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Mont Blanc, centerpiece of one of the world's
classic trail adventures
(Photo credit) |
August 30 - September 5, 2012
Plan your arrival in Chamonix for August 29
Plan your departure from Chamonix for September 6
Printable version of
itinerary
Join us on this hike around the glacier-draped
peak of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps. This trail journey
will take you through three countries--France, Switzerland, and Italy--and
will allow you to completely circumnavigate this magnificent peak. This is
one of the world's classic trail adventures. On your journey around the
mountain you'll revel in views of craggy pinnacles, ice-encrusted summits,
picturesque mountain villages and farms, and glaciers descending into broad,
verdant alpine valleys. Carry only a daypack and stay each night in a
private room with a private bathroom! Here are memories to last a lifetime!
Pre-Trip Arrival
Overnight in Chamonix, France
Arrive at Geneva, Switzerland and transfer on your own to the French
mountain town of Chamonix set at the base of Mont Blanc. Geneva Airport is
about three and a half hours by rail from Chamonix.
Day
1
Breakfast, lunch & dinner
included
Overnight in Chamonix, France
Ride a cable up to La Flégère, a
meadow-carpeted alpine "balcony" high above Chamonix. Hike to Lac Blanc and
Lacs de Cheserys from where Mont Blanc dominates the view to the south. A
longer hiking option takes you
over the Col de la Glière from where you'll enjoy a view of Lac Cornu and
the north side of the Massif des Aiguilles Rouges. Continue to the Col du
Lac Cornu and start an unforgettable descent along a south-oriented ridge
that offers spectacular views over the Mont Blanc and the entire Chamonix
Valley. Ride
the cable car back down and overnight in Chamonix.
Shorter hiking option:
1,550 feet of elevation gain and loss (about 5 hours). Longer hiking option:
2,600 feet of elevation gain and loss (about 6 to 7 hours).
Day
2
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Overnight near Trient or Martigny, Switzerland
Transfer
by vehicle
from Chamonix to Le
Tour where a cable car and chairlfit will whisk you to the Col de la Balme
(7,182 ft). Begin your hike from here crossing almost immediately into
Switzerland. The trail leads you beneath the peak known as the Croix de Fer
and offers expansive views over Vallorcine valley and distant Lac d’Emosson.
If you'd like more time on the trail, an alternative option is to hike up to
the Col des Posettes and past the Lac de Catogne before descending into
Switzerland and the village of Trient. Shorter hiking option: 350 feet of
elevation gain and 3,100 feet of elevation loss (about 5 hours). Longer
hiking option: 2,800 feet of elevation gain and 3,100 feet of elevation loss
(about 7 hours). |
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Mont Blanc from Chamonix
(Photo credit) |
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Day
3
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Overnight at Champex, Switzerland
From
the Col de la Forclaz (just above Trient), follow the official route of the
TMB ("Tour du Mont Blanc") as it leads you on a steady but fair
ascent to gain the eastern side of the Mont Blanc massif. Arrive in Champex
d’en Bas from where a short shuttle ride brings you to Champex-Lac and your
overnight accommodations. A more challenging alternative route takes you
from Trient along the bisse du Trient (an historic alpine irrigation
channel). A beautiful but strenuous trail will then lead you to the lofty
and impressive Fenêtre d’Arpette (7,430 ft). After a long but rewarding
descent, with some chamois and ibex watching you on your way down, arrive at
Champex-Lac and your overnight accommodations. Shorter hiking option: 1,800
feet of elevation gain and 2,450 feet of elevation loss (about 5-6 hours).
Longer hiking option: 3,750 feet of elevation gain and 3,900 feet of
elevation loss (about 7-9 hours).
Day
4
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Overnight at
Courmayeur, Italy
A short transfer by
vehicle brings you
from Champex to the mountain hamlet of Ferret from where you begin your hike
up into the high Val Ferret. Cross over into Italy at the Grand Col Ferret.
From this high pass, you'll descend along a steep but beautiful slope to
reach the Italian Rifugio Elena (mountain refuge) which faces the Pré de Bar
Glacier and the Mont Dolent. The last section of trail leads you to Arp
Nouvaz (Arnuva). From here, a short vehicle shuttle brings you to the
Italian mountain resort town of Courmayeur where you will spend the night.
The route over the Grand Col Ferret involves 2,750 feet of elevation gain
and 2,500 feet of elevation loss and will take about 6-7 hours. For a
shorter hiking option, you can hike part of the way to the Grand Col Ferret
before transferring by vehicle to the resort town of Courmayeur where you
can enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure. |
|
Alpine vista in the Val Ferret, Switzerland
(Photo credit) |
|
Day
5
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Overnight near Beaufort, France
After
a vehicle transfer from Courmayeur to the hamlet of La Visaille, start
hiking up the Val Veni and pass along the glacial lakes Miage and Combal.
For a shorter hike, you can retrace your steps back to La Visaille from this
point and transfer by vehicle to your overnight accommodations near the
village of Beaufort. Hikers choosing the longer option continue beyond the
Combal Lake, ascending to the Col de la Seigne (8,268 ft) where the route
re-enters France. Continue down to the hamlet of Ville des Glaciers and
transfer by vehicle to overnight accommodations near Beaufort. Shorter
hiking option: 1,200 feet of elevation gain and loss (about 3-4 hours). Longer
hiking option: 2,800 feet of elevation gain and 2,400 feet of elevation loss
(about 7-8 hours).
Day
6
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Overnight at Contamines-Montjoie, France
A
short vehicle transfer this morning brings you to the tiny mountain hamlet
of La Gittaz (5,462 ft) located in a broad alpine basin. Hike up the Col du
Bonhomme (7,641 ft) then descend the famous Grande Randonnee 5 (GR5), a
trail that crosses Europe from the Mediterranean to the North Sea. The route
makes its way through gorgeous mountain scenery and passes over a section of
old Roman road. Arrive at the lovely painted chapel of Notre Dame de la
Gorge from where a vehicle shuttle carries you downhill to the village of
Contamines-Montjoie and your overnight accommodations. The route over the
Col du Bonhomme involves 2,300 feet of elevation gain and 4,300 feet of
elevation loss (about 7 to 8 hours).
Day
7
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Overnight at Chamonix, France
Transfer by vehicle the short distance to
Bionnassay from where you'll begin your hike ascending under the
Abrupts de
Vorassay to reach the lowest part of the Bionnassay Glacier. From there,
you'll follow the GR5 to the Col de Voza and catch the Tramway du Mont Blanc
down to Saint Gervais les Bains. Shuttle by vehicle to Chamonix and your
overnight accommodations. A longer hiking option begins a La Frasse just
above Contamines and ascends to the Chalets du Truc. The route then descends
to the Chalets du Miage before re-ascending over the Col du Tricot to reach
the Bionnassay Glacier and the Col de Voza. Descend via the Tramway du Mont
Blanc to St. Gervais les Bains and shuttle to Chamonix where a farewell
dinner and evening accommodations await! Shorter hiking option: 1,500 feet
of elevation gain and 450 feet of elevation loss (about 3-4 hours). Longer
hiking option: 3,600 feet of elevation gain and 2,050 feet of elevation loss
(about 7 hours).
Departure Day
Breakfast included
Complimentary shuttle to the Chamonix train station. Transfer on your own to
Geneva Airport and your onward connections. |
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Other Details about this Trip
Trip Dates: August 30 - September 5, 2012
Price: $3,895
Single Room for entire trip: $450
Meeting Point: Trip begins on the morning on August 30 at the hotel
in Chamonix. We suggest you plan your arrival in Chamonix for August 29. The
nearest large international airport is at Geneva, Switzerland which is 3.5
hours distant by rail service. Please note that your accommodations in
Chamonix on the evening of August 29 (the evening before the trip begins)
are included in the trip price.
Departure Point: Tour services conclude with a complimentary transfer to
Chamonix train station on the morning of September 6.
Accommodations: Eight nights at hotels and lodges in private
rooms with private bath. Eight breakfasts, seven lunches and
seven dinners are included. |
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itinerary
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