Frequently Asked Questions
The thought of traveling can be a daunting experience for many, without ever leaving your own home. Where to go, am I fit enough to do the hike, who will the other hikers be? These are serious questions demanding prompt, accurate answers.
At Alpine Interface, let us be the interface between the idea of your journey of a lifetime and the reality. Our toll-free number, 1-800-368-5056, is your direct link to us. Call us and we should be able to answer all of your questions regarding one of our destinations. We also endeavor to answer all of your emails as quickly as possible, meaning straight away if during business hours.
Below you will find questions most asked by our guests. Our answers are honest and try to shed light on what an Alpine Interface journey is like.
- How will I get to the start of my AI trip?
- How long is the transfer from Geneva airport to Chamonix?
- What if I fly into Paris or another European airport?
- What if my flights are very early in the morning, or late in the evening?
- What should I expect from the hotels in the Alps?
- What can I expect from the meals/food during my trip in the Alps with AI?
- Is the drinking water in the Alps safe?
- What about bugs/moscitos in the Alps?
- What are the trails going to be like in the Alps, how steep are they?
- What will the weather be like in the Alps?
1. How will I get to the start of my AI trip?
We provide a private transfer when possible from airports we designate as meeting points. If we cannot pick you up with our own vehicle, we hire a transfer taxi to collect you and your luggage and they will drive you to our first night's hotel. In the event that you choose not to meet at a designated meeting point, we will give you the most up-to-date information on how to get to the start of your trip.
2. How long is the transfer from Geneva airport to Chamonix?
On a good day, the drive should take no more than one hour and fifteen minutes. With traffic, expect up to an additional forty minutes in the vehicle (although this is fairly rare).
3. What if I fly into Paris or another European airport?
Geneva International Airport (GVA airport code) is the closest airport to Chamonix and many of our alpine departures. If you opt to fly into another airport, such as one of the Paris airports, please remember that there are several discount airlines such as Easyjet or CrossAir (Swiss Air), which provide cheap and reliable service to Geneva airport. Please ask us for more information. If you must fly into Zurich or a major German hub such as Frankfurt, rapid transit and high-speed trains can get you to Chamonix in a reasonable amount of time.
4. What if my flights are very early in the morning or late in the evening?
No matter what time your flight is in the morning or evening, we will try our best to get you to the airport on time. All the transfer companies we use have services to and from the airport at any hour of the day. If our mini-van is in the area, our driver will take you there himself.
5. What should I expect from the hotels in the Alps?
As in any region, there are a variety of hotels and restaurants, some better than others. At Alpine Interface, we try to provide the best standard at a reasonable price, without extremes. Our hotels and restaurants are chosen for many reason, but above all service. Most of the hoteliers have become our friends to a certain extent. We see each other socially, and have forged bonds that can only come with mutual respect. We therefore expect the best service and they often deliver.
Despite our preferential treatment at times, summer is very busy in the Alps and hotels and inns are often booked months in advance. As a trekker, you need to be flexible and patient.
We also avoid dormitory style accommodation whenever possible. Many hotels and inns on the Tour du Mont Blanc are booked solid by February. Single rooms are difficult to get, but we attempt to do so if required. You will most likely be sharing a room with another member of the trip. We endeavor to put couples in King or Queen size beds when ever possible.
In the Alps, most hotels have en-suite bathrooms, meaning you have a shower and toilet in your room. In some inns, there are shared toilets and showers.
6: What can I expect from the meals / food during my trip in the Alps with AI?
Breakfast:
Throughout the Swiss and the French Alps, breakfast is not as hearty as you might expect. Coffee, tea, juice and milk are all served in abundance but Meusli and cooked cereal are not always served. There is often a source of protein such as yogurt or cheese, and bread and croissants forming the main part of the meal.
In Switzerland, breakfast is generally better than in France. You will often get cold cuts of meat, cheese, fruit and a variety of jams and honey. Coffee is generally better in Switzerland. Bread is often a lethal weapon after a few hours and many places will not get a chance to get fresh bread. As we tend to leave by 8 a.m., most hotels are just getting their fresh baked goods as we head out the door. With more pushing on our part, hotels are starting to realize that being more accommodating to trekkers
Lunches:
At Alpine Interface, we have always prided ourselves on the quality of our lunches. We do not pretend to offer gourmet cuisine but provide a variety of locally produced goods such as fresh breads, cheeses and as many fresh fruits and vegetables as we can get. Lunches are often picnics which each member of the group carrying part of the group lunch. Some days, when facilities permit, we will make sandwiches fresh in the morning, More work for our group leaders, but a greater variety of meals for you.
If the weather does not co-operate, we will head to the nearest hut or restaurant (provided there is one) and take our lunches indoors. Hiking food is often hearty, cheesy and high in fat. Remember, you will be doing more exercise than you would normally do and need to consumer more calories. In preparing meals, we do understand that eating a heavy meal at lunch is not the best for hiking. Just enough to keep you powered up, yet feeling satisfied. You can diet when you get home!
Dinners:
The evening meal in the Alps is taken very seriously. Food is abundant and seconds are almost always offered. Hoteliers have been listening to hikers and tour operators over the years and have been providing a rather interesting and creative blend of traditional and gourmet foods. Gone are the days of soggy pasta and stodgy vegetables. There are the occasional recalcitrant hoteliers, looking to make money by saving on food. We avoid those whenever possible and go out of our way to find a suitable alternatives without having to drive too far from the trailhead.
Meals in the huts will often begin with soup, then, you will have pasta, rice or potatoes served with meat and fresh vegetables. Dessert is often fruit or home baked pies with cheese being an alternative. Some places serve both. Coffee is much stronger than in North America and espresso being the norm after dinner. There is the possibility of having an American coffee with hot water added to thin the espresso out. Herbal teas are often available after the meal.
7. Is the drinking water in the Alps safe?
Is the drinking water in the Alps safe? In general, yes.
Some of the best mineral water in the world comes from the Alps.
That said, the Alps are also a vast pasture, hence the name alp. In summer, there are many animals grazing such as cows and goats, which can contaminate the water supply to some streams, leading to a potential problem for hikers.
Having trekked and climbed in the Alps for nearly 20 years, we have never been ill from the drinking water. Most of our guides and clients carry only one litre of water at a time and fill up along the trail. As the animals move up to higher pastures in late July, we have to be slightly more careful as more streams may be contaminated. We therefore tend to only use the many fountains found in villages and mountain streams high enough to not be contaminated.
All water in hotels/huts/mountain refuges etc. coming out of the tap is safe to drink.
If we are coming to a lunch stop or a little mountain hut, the water there is safe as well, unless stated otherwise.
8. What about bugs/moscitos in the Alps?
One great advantage of trekking in the Alps is the lack of biting insects.
The only major issue will be the horse flies around the cattle in the summer months. Beyond that, most villages are high enough to keep the mosquitoes at bay.
Despite the increasing summer time temperatures, standing water and breeding grounds for insects have not become an issue in the Alps. You will be hard pressed to find a single screened window in the Alps. So, on most nights, you can sleep deeply with windows wide open.
9. What are the trails going to be like in the Alps, how steep are they?
Hiking in the Alps is a wonderful experience. The history, food, views and above all, the trail network allow for an incredible experience. The trails are what get you to the most beautiful parts of the mountains.
Each area of the Alps will have a dedicated trail crew spending the summer months maintaining and repairing damaged trails. For the most part, trails are in excellent condition.
Where there is a risk of a fall or a tricky section, the trail crews have equipped these sections with cables and ladders for the safety of the walkers. This does not mean that each metre of trail is safe. There are objective dangers to walking in the mountains, such as rock fall, lightening and, of course, simply falling off the trail.
Most days, we spend roughly 8 hours hiking. This of course takes into account stops for lunch, photographs and for taking in the incredible views. You may need to hike uphill for more than 3 hours, or roughly 1000 metres of vertical gain. The same may be expected for the descent. We often exceed 1000 metres on average.
The Alps are steep, young mountains and therefore, you will be hiking uphill for several hours at one time. Unless you live in a mountainous area, you will have great difficulty in simulating a hike in the Alps. Trails will be steep at times, and walking poles can help you keeping your balance. Trail surfaces in the Alps change often. After a heavy thunderstorm, trails will be muddy and rock fall may occur. On steep descents, muddy trails are difficult to negotiate especially after a long day of hiking.
10. What will the weather be like in the Alps?
The weather obviously varies, depending on when your booked trip starts.
Our trips in the Alps begin in June because prior to that, the trails are covered in snow. Mid June is about as early as you can start hiking. The days will be long with daylight until well past 9 p.m. The temperatures are never that high, with morning temperatures hovering around 8-12C. As the sun heats the atmosphere, daytime temperatures rarely go higher than 25C and that of course it depends on the altitude at which you are hiking. If we are spending the night in a mountain hut, you can expect early morning frost. Snow is not uncommon in the Alps during the first week of June.
July is often stable when it comes to weather patterns. High-pressure systems often ensure that blue skies will prevail but isolated thunderstorms may still occur as cumulous clouds form over the valleys and peaks. July is often the best month to observe the incredible Alpine fauna. There are few issues with bugs except around livestock. Temperatures in July can reach 25-30C especially during the last few summers, which seem to have been hotter than others.
August is a real problem month with thunderstorm activity reaching its peak toward the end of the month. Thunderstorms are about the only danger we face as hikers on the trail. There is nothing we can do to avoid them except by leaving early in the morning and getting in as early as possible. The weather in August tends to focus on the thunderstorms, which dictate the pace of the day. Luckily, Europe has some of the best weather forecasting systems in the world and we can trust the reliability of the forecasts.
The last few summers have been the hottest in recorded history and the Alps have suffered tremendously from the lack of precipitation and exceptional summer heat. This of course makes great weather for hiking but the long-term prospect is far from positive.
Please click here for the BBC's French weather forecast
