Tour du Mont Blanc
True to its myth, Mont Blanc is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful peaks in the Alps. The scenery is breathtaking, with countless Alpine peaks and superb glaciers surrounding the impressive Mont Blanc massif in the permanent background.
True to its myth, Mont Blanc is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful peaks in the Alps. Our tour will take you from France to Italy and Switzerland, allowing you to discover its different faces. The scenery is breathtaking, with countless Alpine peaks and superb glaciers surrounding the impressive Mont Blanc massif in the permanent background.
This hike is relatively demanding, but all you need to do is carry a light backpack every day. In the evening, enjoy delicious French and Italian cuisine, combined with warm Swiss hospitality in traditional Alpine villages.
8-stage tour – luggage transport – Departure mid-June to mid-September
Program
Day 1
Les Contamines
Your journey begins in the charming, traditional village of Les Contamines. A first walk is possible depending on your arrival time.
Overnight in a beautiful 2* hotel; half-board.
Day 2
Les Contamines – Les Chapieux (7 hours; +1200 m)
Short transfer to Notre Dame de la Gorge. Ascent of the Col du Bonhomme and the Col de la Croix du Bonhomme leading to the Vallée des Chapieux. Crossing the Aiguille des Glaciers, you’ll be surrounded by splendid scenery. Overnight in a room at the “La Nova” mountain hotel; half-board.
Day 3
Les Chapieux – Courmayeur (7 hours; +950 m)
Join the Ville des Glaciers to start the hike (45-minute walk), in summer free public shuttles are available. Cross the Col de la Seigne to reach the Italian side of the border. This hike offers spectacular views. Go down to Val Veny and take the bus from La Cantine de la Visaille to Courmayeur. A panoramic view of the Grandes Jorasses. Afterwards, you can stay in Courmayeur or take a bus to Val Ferret and hike to the Rifugio Elena, near the Pré de Bar glacier (40-minute walk). Overnight in Courmayeur in a 3* B&B hotel on a room-only basis.
Day 4
Courmayeur – Champex (Val d’Arpette) (6 hours; + 600 m)
Cross the Grand Col Ferret and arrive in the picturesque but beautiful Swiss village of La Fouly. Enjoy exceptional views of the Combins massif to the east and the Italian side of Mont Blanc. Transfer by post bus to Champex, a Swiss village with a beautiful lake. The Val d’Arpette hotel, Relais d’Arpette, is a 45-minute walk away. Overnight accommodation at Relais d’Arpette; half board.
Day 5
Champex (Val d’Arpette) – La Forclaz (5h30; +800 m)
The high point of the hike is reached today with the ascent of the Fenêtre d’Arpette (2,750 m) and the descent along the Trient glacier, which offers breathtaking views. In case of uncertain weather, we recommend a shorter route via the Cold de Bovine pass. Overnight in a hostel at Col de La Forclaz; half-board.
Day 6
La Forclaz – Argentière (7 hours; + 1000 m)
Cross the Col de la Balme and return to France with fantastic views of Mont Blanc and the Aiguille Verte. You can choose between 2 alternative routes for the descent to Tour or to the village of Argentières. Overnight in a 3* hotel in Argentière; half-board.
Day 7
Argentière – Chamonix (6 hours; + 900 m)
Enjoy the magnificent Balcon des Aiguilles Rouges, before climbing up to Lac Blanc. Enjoy all the beautiful scenery on offer: Aiguille Verte, Les Drus, La Mer de glace, Aiguilles de Chamonix, Mont Blanc du Tacul, Aiguille du Goûter, and finally Mont Blanc! Descent to Chamonix via Le Praz. You can also choose to take the Flégère cable car or the bus (transfers not included in the price). Overnight in a 3* hotel in Chamonix.
Day 8
Chamonix
End of the stay after breakfast.
Map
Practical information
Welcome: You can be welcomed every day from 5:00 pm at the hotel in Les Contamines – You will be given your hiking guide.
Dismissal : End of stay after breakfast on Day 8 in Chamonix
Supervision: hiking in freedom, without guide
Lodging: Accommodation in double rooms with private bathroom at the hotels in Les Contamines**, Courmayeur***, Argentières*** and Chamonix***.
Double rooms in guesthouses in Les Chapieux, Arpette and Trient, mostly with private bathrooms, but we can’t guarantee this. (No discount if the room does not have a private bathroom)
Luggage: During the day, all you need to carry is your small backpack with the valuables you’ll need for the hike. Your luggage will be transported by vehicle. 1 piece of luggage per person 15 kg max. If your bag exceeds the weight requested, there is a charge of €21 / kg extra. We can organize a free baggage storage service (2 or 3 bags per booking) only if you request it at the time of booking.
Carnet de route: We provide you with a digital travel pack that includes: access to our smartphone guide application, a list of your accommodations, any vouchers and all the information you need to make your stay a success. We can provide a paper version of the travel pack with maps, topo guide and travel pack, for a supplement of €30 per travel pack (1 per room maximum). For all requests for a paper travel file: the file will be available at the first hotel of your stay. We need this information at the time of booking.
Access: By car, train (St Gervais – Le Fayet station, then cab or bus to Les Contamines. From Chamonix to Le Fayet: by train, approx. 40 min.)
Parking: Free but unsupervised parking in Les Contamines
Dates
Daily from 15/06 to 15/09/2024 Please note that bookings from June 27 to 30 and August 28 to September 04, 2024 are very difficult due to the Mont Blanc Marathon and the Mont Blanc Ultra Trail. Warning: from 15/06 to 30/06 and from 01/09 to 15/09, there is a high risk of snow and snowdrifts. Some buses don’t work, and it’s necessary to replace them with a cab: D3 from Chapieux to Ville des Glaciers (possibility of walking, 5km) (approx. 80€ for 1-3 people). And on the D3 from Cantine de Visailles to Courmayeur, you can take a cab (approx. €70 for 1-3 people). Please note: if you take the tour in low season, i.e. before June 25 and after August 27, private transfers are compulsory: +185€ return for 8 people (D2 evening + D3 morning).
Prices
Below is the price list per person for 2024. The price depends mainly on the number of nights desired, the type of room and luggage transport.
| Double, Twin or Triple Room | Single Room | |||
| With luggage transport | Without Transport | With luggage transport | Without Transport | |
| 7 nights | 1075,00 € | 960,00 € | 1405,00 € | 1290,00 € |
Possibility to ask for an extra night as an option
The price includes :
- Accommodation with half board at each stage
- Luggage transport
- A logbook (electronic version)
The price does not include :
- The drinks
- Picnics
- Bus transfers (Visaille to Courmayeur; Courmayeur to Val Ferret; Fouly to Champex)
- Cablecare
- Printed version of the travel folder
- Transfer to J3 La Nova – Seloge (City of Glaciers)
- Return transfers to and from Bourg Saint Maurice if you are staying there.
From
960,00 €
Highlights
- A must for touring hikers
- Breathtaking scenery and views of Mont Blanc
- Luggage transport
In pictures
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