The trip

LEVEL ****

Elevation: +/-600 to 1100 m on average per day.
Walking time: 4 to 6 hours per day.
Type of trek: The Tour du Ruitor route and its summit take paths that are often stony. Although it does not present any particular technical difficulties, even on the last day for the ascent to the summit, this trek is still physically demanding and requires you to be able to cover almost 1,000 metres of ascent every day for a full week.
Snow and névés will be present on the paths until end of june at least. You may walk on long snowy sections that can make the tour a bit more challenging. High mountain boots, gaiters and walking poles are mandatory. Be prepared!

Ascent of the Ruitor summit (3486 m): this is a crampon walk with no particular technical or vertiginous difficulties, but it is a long stage of glacier walking.

You have to be in a general good fitness level. Please practice a cardio sport such as hiking, running, cycling, from 3 to 4 hours a week.
Your physical preparation will enable you to enjoy your trek to the maximum.
Please find the description of the levels by clicking here: levels of difficulty

GUIDING

Number in a group between 6 and 14 people supervised by a qualified professional mountain leader and high mountain guide.
The mountain guide leader may have to modify the programme to adapt it to the level of the participants and/or the natural conditions. As a last resort, he is the sole decision-maker.
As a thank you, it is usual to tip your guide at the end of the trek, depending on your satisfaction. It is not mandatory but, it is very much appreciated.

ACCOMMODATION

5 nights in dormitory in mountain refuges and gites.
1 night in a hotel bedroom for 2-4 people.
All accommodation offers hot showers.

MEALS

Breakfast and dinner are provided in each accommodation.
Picnics are included and are carefully prepared daily by your mountain leader, comprising a variety of healthy salads and local products.

Please inform us about your food allergies and special diets at the time of booking.
We do our best to accommodate special diets (gluten-free, vegetarian, etc.). However, we encourage you to bring some additional products for your own picnics.

MAPS

1/25000 Valsavarenche-Val de Rhême-Val Grisenche N102, Edition Instituto Geografico Centrale
Carte TOP 25 n° 3532 ET - Les Arcs & La Plagne (PN de la Vanoise) | IGN

Practical information

ACCESS TO DEPARTURE POINT

Meet Sunday at 11.30 am at Soudara carpark (end of the road), in La Thuile, Italy.

A return transfer option may be reserved with Altitude Montblanc in our logistics vehicle (1h15 bus ride), supplementary cost on registration, 50€ per person. Meet at 9.45 am in front of the train station in Chamonix.
If you come by car, several free car parks in the village of Les Houches, at Prarion. Meet at 9:15 a.m. in front of the Jacquier bakery at Le Prarion, Les Houches. You will meet your driver there.

BY TRAIN
TO AOSTA VIA TURIN OR
TO CHAMONIX VIA PARIS
Inbound: depart Gare de Lyon (Paris) the day before at 12:18pm arrive in Chamonix at 7:10pm.
Times given are indicative and should be verified in a train station or on www.oui.sncf

BY CAR
VIA THE MONT BLANC TUNNEL
Take the A40 motorway towards Chamonix, follow signs for Milan and take the Mont-Blanc Tunnel to Italy (58€ return) www.atmb.net.
In Italy, don't take the motorway (green signs) but follow the main road towards Aosta as far as the village of Pré-St-Didier. Then turn right towards the Col du Petit-St-Bernard until you reach the village of La Thuile. In the centre of the village, just before crossing the river, turn left onto the road towards La Joux. At the end of this road, there is a large car park.

VIA THE COL DU PETIT ST BERNARD
From the southern regions of France take the A43 motorway to Chambéry, the A30 to Albertville and follow direction Bourg St Maurice. Cross the Italian border at the Petit St Bernard pass (a very good mountain road) and arrive at the village of La Thuile. In the village centre, just after the Ruitor bridge, turn right onto the road towards La Joux. At the end of this road, there is a large car park.

If you chose the return transfer option Chamonix/La Thuile
Free parking: several free car parks in the village of Les Houches, Prarion sector. Meet at 9:15 a.m. in front of the Jacquet bakery in Le Prarion, Les Houches. You will meet your driver there.
If you wish to leave your car in a covered garage, contact:
Chamonix Auto Park: 04 50 53 65 71 (40 to 50€ per week).

End point around 4.30pm in La Thuile.

Transfer to Chamonix if option chosen (1h15 drive).
Warning: the tunnel may be very busy on Saturday. Think of a little bit more time if you need to book a bus or train from Chamonix. 

ACCOMMODATION BEFORE AND AFTER

Chamonix - Hôtel de l’Arve: +33 (0)4 50 53 02 31
Hôtel Vallée Blanche: +33 (0)4 50 53 04 50
Chamonix Tourist Office: +33 (0)4 50 53 00 24
www.chamonix.com

La Thuile, Aosta - Hôtel Le Miramonti : +39 01 65 88 30 84
Pré-St-Didier, Aosta - QC Termemontebianco : +39 02 89 74 72 07
Office du tourisme d'Aoste : +39 01 65 23 66 27
www.aoste.ialpes.com
www.lovevda.it

INSURANCE

In accordance with regulations, we are covered by Professional Liability Insurance. In no case can we be responsible for your own Personal Liability. If you chose to take out repatriation insurance with EUROP ASSISTANCE whom we propose, Altitude Mont Blanc will only serve as an intermediary between the client and the insurer. We cannot influence either party. We adhere to strict conditions of sale. You are responsible for compliance with the reporting procedures of any incident.

Before making any decision, contact EUROP ASSISTANCE.

CONTACT US

If you are late please contact the agency as soon as possible on: +33 (0)4 50 79 09 16 or +33 (0)6 42 49 76 07

Equipment & luggage

EQUIPMENT LIST

Clothing

• Walking trousers
• Shorts (Bikini/swimsuit, just in case!)
• Breathable or merino wool t-shirts
• Breathable or merino wool leggings
• Fleece or jumper
• Lightweight down jacket
• Wind stopper or Goretex jacket
• Waterproof poncho + gaiters or Goretex trousers + waterproof rucksack cover
• Pair of gloves and a warm hat
• Sun hat or baseball cap
• Walking socks (1 pair per day)
• Sturdy walking boots, already broken in with a good sole stiff enough to support   crampons (no trail running shoes or flexible hiking shoes). Crampons to suit all types of hiking boots will be available, it is not necessary to have glacier mountaineering boots.
• 1 change of clothes for the evening
• A pair of comfortable shoes for the evening

Other Equipment

• Toilet bag
• Quick drying towel
• Sunglasses and sun cream
• Water bottle or Camelback (1.5 litre minimum)
• Knife, fork and spoon
• Plastic lunch box/plate for your picnic lunches (0.40L to 0.50L)
• Plastic cup for coffee
• Small First Aid kit (antihistamine, ibuprofen, Compeed type blister pads...)
• Survival blanket
• Head torch or hand torch
• Sleeping bag liner sheet and pillowcase (blankets provided at accommodation)
• Two adjustable walking poles (highly recommended for the climb to the summit)
• Identity card or passport

BACKPACK

Bring a comfortable backpack of about 40 litres for your personal belongings for the day (warm clothes, waterproofs, water, plate and cutlery for your picnic, sunscreen and your identity papers) and please keep a little room to carry a picnic and snacks.

EQUIPMENT FOR THE SUMMIT

Crampons, harness, helmet and ice axe for climbing the Ruitor summit are provided. An ascension above 3000m high requires warm clothing in case of deterioration in the weather (thermal leggings, warm hat, waterproof gloves, waterproof jacket and supplementary warm layers to add if necessary). High rising walking boots with a good rigid sole are mandatory. Poles are essential.

You will have to carry this equipment at the refuge on the first day of your trip where you will leave it for the duration of your trek until the day of the ascent.

BAGGAGE TRANSPORT

You are allowed 1 soft, sports type bag, with all your possessions inside, of 10kg maximum per person. Your baggage will be transported daily, except days 1, 3 and 6, between accommodation by our logistics vehicle where access is not always easy.
Baggage which is too heavy won't be accepted by the drivers, please think of their backs! 

YOUR BACKPACK FOR THE NIGHTS WITHOUT LUGGAGE

On nights 1, 2, 4 and 6, your luggage won't be dropped off at your accommodation (you will get it back the day after). Here are the things to bring with you (about 2 kilos are enough!):

• small toiletries bag
• sleeping bag liner sheet
• change of clothes for the day after (bare necessities!) and comfortable for the evening.