Our Guides

Montagna only employ professional guides and tour leaders - people with the necessary knowledge to deal with any situation. First and foremost, for your safety, every leader, whether an instructional guide or tour leader, possesses an Health and Safety Executive 1st Aid certificate tailored to mountain and remote emergency situations. Furthermore, on all expeditions to very remote areas leaders will have been on an additional expedition 1st Aid course. [1st aid recommendations and requirements]

Secondly we simply will not send you on a trip with a guide/leader who has not been to the area of travel before. We feel local knowledge is very important, both for your enjoyment and your safety. If required we will provide details of their experience in any area so that you can put your mind to rest that you will be receiving the best back-up available. Where technical difficulties and dangers to your safety are imminent our guides will be able to advise you.

There are several levels at which Montagna will provide trip guidance:

IFMGA Guides: This is an internationally recognised qualification, and indicates the highest level of mountain sport instruction available. Whilst Montagna does not employ an IFMGA guide on a permanent basis, where required we will provide a BMG or local guide at an extra cost, unless previously stated otherwise.
AMI Instructors: The Mountain Instructors Association mark provides the client with an assurance of excellence. Providing instructional services in all non-alpine environments, we employ an MIA instructor to teach on all our UK based rock courses, and also on our remote, non-alpine expeditions where appropriate.
Mountain Leaders: Well experienced and qualified to teach within the bounds of the UK, our Mountain leaders are here to provide you with the basic mountain skills that you require to be safe around the British hills. They will frequently be employed as tour leaders abroad.
Tour Leaders: On our non-instructional tours, we can provide experienced individuals who can act as your interpreter, 1st aider, and general font of local knowledge. Our tour leaders are well travelled, well experienced and can provide a safety net to allow you to take the next step, in safety under the wing of a "big brother". We must however reiterate that Tour Leaders are not qualified instructors, and can only ever act a leaders, not guides. [Disclaimer]