Why Choose ISM?
Founded in 1965, the International School of Mountaineering is one of the world's longest-established alpine mountaineering and climbing schools, welcoming English-speaking climbers from the UK and around the world.
For over 60 years, ISM has been sharing its passion for the mountains, combining professional guiding with high-quality instruction, personal challenge and memorable alpine adventures.
At the heart of ISM is a belief that mountaineering is about far more than reaching summits. It's about the richness of the journey — the experiences we share, the skills we learn, the confidence we develop and the friendships we make along the way.
We are owned, managed and operated by experienced IFMGA Mountain Guides who are actively involved in shaping and delivering our courses. This ensures that our philosophy, knowledge and experience are reflected in everything we do.
Whether you're taking your first steps into alpine mountaineering, developing your skills or pursuing a long-held climbing ambition, our approach is always personal. We aim to inspire, encourage and support every climber, helping them achieve their own goals while enjoying the adventure along the way.
We believe in the traditional values of a mountaineering school, where learning, exploration and shared experiences are just as important as the climbs themselves.
Experienced Guides and a Personal Approach
Our greatest strength is the experience, enthusiasm and commitment of our IFMGA Mountain Guides.
Our guides are not simply there to lead you to a summit. They are experienced climbers and mountaineers who enjoy sharing their knowledge, encouraging your development and helping you make the most of every day in the mountains.
We believe that great guiding is about building confidence, making sound decisions, adapting to individual aspirations and creating an environment where people feel supported, challenged and inspired.
Safety and Mountain Judgement
Safety underpins everything we do at ISM. Our long operating history and extensive experience have helped shape a carefully considered programme, but we never take safety for granted.
Mountaineering involves inherent risks, and managing those risks requires experience, sound judgement and the ability to adapt to changing mountain conditions.
Our courses are developed and overseen by experienced IFMGA Mountain Guides who understand the importance of balancing ambition and adventure with appropriate safety margins. Every guide working with ISM is thoroughly briefed on our approach and expectations.
Fully Inclusive Courses and Excellent Value
We believe your time in the mountains should be spent enjoying the experience, not worrying about unexpected additional costs.
Our course fees include the majority of the expenses associated with your alpine adventure, including accommodation, meals, local transport, mountain railways, cable cars and the use of specified mountaineering equipment.
Where certain costs are not included, these are clearly identified in advance.
This transparent approach makes it easier to plan your trip and understand the true value of your ISM experience.
Full details of what your course price includes
Your Course Payments Protected
At ISM, we take our responsibility for your course payments seriously. All client course fees are held in a dedicated Trust Account until their course has been completed, ensuring that these funds remain protected and separate from the school's day-to-day operating finances.
This provides additional financial security and peace of mind when booking your alpine adventure.
We also guarantee that no surcharges will be added to your agreed course fee once payment has been made.
Flexibility When It Matters
The mountains are constantly changing, and successful alpine mountaineering often depends on being in the right place at the right time.
Our base in Le Fayet, Saint-Gervais, provides excellent access to the Mont Blanc Massif and a wide range of other alpine climbing areas.
Rather than being restricted to one valley, we can adapt our plans to make the most of prevailing weather, snow and mountain conditions.
We follow our published course itineraries whenever possible, but flexibility is an important part of our approach, helping us maximise your opportunities for rewarding days in the mountains.
Easy Access to the Alps
Our alpine base at Hotel PlanB in Le Fayet, Saint-Gervais, is conveniently located approximately 90 minutes from Geneva Airport.
Once you've arrived at our base, we organise the onward transport required for your course, using our own vehicles and local transport services.
This makes travelling between different climbing areas straightforward and allows us to explore a wider variety of alpine destinations without the need for you to arrange your own transport.
Outstanding Climbing on Our Doorstep
Our location places us within easy reach of some of the finest climbing and mountaineering terrain in the Alps.
From the superb limestone crags of the Haute-Savoie to the magnificent granite walls and towers of the Chamonix Valley, the opportunities for climbing, learning and exploration are exceptional.
The surrounding mountains offer an inspiring environment for climbers of all abilities, whether developing new skills, enjoying classic routes or preparing for more ambitious alpine objectives.
Exceptional Winter Adventures
The mountains surrounding our base offer outstanding opportunities for winter climbing, icefall climbing, skiing and ski mountaineering.
With convenient access to the Chamonix Valley and the extensive ski areas of Saint-Gervais and Megève, our location provides an excellent starting point for a wide variety of winter adventures.
The nearby lift connections also make it easy to access extensive ski terrain, adding to the appeal of our alpine base throughout the winter season.
