When you are unfamiliar to an area you need help from individuals and organizations who can organize and guide your trip. Yes, it's possible to plan a trip yourself but this is not recommended. Certified guide services understand the risks, and know the area and terrain. They understand high altitude issues and remote issues and incorporate measures to protect you into their plan. They take care of the logistics, buy and transport food, and obtain the permits for the area you are going. Guides enhance your experience and can turn your mountaineering vacation trip into the thrill of a lifetime.
Rock Climbing Guides.
There are many mountains that do not take any rock climbing skill to reach the summit. However if you want to truly experience an extreme climbing vacation ask your guide to include rock climbing in the trip. A guide will plan the trip, establish the itinerary, assemble the technical climbing equipment required. The rock climbing guide prepares and assembles supplies for the trip. Mountaineering and rock climbing guides are trained to enhance your trip. They know the area, and have extensively climbed the areas they guide. Many have been distinguished for first ascents in remote ranges and are dedicated to preservation and conservation of remote regional areas.
Selecting a Mountaineering Guide Service.
Research. Get descriptions, pictures, topographical information and all other related information of the area. Rock and mountain climbing guides are readily available in many lists. It's not hard to find a mountaineering guide service for your area. There are also many Rock Climbing Instruction and Mountaineering Schools if you need climbing instruction before your trip. Compare the schools and guides.
Mountain and Rock Climbing Guide Certification. The International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA)
http://www.ifmga.info/ is the worldwide association for mountaineering and climbing guides. This organization recognizes national guide associations. At the national level, guide associations provide training and certification programs for mountain guides. Currently there are 24 member countries in the IFMGA. Mountaineering guides should have certification for the country or area they are
guiding. North America uses the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) accreditation. The AMGA accreditation program has been developed for guiding programs, schools and services. Services providing mountaineering trips in North America should also be a member of the AMGA.
Mountaineering and climbing guides:
Aconcagua Expeditions www.aconcaguaexpeditions.com Mount Aconcagua climbing and trekking expeditions, information, services, guides and logistics (english, español, français, deutsch, italiano). Mendoza, Argentina.
Adventure Exchangewww.adventurexchange.com Maintains a database to match availability, physical ability and vacation expectations.
Alpamayo Peru http://www.alpamayoperu.com Adventure tour company for the Cordillera Blanca and Huayhuash in Peru, offering mountaineering trips, trekking and climbing expeditions in for Peru.
Aribirahttp://www.aribira.com.br/english/ Guide service specializing in mountain trips and adventures in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Also offers expeditions and other adventure activities.
Aspen Climbing Guideshttp://www.aspenclimbingguides.com Guide books for rock climbing on Independence Pass Colorado, maps, climbing routes.
California Alpine Guides http://www.CaliforniaAlpineGuides.com California's mountain guiding service for rock climbing, ice, mountaineering and backcountry ski tours. Professional instruction. AMGA certified rock guide.
Climbing Guide for Bulgariahttp://www.climbingguidebg.com/ Online climbing guide and lots of info on climbing in Bulgaria (in Russian)
Climb Francehttp://www.climbfrance.com/ run by dedicated climbers who share a passion for the sport and for the crags and mountains of France. Climb France specializes in guiding and climbing holiday vacations.
Mount Everest The British Story http://www.everest1953.co.uk/ For all facts, stories and events concerning the British on Mount Everest, we will provide all the answers
Fox Mountain Guideswww.foxmountainguides.com Rock and Ice climbing guiding, instruction and courses in North Carolina AMGA certified Rock Guide.
Go Russia http://www.justgorussia.co.uk/ Adventure, eco- and cultural
tours to Russia. Discovery trips, city break and weekend tours to Moscow and St. Petersburg, famous Trans-Siberian journey, mountain climbing and mountaineering trips to Elbrus.
Harter-Climbinghttp://harter-climbing.aci.net/ Provides a guiding service, climbing beta from flagging to rope work and a good collection of climbing stories.
International Mountaineer Tourist Centerhttp://www.fanmount.com/ International Mountaineer Tourist Center provides tours to the Fann Mountains which run along the southern edge of the Central Asian republics and Siberia. 1000 meter walls for climbers, mountaineers, base jumpers, parasailers. Trips to over 40 peaks greater than 4000m high, and 10 are over 5000m. There are over 200 routes ranging from easy to difficult. Mountaineering Guides give access to these peaks to anyone.
Malta Rock Climbingwww.malta-rockclimbing.com Rock climbing holidays on the Mediterranean Islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino. Over 1,200 established rock routes to choose from.
Mount Kinabalu Climbing Triphttp://www.mount-kinabalu.com Mount Kinabalu Mountaineering Trip - Your One-Stop Practical Guide to climbing Mt Kinabalu, the highest mountain in South East Asia at Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
Mountain Experience Trekking and Expeditionwww.mountainexperience.com.np for trekking destinations in Nepal and Tibet in the Himalayas. Experience sights and cultures at a leisurely pace with well-structured itineraries which offer flexibility, fun and education with experienced Sherpa staff and first class quipment.
Mountain Guide Adventurehttp://www.mountain-guide-adventure.com/index_EN.html Mountain Guide team in Chamonix France providing heli-skiing, ski touring, off piste skiing, ice climbing, mountaineering, alpine rock climbing and Worldwide Expeditions
Mt Elbus Expeditionshttp://www.elbrus.spb.ru Top Sport Travel located in Saint-Petersburg, Russia hosts tours of Mt Elbus, a two-peaked ice giant that crowns the panorama of Central Caucasus.
Outer Quest Adventure Travel Guideshttp://www.OuterQuest.com Leading resource for adventure travel planning and
outdoor recreation. A direct marketing company that uses our products, services, & events to promote your adventure travel programs.
Peruvian Andes Adventureshttp://www.peruvianandes.com Peru Treks, Hiking and Climbing Tours in the Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera Huayhuash join us for a magical holiday in Peru day tours, trekking, city tours and climbing expeditions.
Peru Trekking and Climbinghttp://www.perutrekkingclimbing.com/ Trek and climb Peru with our UIGAM qualified mountaineering and rock climbing guides. We take pride in going the extra mile to make your Peru trekking and climbing guided tour holiday experience really enjoyable. We are a local Peruvian Agency based in Huraz and we show you the Cordillera Blanca, Cordillera Huayhuash range of the Peruvian Andes.
Rock and Sun.http://www.rockandsun.com Rock climbing holidays and trips all over Europe. Guiding tailored to suit your needs.
Rock Frog Climbinghttp://www.rockfrog.co.ukClimbing and outdoor activity fun for all ages and abilities.
Rockies Ice Specialistshttp://www.rockies-ice.com Guiding and Instruction in ice
climbing in the Canadian Rockies.
Russia Mountain Guideshttp://www.mountainguides.ru/ website in English for guiding services in Russia and CIS countries providing information for transportation, accommodation and other logistics necessary to run a trip in Russia.
Vertical Illusions Outdoor Recreation Center http://www.verticalillusions.com 40 acres of outdoor rock climbing and mountaineering guiding, with the best climbing routes in the Midwest.