Itinerary

DAY 1
Arrival in Chamonix; trip briefing and welcome dinner

We meet at our mountain resort in Chamonix, France, a pretty village nestled under the flanks of snow-covered Mont Blanc (15,770'), the highest mountain in western Europe. Chamonix is the "mountaineering capital" of Europe, and has been a climbing and skiing center for over 100 years. This wonderful town has a charming atmosphere and is well-preserved with cobbled streets full of lively sidewalk cafés. We have a trip briefing and welcome dinner this evening.
Hotel l'Oustalet, Chamonix, France

DAY 2
Lac Blanc

Optional hike – moderate, 4-5 hours (about 6 miles) with 1,700' elevation gain and loss.

Today is free to rest and explore Chamonix, or you may join your guides for a "warm-up" hike up to the Aiguilles Rouges, with Lac Blanc as our destination. As we hike along the Grand Balcony trail, we get a dazzling view of many of the highest peaks in the Alps, with spectacular views over the entire Chamonix Valley. We then return by cable car from La Flégère or continue hiking along the Grand Balcony to the cable car station at Planpraz. You are free to enjoy local fare this evening in one of Chamonix's great savoyarde (regional) restaurants.
Hotel l'Oustalet, Chamonix, France

DAY 3
Les Houches to Les Contamines-Montjoie

Hike – strenuous, 5-6 hours (about 8 miles) with 2,400' elevation gain and 4,400' loss.

The Mont Blanc circuit starts a few miles outside of Chamonix at the village of Les Houches, where we take a cable car up to Bellevue. The hiking begins here, with fantastic views of the Chamonix Valley's peaks and surroundings. We first hike along the foot of the huge Glacier de Bionnassay, and then up to the Col de Tricot (7,000'), with fine views of the Dômes de Miage. A steep descent brings us to the Chalets de Miage where we enjoy a picnic lunch with the beauty of the Alps around us. Following lunch, we climb up the hill known as Truc, and then descend through a lovely forest to the charming resort village of Les Contamines-Montjoie, once a town of chamois hunters and smugglers, and today a popular mountaineering and ski area. Tonight there is time to explore the town, relax, and refuel for the next stage of our journey.
Hôtel La Chemenaz, Les Contamines, France

DAY 4
Les Contamines-Montjoie to Les Chapieux

Hike – strenuous, 7-8 hours (about 10 miles) with 4,400' elevation gain and 3,200' loss.

In the morning we make our way to the end of the valley and to our trailhead at the pilgrimage chapel of Notre Dame de la Gorge – a church of strange Baroque architecture. From the church we walk along an old Roman road that climbs steadily through a beautiful forest, crosses broad alpine pastures, and passes rustic chalets as we make our way to the Col du Bonhomme (7,600'), our first pass. After lunch at the Col du Bonhomme, a short, gradual uphill traverse takes us across Col de la Croix-du-Bonhomme (8,200'), with superb vistas over the Tarantaise region. After a brief rest, we have a long and sometimes steep descent through rich, open pastures to the remote summer village of Les Chapieux (5,200'). Our simple hiker's inn is superbly situated at the southern limit of the Massif du Mont Blanc, and offers us a much deserved hearty dinner.

Note: Today is one of our longest and most strenuous days on the Tour du Mont Blanc, as we cross two mountain passes, the Col du Bonhomme (7,600'), and the Col de la Croix-du-Bonhomme (8,200').
Auberge-Refuge de la Nova, Les Chapieux, France

DAY 5
Les Chapieux to Courmayeur

Hike – moderate to strenuous, 4-5 hours (about 8.5 miles) with 1,600' elevation gain and 3,600' loss.

We begin our day with a short transfer to the end of the Vallée des Glaciers. Leaving France, we hike into the Aosta region of Italy via grassy trails and ancient passages.
 
We climb eastward and enjoy a relatively easy hike over the Col de la Seigne (8,245').  The views are dramatic from the pass, encompassing the Aiguille Noire and the Italian face of Mont Blanc that dominates the Val Veni. An easy descent brings us farther into Italy, and from the very first mountain refuge we pass, the cultural difference between France and Italy is striking. At the end of our day of hiking we transfer to Courmayeur where we spend the remaining part of the day exploring this resort town spectacularly settled beneath the Grand Jorasses and the Brenva Glacier. You are free to enjoy dinner this evening at one of Courmayeur's many fine restaurants.
Hotel Berthod, Courmayeur, Italy

DAY 6
Courmayeur to Champex

Hike – moderate to strenuous, 5-6 hours (about 7.5 miles) with 2,450' elevation gain and 2,750' loss.

After a short transfer from Courmayeur, we hike from Italy into the mountain wonderland of Switzerland via the Grand Col Ferret (8,400'), passing beneath the massive granite peaks of Mont Dolent, the Dent du Geant, and the Grandes Jorasses. We hike through alpine meadows and past fast-flowing streams on our moderate but spectacular climb towards the pass, and enjoy amazing views of the icy southern flanks of the Mont Blanc massif.

The Grand Col Ferret has been in use for several centuries and serves as the Italian-Swiss border between Val D'Aosta and the canton of Valais. The landscape in the Swiss Val Ferret is gentler, with enticing streams and woodlands, and an extraordinary abundance of wildflowers.

Our arrival in Switzerland is greeted by the sound of Swiss cow bells and rustic chalets with geraniums spilling from window boxes. We descend to the village of Ferret, and transfer to the mountain-ringed lake resort of Champex. There is time to relax before dinner at our comfortable hotel.
Hotel du Glacier, Champex, Switzerland

DAY 7
Champex to Col de la Forclaz

Hike – strenuous, 6-7 hours (about 8.5 miles) with 3,300' elevation gain and 4,300' loss.

OR

Hike – moderate, 6-7 hours (about 9 miles) with 1,850' elevation gain and 1,715' loss.

Our hike today begins from the town of Champex. There are two hiking options: one through the high alpine pastures of Bovine with expansive views of the Rhone Valley, and another more challenging route up and over the rugged Fenetre d'Arpette (8,800'). Both routes offer wonderful views of the majestic Swiss Alps.

The more strenuous option takes us up and across several huge moraines and boulder fields in the isolated glacial valley of Val d'Arpette. Our trail then ascends one last, steep pitch to the Fenêtre d'Arpette, a narrow col overlooking the Trient Glacier and its valley. Once atop the pass, a breezy lunch break offers remarkable views over the glacier. A very long and steep descent brings us to the nose of the glacier and another perfect rest stop. From here, we follow an ancient irrigation channel to the Col de la Forclaz (5,000'), and then on to Finhaut for our overnight at a family-run inn.

Our less challenging option today is Bovine Way, an old trail used to access the summer cow pastures high above the valley. We start with a gentle walk in a spruce forest, and after crossing a number of streams we climb steeply to arrive at the flower-filled meadows of an exceptionally beautiful traverse overlooking the Rhone Valley, 4,000' below. Our picnic spot has glorious views of the mountains of Switzerland reaching into the distance. Our afternoon route descends steadily through wooded slopes to the Col de la Forclaz.

Note: Today is our second tough hiking day if weather permits and we choose the route via the steep Fenêtre d'Arpette (group and weather dependent). The ascent begins gradually, but as we approach the top the trail becomes quite steep and disappears into a field of huge boulders. We scramble over and between the boulders to reach the summit. It is not technically difficult, but is strenuous as it comes at the end of a long ascent.
Hotel Beau-Sejour, Finhaut, Switzerland

DAY 8
Trient to Le Tour

Hike – moderate to strenuous, 5-6 hours (about 9 miles) with 3,050' elevation gain and 3,000' loss.

Today we complete our circuit with one of its most beautiful stages. Departing from Trient, we hike through high pastures and back into France over the Col du Balme (7,230'), with glorious views of Mont Blanc and the Chamonix Valley below. We have lunch at the pass, enjoy the sweeping views, and then descend by foot or gondola to the village of Le Tour, from which we head back to Chamonix. We gather to celebrate our accomplishments tonight with a farewell dinner in town.
Hotel l'Oustalet, Chamonix, France

DAY 9
Departure

Our trip ends after breakfast, and you are free to continue your exploration of Chamonix, or depart for your next destination.

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