Tour du Mont Blanc Trek

The trip starts today at our chalet-style hotel in the village of Les Houches in the Chamonix Valley.

Your trek Leader plans to meet everyone in the hotel reception at 6pm for a welcome meeting and trek briefing. Afterwards, for those that wish, there will be the chance to dine together as a group either at the hotel or a nearby local restaurant. There are no other activities planned for today.

It's easy to reach our joining hotel in Les Houches independently; an arrival transfer is not included with this tour. We recommend using the Mountain Drop Offs shared shuttle bus service which departs regularly from Geneva Airport throughout the day and takes just over an hour. The shuttle will drop you at the door of the hotel, tickets cost €50 and can be booked online at https://www.mountaindropoffs.com/.

Should you miss the welcome meeting, your Leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up. Please note that the official check-in time at the hotel from 3 pm, although rooms will be allocated as soon as they are available. If you arrive earlier in the day and wish to explore, the lively centre of Chamonix with its many shops and pavement cafes is just 15 minutes away by local bus.

After breakfast we take a local bus for 20 minutes from Les Houches to Chamonix and walk along the River Arve for about 30 minutes to Les Praz (1065m/3494ft) from where we take the Flegere cable car up to 1900m/6234ft. From here we hike through open countryside for one-and-a-half to two hours to Lac Blanc (2352m/7717ft). There are incredible views of the whole Mont Blanc range, including the Grandes Jorasses, Aiguille Vert and Le Dru. We then follow a beautiful path back through the forest to our hotel at Argentiere (1252m/4108ft).

Today's trekking will take approximately 6 to 7 hours with a cumulative ascent of 450m/1476ft and descent of 1110m/3641ft .

From the hotel we walk through Old Argentiere and hike up to the Col des Posettes (1997 m/6552 ft) for superb views of Mont Blanc and the Chamonix Valley. From here, we traverse to the Col de Balme (2191 m/7188 ft) and look directly into Switzerland. We then descend through open country with views of glaciers to Trient (1297 m/4255 ft) where we spend the night at an auberge. This is a traditional mountain inn that is clean, friendly, full of fellow trekkers and has a great atmosphere. At the auberge we aim to have twins, triples or quads, but you may be in a dormitory if it is a busy part of the season. The bathrooms are shared. All bedding is provided.You will have your main baggage delivered to the auberge tonight.

Today's trekking will take approximately 5 to 6 hours with a cumulative ascent of 1000 m/3281 ft and descent of 900 m/2953 ft.

Todays's hike starts with a short climb to the Col de la Forclaz (1526 m/5007 ft) from where we walk along the Bovine Route to Champex (1486 m/4875 ft). The route winds its way through meadows, forests and open country with views of the great Sion Valley and the mountains of Verbier. There are no great ascents today and we arrive at our hotel near Champex Lake where you can head to for a sundowner. You will not have access to your main luggage tonight.

Today's trekking will take approximately 6 hours with a cumulative ascent of 640 m/2100 ft and descent of 550 m/1804 ft.

From here it is a gentle 5 to 6 hour trek to La Fouly (1600 m/5249 ft) along the Val Ferret. We start our walk descending from Champex following the river along a pretty valley covered in trees to Praz-de-Fort. We then ascend in similar surroundings with wonderful views of Mt Dolent and the South Face of the Mont Blanc range. You will not have access to your main luggage tonight.

Today's trekking will take approximately 6 hours with cumulative ascent of 540 m/ 1771 ft and descent of 440 m/1443 ft.

We continue from La Fouly along the Val Ferret and cross the impressive Grand Col Ferret (2537 m/8324 ft). From here, the descent is slightly steeper but rewards us with outstanding views of 2 of the Alps most iconic mountains - Le Grandes Jorasses and Mont Blanc. We stay at La Palud (1350 m/4429 ft), 3 km/1.90 miles from Courmayeur and you will have your main baggage delivered to the hotel tonight. It's worth noting that it's possible to shorten today's walk by taking a bus for the final 7 kilometres/4.30 miles of the walk.

Today's trekking will take approximately 9 hours with a cumulative ascent of 970 m/3182 ft and descent of 1170 m/3838 ft.

Today has been left free to take a rest from the trail and soak up the ambience of the Alps. Nearby Courmayeur is one of Italy's premier ski resorts and is full of pretty shops, cafés and restaurants. Close by, there is the hot spring spa at Pre St Didier, the Skyway cable car that revolves as you ascend and plenty of other walking opportunities.

We take take public transport for approximately 25 minutes and travel to Val Veny under the spectacular South Face and ridges of Mont Blanc. We trek along a wide glacial valley surrounded by glaciers and high peaks to the Col de la Seigne (2516 m/8255 ft) which marks the border between France and Italy. We then descend to Les Chapieux (1549 m/5082 ft). Today is quite a long day (it is possible to take a bus for the final 5 kilometres/3.10 miles if you wish) , although it is not steep. You will not have access to your luggage tonight, so you will want to pack accordingly.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the scarcity of accommodation on the Tour Du Mont Blanc the 19th June and 28th August 2024 departures will overnight in Bourg St Maurice rather than Les Chapieux. We will transfer to Bourg St Maurice by minibus at the end of the day's trek (approximately 30 minutes) and return to the same point to resume walking after breakfast the following morning. Accommodation at Bourg St Maurice will be in a hotel with twin share rooms and en suite facilities. Our Auberge at Les Chapieux is a traditional mountain inn that where we aim to have twins, triples or quads, but you may be in a dormitory if it is a busy part of the season. The bathrooms are shared. All bedding is provided.

Today's trekking will take approximately 7 hours with a cumulative ascent of 860 m/2821 ft and descent of 967 m/3173 ft.

We make a steep ascent above Les Chapieux through marmot country and on through open meadows to more barren scenery. We cross two cols (2479 m/8133 ft and 2329 m/7641 ft) in wild surroundings with fabulous Alpine Flowers and marmots, weasels and chamois. We then head down through open country and a narrowing valley. Our destination is Les Contamines (1167 m/3829 ft) - a pretty ski village with an interesting church. We will stay approximately 1 km/0.60 miles before the village of Les Contamines. There will be no access to your main luggage tonight.

Today's trekking will take approximately 7 hours with a cumulative ascent of 930 m/3051 ft and descent of 1320 m/4331 ft.

Leaving Les Contamines we follow the Tour du Mont Blanc, passing the pretty hamlets of Gruvaz, Champel and Bionnassay. We then make the short, 500 m/1640 ft ascent to the Col du Voza (1653m/5423ft) which forms part of the huge massif above Les Houches. This is a fitting end to our trek with the most outstanding views of the Chamonix Valley, the Chamonix Aiguilles and the Mont Blanc massif. We descend from the col to the road at Les Houches and either walk (20 minutes) or take the public bus back to the hotel in Les Houches where we started our trek 9 days ago. We are reunited with our luggage and will have a final nights meal in the evening, bidding farewell to our Leader.

Today's trekking will take approximately 7 hours with a cumulative ascent of 1120 m/3675 ft and descent of 550 m/1804 ft.

The trip ends today after breakfast at our hotel in Les Houches. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Les Houches at any time. If you are departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel.

It's easy to reach Geneva Airport independently; a departure transfer is not included with this tour. We recommend using the Mountain Drop Offs shared shuttle bus service which runs regularly throughout the day and takes just over an hour. Tickets cost €50 and can be booked online at https://www.mountaindropoffs.com/.