Tour du Mont Blanc Trek
and Tour du Mont Blanc Express, ITINERARY
(12 days or 8 days, download full itinerary as pdf file)
Return to 'HIKING THE TOUR DU MONT BLANC' Trip Page
Day 01: ARRIVAL DAY
Meeting of clients at Geneva airport, transfer to the Chamonix valley.
Briefing and welcome dinner.
Day 02: DAY-WALK TO LAC BLANC
Day-hike up to Lac Blanc, from where you will get your first fantastic look
at the French side of the Mont Blanc Massif. We have lunch and coffee at
the Lac Blanc refuge, then, walk back across the Grand Balcon Sud and
down to Les Praz straight to our hotel. This is a warm-up day that enables
us to check your gear and make sure that everything works.
Walking time: 5 hours
Accommodation: Upscale Hotel**/Chalet in Les Praz
Day 03: LES CONTAMINES
Vehicle transfer to Les Houches. A quick ride in the Bellevue cable car
brings us to the start of the trek. A good day’s walk with spectacular
views of the Dome du Gouter and the Aiguilles de Chamonix, then we walk
down to the charming alpine village of Les Contamines.
Walking time: 6 hours
Accommodation: Hotel*** in Les Contamines
Day 04: LES CHAPIEUX
An early start to walk up the Col du Bonhomme 2,599m (8’527 ft) and its
refuge for a well-deserved rest, then down to the little hamlet of Les
Chapieux 1,705m (5’594 ft). If the weather and clients’ ability permits, we
will do a variation and walk over the Col des Fours down to Ville des
Glaciers, where our private vehicle awaits, bringing us to our mountain inn
for the night.
Walking time: depending on the route, 6 – 7 hours
Accommodation: Mountain inn in Chapieux.
Day 05: COURMAYEUR
In Chapieux, we have a guided visit of a local cooperative, which produces
one of France’s famous cheeses, the Beaufort. After buying some for our
lunch later on, we continue on a long, steady climb to the Col de la Seigne
2,516m (8’254 ft), where we cross over to the Italian side and to the
Elisabetta hut for our first real Italian coffee. We carry on along the Lac
Combal, then a quick transfer to Courmayeur.
Walking time: 7 hours
Accommodation: Hotel*** in Courmayeur.
Day 06: REST DAY IN COURMAYEUR
Day 07: BONATTI REFUGE
An easy start to the day, a short transfer by van to Courmayeur, where
you will have some free time to explore and to go shopping. From the old
part of Courmayeur, we walk up to the Bertone hut for a well deserved
Italian lunch, before we walk along the Mont de la Saxe Ridge which offers
us some of the most beautiful views of the Tour du Mont Blanc. We will
spend the night in the Bonatti hut, where food and wine are copious (You
won’t be disappointed!!)
Walking time: 6 hours
Accommodation: Mountain hut
Alpine Interface – your local expert in the Alps.
Bilingual, certified guides only. Small groups. Customized trips possible, ask us.
Day 08: LA FOULY
Today is a fairly leisurely hiking day, which gives us the opportunity to
rest. From the Bonatti hut, we continue up the Col Ferret, and cross over
to Switzerland. Some coffee and cake at La Peule, and after a quick
descent we will reach the little village of La Fouly.
Walking time: 4/5 hours
Accommodation: Hotel in La Fouly
Day 09: CHAMPEX-LE-LAC
Weather permitting, we have a long but spectacular walk up to the
Cabane d’Orny (2,900m), perched at the foot of the glacier. If the weather
is uncooperative, we have a lower route from La Fouly to Champex, where
we will be staying for the night.
Walking time: 7 – 8 hours
Accommodation: Hotel in Champex
Day 10: TRIENT (FINHAUT)
From Champex, there are two options: Either a more arduous climb up
the Fenêtre d’Arpette with a spectacular view of the Trient glacier and the
Aiguille du Tour, or around the ridge on the Bovine trail to the Col
de la Forclaz, then a quick van transfer to the charming village of Finhaut
for the night.
Walking time: 5 - 7 hours, depending on the route
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 11: ARGENTIERE
The final day, the Massif du Mont Blanc awaits and the last obstacle is the
Col de Balme and the gentle descent into the village of Le Tour and then
into Argentière for a much-deserved drink.
Walking time: 5 hours
Accommodation: Hotel/Chalet in the Chamonix valley
Day 12: DEPARTURE DAY
All clients will be brought to Geneva airport, according to
their flight schedule.
Alpine Interface – your local expert in the Alps.
Bilingual, certified guides only. Small groups. Customized trips possible, ask us.
TOUR DU MONT BLANC EXPRESS ITINERARY, 8-day trip:
Day 01: ARRIVAL DAY
Arrival day, all guests will be met at Geneva airport. Transfer to the
Chamonix valley, briefing and welcome dinner.
Day 02: DAY-WALK TO LAC BLANC
Day-hike up to Lac Blanc, from where you will get your first fantastic look
at the French side of the Mont Blanc Massif. We have lunch and coffee at
the Lac Blanc refuge, then, walk back across the Grand Balcon Sud and
down to Les Praz straight to our hotel. This is a warm-up day that enables
us to check your gear and make sure that everything works.
Walking time: 5 hours
Accommodation: Upscale Hotel**/Chalet in Les Praz
Day 03: LES CHAPIEUX
Transfer by van to Les Contamines. An early start to walk up the Col du
Bonhomme 2,599m (8’527 ft) and its refuge for a well-deserved rest, then
down to the little hamlet of Les Chapieux 1,705m (5’594 ft). If the
weather and clients’ ability permits, we will do a variation and walk over
the Col des Fours down to Ville des Glaciers, where our private vehicle
awaits, bringing us to our mountain inn for the night.
Walking time: depending on the route, 6 – 7 hours
Accommodation: Mountain inn in Chapieux.
Day 04: COURMAYEUR
In Chapieux, we have a guided visit of a local cooperative, which produces
one of France’s famous cheeses, the Beaufort. After buying some for our
lunch later on, we continue on a long, steady climb to the Col de la Seigne
2,516m (8’254 ft), where we cross over to the Italian side and to the
Elisabetta hut for our first real Italian coffee. We arrive late in the
afternoon at Pré de Pascal, just above Courmayeur, from where we have a
very impressive view of the Brenva glacier right in front of us.
Walking time: 7 hours
Accommodation: Hotel**
Day 05: CHAMPEX-LE-LAC
Today is a fairly leisurely hiking day, which gives us the opportunity to
rest. From Pré de Pascal we drive to Courmayeur for a coffee stop. Then a
quick transfer by van to La Vachey, from where we hike up the Col Ferret,
and cross over to Switzerland. Some coffee and cake at La Peule, and
after a quick descent we will reach the little village of La Fouly. Our van
will bring us to Champex for the night.
Walking time: 4/5 hours
Accommodation: Hotel *** in Champex.
Day 06: TRIENT (FINHAUT)
From Champex, there are two options: Either a more arduous climb up
the Fenêtre d’Arpette with a spectacular view of the Trient glacier and the
Aiguille du Tour, or around the ridge on the Bovine trail to the Col de la
Forclaz, then a quick van transfer to the charming village of Finhaut for
the night.
Walking time: 5 - 7 hours, depending on the route
Accommodation: Hotel**
Day 07: ARGENTIERE
The final day, the Massif du Mont Blanc awaits and the last obstacle is the
Col de Balme and the gentle descent into the village of Le Tour and then
into Argentière for a much-deserved drink.
Walking time: 5 hours
Accommodation: Hotel/Chalet in the Chamonix valley
Day 08: DEPARTURE DAY
All clients will be brought to Geneva airport, according to
their flight schedule.
