Day 1 - Arrive in Chamonix

Our trip begins in the famous mountain town of Chamonix, at the foot of Mont Blanc. We meet the group at 6pm for a trip briefing  followed by our evening meal.

 

Accommodation: 3* hotel, dinner included

Luggage access

 

Day 2 - Transfer to Les Houches. Trek to Les Contamines

We start in Les Houches with a cable car ride on the Bellevue lift.  We then cross the spectacular suspension bridge at the foot of the Bionnassay glacier, and we have several route choices to take us to Les Contamines. We usually cross the Col de Tricot, with a coffee stop at the Chalet de Miages at the foot of the mighty Dome de Miages, but if the weather is bad we can take a lower level route.  We stay in a lovely 3* hotel in Les Contamines.

 

Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

Luggage access

Walking: approx 6 hrs

Altitude gain / loss: +837m / -1520m

 

Day 3 - Trek from Les Contamines to Les Chapieux

Today we trek up the old Roman road to the chapel at Notre Dame de la Gorge.  From here it’s uphill, past the Chalet de Barme (if we’re doing well for time, it’s a perfect coffee stop!) and up to the Col de Bonhomme (2328m) for a well-earned lunch stop.  We then we have a gentle climb to the Col de la Croix de Bonhomme (2478m), from where we have a great view towards the Vanoise National Park.  Next we have a 2 hour walk down to Les Chapieux, and stay in a lovely chambre d’hôte.

 

Accommodation : Guest house, dinner included

Luggage access

Walking: Approx 7 - 8 hrs

Altitude gain / loss: + 1348m / -960m

 

Day 4 - Trek over the Col de la Seigne to Courmayeur

Firstly we take a minibus to avoid walking the tarmac section up to the Ville des Glaciers.  From here we cross the river and head to the Refuge des Mottets, from where we start the climb up to the Col de la Seigne (2516m).  From here the scenery changes again – you’ve reached Italy!  We have fantastic views down into the Val Veny and over to the Val Ferret, and you start to see the Italian side of Mont Blanc and the other Chamonix giants.  A descent past the Elisabetta hut takes us to La Visaille, where we take a transfer down to the traditional Italian town of Courmayeur, where we stay in a family-run, central hotel.

 

Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

Luggage access

Walking: Approx 5-6 hours

Altitude gain / loss: +867m / -1015m

 

Day 5 - Trek from Courmayeur to the Rifugio Bonatti

We start the steep walk up to the Bertone hut and the Mont de la Saxe ridge.  If the weather is good and there is not too much snow, we can take the lesser-travelled variant to the Mont de la Saxe ridge, up the Tête de la Tronche, and then down steeply to the Col Sapin. We then have a descent, followed by another climb to the Col Entre Deux Sauts: it’s a fairly long, but really stunning day – not many people, plus breathtaking scenery.  We overnight at the delightful Rifugio Bonatti, from where you can watch the beautiful sunset behind Mont Blanc.  Tonight is the only night of the trip with no luggage access.

 

Accommodation: Mountain refuge, dinner included

No luggage access

Walking: Approx 7 hrs

Altitude gain / loss: +1584m / -940m

 

Day 6 - Trek from the Bonatti hut to La Fouly

Today we trek over the Grand Col Ferret (one of the highest cols on the trip at 2537m).  We are rewarded with stunning views of the Grandes Jorasses, the Grand Combin and Mont Dolent (the summit of which is on the border of France, Switzerland and Italy).  At the top of the col we cross over into Switzerland, where the scenery changes yet again.  If we’re doing well for time we might stop for a coffee at La Peule. Here we leave the signposted TMB and head to La Fouly via a higher balcony path. La Fouly is an alpine village with traditional Swiss “chocolate box” chalets, and we stay in a simple hotel.

 

Accommodation: Hotel, dinner included

Luggage access

Walking- approx 6-7 hrs

Altitude gain / loss: +1128m / -1580m

 

Day 7 - La Fouly to Champex

A much shorter day today has us winding through beautiful Swiss alpine meadows, tiny rural villages and finally up to the beautiful alpine resort of Champex, nestled alongside the lake that gives it its name.  Here we stay in a traditional hotel, with wonderful food.

 

Accommodation: 3* hotel, dinner included

Luggage access

Walking - approx 5 hrs

Altitude gain / loss: +711m / -855m

 

Day 8 - Hike from Champex to Col de la Forclaz or Trient

There are 2 options today. If we’re feeling fit and the weather is good, we can take the Fenêtre d’Arpette, the highest col on the TMB at 2665m.  It’s a fantastic route with stunning views of the Trient glacier.  If we want to be a little more relaxed, we can take the normal route via Bovine to the Col de la Forclaz - our guide will make the decision according to the weather conditions and fitness of the group.  We either stay at Col de la Forclaz or at Trient, depending on availability. If we are staying in Trient we continue down to the valley floor for a further 30-40 minutes.

 

Accommodation: Auberge, dinner included.  We aim for en-suite rooms here but they are subject to availability.

Luggage access

Walking: approx 6 hrs

Altitude gain / loss: +1484m / -1760m

 

Day 9 - Forclaz or Trient to Argentière

Today our plan is to take another variant from the official TMB – a lesser-travelled route, either via Les Grands or Les Tseppes, depending on where we stayed last night. There are much better views from both of these routes, and there are usually not many people, so it’s worth the extra time and effort. If the weather is bad then we might just take the normal TMB. Either route takes us to the Col de Balme, where we are back in France at the head of the Chamonix valley. From here we have more options: either via the Aiguillette de Posettes down to Tré-le-Champ, or straight down to Le Tour, followed by the Petit Balcon Nord to reach Argentière. 

 

Accommodation: 3* Hotel or chalet, dinner included

Luggage access

Walking: Approx 7 hrs

Altitude gain / loss: +1200m / -1500m

 

Day 10 - Trek from Argentière via the Lac Blanc to Chamonix

We make the short walk back to Tré-le-Champ and hike up to the Lac Blanc via the beautiful Lacs des Chéserys, with simply the best views of Mont Blanc. This is one of the best walks in the Chamonix valley, and we use a series of ladders and chains to skirt the cliffs – this is nothing to worry about and is not difficult! From the Lac Blanc we descend via the Flégère cable car to Les Praz and either walk along the river or take the bus or train to Chamonix.

 

Accommodation: 3* Hotel, dinner included

Luggage access

Walking: Approx 7-8 hrs

Altitude gain / loss: +1000m / -650m

 

Day 11 - Chamonix to Les Houches

Today we take the cable car back up the Flégère to resume walking at the same point we finished at yesterday. We start with the famous Grand Balcon Sud linking the Flégère with Planpraz. From here we climb up to the Col du Brévent and then up to the Brévent summit with excellent views of Mont Blanc.  To complete our Tour du Mont Blanc, we descend via Bel Lachat and Merlet to reach Les Houches, and take a transfer back to our hotel in Chamonix. It's a long day but there are various places where you can take a cable car to ease the journey.

 

Accommodation: 3* Hotel, dinner included

Luggage access

Walking: Approx 8 hrs

Altitude gain / loss: +870m / -1770m

 

Day 12 - Depart Chamonix

Our trip finishes after breakfast.