mont blanc circuit hiking tour alps

Mont Blanc circuit, French Alps

Europe’s high peaks are a paradise for hikers. On the Tour du Mont Blanc, we savor the magnficient mountains of three countries—France, Italy, and Switzerland—along with their diverse alpine cultures.

Photo by Brian McGilloway

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Tour du Mont Blanc

On Foot in the Alps from France to Italy to Switzerland

Tour du Mont Blanc route-map

Trip Details at-a-Glance

Cost From: $4095   see pricing
Length: 8 days
Arrive: Chamonix, France
Depart: Chamonix, France
Lodging: 5 nights hotels, 2 nights small inns with semi-private rooms describe
Meals: All meals included
Activity: Hiking / Trekking, Cultural Adventures
Trip Level: 7 hiking days on moderate to steep trails, 6-8 hours a day, altitudes between 4,000-8,800 feet, van support (for luggage or tired feet), team of up to 3 Trip Leaders
5 explain

Highlights

  • A hiker’s classic—on foot from France to Italy to Switzerland
  • Enjoy magnificent mountain and glacier views and cross three international borders on foot
  • Delicious regional cuisine, from Italian pasta to Swiss fondue
  • Overnights in charming mountain villages


From the surprise picnics to tasting grolla in the mountain hut, it was all wonderfully organized.B. Scott—Chapmore Ends England

Choosing the Right Trip

We work hard to help you choose the right trip for you, paying attention to your individual interests, abilities, and needs. If you have questions about the level of comfort or any of the activities described in this itinerary, please contact us.
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References

We are proud to have an exceptionally high rate of repeat travelers. For more information, we would be happy to put you in touch with a client who has traveled with us.

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Departure Notes

Once you have signed up on the trip, we send a complete packing list, relevant health information, and required travel documents.

Resources

Mont Blanc (15,771'), the highest peak in Western Europe, is a magnificent glacier-clad mountain with seven valleys radiating into France, Italy, and Switzerland. As we circle this impressive massif, we cross from one country to the next—on foot! The Tour du Mont Blanc is one of the “Great Hikes of the World,” and we’ve honed our unique version to perfection with impeccably planned hiking days, each one introducing new panoramas of the snow-covered giants of the Alps. Cultural and culinary experiences through three countries are part of the delight, and high in the Alps, festive evenings may find us passing the traditional grolla bowl (espresso and grappa—flambe!) to toast our day’s adventures. Our expert team of Trip Leaders adds energy and fun to unforgettable days on the trail.

Itinerary at a Glance

For a more complete description, Download Full Detailed Itinerary

Day 1
Chamonix, France / Mont Blanc

From Chamonix, we hike up to the Aiguilles Rouges and on to mountain-ringed Lac Blanc, where we enjoy panoramic views over the entire Chamonix Valley.

Days 2-4
Les Contamines / Les Chapieux / Courmayeur

We take a cable car up to the Col de Voza, hike beside the vast Bionnassay Glacier, then cross the Col de Tricot (7,000'), with fine views of the snow-covered Dômes de Miage, one of the most spectacular ridges on the Mont Blanc massif. The next day, we hike over Col de la Croix de Bonhomme (8,180') and descend through flowery meadows to the remote summer village of Les Chapieux. On Day 4, we depart France on a hike into Italy via Col de la Seigne (8,300'), with superb vistas of Mont Blanc’s massive 11,000-foot-high southern face. We descend past the beautifully situated Elisabetta Refuge (7,600') to Courmayeur, a stylish mountain town and Italy’s counterpart to Chamonix.

Days 5-6
Val Ferret, Switzerland / Champex / Trient Glacier / Col de la Forclaz

With the massive granite peaks of Mont Dolent and the Grandes Jorasses in view, we hike into Switzerland via the Grand Col Ferret (8,400') and cross the gentle Val Ferret, with its traditional wooden chalets, to Champex. On Day 6, we cross the Fenêtre d’Arpette (8,750'), a dramatic pass with breathtaking views of the magnificent Trient Glacier and the glacial bowl of the Plateau du Trient. A long descent takes us along the edge of the glacier and through the forest to our inn at Col de la Forclaz.

Days 7-8
Col de Balme / Chamonix

Our trail climbs through larch forests to the Col de Balme (7,234'), the border between Switzerland and France. We savor the glory of Mont Blanc before us as we descend into the Chamonix Valley and head to Chamonix. Depart on Day 8.

For a more complete description, Download Full Detailed Itinerary

What the Trip is Like

This hike is rated Level 5, Strenuous. All trip members should have good hiking experience, but no technical climbing experience is necessary. Most hiking is at altitudes between 6,000 and 8,000 feet, and the maximum elevation reached is 8,800 feet. Daily hikes range from four to eight hours. All participants must be in good physical condition. There are long daily ascents and descents of up to 3,000 to 4,000 feet in each direction. On most days, we end the hike with long, steep descents. Of course, you are always free to skip a day’s hike and travel to the next destination in the support vehicle. We recommend that you make a special effort to get in top physical condition for the trip.

In Chamonix, we stay in the wonderful Grand Hotel des Alpes. Outside of Chamonix, we stay in comfortable (but not luxurious) small hotels and pensions, with shared bathrooms on a couple of nights of the trip. They are rustic, well located for hikers, and continuously busy in the summer hiking season. Please note that these are hikers’ hotels, not five-star resorts. The rooms are clean and comfortable, but are not always of uniform size or amenities. All meals are included. Evening meals are at our hotels, and they will consist of hearty mountain fare. A support vehicle will transport the group’s luggage daily. We use many forms of transportation as we travel during the trip, so we ask that you restrict your luggage to one piece, plus your daypack/rucksack.

Our Trip Leaders try their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. Single rooms are offered when possible, but those who pay the Single Supplement may have to share a room for up to two nights during the trip. At the Auberge de la Nova, couples may also have to share a room.

Explanation of Trip Levels

 

Departures & Leaders

Jul 6-13, 2013

Jul 28-Aug 4, 2013
Aug 24-31, 2013
Sep 7-14, 2013
Jul 6-13, 2014
Jul 27-Aug 3, 2014
Aug 10-17, 2014
Aug 24-31, 2014
Sep 7-14, 2014

Trip Cost

Prices are for 2013
$4095 (11-14 members)
$4495 (6-10 members)
Single supplement: $360
Forced single supplement: $180
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Trip Cost Includes:

  • Expert leadership of at least two Wilderness Travel Trip Leaders (and sometimes three, depending on group size)
  • Accommodations in hotels and small inns
  • All meals included
  • Van support and luggage transfer
  • Cable cars and chairlifts to trailheads for scheduled hikes
  • Land transportation during the trip, transfers between overnight stops, airport transfers

Trip Cost Does Not Include:

International airfare, any meals not specified after each itinerary day in the Full Trip Brochure, alcohol at meals, airport departure taxes, optional tipping or gratuities to leaders or staff, additional hotel nights that may be necessary due to airline schedule changes or other factors; pre-trip expenses of medical immunizations (if any), travel insurance, or passports and visas; and other expenses of a personal nature (alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.).

Trip Payment Schedule

At time of reservation: $500
120 days prior to departure: 20%
60 days prior to departure: Balance

Cancellation and Transfer Fee Schedule

Minimum fee: None
46-90 days prior to departure: 25% of trip cost
45 days or less: 100% of trip cost

Grand Hotel des Alpes

Grand Hotel des Alpes

Day 1 (1 night),
Day 7 (1 night), Chamonix, France

A truly wonderful hotel that WT groups have enjoyed for years, the elegant Grand Hotel is right in the center of Chamonix, set back on a lovely ...
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Hotel La Chemenaz

Hotel La Chemenaz

Day 2 (1 night), Les Contamines, France

Right on the TMB trail just outside the village of Les Contamines, this is a comfortable, modern hotel with spacious rooms, a cozy bar with a log ...
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Auberge de la Nova

Auberge de la Nova

Day 3 (1 night), Chapieux, France

This family-run auberge sits at the end of a country road at the junction of three valleys. It is a basic but very charming place and an important ...
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Hotel des Glaciers

Hotel des Glaciers

Day 4 (1 night), Courmayeur, Italy

In the adjacent community of Dolonne, a few minutes’ walk from Courmayeuer’s pedestrian center, this is a family-run hotel in which ...
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Hotel du Glacier

Hotel du Glacier

Day 5 (1 night), Champex, Switzerland

The comfortable Hotel du Glacier sits on the main and only street of the pretty little village of Champex. The same lovely couple has owned it for ...
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Hotel du Col de la Forclaz

Hotel du Col de la Forclaz

Day 6 (1 night), Trient, Switzerland

Sitting right on the mountain pass where the road leads west to France or east to Switzerland, this is a mountain accommodation with simple rooms ...
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Note: Listed above are our signature accommodations for this trip. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.

Our Trip Leaders

Here are the Trip Leaders scheduled for this journey (please note that leader assignments are subject to change).

Tim Burford

Departure Dates: July 6-13, 2013

Tim Burford has written hiking guidebooks to many regions, from Romania to Argentina, and is the author of the authoritative Hiking Guide to Poland & Ukraine, published by Bradt, UK. When not writing or leading our hiking adventures in the mountains of Europe, he enjoys sailing and cycling. ...
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Nicos Caravellas

Departure Dates: August 24-31, 2013

Nicos Caravellas, born and raised in Greece, gained his love of nature early on family outings in northern Greece's mountainous countryside. During his university years, while earning his degree in teaching, he developed his mountaineering skills and decided to become a professional guide."I ...
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Ingrid Crossland

Departure Dates: July 6-13, 2013

Ingrid Crossland is a global wanderer whose life has been shaped by travel, mountains, and rock climbing. During the 1990s, following a number of mountaineering and climbing expeditions in Asia and Africa, she changed paths from a business career to leading treks, making the outdoors and mountains ...
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Giampiero Faga

Departure Dates: September 7-14, 2013

Giampiero Faga was born in Calabria in the far south of Italy and attended university in Rome. He indulged his passion for international travel during more than 20 years of service for Alitalia as a chief purser, and is a wonderful storyteller and engaging travel companion. Giampiero speaks five ...
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Annie Hawkins

Departure Dates: July 28-August 4, 2013

Annie Hawkins, born and raised in a small village in Burgundy, is a passionate world traveler and one of our most enchanting Trip Leaders. After studying art history in Provence, Annie moved to California, where she led adventure tours in the American Southwest and realized that leading adventure ...
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Rob Noonan

Departure Dates: July 6-13, 2013, August 24-31, 2013

Rob Noonan came by his love of nature and the mountains early, adventuring throughout most of the Americas from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego and later earning a degree in Environmental Studies from Prescott College in Arizona. He has guided our Patagonia hiking journeys since 1994, but his love of ...
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Stephan Renard

Departure Dates: August 24-31, 2013, September 7-14, 2013

Stephan Renard was born in Grenoble in the French Alps and grew up in the wild and remote Vercors region of the Rhone Alps, where he gained his passion for hiking, climbing, and skiing. A professional mountain leader and ski instructor since his youth, he loves outdoor pursuits of every kind and ...
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Stewart Wheelhouse

Departure Dates: July 28-August 4, 2013

Stewart Wheelhouse, a Welshman by birth, has spent the past 23 years leading adventures and expeditions throughout the world. He has traveled the length of Africa, written guidebooks on cycling through Europe, and led expeditions in Asia and Australia. A wonderful storyteller and traveling ...
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Daniel Windham

Departure Dates: July 28-August 4, 2013

Daniel Windham, born in the Appalachian foothills, began backpacking at an early age on the Appalachian Trail, where he discovered his passion for the mountains. In 1994, after graduating from college, he moved to northern Italy and became a mountain guide. His love of alpine and high-altitude ...
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Client Comments

From the surprise picnics to tasting grolla in the mountain hut, it was all wonderfully organized. B. Scott, Chapmore Ends England I had an amazing experience! I would definitely travel with WT again. Jognya T., Thousand Oaks, CA A great trip. I was ready to go back as soon as I got home. David W., Centennial, CO The trip was great. It was hard work, but that was balanced out by great food and a comfortable bed at the end of the day! All the hotels were good. Jeanne A., Chevy Chase, MD
We have traveled with other tour companies in the past but Wilderness Travel is so far superior we will always use them! Bernie M., Pullman, WA This trip exceeded our hopes and expectations. We had a fabulous time! Wendy G., Exeter, NH This was the ninth trip I have done with WT. You continue to do a professional job that commands respect. Greg C., Tampa, FL