Beaufortain Loop Trek

Arrive at the hotel in Arêches where your adventure in the French Alps begins!

Depending on the time of your arrival in the village of Arêches, you’ll have several choices for your first hike. These include the Envers Loop, a visit to the village of Boudin, or the climb to Plan Villard (1,530m). Regardless of your choice today, you’ll discover beautiful mountain pastures and unforgettable panoramas on the Mont-Blanc massif.

Rise this morning and enjoy breakfast, then set out to transfer to the Col du Pré (1,703m). Via a botanical path, you’ll reach a stele in the forest (1,961m). This is the starting point for a magnificent “ridge” hike! You’ll then walk to the top of the Parstire rock (2,109m), then to the Mont des Acrays (2,173m) via the Passage de la Charmette (2,058m) and, finally, reaching the Passage de Miraillet which allows you to switch to Cormet d'Arêches (2,108m). Throughout the course, you will benefit from majestic viewpoints out over the lakes of Saint-Guérin (1,559m) and Roselend (1,557m) as well as on Mont-Blanc (4,808m) and the famous Pierra Menta (2,714m ). Today’s incredible hiking ends at La Coire Hut (2,059m) where you’ll enjoy some well-earned rest.

This morning, you will climb up to the narrow Col du Coin pass (2,398m), from which there is a superb panorama of the Mont-Blanc massif. Descend to the Coin Valley via the Conchette chalets, under the Pierra Menta, an emblematic rock. Descend further to Treicol and then embark on an uphill stretch to the shores of the magnificent Lake Roselend, one of the largest water reservoirs in the Alpine Arc. Finish up with an easy walk from here to reach Plan-Mya Hut.

Today’s short day will have setting out to reach the Col de la Sausse pass (2,307m), located above the Cormet de Roselend and crossing the majestic Gittes crest to the refuge of the Croix-du-Bonhomme pass (2,433m), a key passage of the famous Tour Mont-Blanc. If you’re feeling up to it, tackle the northern head of Les Fours, an easy summit where the ibex chill in front of a sumptuous Mont-Blanc. Note that you will need to bring a small bag as luggage transfers can't reach the Refuge des Pres hut.

Today you’ll rise early and enjoy a heart breakfast before setting out on your departure for the longest stage of the route. You’ll cross the Col du Bonhomme (2,329m) and descend to the Jovet chalets. You’ll begin a superb crossing. Climb to the Col de la Fenêtre pass (2,245m) and hike through the pastures to the Col du Joly pass (1,989m). From there, continue on a long traverse along the side of the mountain pastures of the Hauteluce Valley to reach the Col de Véry pass (1,962m) where the Croix-de-Pierre Hut is located. Note that you will need to bring a small bag as luggage transfers can't reach the Croix de Pierre hut.

Your final day of trekking has you crossing to Mont Clocher (1,950m), then long descent on a winding path to reach the listed village of Hauteluce (1,100m). This is the occasion for a stop at the magnificent baroque church of Saint-Jacques-d'Assyrie with its famous onion bell tower and its trompe-l'oeil facade. You are almost at the end of this fabulous route in the heart of “little French Tyrol”.

Last efforts to reach Beaufort-sur-Doron and its dairy cooperative!

One magical week of trekking in the Alps comes to an end today! Enjoy a final breakfast in Arêches, then check out and depart.