Itinerary

Day 1 :  Meeting in Chamonix – Optional Warm-up Hike – Trip Orientation and Welcome Dinner

Independent arrival in Chamonix.  We will provide you with connecting information from the Geneva airport or other points. Tonight we have our trip orientation, and welcome drinks and dinner.

Day 2 :  Les Houches to Les Contamines-Montjoie

 

We transfer by bus from Chamonix to Les Houches.  After a short cable car ride we hike from Bellevue, cross a suspension bridge with view of the Bionnassay Glacier and then it’s up and over the Col de Tricot.  We descend to the summer village of Le Miage, and end our day in a comfortable small hotel in the village of Les Contamines-Monjoie.  We may instead hike via Bionnassay and La Gruvaz for an attractive alternative, especially if the weather is not cooperating.

Hike:  16 km; 5-5 ½ hours; 646 m +/633m- (Gruvaz); or 18; km; 7 ½ hours; 1478m+/1318m- (Col de Tricot).  Less with cable car.

Day 3 :  Les Contamines – Notre Dame de la Gorge – Col de la Croix du Bonhomme - Les Chapieux

In addition to the scenery, which continues to be spectacular, a highlight of today’s hike is the stretch where we walk on a path, which is believed to be part of a link with the Roman Empire from the heartland of Gaul (old France).   We start today with a short bus ride to Notre Dame de la Gorge, a pilgrimage site, and then follow the Roman Road, recognizable by the huge slabs of stone and a bridge that is more than 2,000 years old.  After enjoying lunch at the Col de la Croix du Bonhomme, we continue on to our charming guest house at the summer village of Les Chapieux, the southern limit of the Mont Blanc massif.

Hike:  18 km; 7- 7 ½ hours; 1316 m+/929m- (possible to shorten with a brief bus ride at the beginning)

Day 4 :   Les Chapieux - Col de la Seigne – Courmayeur

 

It is difficult to identify the highlight is of today’s adventure:  crossing the Col de la Seigne from France to Italy with the backdrop of some of the best views of Mount Blanc?  Walking in the footsteps of countless Roman legionnaires as we enter the Aosta region of Italy?  The polenta at the Elisabetta Hut (“rifugio”) where we stop for lunch?  The glaciers behind the hut?  Today we shuttle from Les Chapieux to the start of our hike at La Ville des Glaciers and hike up to the Italian border at Col de la Seigne and on to the Elisabetta Rifugio for lunch.  After lunch we walk down from the hut to the outskirts of Courmayeur and then transfer into town.  Dinner tonight will be on your own in this delightful Italian resort.

Hike:  18 km; 5 ½ - 6 hours; 1004m+/794m-  

Day 5 :  Courmayeur (Italy)– La Vachey  – La Fouly (Switzerland) – Champex (Switzerland)

 

Today we hike over a continental divide between Italy and Switzerland.  As we pass over the Grand Col Ferret from Italy into Switzerland we’ll have views of a glacier, and, hopefully, chamois.  Rain falling on the Italian side of this pass, which has been in use for several centuries, ultimately flows into the Po River and the Adriatic Sea.  Rain falling on the Swiss side flows into the Rhone River and then into the Mediterranean.  Our day starts with a transfer to La Vachey and then a walk down the Ferret Valley.   As we cross over the Grand Col Ferret into Switzerland we have a great view of Mont Dolent, whose summit is shared by France, Switzerland and Italy.  We hike to the village of La Fouly and then transfer to the charming French Swiss town of Champex.

Hike:  20 km; 6-6 ½ hours; 895m+; 1410m-

Day 6 :  Champex (Switzerland) – Trient (Switzerland) via the Bovine Route

 

Today's hike is a stunning route past farms with great views. We walk straight from the hotel and into the woods and then follow high mountain pastures.  The path curves, dips and rises over contours and in and out of indents on the hillside.  There are neat meadows, patches of forest, and high alpine pastures that lead to the alp buildings of Bovine, which look down onto the old Roman city of Martigny in the Rhone Valley and across to the Bernese Alps.  We then descend from the historic Forclaz Pass to the remote mountain village of Trient.  We may treat ourselves to cheese fondue tonight at our inn.

Hike: Bovine Route: 16 km; 4 ½ - 5 hours; 742 m +; 682 m –

Day 7 :  Trient (Switzerland) – Col de Balme – Argentiere (France)

When we return to France today the feeling of excitement will be great as we near the last stage of our adventure.  After leaving Trient via a steep trail through larch forest we hike up to and over the Col Balme and cross the French/Swiss border.  We start the day with views of the Trient Glacier and then have a view over the glacier to the Fenetre d’Arpette, the scene of yesterday’s challenging high point.  We spend the night in Argentiere, a village in a dramatic setting with views of the Mont Blanc massif.  We are now back in the Chamonix Valley with the Arve River.

Hike:  13 km; 5 ½  hours; 1068 m +; 1178 M –

Day 8 :  Argentiere – Lac Blanc –  La Flegere – Chamonix

For our return into Chamonix and the completion of the Mont Blanc circuit we enjoy the famous Mont Blanc Massif reflection in Lac Blanc and a view of the Mer de Glace (“Sea of Ice”).  We feel proud of our accomplishments as we walk back to Chamonix.  Our last hike, though high in drama, is our shortest leg (about four hours), leaving us time to make connections elsewhere.  Those who are staying on for another day on their own in Chamonix will have time to explore the town, perhaps visiting the Alpine Museum to admire the feats of their mountaineering predecessors.

Hike:  9 km; 4 hours; 733 m +; 257 m -

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