I can't talk highly enough of John and his team at MBG. From the moment I found their (excellent) website, to the help, support and advice they gave me - answering questions before I booked, providing great support and advice before I arrived and also during the climbing week. Having tried twice previously to summit Mont Blanc I was keen to give myself the best possible chance this time around - and although nothing is ever guaranteed, if you want to increase your odds of being successful - don't look any further than MBG, they really are the specialists when it comes to this "little hill". John and his team of guides have a great cocktail of being knowledgeable, good at what they do and most importantly being keen to ensure their clients are informed, and get the absolute maximum from their week. They take the time to explain what they are doing, pass on knowledge, and make the week a thoroughly fun and enjoyable experience. I came away from the course having summitted both the highest mountain in Italy (Grand Paradiso) and the highest in Western Europe (Mont Blanc) - but also came away with incredible memories, invaluable insights into rope techniques, climbing efficiency and also a big smile from spending time in the company of some great guides, who also happen to be great people too. The accommodation was superb, the food excellent, the training climb was spot on, and the whole structure of the week really does put you in the best possible place to achieve your objectives. I passed many other groups on the mountain who I actually felt sorry for, not having booked with MBG. I wouldn't hesitate to both use John and his team again and also actively recommend them.

Hi John, I wanted to thank you once again for the fantastic organisation, professionalism and commitment to getting us to the summit of Mont Blanc. You and your entire guide team made the ascent of the Alps' highest summit appear much easier and safer than it actually is. Despite the difficult weather conditions your willingness to be flexible, your team's extensive experience, terrain knowledge, access to live weather reports and last but not least good relationship with the management of the mountain huts made it possible for me and the entire group to summit. From start to finish the six days on the mountain were efficiently and skillfully organised. The fact that we had a high guide to client ratio made it easy for the stronger of us to climb without worrying that someone who is not coping with the altitude or is coming down with a cold will prevent the entire team from summiting. I also wanted to mention that the the team of guides you work with is of the highest calibre and their local knowledge, fantastic attitude and focus on safety is exceptional. Last but not least the cost of the entire trip, although appearing to be slightly higher than some of your competitors, is actually inclusive of all expenses and fees and as I can myself confirm is excellent value for money. Standing on the top of Mont Blanc will forever be a cherished memory and an achievement I can always look back to and feel proud of. Regards, Plamen.

Hi Dee, just wanted to say a huge thank you to John and everyone in the MBG team for two terrific weeks climbing this and last year. Joy and Mike were outstanding hosts in Chalet Prarion keeping us all superbly comfortable, well fed and as always going the extra mile to ensure we had everything we needed. Miles (last year) and 'English Mark' (this year) along with their respective teams of guides (Liz, Simon, Eric, Andrea and 'American Mark') were all so superbly professional and understanding of a range of capabilities and experience, and always with a weather (!) eye to our safety. Thank you also for your support from the MGB office. Each course taught me new skills, extending and challenged my boundaries and introducing me to a host of new friends. Eventually standing on the summit of Mont Blanc - just awesome!!! A huge and much deserved thank you to everyone and best wishes for the remainder of the 2012 season. Cheers,Colin.

Jon, just a quick note to thank you for a fantastic week. You will probably realise that we have all put a lot of effort in over the last 9 months or so to give us the best chance of making the summit and it has been so worthwhile. The whole experience from the initial briefing, the training climb in Italy to the main event was organised and professional. Your delivery was always calm and composed which offered so much confidence to the client. Your decision making in the most difficult situations not only gave further reassurance but also highlighted the seriousness of the task ahead for those deemed capable of an attempt. I guess that your main attribute has to be fitness and mountaineering skills/ experience, which you clearly have in abundance; your leadership and communication skills are even more impressive! You should be very proud of yourself. Thank you for making a dream come true for me and more importantly making sure that I came home safely to look after my family. I wish you all the best and maybe see you again in the mountains. Many thanks, Steve.

Hi John, I hope you enjoyed the étape as much as I enjoyed the course. I had a fantastic time and it has sparked an interest that I certainly will be pursuing. Even though the weather was not kind to us to make the summit of Mont Blanc, the Paradiso summit and the Cosmiques (my wife reminded me that it was 32 years ago that we first saw them) made for experiences I shall never forget and provided many stories for me to tell at my 50th last weekend. So, thank you very much to you and all of the team at Mont Blanc Guides (Mark, Mike, Frances & Dee) and Nomadic Ski. I had a fabulous time and really enjoyed staying and climbing with you all. I hope to catch up with you, may be next summer for a cycle or perhaps this winter for guided skiing. Many, many thanks. Kevin.

Hi Dee & John, I wanted to to drop you a line to thank you all very much for making my trip the experience of a lifetime. From the first contact with the office to the point of saying goodbyes having successfully made the summit, I have to commend you all on your level of professionalism. The pre-course admin was fantastic regardless of the amount of questions I posed and the subsequent alterations I made to my booking. All the guides were friendly, approachable and above all, subject matter experts in the field of mountaineering, instilling confidence in their abilities from the outset. The accommodation was great and the chalet hosts, Mike and Joy added value to the whole package. A fantastic week all in all so thanks again! Best regards, Matt.

Just wanted to say thanks to all the team at Mont Blanc Guides. I had an amazing week and that’s mainly thanks to the superb service of MBG. I have friends who are looking to climb next year and I will most certainly be recommending you guys. From the advice, the transport, the motivation, the safety, the accommodation to the general good atmosphere created, I could not have asked for more from that week. Thanks again and all the best for the future. David Doyle, Dublin, Ireland.

Thank you for a great week. All aspects of the trip were very professional and the guides Liz, Mark, Frances, and John were fantastic and played a big part in making it a really special week. The chalet provided an ecellent standard of accommodation, and Yvonne was a great cook. It was hugely satisfying to reach the summit as a lot of training and preparation went into it. The itinerary really make sense as it was great to stand on the summit without the crowds. Many thanks, Alex.

John and the team, thanks for a fabulous and very fulfilling week in the mountains. I've never done anything like it before but I will certainly be doing more of it when the occasion permits. May I express my particular thanks to Miles for unparalleled safety leadership, and a special word of appreciation also to Simon, whose adjustment of the pace of ascent along with kind words of encouragement got me to the top of Gran Paradiso when I was about ready to quit. As this was effectively an introduction to alpine mountaineering for me, it doesn't bother me at all that the weather prevented us getting up Mont Blanc; the week's activities more than fit the bill for me.I look forward to meeting the team again as soon as I can schedule it around my work commitments. Many thanks and best regards, John.

Just a quick note of thanks to everyone involved in organising and running our trip last week (starting wed 30th June). It was a brilliant week. The group was fantastic and guides excellent. John, Liz and Marti early on and then joined later by Mark and Eric for the summit attempt.....we couldnt have asked for more. They were calm and professional even when faced with our total lack of experience! These qualities delivered our complete respect but they were also "human" and made the week enjoyable too. John, I still cant believe you got me to the top! Nearly a week later and I cant get used to being back in the UK. It really was a life changing experience! Thanks to everyone, including the rest of our group, for a wonderful experience. Regards Paul Foster