Tour du Mont Blanc Trek

We'll coordinate a shared airport shuttle to pick you up from Geneva Airport and take you to your hotel in Chamonix. Depending on your flight schedule, you may have to wait up to an hour, as the shuttle may be picking up passengers from multiple flights. In Chamonix, we'll stay at the Croix Blanche Hotel or a similar historic hotel.

Our one-week Tour du Mont Blanc follows the traditional route, commencing in Les Houches and proceeding in a counterclockwise direction.

Beginning the day after breakfast, we will embark on a brief bus ride from our Chamonix hotel to Les Houches. From there, we'll ascend via the Bellevue cable car to 1,706 meters, positioning ourselves to start our trek towards Les Contamines.

Upon reaching the mountaintop station, we'll bid farewell to the Chamonix valley and set our course towards the Bionnassey glacier.

A short descent will lead us to a breathtaking suspension bridge spanning a glacial river, followed by a steady climb to the splendid Col du Tricot.

As we enter the Montjoie valley, we'll gain a preview of the next day's journey while descending to Chalet Miages, an excellent spot for a midday meal.

Continuing our descent to Les Contamines, a brief stroll up the valley will guide us to Les Pontets Gite, where we'll spend the night in a warm and convivial atmosphere.

Departing from Pontets and Les Contamines, we trace an ancient Roman road that leads us toward the valley's head. Along the way, we'll encounter a remarkable Roman bridge and an irresistible opportunity for a delightful cake break at the Chalet de Balme.

The historical Roman salt trading route guides us upward to the Col du Bonhomme, closely followed by the Col de la Croix du Bonhomme. If weather conditions are favorable, we may opt for a steep path over the Col des Fours, allowing for a direct descent to Ville des Glaciers.

A short stroll up the valley then leads us to the Mottets refuge, situated near the Vallée des Glaciers's head. Alternatively, we have the option of taking an easier descent to Les Chapieux and catching a bus up the valley to Mottets.

The Mottets refuge offers a picturesque setting to spend the evening. It's important to note, however, that due to its remote location, there is no access to Wi-Fi or mobile network coverage in the Vallée des Glaciers.

On the fourth day of our Tour du Mont Blanc, we start with a challenging climb to the Col de la Seigne, a rewarding way to begin the day. After crossing the border from France to Italy, we descend to Casermetta, a hidden gem of a museum and visitor center. Here, we have the option to take a detour to see the Pyramides Calcaires (Limestone Pyramids) up close, nestled beneath the granite walls of Mont Blanc.

Continuing our descent, we pass the Elisabetta refuge and follow the ancient military road that traverses the unique alpine wetland of Lac Combal. Eventually, we reach the La Visaille bus stop, where we can take a bus to Courmayeur town center, where our hotel is located.

Our fifth day on the Tour du Mont Blanc begins with a short bus ride into the breathtaking Italian Val Ferret. Here, we have a variety of options available to us, depending on the weather conditions and our energy levels.

We can choose to hike to the valley's head via either the valley floor or a higher trail, and then make our way up to the Rifugio Elena for a last chance to savor a genuine Italian espresso. After our break, we continue our ascent to the Swiss Border at the Grand Col Ferret.

From this vantage point, we are treated to stunning views of the Italian flank of the Mont Blanc Range, including Mont Dolent with its sharply peaked summit bridging three countries, the impressive crest of the Grandes Jorasses, and, of course, the majestic Mont Blanc itself.

Crossing into Switzerland, the scenery undergoes a dramatic transformation. The Swiss Val Ferret reveals itself as an untouched slice of rural Switzerland, with lush pastures, wandering dairy herds, and charming farming hamlets that appear to have preserved their traditional charm for centuries.

We leisurely descend to La Peule alpage and then on to La Fouly, where we will meet a taxi to take us to our next destination: the Relais d'Arpette in Champex.

The most challenging and highest point of the Tour du Mont Blanc is the Fenêtre d'Arpette, a narrow pass nestled between mountains at 2,665 meters. To reach it, we must scramble over rocky scree and moraine. The views from the pass are awe-inspiring on both sides.

As we enter the Trient valley, the path requires careful attention as we zigzag our way down to the Glacier du Trient buvette. Centuries ago, ice extracted from this glacier was transported to the Col du Forclaz via a horse-drawn railway and then to dining establishments in Paris and Zurich. Today, a charming mountain café offers a welcome respite before our final leisurely descent to Trient.

As an alternative, we can choose the less demanding Bovine Alpage route, which is longer but involves less climbing. This lower-level path winds through picturesque forests and Alpine meadows, with a delightful cake stop at the renowned Bovine farm, before crossing the Col du Forclaz en route to Trient.

On our final day of the Tour du Mont Blanc, we commence with a moderate ascent to the Col de Balme, a historic border crossing point between France and Italy that was once a major route before the development of stagecoach tracks and modern roads.

At the col, we can take a break at the refuge before continuing to the Col des Possettes and its exhilarating Possettes ridge. The Aiguillette des Possettes, atop the ridge, offers a splendid vantage point with panoramic views of the Chamonix valley - a fitting high point to conclude our journey.

The ridge continues through the forest, guiding our descent into the valley, where we will find our way to the village of Argentière. From there, a short bus ride will transport us back to Chamonix and our hotel for the final night.

As with previous days, in case of inclement weather or weary legs, there is a shorter route option available. Alternatively, if the group has the energy, we can walk all the way to Chamonix.

After your hotel breakfast, we will arrange a minibus transfer to Geneva airport based on your flight schedule. Please note that we cannot guarantee breakfast availability if you have an early flight.