Tour du Mont Blanc

The trip starts today at our chalet-style hotel in the village of Les Houches in the Chamonix Valley.



Your trek Leader plans to meet everyone in the hotel reception at 6pm for a welcome meeting and trek briefing. Afterwards, for those that wish, there will be the chance to dine together as a group either at the hotel or a nearby local restaurant. There are no other activities planned for today.



If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Geneva Airport (GVA), which is around an hour and 30 minutes' drive from Les Houches. The transfer will be by a shared shuttle-bus service that operates from Geneva Airport to the Chamonix Valley on a regular basis throughout the day and which will drop you to the hotel. You will receive details about your transfer with your final travel documents a few weeks before the trip departs.



Should you miss the welcome meeting, your Leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up. Please note that the official check-in time at the hotel from 3 pm, although rooms will be allocated as soon as they are available. If you arrive earlier in the day and wish to explore, the lively centre of Chamonix with its many shops and pavement cafes is just 15 minutes away by local bus.

After breakfast we take a local bus for 20 minutes from Les Houches to Chamonix and walk along the River Arve for about 30 minutes to Les Praz (1065 m) from where we take the Flegere cable car up to 1900 m. From here we hike through open countryside for one-and-a-half to two hours to Lac Blanc (2352 m). There are incredible views of the whole Mont Blanc range, including the Grandes Jorasses, Aiguille Vert and Le Dru. We then follow a beautiful path back through the forest to our hotel at Argentiere (1252 m).



Today's trekking will take approximately six to seven hours with a cumulative ascent of 450 m and descent of 1110 m.

From the hotel we walk through Old Argentiere and hike up to the Col des Posettes (1997 m) for superb views of Mont Blanc and the Chamonix Valley. From here, we traverse to the Col de Balme (2191 m) and look directly into Switzerland. We then descend through open country with views of glaciers to Trient (1297 m) and then on to La Forclaz (1526 m) where we spend the night. You will have your main baggage delivered to the hotel tonight.



Today's trekking will take approximately seven hours with a cumulative ascent of 1180 m and descent of 894m.

We hike along the Bovine Route to Champex (1486 m). The route winds its way through meadows, forests and open country with views of the great Sion Valley and the mountains of Verbier. There are no great ascents today and we arrive at our hotel near Champex Lake where you can head to for a sundowner. You will not have access to your main luggage tonight.



Today's trekking will take approximately six hours with a cumulative ascent of 700 m and descent of 730 m.

From here it is a gentle five to six hour trek to La Fouly (1600 m) along the Val Ferret. We start our walk descending from Champex following the river along a pretty valley covered in trees to Praz-de-Fort. We then ascend in similar surroundings with wonderful views of Mt Dolent and the South Face of the Mont Blanc range. You will not have access to your main luggage tonight.



Today's trekking will take approximately five to six hours with cumulative ascent of 540 m and descent of 440 m.

We continue from La Fouly along the Val Ferret and cross the impressive Grand Col Ferret (2537 m). From here, the descent is slightly steeper but rewards us with outstanding views of two of the Alps most iconic mountains - Le Grandes Jorasses and Mont Blanc. We stay at La Palud (1350 m), 3 km from Courmayeur and you will have your main baggage delivered to the hotel tonight. It's worth noting that it's possible to shorten today's walk by taking a bus for the final seven kilometres of the walk.



Today's trekking will take approximately nine hours with a cumulative ascent of 830 m and descent of 1170 m.

Today has been left free to take a rest from the trail and soak up the ambience of the Alps. Nearby Courmayeur is one of Italy's premier ski resorts and is full of pretty shops, cafés and restaurants. Close by, there is the hot spring spa at Pre St Didier, the Skyway cable car that revolves as you ascend and plenty of other walking opportunities.

We take take public transport for approximately 25 minutes and travel to Val Veny under the spectacular South Face and ridges of Mont Blanc. We trek along a wide glacial valley surrounded by glaciers and high peaks to the Col de la Seigne (2516 m) which marks the border between France and Italy. We then descend to Les Chapieux (1549 m). Today is quite a long day (it is possible to take a bus for the final five kilometres if you wish) , although it is not steep. You will not have access to your luggage tonight, so you will want to pack accordingly.



Today's trekking will take approximately seven hours with a cumulative ascent of 860 m and descent of 967 m.

We make a steep ascent above Les Chapieux through marmot country and on through open meadows to more barren scenery. We cross two cols (2479 m and 2329 m) in wild surroundings with fabulous Alpine Flowers and marmots, weasels and chamois. We then head down through open country and a narrowing valley. Our destination is Les Contamines (1167 m) - a pretty ski village with an interesting church. We will stay approximately 1 km before the village of Les Contamines. There will be no access to your main luggage tonight.



Today's trekking will take approximately six to seven hours with a cumulative ascent of 850 m and descent of 1320 m.

Leaving Les Contamines we follow the Tour du Mont Blanc, passing the pretty hamlets of Gruvaz, Champel and Bionnassay. We then make the short, 500m ascent to the Col du Voza (1653m) which forms part of the huge massif above Les Houches. This is a fitting end to our trek with the most outstanding views of the Chamonix Valley, the Chamonix Aiguilles and the Mont Blanc massif. We descend from the col to the road at Les Houches and either walk (20 minutes) or take the public bus back to the hotel in Les Houches where we started our trek nine days ago. We are reunited with our luggage and will have a final nights meal in the evening, bidding farewell to our Leader.



Today's trekking will take approximately seven hours with a cumulative ascent of 800 m and descent of 800m.

The trip ends today after breakfast at our hotel in Les Houches.



There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Les Houches at any time. If you are departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you need to depart from Geneva Airport. The transfer will be booked by Explore on a shared shuttle-bus service and the journey time is around an hour and 30 minutes.