Days 1-2
Chamonix, France / Mont Blanc
From Chamonix, a charming old mountain town right at the foot of Mont Blanc, we hike up to the Aiguilles Rouges and along the Grand Balcony trail. The mountain-ringed alpine lake of Lac Blanc is our destination, and it offers our first spectacular views over the entire Chamonix Valley.
Days 3-5
Contamines / Chapieux / Courmayeur
Hiking past the edge of the Bionnassay Glacier, we cross over Col de Tricot (7,000') and descend through a lovely forest into the Val Montjoie and on to the village of Contamines, once a town of chamois hunters and smugglers. The next day, we hike over Col de la Croix de Bonhomme (8,180'), with superb vistas over the Tarantaise region, and descend through flowery meadows to the remote summer village of Chapieux. On Day 5, we depart France on a hike into Italy via Col de la Seigne (8,300'), with views of Mont Blanc’s massive 11,000-foot-high southern face. We descend past the beautifully situated stone lodge of the Elisabetta Refuge (7,600'), beneath the Aiguille Blanche. Continuing our descent, we reach Courmayeur, a stylish mountain town, and Italy’s counterpart to Chamonix.
Days 6-7
Val Ferret, Switzerland / Champex / Trient Glacier / Col de la Forclaz
Climbing past the massive granite peaks of Mont Dolent and the Grandes Jorasses, we hike into the mountain wonderland of Switzerland via the Grand Col Ferret (8,400'). A trail in the gentle Val Ferret leads us through traditional Swiss villages of wooden chalets and takes us to Champex, set on a blue lake. On Day 7, we cross the steep Fenetre d’Arpette (8,800') and descend along the edge of the magnificent Trient Glacier to our overnight in Col de la Forclaz.
Days 8-9
Chamonix
Our trail climbs through a serene larch forest to the Col du Balme (7,234'), the border between Switzerland and France. Once again overlooking the Chamonix Valley, we savor the glory of the Mont Blanc massif before us. We have lunch at the pass, enjoying sweeping views, then have the option of a gondola descent to Le Tour or a long, gentle hike down to the village of Argentière, from which we head back to Chamonix and depart on Day 9.