Basic mountaineering course
ADVANCEDNationally recognised · Indian Mountaineering FoundationVerified providerAltitude & Co.26 daysNo reviews yet
Twenty-six days of rock, ice and snow craft in the Garhwal — the standard Indian entry qualification.
Course syllabus & schedule ↓Certified instruction (1 instructor to 6 candidates)
Full gear & equipment rental included
Assessment & official certificate
What the course actually is
The full basic mountaineering syllabus: rock craft, ice craft, snow craft, river crossing, and a height gain to around 5,000 m. It is residential, physically hard, and graded. Passing it is what most Indian expeditions ask for before they will take you.
Twenty-six days of rock, ice and snow craft in the Garhwal — the standard Indian entry qualification.
Key course details
Essential specifications, instruction format, and eligibility at a glance.
- Gold Verified School · Altitude & Co.
- 12 years operating · Dehradun
- Indian Mountaineering Foundation NATIONAL
- Recognised skill qualification and assessment certificate
- Group Academy Batch
- 26 days · Join a cohort and learn alongside dedicated dive buddies
- Fully Instructed
- 1 instructor to 6 candidates in open water
- ADVANCED Intensity
- Basic physical fitness and comfort with progressive training drills
- Guided in English & Hindi
- Theory & eLearning materials available on request in French, German, Spanish, and Russian
- Group Size 1 – 12
- Small cohorts ensure focused attention, direct supervision, and safe buddy pairing
- Ages 17 & Over
- Junior qualification for ages 17–14; adult certification from 15+
ADVANCEDNo prior experience needed17+ yearsGear rental includedOfficial lifetime qualification
What is not included
Personal and travel arrangements to plan ahead of your batch.
- —Travel to Uttarkashi
- —Personal clothing and boots
- —Medical examination
- —Insurance
- —Evacuation costs
Day by day syllabus
Structured training progression from foundational mechanics to assessed technique.
- Day 1Reporting and medicalTrainingAll dayKit issue, medical check and the opening physical assessment.
- Day 4Rock craft beginsTrainingAll dayKnots, belaying, rappelling and first climbs on the training rock.
- Day 10Move to base campTrainingAll dayTrek to the glacier camp with full loads.
- Day 14Ice craftTrainingAll dayCrampons, axe arrest and a short ice pitch.
- Day 19Snow craft and crevasse rescueTrainingAll dayAnchors, rope teams and hauling systems.
- Day 22Height gainTrainingAll dayClimb to approximately 5,000 m as a roped team.
- Day 26Assessment and gradingTrainingAll dayWritten and practical assessment, then grading.
Best season for Basic mountaineering course
Optimal training windows for safety, environmental conditions, and skill progression.
20 to 28 °C
Prime training season
Year-round published batches
School operates structured batches across the active seasonal window with calm currents and favorable visibility.
SKILL LEVEL
ADVANCED
COURSE DURATION
26 days (09:00–16:00)
INSTRUCTOR RATIO
1 instructor to 6 candidates
CERTIFICATION
Indian Mountaineering Foundation
EQUIPMENT INCLUDED
Ropes, harnesses and helmets, Ice axes and crampons, Snow anchors and hardware
PASSES & ACCESS
Site permits & facility fees
BASECITY & VENUE
Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand
MINIMUM AGE
17 years and over
FITNESS CRITERIA
Moderate fitness (1 hr continuous activity)
SAFETY PROTOCOL
This is a physically demanding residential course at altitude and there is a real risk of altitude illness. Acclimatisation is built into the schedule and instructors monitor every candidate daily
WHAT TO BRING
High-altitude boots, Down jacket and sleeping bag rated to −15 °C, Rucksack, 60 l
WEATHER POLICY
Rescheduled or refunded pro rata
What you will learn
- Rock craft: belaying, rappelling, jumaring and multi-pitch movement
- Ice craft: crampon technique, ice axe arrest, and climbing a short ice pitch
- Snow craft: snow anchors, glissading and crevasse rescue
- Navigate and camp self-sufficiently above 4,000 m
- Recognise and respond to altitude illness
What you get at the end
Nationally recognised · Indian Mountaineering Foundation
- No certificationYou learn the skill; no document is issued.
- Certificate of participationConfirms you attended. Not a qualification and not recognised by any body.
- Nationally recognised — Indian Mountaineering Foundation · this courseIssued under an Indian federation or authority, and recognised within India.
- Internationally recognisedIssued under an international body and recognised by operators abroad.
Requirements & eligibility
Age: 17–40 years
- At least two treks above 4,000 m
- Medical certificate on the IMF form, issued within 90 days of the start
- Able to carry 15 kg for six hours at altitude
- Aged 17–40 on the start date
You will be asked to confirm at booking
- How many treks above 4,000 m have you completed?
- Will you be between 17 and 40 on the start date? — this course requires “Yes”
- Can you carry 15 kg for six hours at altitude? — this course requires “Yes”
- Can you provide an IMF medical certificate issued within 90 days of the start date? — this course requires “Yes”
Equipment breakdown
Provided by the school
- Ropes, harnesses and helmets
- Ice axes and crampons
- Snow anchors and hardware
- Tents and group cooking equipment
Bring your own
- High-altitude boots
- Down jacket and sleeping bag rated to −15 °C
- Rucksack, 60 l
- Personal medication and sun protection
Who teaches it
Instructor to learner ratio: 1 instructor to 6 candidates
C
Col. R. S. Negi (retd)
24 years teaching
Principal instructor; three 8,000 m expeditions and two decades of instruction.
IMF Advanced MountaineeringWilderness First Responder
Safety & Field Protocol
- This is a physically demanding residential course at altitude and there is a real risk of altitude illness. Acclimatisation is built into the schedule and instructors monitor every candidate daily
- A doctor is resident at base camp for the glacier phase
- Evacuation from the glacier camp takes a minimum of eight hours on foot — that is the reality of the location, and the medical form exists because of it
- Candidates who show signs of altitude illness are descended, not managed in place
If plans change
Cancellation
Full refund up to 45 days before the start. 50% between 45 and 21 days. No refund inside 21 days. Candidates failed on the day-one medical are refunded in full less ₹5,000 administration.
Weather
The course runs to a fixed institute calendar and does not move for weather. The height-gain objective may change if conditions require it; the certification does not depend on reaching a specific summit.
WHAT'S INCLUDED WITH THIS COURSE
Twenty-six days of instruction
All technical equipment
Accommodation in camps and at the institute
All meals from day one to day twenty-six
IMF-recognised certificate and grading
Who runs it
Certified adventure schools and verified instructors leading structured syllabuses.
Altitude & Co.
Verified School
Dehradun · 26 days course
₹48,000per participant
Next batch starts 4 Oct