Tour du Mont Blanc Highlights in Hotels

Tour du Mont Blanc Highlights in Hotels Itinerary

Day 1 Chamonix

Welcome to Chamonix! Try and get to Chamonix early, as this is one of the greatest mountain towns on earth.  Two highlights in Chamonix are to take the stunning Aiguille de Midi cable car or else hop on the train to Mer de Glace,  you can arrange these trips on your own if you’re interested.   When you check in to your hotel, you will receive a travel pack that provides all necessary information for your Tour du Mont Blanc trek.
Overnight Location:  3-Star Hotel in Chamonix
Distance: n/a
Meals: None

Day 2 Trek to Les Contamines-Montjoie

Transfer to the base of the Bellevue Cable Car and ride to the top of the lift.  Pause to appreciate your surroundings here at the beginning of the Tour du Mont Blanc. Begin hiking past the Bionnassay Glacier trail and cross the “Nepali hanging bridge” for a beautiful view of the Bionnassay glacier.  Follow the trail through alpine pastures up to the Col de Tricot Pass (2,120 m / 6,955 ft). Stop to rest here with a spectacular view of the Contamines-Montjoie Valley. Continue hiking steeply down to the Chalets de Miage (1,559 m / 5,115 ft), then back up to the Chalets du Truc (1,750 m / 5,741 ft). Come around Mt. Truc (1,811 m / 5,942 ft) before hiking down to spend the night in the village of Les Contamines Montjoie.

Note that this hike can be shorted by avoiding the climb to the Col du Tricot Pass.
Overnight Location: 3-Star hotel in Les Contamines-Montjoie
Distance: 5 hours hiking, 650 m elevation gain, 1,300 m elevation loss
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3 Hike to Les Chapieux via Col de la Croix-du-Bonhomme Pass

Transfer this morning from Les Contamines-Montjoie to Notre Dame de la Gorge (1,210 m / 3,970 ft), where you can visit a beautifully decorated baroque chapel. The Roman Road, historically a trade route between mountain valleys, begins here.

Hike steadily upward on the trail to the Col du Bonhomme Pass (2,329 m / 7,641 ft). This beautiful trail at the southern edge of the Mont Blanc Range forms a boundary line between the Mont Blanc and Beaufortain mountain ranges. Continue climbing to the Col de la Croix-du-Bonhomme Pass (2,433 m / 7,982 ft) and stop to enjoy the spectacular view of Mont Pourri (3,779 m / 12,398 ft). Descend through a charming alpine pasture to the lovely village of Les Chapieux (1,549 m / 5,082 ft). A private transfer takes you to your hotel in the town of Bourg-Saint-Maurice.
Overnight Location: 3-Star hotel in Bourg-Saint-Maurice
Distance: 6-7 hour hiking, 1,300 m elevation gain, 950 m elevation loss
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 4 Hike to Courmayeur (Italy) via Col de la Seigne and Val Veny

Start the morning with a transfer to begin today’s hike from the Ville des Glaciers (1,800 m / 5,905 ft),  where they make the well-known Beaufort cheese. The Tour du Mont Blanc leads through peaceful alpine pastures up to the Col de la Seigne Pass (2,516 m / 8,255 ft) where you will cross the border into Italy. This spectacular overlook brings you impressively close to famous peaks such as Mont Blanc de Courmayeur, Noire de Peuterey Spire, and Grandes Jorasses.

Descend through the Val Veny which is at the end of the Miage glacier. Notice the serene lake and the unique alpine plant life in this area. A short transfer takes you to the town of Courmayeur (1,226 m / 4,022 ft), where you get to spend the night in the heart of the Italian Alps.

Note that you can add an additional rest day in Courmayeur – just let us know during the booking process.
Overnight Location: 3-Star hotel in Courmayeur
Distance: 5 hours hiking, 750 m elevation gain, 900 m elevation loss
Meals: Breakfast.  Dinner on your own in Courmayeur

Day 5 Hike into Switzerland via the Grand Col Ferret pass

Today is another great day on the Tour du Mont Blanc, and is the day you will hike into Switzerland. Begin the morning with a short transfer from Courmayeur to Val Ferret, which is at the end of the Pré-de-Bar glacier. Trek up to the Grand Col Ferret Pass (2,537 m / 8,323 ft) and cross the border into Switzerland. With a final glance at Italy, descend through tranquil Swiss alpine meadows to the village of Ferret (1,740 m / 5,709 ft).

Your hotel will either be in nearby La Fouly or in pretty village of Champex, which requires a short transfer by bus.
Overnight Location:  3-Star hotel in Champex
Distance: 5 hours hiking, 800 m elevation gain, 950 m elevation loss
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6 Trek back to Argentière in France

Today’s hike begins in Champex, so if you spent the night in La Fouly, take the bus to this charming lakeside village. As you walk from Champex, explore scenic Swiss alpine pastures full of grazing cows. This area is famous for its cheese. The Bovine area offers amazing views of the Rhône River valley and the Swiss region of Valais.

Today offers an exciting variant, and strong hikers can go over the beautiful Fenêtre d'Arpette Pass (2,665 m / 8,743 ft), but be advised this trek is nearly 3 hours longer and much more difficult. Finish today’s trek in the village of Trient (1,280 m/ 4,200 ft), where a private transfer takes you to the French village of Argentière, near the top of the Chamonix Valley.
Overnight Location: 3-Star hotel in Trient or Argentière
Distance:  5.5 - 8 hours hiking, 750 -1,200 m elevation gain, 900-1,400 m elevation loss
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7 Trek to Chamonix via Col des Montets and Lac Blanc

Your Tour du Mont Blanc self-guided trek concludes today with one of the best days for scenery.  Today you will have some amazing glacier and summit views as you hike through the Aiguilles-Rouges mountains just across the valley from the Mont Blanc massif.

From the Col des Montets pass (1,461 m / 4,793 ft), follow the trail to Lake Chéserys where you will see Mont Blanc and other majestic peaks reflected in the still water. The hike continues back to the lovely Lake Blanc (2,352 m / 7,717 ft). Pause here to appreciate the beauty of this place, and be sure to watch for some of the many ibex that call this area home. When you are ready to finish your tour, walk to La Flégère and ride the gondola takes you all the way down to the bottom of the valley, in the Chamonix hamlet of Les Praz.

Most guests arrange an evening flight out of Geneva back home or else stay on for a couple more days in Chamonix.  You can arrange additional hotel nights while booking your tour.
Overnight Location:  None
Distance: 5 hours hiking, 900 m elevation gain, 600 m elevation loss
Meals: Breakfast