7-Day Tour du Mont Blanc
Seven valleys, 71 glaciers, 400 summits -- The Mont-Blanc range is fascinatingly beautiful, like a diamond, from every angle. Discover a world of unique impressive and magic high mountain with a breathtaking explosive show of summits and glaciers in all directions.
From Courmayeur to the Chamonix valley, from the Fenetre d'Arpette to the wild Val Ferret, the trails meander along the Swiss, Italian and French mountain sides and valleys, through pastures, over mountain passes, below tumbling glaciers and imposing peaks. The Mont-Blanc range is inhabited by warm friendly people, hardy to mountain life, keeping pastoral farming and local mountain traditions alive.
This is an enormous playground of untamed natural wilderness waiting to be discovered!
Accommodations:
- 4 nights in a gite in a double/twin bedroom (shared bathroom)
- 1 night in a refuge in a bedroom for 4 people (shared bathroom)
- 1 night in a hotel in a double/twin bedroom (private bathroom)
- Based on double occupancy.
Departures:
- Group Departures every Sunday from late May to mid-September with Classic or Hotel accommodations or Saturday with Comfort accommodations
- Self-Guided Departures every Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday with Basic or Comfort accommodations
- Self-Guided Departures every Sunday and Tuesday with Hotel accommodations
*** Self-Guided with Hotels is a modified 6-day itinerary.
Full Itinerary
Day 1: Hike Col de Balme to Trient (D)
*** Meeting on Sunday at 10:30am in front of the train station in Montroc-le-Planet.
Climb via the balcony trail of Posettes to the Col de Balme (2200m) on the French-Swiss border. Magnificent view of the surrounding glaciers of Argentiere, Le Tour and the north face of the Mont Blanc range. Descend into Swiss pastures to the village of Trient. Night in a gite.
5 hour walk / Elevation: +840m -920m
Meals included: Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Mountain Hut/ Hiker's Inn
Day 2: Hike Bovine or Arpette to Champex (BLD)
Depending on conditions and the fitness of the group, cross through the pastures of Bovine via a balcony trail overlooking the Rhone valley or take a more "high mountain" route along the Trient Glacier to reach the mythic Fenêtre d'Arpette (2665m). Descend to Champex. Night in a gite.
6 hour walk / Elevation: +1100m -750m (via Bovine)
6.5 hour walk / Elevation: +1300m -970m (via Arpette)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Mountain Hut/ Hiker's Inn
Day 3: Hike Grand Col Ferret to Arnouva (BLD)
Descend to the village of Champex, also known as the "little Canada". Bus transfer to the village of La Fouly. Climb up through the vast pastures of La Peule with unavoidable encounters with local farmers to the Col Ferret (2537m). Descend into the Italian Val Ferret in the impressive foothills of Pre de Bar Glacier and Mont Dolent, meeting point between France, Switzerland and Italy. Night in a gite in Arnouva.
5 hour walk / Elevation: +840m -750m
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Mountain Hut/ Hiker's Inn
Day 4: Hike Mont de la Saxe to Courmayeur (BLD)
Ascend to Refuge Bonatti. Follow the exceptional balcony trail of the Mont de la Saxe facing the Mont-Blanc, the Mont Dolent, Aiguille du Triolet, the Grandes Jorasses and more. Descend to Courmayeur for a short bus transfer to refuge Monte Bianco nestled above Courmayeur.
5.5 hour walk / Elevation: +650m -750m
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Mountain Hut/ Hiker's Inn
Day 5: Hike Col de la Seigne to Les Mottets (BLD)
Climb the Val Veny via the glacial lake Miage to the Col de la Seigne forming the border between Italy and France. Possible detour via the Balcon de Checroui and Mont Fortin, unveiling another angle of the impressive Mont-Blanc range. Night in a refuge.
6 hour walk / Elevation: +850m -650m
8 hour walk / Elevation: +/- 450m (via the Col Checroui)
*** End point Saturday at 4:00pm at the bottom of the Prarion gondola in Les Houches.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Mountain Hut/ Hiker's Inn
Day 6: Hike Col de Fours to Col Bonhomme to Les Contamines-Montjoie (BLD)
Meet the local dairy farmers of the Beaufort region at work. Climb through pastures and by waterfalls to the Col des Fours (2665m) the highest point of the tour. Followed by a descent to the Col du Bonhomme (2329m), once frequented by peddlers. Descend via the old Roman road to the chapel in Notre Dame de la Gorge. Short bus transfer to the hotel in Les Contamines-Montjoie.
6 hour walk / Elevation: +850m -1500m
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mid-Range Accommodations: Mountain Hut/ Hiker's Inn
Day 7: Hike Glacier de Bionnassay to Col du Tricot to Les Houches (BL)
Climb up to the Bionnassay Glacier through the village of Champel or via the Col du Tricot (2120m) with an unmissable view close to the Domes de Miage, the Chamonix valley and the Mont-Blanc. Descend to the village of Les Houches.
5 hour walk / Elevation: +750m -800m (via Champel)
6.5 hour walk / Elevation: +1100m -1250m (via the Col du Tricot)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Pricing
7-Day Tour du Mont BlancPrices are Per Person and Valid for Trips through December 31, 2024
| # People in Group: | 2 |
| Guided/Group (Basic/Dorm): | $1295 |
| Guided/Group (Comfort): | $1395 |
| Guided/Group (Hotels): | $1695 |
| Self-Guided (Basic/Dorm): | $995 |
| Self-Guided (Comfort): | $1195 |
| Self-Guided (Hotels): | $1295 |
Prices are Per Person and Valid for Trips January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025
| # People in Group: | 2+ |
| Guided/Group (Basic/Dorm): | $1595 |
| Guided/Group (Comfort): | $1695 |
| Guided/Group (Hotels): | $2195 |
| Self-Guided (Basic/Dorm): | $1195 |
| Self-Guided (Comfort): | $1495 |
| Self-Guided (Hotels): | $1695 |
*** Contact Us for other itinerary and lodging options! ***
NOTE: Prices are per person in U.S. dollars based on double/triple occupancy. All quotations are based on the current rates of park fees, VAT, other government taxes, and current exchange rates. Should any of these be increased or a new tax introduced, these increases will be added on even if your trip has already been paid for.
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