"I’ve enjoyed a number of different treks in the past, including summiting Kilimanjaro and walking 100km in 24 hours across the South Downs, but I don’t think anything I’ve done thus far has been as rewarding as circumnavigating the majestic Mont Blanc in the Alps. I expected a good trek and pretty sights along the way, but I didn’t expect to have my preconceptions blown out of the water.
The itinerary, in a nut-shell, is to set off from the French side of Mont Blanc, going via Switzerland and Italy, roughly following the well-know Tour du Mont Blanc route clockwise, staying at hotels and other comfortable night-stops, until we come back to where we started ten days later. This roughly equates to 160km of wonderful trekking – and another 40km if you’re a bit mad like me and do all the extra stuff the tour leader could dish out, like using the rest day to go for another nice long tramp!
I don’t know that I can recommend this trip enough! If you’re the type of person who enjoys plenty of ascents, descents, doesn’t mind some heights and narrow passes and is fit as a fiddle then I don’t see how you couldn’t love this trek. If you were to take the trekking as a single entity, on its own would be enough for me to endorse this, but throw in all of the other delights for your senses and you’ve not just got a holiday but a journey to remember for life: looking out across the snow-dappled ranges, the sun kissing the rolling hills where the clouds break and wild flowers of every colour along the way; the beautiful sound of nothing but wildlife and a breeze, dappled with the dulcet chatter of your trekking peers, until you come across the symphony of deep-sounding bells passing a pasture of cows; the delicious home-cooked and well-deserved hearty evening meals and even heartier breakfasts, the tasty Swiss ice-cream and the delicious Italian hot chocolate at one of the many refuges along the route; the feel of a hot, refreshing shower and clean, soft sheets at each of the surprisingly well-equipped accommodation stops – it’s a treat for all your senses!
It just so happens that this incredible itinerary was complemented by a wonderful group of fellow-trekkers, whom I feel honoured to have had the opportunity to share this experience with, and the most beautiful, clear weather (very little rain at all – astounding in the mountains). If your interest is even slightly piqued by this memoire then I highly recommend you check it out – you won’t be sorry".
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