About Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix
The Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix is the oldest mountain guide company in the world, founded in 1821 following the first ascent of Mont Blanc. For over two centuries, this prestigious institution has been the beating heart of alpinism in the Chamonix Valley, providing professional mountain guides for everything from introductory glacier walks to serious high-altitude mountaineering expeditions. Their office sits in the centre of Chamonix, and the roster includes some of the most experienced and decorated alpinists in France.
Their programme covers an extraordinary range of mountain activities across all four seasons. In winter, they offer off-piste skiing and snowboarding, ski touring, ice climbing, and avalanche safety courses. Summer brings rock climbing at all levels, alpine mountaineering including Mont Blanc ascents, via ferrata, canyoneering, trail running, and guided glacier hikes on the Mer de Glace. They also run multi-day traverses like the classic Tour du Mont Blanc and Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt, as well as international expeditions to peaks around the world.
What makes the Compagnie truly exceptional is the depth of local expertise passed down through generations of Chamonix guides. Many of the guides grew up in the valley, learned to climb on these very peaks as children, and have intimate knowledge of conditions that no guidebook can provide. The company maintains the highest safety standards and certification requirements in the industry. Whether you are a first-timer wanting to step onto a glacier or an experienced alpinist planning a technical summit bid, the Compagnie des Guides is the gold standard in mountain guiding.
