 2025 :
2 people : 1230€ per person
3 people : 900€ per person
4 people : 740€ per person
Including in the package :
- mountain guiding services
- 2 nights in mountain hut with half-board
- lift tickets
Not included in the package :
- daily lunches & snacks, drinks
- personal equipment
- mandatory repatriation insurance
Further information
In this section, find all the information about this activity. To prepare your trip effectively, refer to the guides’ tips. They share their expertise and recommendations, ensuring you have a great experience.
Meeting point : Meet at 8.30 am at the Compagnie des Guides office in Chamonix
Physical level : Suitable for experienced hikers. Daily hikes last 6 hours
Technical level : This trip requires prior experience in off-trail mountain hiking. Experience in via ferrata is also recommended due to the numerous ladder crossings. Prior mountaineering experience is not necessary
Guiding policy : 3 to 4 people. Minors aged 16 and over must be accompanied by an adult
Accommodation : During the trip, you will stay in huts for 2 nights on a half-board basis. Before & after the trip: We have some hotel partners in Chamonix with special prices for our customers
Documentation : Participants must have mountain sports insurance with repatriation cover. We strongly recommend that this also includes cancellation cover. You can take out insurance when you sign up. Participants must also take valid ID with them
Documents available for download
Equipment
We recommend you take particular care over you choice of equipment, as it plays a large role in the success of your trip. Weight is critical, and you must always evaluate the weight-to-comfort ratio to find the best compromise.
Equipment
- 35-litre backpack
- A pair of sturdy high-top shoes
- Telescopic trekking poles
- Crampons suitable for your shoes with anti-balling plates; helmet, harness
Clothing
- Warm hat that can be worn under a helmet
- Sun hat or cap
- Neck protection such as a ‘Buff’
- ‘Micro-fibre’ style long-sleeve base layer
- Fleece
- ‘Gore Tex’ style shell jacket with hood
- Down jacket
- Base layer leggings
- A trekking trousers
- A short
- ‘Gore Tex’ style over-trousers
- Warm specialist walking socks
- Lightweight specialist walking socks
- Ski gloves or good quality mitts
- Leather or fleece gloves
- Change of clothes at your discretion
Accessories
- Category 4 sunglasses
- Ski goggles
- Headtorch
- Sheet sleeping bag
- Water bottle (minimum 1.5l) and thermos bottle
- Personalised first aid kit with a minimum of: sun cream, lip balm, cotton buds, blister kit, antisickness medication
- Watertight bag to contain your ID/passport and Euros
NB : you can load your electrical devices in every hut
Our Rental Partners : You can rent your equipment with our rental shops partners and benefit from special price Millet (excluding crampons, ice axes and helmet), Sanglard Sports, Ravanel & Co & Concept Pro Shop
Our Equipment Partners : Millet, Dynastar, Julbo, Grivel & Monnet
Itinerary
Day 1
Ascent to the Charpoua Hut
We take the cogwheel train up to Montenvers (1,913 m), then the new cable car onto the Mer de Glace (1,700 m). From there, a winding trail with ladders leads us through the Charpoua cirque, offering spectacular panoramic views along the way. The ascent ends at the beautifully renovated Charpoua Hut (2023), perched at 2,841 m, a quiet guardian of this wild valley.
Elevation gain: 1,150 m
Day 2
Crossing to the Couvercle Hut
We start with a detour to the heights of Charpoua, where the rare Saussure’s androsace blooms among the rocks. Then the narrow, winding trail with ladders leads along the austere flanks of the Aiguille du Moine, offering stunning views of the Mer de Glace and surrounding peaks. The crossing ends at the beautifully renovated Couvercle Hut (2023), perched at 2,679 m, a guardian of this exceptional Mont Blanc balcony.
Elevation gain: 500 m - Descent: 700 m
Day 3
Return to Montenvers
For the return, we can retrace the previous route or take a detour via the Leschaux Hut, offering a unique view of the Grandes Jorasses. This wilder path extends our immersion in the massif, revealing glaciers and iconic rock faces from a new perspective. The trail gradually leads back to the Mer de Glace, where we catch the Montenvers cable car, marking the end of our journey.
Descent: 1,000 m
Booking
Book your activity
Calculate your carbon footprint
Discover the carbon emissions of this activity and add your trip to the meeting point.
CO2 emitted per person for the activity: 52 kg. Learn out more about the footprint calculation of this activity
CO2 emitted per person for the activity: 52 kg. Learn out more about the footprint calculation of this activity
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 5.2€The price for a ton of CO2 is currently 100€ in the European Union to offset.
Find out more about our zero impact strategy.
x