Tour du Mont Blanc Hotel Trek

In the evening there is an introductory briefing by your leader.

**

From our hotel in Chamonix we walk to Les Praz and take the cable car to La

Flégère (1,860m – 6100). The trail today is named the 'Grand Balcon' and

is on the opposite side of the valley from Mont Blanc, affording excellent

views of the whole massif lying to our south. Initially we contour and then

climb to reach the high point of the day, Lac Blanc (2352m - 7715ft). The

trail descends and then contours high above the valley before dropping

steeply to the hamlet of Les Frasserands and Montroc (1,371m - 4500ft). In

the afternoon there is a very short section of ladders/steep steps with

handrails to descend. We return to our hotel in Chamonix in the afternoon.



8.00 hours walking. 500m – 1640ft up, 980m – 3220ft down



* *

We travel back to Montroc at the top of the Chamonix valley where we begin

our ascent to the Aiguillette de Posettes (2201m – 7200ft), descend a

little and then climb towards the Col de Balme (2191m – 7190ft) from where

we follow one of the paths across the border from France to Switzerland.

Excellent views all morning of Aiguille d'Argentière and Aiguille du Tour

and its glacier. After lunch we walk through to the small Swiss hamlet of

Trient (1296m – 4250ft). Good views of the Trient Glacier. A sting in the

tail today as we finish with a steep climb from Trient to our hotel at the

Col de la Forclaz (1527m – 5010ft).

8.5 hours walking time including breaks and lunch etc. 1190m/3900ft up,

1060m/3466ft down

We leave the Col de la Forclaz, where we can look directly down into the

Rhône valley and the Swiss town of Martigny and follow an historic path used

to take the cows to high pasture, the 'Bovine route' (2049m – 6720ft). Our

trail takes us through meadows and high alpine pastures before we descend to

the charming town of Champex (1486m – 4880ft) set beside a picturesque

alpine lake.

7.5 hours walking, 680m – 2230ft up, 720m – 2360ft down

Now on the east side of the main Mont Blanc Massif we walk south, descending

through woods to the Val Ferret and on to Issert (1055m – 3460ft) and other

small, pretty, alpine farming villages. This is quite a good day for flowers,

including orchids. We continue up the valley to the remote village La Fouly

(1600m - 5250ft). This is at the foot of Mont Dolent, whose summit is at the

meeting point of France, Switzerland and Italy.

6 hours walking, 440m – 1450ft down, 540m – 1780ft up

Still following the same valley and the river 'La Drance', we climb to the

'Grand Col Ferret' (2537m – 8320ft), the highest pass of the tour. Now in

Italy, the valley is also called 'Val Ferret'. The mountain views from the

Col are stunning with the Grandes Jorasses dominating the scene. We walk down

the valley to Arp Nouva (1770m – 5800ft) then travel by bus to our hotel in

La Palud near Courmayeur. (BLD)

7 hours walking, 970m - 3180ft up, 800m – 2600ft down

The nearby ex-spa towns of Courmayeur and Entrèves have picturesque older

sections, which are worth a visit, especially for the keen photographer.

There is a cable car from Entrèves to Point Helbronner (3461m – 11350ft)

and on across the glacier to Aiguille du Midi (and in fact on down to

Chamonix). This is a splendid (optional) excursion, which gives close-up

views of all the big peaks. Alternatively you might wish to relax and recover

in the Spa bathes at Pre Saint Didier a short bus ride from Courmayeur.

We start with a short bus ride to pick up the TMB and from the road (1675m

– 5500ft ) climb up to the Bonatti refuge (2025m – 6640ft). Today we

follow a beautiful contouring path around Mont de la Saxe to Courmayeur. The

views of the south Mont Blanc massif are exceptional as are those of the

towering, peaks of the 'Grandes Jorasses' and the glaciers which crowd the

northern flank of the Val Ferret. In the afternoon we have a long, steep

descent to Courmayeur (1230m – 4030m) (superb ice creams!) from where we

take a short bus ride into the spectacular Val Veny (1530m – 5020ft). 

8 hours walking. 500m – 1640ft up, 900m 4400ft down

Today we are heading for the Val Veny and the start of our walk at La

Vissaille (1660m – 5450ft). We’ll reach this by bus to then start climb

gently along good paths beneath the massive glacier de Miage and pass Lac

Combal before the gradient becomes steeper as we follow the old Roman road

and head for today's pass: the 'Col de la Seigne' (2516m – 8250ft), which

marks our re-entry into France. A fairly steep descent brings us through la

Ville des Glaciers (1789m – 5870ft) and finally after quite a long walking

day to Les Chapieux (1553m – 5090ft), a small remote hamlet inhabited only

during the summer months.

8.5 hours walking time including breaks and lunch etc. 870m – 2840ft up,

970m – 3180ft down

We have now reached the southwest corner of the circuit and turn north to

climb once again. Today is a longer day; first we make a steep climb to the

Col de la Croix du Bonhomme (2478m – 8130ft) and then contour around to the

Col du Bonhomme (2328m – 7640ft). We then descend (again on a Roman road)

to our campsite in Les Contamines (1180m - 5900ft). A short bus ride down

the valley takes us to the pretty village of St Gervais, the perfect place

for a day off. 

8.5 hours walking time including breaks and lunch etc. 930m – 3050ft up,

1340m – 4400ft down

A well-earned rest day. There are many options to fill your day including

taking the cog railway to Le Nid d’aigle – the Eagles Nest - a popular

start point to climb Mont Blanc, or browsing around the local market of Les

Contamines. There are plenty of optional walks in the area or one can simply

relax around the pleasant town of St Gervais or even treat yourself to a

rejuvenating spa.

Today is a challenging day with plenty of ups and downs. From St Gervais we

have a 10 min transfer to re-join our route before ascending to the Chalets

de Miage (1560m – 5120ft). From here we take a trail that climbs steeply to

the Col de Tricot (2119m – 6950ft) before descending very close to the

snout of the Glacier de Bionnassay. Good views of the north side of the Mont

Blanc Massif. Eventually we make another ascent to reach the Col de Voza

(1652m – 5418ft) where we re-enter the Chamonix Valley and make our final

descent to the village of Les Houches (993m - 3225ft).

8.5 hours walking time including breaks and lunch etc. 1200m – 3980ft up,

1370m – 4500ft down

We cross to the north side of the Chamonix Valley and climb steeply through

pine forest and then on open mountainsides to reach the high point of the day

at Brevent (2525m – 8290ft). This is a long walking day but will probably

afford the best views of the French side of Mont Blanc and its neighbouring

peaks that we shall have on the whole trek. We descend to Plan Praz (1970m -

6460ft) and take the cable car to Chamonix (1061m) for a well-deserved beer.

7.5 hours walking time including breaks and lunch etc. 1500m – 4921ft up,

520m – 1690ft down

Free day in and around Chamonix. There are several good walks in the Chamonix

valley. Chamonix itself is also a great place to spend a day. The most

popular excursions, weather depending, would be the spectacular ascent by

cable car to the Aiguille du Midi or the Montenvers cog railway.

Meals included: breakfast