Hiking in the Alps from France to Italy to Switzerland

Hiking in the Alps from France to Italy to Switzerland 8 Days

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Hiking in the Alps from France to Italy to Switzerland
Hiking in the Alps from France to Italy to Switzerland
Hiking in the Alps from France to Italy to Switzerland
Hiking in the Alps from France to Italy to Switzerland
Hiking in the Alps from France to Italy to Switzerland
Hiking in the Alps from France to Italy to Switzerland
Hiking in the Alps from France to Italy to Switzerland
Hiking in the Alps from France to Italy to Switzerland
Hiking in the Alps from France to Italy to Switzerland
Hiking in the Alps from France to Italy to Switzerland

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Overview

Highlights

Duration: 8 Days
Comfort: 66.6666666666667%
Language: English
Rating: 80.0%
Trip ID: 88551
Start Location: Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France
End Location: Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France

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Primary Activities: Hiking
Other Activities: Local Culture & Cuisine
Activity Level: Advanced

Mont Blanc (15,771'), the highest peak in Western Europe, is a magnificent glacier-clad mountain with seven valleys radiating into France, Italy, and Switzerland. In circling this impressive massif, we cross from one country to the next—on foot! The Tour du Mont Blanc is one of the “Great Hikes of the World,” and we’ve honed our unique version to perfection with impeccably planned hiking days, each one opening up new panoramas of the snow-covered giants of the Alps. Cultural and culinary experiences through three countries are part of the delight, and high in the Alps, festive evenings may find us passing the traditional grolla bowl (espresso and grappa—flambe!) to toast our day’s adventures. Our expert team of Trip Leaders add energy and fun to memorable days on the trail.

What the Trip is Like: This hike is rated Level 5, Strenuous. All trip members should have good hiking experience, but no technical climbing experience is necessary. Most hiking is at altitudes between 6,000 and 8,000 feet, and the maximum elevation reached is 8,800 feet. Daily hikes range from four to eight hours. All participants must be in good physical condition. There are long daily ascents and descents of up to 3,000 to 4,000 feet in each direction. On most days, we end the hike with long, steep descents. Of course, you are always free to skip a day’s hike and travel to the next destination in the support vehicle. We recommend that you make a special effort to get in top physical condition for the trip.

In Chamonix, we stay in the wonderful Grand Hotel des Alpes. Outside of Chamonix, we stay in comfortable (but not luxurious) small hotels and pensions, with shared bathrooms on a couple of nights of the trip. They are rustic, well located for hikers, and continuously busy in the summer hiking season. Please note that these are hikers’ hotels, not five-star resorts. The rooms are clean and comfortable, but are not always of uniform size or amenities. All meals are included. Evening meals are at our hotels, and they will consist of hearty mountain fare. A support vehicle will transport the group’s luggage daily. We use many forms of transportation as we travel during the trip, so we ask that you restrict your luggage to one piece, plus your daypack/rucksack. Our Trip Leaders try their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. Single rooms are offered when possible, but those who pay the Single Supplement may have to share a room for up to two nights during the trip. At the Auberge de la Nova, couples may also have to share a room.

Itinerary

Day 1: Chamonix, France, via Geneva, Switzerland / Warm-Up Hike / Lac Blanc

We meet at 8:30 a.m. in our hotel lobby in Chamonix and head out for a warm-up hike up to the granite massif called the Aiguilles Rouges, with remarkable Lac Blanc as our destination. From this spectacular mountain lake, we have our first views over the entire Chamonix Valley. We return by cable car from nearby La Flégère, which is stunningly situated on a natural terrace at 6,500 feet with incomparable views of the Mont Blanc Massif directly opposite us. At 6:00 p.m., we gather for a trip orientation, then walk into town for a delicious “welcome” dinner. Overnight at the Grand Hotel des Alpes in Chamonix...LD Hiking Time: Approx. 4-5 hours, Distance: 6 miles, Altitude Gain/Loss: Ascend 1,700 feet, descend 1,700 feet.

Note: We suggest you arrive in Chamonix at least one day in advance of the trip start. We will be happy to book this hotel night for you. Most people fly to Geneva, Switzerland, and then transfer to Chamonix. We offer a complimentary van transfer from the Geneva airport directly to our hotel in Chamonix; a booking form is enclosed with your confirmation packet. Our Arrival & Departure Logistics memo has further information.

Chamonix: This charming old mountain town sits right at the foot of Mont Blanc (15,770'), the highest mountain in western Europe. Chamonix has been a climbing and skiing center for over 100 years and is the mountaineering “capital” of Europe. It has a wonderful atmosphere and a well preserved Old Town with cobbled streets full of lively sidewalk cafes. From near the center of town, the famous Aiguille du Midi cable car whisks visitors to 12,000 feet for stunning views of the Mont Blanc range.

Lodging: Grand Hotel des Alpes
Description: A truly wonderful hotel that WT groups have enjoyed for years, the elegant Grand Hotel is right in the center of Chamonix, set back on a lovely plaza facing a pedestrians-only street. A historic property newly rebuilt from stem to stern, it is Italian-owned and run with superb taste and great service. Along the Arve River at the back is the quiet garden terrace, a great place for a drink in the evening or enjoying a breakfast buffet in the morning. There’s also a pool, steam room, and jacuzzi for soaking post-hike muscles. Without a doubt, this is the best place to stay in Chamonix!

Day 2: Val Montjoie / Les Contamines (France)

The Tour du Mont Blanc hike starts a few miles outside of Chamonix at the village of Les Houches, where we take a cable car up to the Col de Voza. The hiking begins here, with fantastic views of the peaks of the Chamonix Valley and surroundings. From the col, we descend to the snout of the vast Bionnassay Glacier, then make our first climb up to the Col de Tricot (7,000'), with fine views of the long, snow-covered ridge of the Dômes de Miage, one of the most spectacular ridges on the Mont Blanc massif. After a steep but short descent, we enjoy our picnic lunch at the Chalets de Miage, with the beauty of the Alps all around us. After lunch, we climb up the hill known as Truc, then descend through a lovely forest into the valley called the Val Montjoie, and from there to the resort village of Les Contamines, once a town of chamois hunters and smugglers. Overnight at hotel...BLD Hiking Time: Approx. 5-6 hours, Distance: 8 miles, Altitude Gain/Loss: Ascend 2,400 feet, descend 4,400 feet.

Lodging: Hotel La Chemenaz
Description: Right on the TMB trail just outside the village of Les Contamines, this is a comfortable, modern hotel with spacious rooms, a cozy bar with a log fire, a great breakfast buffet, and an exceptionally helpful and friendly staff. The sauna and jacuzzi are great for a soak after a day’s hike.

Day 3: Notre Dame de la Gorge / Col du Bonhomme / Les Chapieux

In the morning, we drive to the trailhead along the floor of the beautiful Val Montjoie to the chapel of Notre Dame de la Gorge, a church of unusual Baroque architecture with Renaissance frescoes and an ancient pilgrimage site. From the church, we hike steadily upward through gentle glades and forests and then through the superb gorge called the Nant Borrant to the top of the Col du Bonhomme, our first pass. After lunch at the Col du Bonhomme, a short, gradual uphill traverse takes us across Col de la Croix-du- Bonhomme (8,180'), with superb vistas over the Tarantaise region. After a brief rest at the Croix-du- Bonhomme Refuge, we have a long, sometimes steep descent through rich, open pastures to the remote summer village of Les Chapieux (5,128'). Overnight at the Auberge de la Nova, a basic but charming alpine lodge with shared baths (no single accommodations are available here). The auberge is superbly sited at the southern limit of the Massif du Mont Blanc...BLD Hiking Time: Approx. 7-8 hours, Distance: 10 miles, Altitude Gain/Loss: Ascend 4,400 feet, descend 3,200 feet.

Note: Today is one of the most strenuous days of the Tour du Mont Blanc, as we cross two mountain passes, the Col du Bonhomme and Col de la Croix-du-Bonhomme. The biggest climb comes at the end of the morning, and some people find it quite lengthy and demanding. The second pass is a gentle rising traverse, but done after the first ascent, this one can feel quite difficult as well. This is the longest hiking day on the trip.

Lodging: Auberge de la Nova
Description: This family-run auberge sits at the end of a country road at the junction of three valleys. It is a basic but very charming place and an important link for hikers on the Tour du Mont Blanc. The gracious husband-and-wife owners will cook us our hearty evening meal here. There are simple rooms with in-room sinks and shared toilets/showers down the hall. From the auberge, there’s a fine view of the Aiguille des Glaciers (12,516').

Day 4: Val Veni / Courmayeur (Italy)

Today we leave France and enter the Aosta region of Italy along a route used by countless Roman legionnaires. From the trailhead at the end of the remote Vallee des Glaciers, we climb eastward to the Col de la Seigne (8,300'). This mountain pass is the hydrologic divide between the Atlantic and Mediterranean Seas. Weather permitting, the views are fabulous of the Aiguille Noir and the Italian (south) face of Mont Blanc dominating the Val Veni. An easy descent beneath the Aiguille Blanche brings us great views of nearby glaciers, moraines, and the Lac de Combal. In the late afternoon, we make our way down to Courmayeur, at the south end of the Mont Blanc tunnel. Courmayeur, the Italian counterpart of Chamonix, is a bustling mountain resort situated below the Mont Blanc massif. Overnight at hotel...BLD Hiking Time: Approx. 7-8 hours, Distance: 10.5 miles, Altitude Gain/Loss: Ascend 2,600 feet, descend 3,600 feet.

Lodging: Hotel des Glaciers
Description: In the adjacent community of Dolonne, a few minutes’ walk from Courmayeuer’s pedestrian center, this is a family-run hotel in which members of each generation play some role in its operation. The grandfather, Eduardo Pennard, a retired mountain guide, has created a wonderful private alpine museum in the hotel basement. Among his collectables are skis that belonged to the famed Duke of Abruzzi, the globe-trotting mountaineer whose name graces ridges on Mt. Denali and K2, among other places.

Day 5: La Vachey / Val Ferret (Italy into Switzerland)

After a short drive from Courmayeur to La Vachey, we hike up the Val Ferret, passing beneath the massive granite peaks of Mont Dolent (12,543'), the Dent du Geant, and the Grandes Jorasses. We hike amid alpine meadows and fast-flowing streams on our moderate and spectacular ascent toward the Grand Col Ferret (8,400'), with its stunning views of the icy southern flanks of the Mont Blanc massif and in the far distance, the Matterhorn and Monte Rosa. The Grand Col Ferret marks Italy’s border with Switzerland, and in the Swiss Val Ferret (the canton of Valais), there is a change in the color and breed of cows, and a more gentle landscape with enticing streams and woodlands. After enjoying our lunch not far below the pass, we descend through a proliferation of wildflowers to the village of Ferret (5,592') where we are picked up for a ride to the lakeside mountain resort of Champex (4,808'), sitting high up on a shelf above the Val Ferret. Overnight in hotel...BLD Hiking Time: Approx. 4-5 hours, Distance: 10.5 miles, Altitude Gain/Loss: Ascend 1,500 feet, descend 2,000 feet.

Lodging: Hotel du Glacier
Description: The comfortable Hotel du Glacier sits on the main and only street of the pretty little village of Champex. The same lovely couple has owned it for many years and they also run the restaurant, which has great food and a relaxed atmosphere. The hotel is steps away from a picturesque mountain lake.

Day 6: Val d’Arpette / Val Trient (Switzerland) / Col de la Forclaz

A rugged day of hiking takes us up and across several huge moraines and boulder fields in the isolated glacial valley called the Val d’Arpette. Our trail then ascends one last, steep, final pitch to the Fenêtre d’Arpette (8,800'), a narrow and dramatic col overlooking the Trient Glacier and its valley. Once atop the pass (weather permitting), a breezy lunch break offers us remarkable views over the glacier. A very long and steep descent brings us to the snout of the Trient Glacier, another perfect rest stop. From here, we follow an ancient bisse (irrigation channel), now on mostly level terrain, to Col de la Forclaz (5,005') where we overnight at a comfortable hotel with shared bathrooms...BLD Hiking Time: Approx. 6-7 hours, Distance: 8.5 miles, Altitude Gain/Loss: Ascend 3,300 feet, descend 4,300 feet.

Note: Today is our other really tough hiking day as we ascend the steep Fenêtre d’Arpette. The ascent begins gradually, but as we approach the top, the trail is quite steep and then disappears into a jumble of huge boulders. We scramble over and between the boulders to reach the summit. It is not technically difficult, but is strenuous as it comes at the end of a long ascent. The descent is also quite steep and challenging.

Lodging: Hotel du Col de la Forclaz
Description: Sitting right on the mountain pass where the road leads west to France or east to Switzerland, this is a mountain accommodation with simple rooms and shared toilets/showers. The food is hearty and home-cooked and there’s a nice patio where we can relax and enjoy the views.

Day 7: Col du Balme / Chamonix, France

In the morning, our trail climbs through a serene larch forest to the Col du Balme (7,234'), the border between Switzerland and France. Now we once again overlook the beautiful Chamonix Valley, with the glory of the Mont Blanc massif before us. We have lunch at the pass, enjoying sweeping views, then begin our long, gentle hike down to the village of Argentière, from which we head back to Chamonix. We gather for our farewell dinner tonight. Overnight at hotel in Chamonix...BLD Hiking Time: Approx. 5-6 hours, Distance: 9 miles, Altitude Gain/Loss: Ascend 3,050 feet, descend 3,000 feet.

Lodging: Grand Hotel des Alpes
Description: A truly wonderful hotel that WT groups have enjoyed for years, the elegant Grand Hotel is right in the center of Chamonix, set back on a lovely plaza facing a pedestrians-only street. A historic property newly rebuilt from stem to stern, it is Italian-owned and run with superb taste and great service. Along the Arve River at the back is the quiet garden terrace, a great place for a drink in the evening or enjoying a breakfast buffet in the morning. There’s also a pool, steam room, and jacuzzi for soaking post-hike muscles. Without a doubt, this is the best place to stay in Chamonix!

Day 8: Depart

Depart Chamonix after breakfast. We offer a complimentary van transfer to the Geneva airport. From Chamonix, there are excellent train and bus connections throughout Europe...B only.

Nuts & Bolts

Trip Includes

Expert leadership of at least two Wilderness Travel Trip Leaders (and sometimes three, depending on group size) Accommodations in hotels and small inns
All meals included Van support and luggage transfer
Cable cars and chairlifts to trailheads for scheduled hikes
Land transportation during the trip, transfers between overnight stops, airport transfers

Trip Excludes

International airfare, Alcohol at meals
Airport departure taxes
Optional tipping or gratuities to leaders or staff
Additional hotel nights that may be necessary due to airline schedule changes or other factors
Pre-trip expenses of medical immunizations (if any)
Travel insurance, or passports and visas, and other expenses of a personal nature (alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.).

Trip ID#: 88551

CANCELLATIONS: 20% cancellation fee applied if cancelled 60 days prior to departure. Cancellations within 60 days are 100% non-cancelable

Operator

For the specifics on this tour operator, please contact AdventureLink directly.

Reviews (5)

B. Scott

From the surprise picnics to tasting grolla in the mountain hut, it was all wonderfully organized.
- Overall Rating
  90%
- Guide Rating
  90%
- Value Rating
  80%
- Itinerary Rating
  80%
- Accomodation Rating
  90%
Jognya T.

I had an amazing experience! I would definitely travel with WT again.
- Overall Rating
  90%
- Guide Rating
  90%
- Value Rating
  70%
- Itinerary Rating
  80%
- Accomodation Rating
  60%
David W.

A great trip. I was ready to go back as soon as I got home.
- Overall Rating
  80%
- Guide Rating
  100%
- Value Rating
  70%
- Itinerary Rating
  90%
- Accomodation Rating
  90%
Jeanne A.

The trip was great. It was hard work, but that was balanced out by great food and a comfortable bed at the end of the day! All the hotels were good.
- Overall Rating
  80%
- Guide Rating
  70%
- Value Rating
  90%
- Itinerary Rating
  60%
- Accomodation Rating
  80%
Bernie M.

We have traveled with other tour companies in the past but Wilderness Travel is so far superior we will always use them!
- Overall Rating
  60%
- Guide Rating
  70%
- Value Rating
  70%
- Itinerary Rating
  90%
- Accomodation Rating
  60%

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