Tour du Mont Blanc

Itinerary

Saturday – Transfer from Geneva and transfer to first nights accommodation.

Sunday – Today we hike in the Aiguilles Rouges on the opposite side of the valley to the Mont Blanc massif.  It gives an exceptional view of the famous Chamonix peaks. We will take the cable car to La Flegere from the hamlet of Le Praz.  Classic views from the path that traverses the range. A final descent on foot or more quickly by cable car takes us to the world famous town of Chamonix-Mont Blanc and the bussling streets full of tourists and alpinists surveying the spectacular peaks.

Monday – We take a short journey transfer to the village of Les Houches about 15 minutes from Chamonix.  Another journey by cable car whisks us up to the Bellevue where we start our walk.  Crossing over the Tramway du Mont Blanc we follow a footpath that traverses the hillside.  Overnight at Les Contamines.

Tuesday.  We start today’s walk at Notre Dame de la Gorge. We hike up an old track that leads us up towards La Balme and a chance for a morning coffee or drink.  From here we head to the Col du Bonhomme.  A rising traverse across the mountainside brings us to our high point of the day, the Col de la Croix du Bonhomme. A short descent takes us to the Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme and a chance for a drink or a home-made tart or cake.  The onward trail descends now to the hamlet of Les Chapieux nestling below soaring mountain peaks.

Wednesday – Leaving Les Chapieux we pass the farms at La Ville des Glaciers and Les Mottets before the day’s climbing really begins.  The views open out as we gain height and eventually we arrive at the French-Italian border at the Col de la Seigne.  Time for a drink and to drink in the views.  The southern ramparts of Mont Blanc stand majestically above us.

Onwards into Italy and we pass the Refugio Elisabetta dwarfed below the flanks of Mont Blanc.  We eventually reach a track and passing by Lac Combal we arrive at the road-head.  A short transfer to the town of Courmayeur.

Thursday – From the Refugio Elena our next goal is the Grand Col Ferret (2 537m) and the Swiss frontier before making for the pretty village of La Fouly. A transfer using the Swiss Postbus now takes us to the village of Champex. Overnight in gite at the start of the Arpette valley.

Friday – Today we make for the Fenetre d’Arpette (2850m) which offers a spectacular view of the Trient glacier as we parallel it’s descent to the valley.  Alternatively we will take the so-called Bovine route that climbs round the flanks of the mountains to reach the Col de la Forclaz.

Saturday – France beckons once again.  Leaving from Trient we start our climb back to France.  There are a number of possibilities but our goal is the Col de la Balme and the Swiss-French border.  A magnificent panorama unfolds with a view down the Chamonix valley and the peaks of the Mont Blanc massif spread out in front of us.

Sunday – Transfers from Chamonix to Geneva airport.