Tour du Mont Blanc Hike
Hiking Trip Details
- Location: France, Italy, Switzerland
- Length: 12 days
- Grade: Strenuous and moderate
- Accommodations: Mountain huts and hotels
- Group size: 5 – 12
- Dates: June 30 – July 11 and August 30 – September 10, 2010
- Land Cost (US$): $3,150
Hiking Trip Summary
The Mont Blanc Massif, composed of Mont Blanc (15,536′) the highest peak in Western Europe and a flank of impressively spectacular peaks and glaciers, uniquely straddles the borders of France, Italy, and Switzerland. Rich in alpine history and cultural diversity, this region has been attracting mountaineers and hikers from the world over for more than two hundred years.
The Tour du Mont Blanc is undeniably one of the truly classic hut-to-hut hiking routes in Europe. Comprised of century-old trading and hunting routes, the Tour du Mont Blanc circles through the magnificent Mont Blanc range, winding through alpine meadows, over barren passes, into small hamlets, and beneath gigantic glaciers. During our 12-day tour you will view this iconic mountain, and its surrounding peaks, glaciers and alpine valleys from three different countries as we hike in the French Alps, Swiss Alps and Italian Alps.
We’ve been hiking and guiding in the Chamonix-Mont Blanc area for over 23 years. Let us introduce you to an area we’ve loved and hiked for many years. Let us introduce you to the families who run these wonderful huts and hotels. Join us for a memorable journey around Mont Blanc.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Geneva, Cointrin International Airport. Group transfer to Chamonix, France at 1:00 pm. Welcome dinner and orientation. Chamonix is home a dazzling array of many of the highest peaks in the Alps including Mont Blanc (15,860′).
Day 2: Short transfer to Les Houches and cable car to Bellevue. Here we begin today’s hike passing by the foot of the huge Glacier de Bionnassay, then up through lush meadows to the Col du Tricot (6,995′) with spectacular views of the Aiguille du Bionnassay, Dome du Gouter and the entire Chamonix Valley. After our steep descent from the col, we arrive at our refuge.
Day 3: From our refuge we continue to the village of Les Contamines where we have time to linger and buy lunch items for the next day. Departing Les Contamines, we hike up the Mont Joie Valley, past a 15th century mountain church, Notre Dame de la Gorge, cross a small ancient Roman bridge and continue up this broad alpine valley to our overnight stop.
Day 4: Departing our refuge we begin a steady climb to the Croix de la Bonhomme and to the Col des Fours (8,960′). After a long descent passing though the Ville des Glacier and maybe stopping to buy some beaufort cheese at a farm, we will end our day at the remote and rustic refuge.
Day 5:Today’s hike will lead us to the Italian border at the Col de la Seigne (8,300′). Hiking down the Val Veny, the Italian side of the Mont Blanc Massif and Mont Blanc itself will dominate the scene with its myriad of glaciers and towering rocky peaks. Transfer by bus to our hotel located in the village of Courmayeur, Italy.
Day 6: Rest day in Courmayeur. The day can be spent exploring the town’s narrow streets, sampling the local pastries and cuisine, day hiking, or taking a series of cable cars up to Point Helbronner and into the heart of the Mont Blanc Massif.
Day 7: Transfer by bus to the end of the spectacular Val Ferret. Hike to Ferret, Switzerland over the Col Grand Ferret (8,372′). Stopping for lunch en route we are offered views of the Val Veny, Val Ferret and the skyline is dominated by the Grandes Jorasses, Aiguille Talefre and Mont Dolent. This wonderful day of hiking ends in the Swiss Val Ferret.
Day 8: A moderate day of hiking leads us down the Ferret Valley through small Swiss hamlets and beautiful gardens. The hike ends with a climb up to the picturesque lake village of Champex.
Day 9: There are two hiking options for today, one via the high alpine pastures of Bovine with expansive views of the Rhone Valley, and the other more difficult route up and over the ruggedly beautiful Fenetre d’Arpette. Both route offer wonderful views of the majestic Swiss Alps.
Day 10: Hike from Trient to le Buet, France over the Col de Balme (7,230). Crossing into France at the col, once again the spectacular sight of the Chamonix valley and the Mont Blanc Range with its dramatic peaks and glaciers will be breathtaking. We will end our day at a quiet hotel in Vallorcine.
Day 11: Le Buet to Chamonix via the “Grand Balcon Sud” with ever-changing views of the Aiguille Verte, the Aiguilles des Chamonix, the glaciers of le Tour, Argentiere and the Mer de Glace.
Day 12: Depart Chamonix at 6:30 am for group transfer to the Geneva Airport, arriving at about 7:30 am.
Additional Information
Included
Group transfers to and from the Geneva Airport, all accommodations, all continental-style breakfasts, all dinners except two, all group transfers on ski lifts, buses and trains as described in the itinerary, guides, great hiking and memories!
Not Included
Airfare, lunches, two dinners in Courmayeur, optional/individual transfers or excursions, items not on set dinner menu, beverages, insurance, tips to guides/leaders, items of personal nature.
Luggage
This hike is not vehicle supported. You will need to carry a small to moderate sized pack with only the clothing and accessories you will need for the duration of hike. (See our Sample Packing List.) With advances in synthetic clothing and other travel gear, it’s possible to keep your pack weight to 15 to 20 lbs. including lunch and water. Any extra luggage or belongings you may have can be left at the hotel in Chamonix.
Accommodations and Facilities
The accommodations on the TMB vary from comfortable 3 star hotels to rustic mountain refuges.
Hotels: For our 12-day Tour du Mont Blanc, we spend 6 nights in comfortable hotels with private baths. Chamonix (2 nights) Courmayeur (2 nights) Champex and Le Buet. All are friendly, family run hotels that reflect the local character. We are certain you will find these hotels comfortable and welcoming.
Hikers’ Hotels: In Switzerland, we spend two nights in hiker’s hotels that offer private double rooms with shared facilities. These hiker’s hotels offer simple though comfortable accommodations.
Moutain Huts or Refuges: We spend three nights in mountain refuges. They are wonderful rustic farms that have been converted to accommodate hikers. They have bunk rooms, called dortoirs, complete with blankets and pillows. The shared facilities vary, but all have washing and bathroom areas and hot showers.
Breakfasts and dinners are served at the hotels or refuges and lunches are picnic style along the trail.
Travel
It is easiest to fly to Geneva. However, there are frequent trains from Zurich or Paris just be sure to allow for extra travel time. Included in the trip cost is a group transfer from the Geneva Airport on day 1 and to the Geneva Airport on day 12.
Who would like this trip?
Our Tour du Mont Blanc trips are perfect for hikers who look forward to wonderful, challenging hikes and like the thought of staying in comfortable hotels as well as some rustic accommodations. It offers an excellent introduction to the European style of hut-to-hut and inn-to-inn hiking in the alps. The scenery is awe inspiring, the hiking demanding but not overly strenuous, and the accommodations varied, and the meals hearty. This is a fantastic route!
What makes this trip different
The Tour du Mont Blanc is our cornerstone. It was the first hiking route we offered as a guided trip in 1986 and it continues to be our fondest. A genuine alpine hiking experience, we believe, includes staying in mountain accommodations such as huts and refuges and carrying ones own pack. We do both of these on our Tour du Mont Blanc. Staying in a few refuges gets us out of town and into the mountains and carrying our own packs cuts down on the use of vehicles and creates a stronger connect to the landscapes we travel.
Meeting point
Geneva airport at 1:00 pm on the first day for a group transfer to our hotel in Chamonix.
Ending Point
Included is a group transfer from the hotel in Chamonix the morning of the last day, arriving the Geneva airport arriving about 7:30 am.
For a more detailed itinerary that includes elevation gains, loss and distance, or to register please call.
France Trips
Hut Hikes
Inn-to-Inn
Hotel-Based
Self-Guided
Trip Map
They are very well connected on the TMB – all the hut and hotel owners greet them with open arms, so you know you’re going to be treated well.
Kem Edwards, New Haven CT
