Beautiful Walks and Charming Alpine Villages
Treasures of Mont Blanc
Overview
Walk magnificent mountain trails in the celebrated Mont Blanc region—but instead of tackling the challenging hikes of the classic Tour du Mont Blanc, we’ll take moderate hikes as we move from France to Italy to Switzerland. We begin our three-country odyssey in the beautiful town of Talloires on France’s mountain-ringed Lake Annecy, then hike the sublime landscapes of the Tarentaise Valley. Arriving in stylish Courmayeur, set below Mont Blanc’s Italian flanks, we hike near the alpine giants of the Val d’Aosta. In Switzerland, we’ll walk among Swiss chalets and grazing cows, then finish in Chamonix, birthplace of alpinism, right at the foot of Mont Blanc. Jaw-dropping scenery, charming hotels, and cultural and culinary exploration make this a perfect alpine adventure.
Arrive: Talloires, France
Depart: Chamonix, France
Highlights
- Enjoy off-the-beaten-path hikes in the traditional Tarentaise Valley of the Savoy region
- Follow high trails on mighty Mont Blanc, including two short hikes on the famed TMB trail
- Explore Italy’s mountain-ringed Val d’Aosta and take a private cooking class
- Walk amid the “chocolate box chalets” and flower-speckled meadows of the Swiss Valais
Itinerary
In Talloires on mountain-ringed Lake Annecy, our hikes bring us up to the nature reserve of Roc de Chere and to the Hermitage of St. Germain, a small chapel with tranquil views on the lake. We also boat to Annecy town to explore its cobbled streets.
Our scenic morning drive to the village of Sainte Foy takes us over the high mountain pass called the Cormet de Roselend (6,453'), which has been a stage on the Tour de France nine times. We descend into the Tarentaise Valley in the Savoy region, where we’ll hike amid ancient chalets in the heart of the French Alps. Generations of alpine herders pastured their sheep in this area long before the world-renowned ski resorts arrived.
In the Val d’Aosta, with its tapestry of cultures, we’re surrounded by more than 40 mountain peaks, including Western Europe’s two highest: Mont Blanc and Monte Rosa. In Courmayeur, we take the cable car up to Pointe Helbronner (11,358') for jaw-dropping views of Mont Blanc, then hike a beautiful section of the classic Tour du Mont Blanc trail. In charming Aosta town, with its Roman ruins, we’ll take a private cooking class.
We drive across the historic Grand St. Bernard Pass (8,100') to enter Switzerland. From our cozy mountain retreat in the tiny Swiss hamlet of Commeire, we’ll hike, enjoy mountain panoramas, and visit the acclaimed Pierre Gianadda Museum in Martigny. On our final hike, we’ll walk past grazing cows with ringing bells and take in vistas of the whole Chamonix Valley below mighty Mont Blanc. Our final overnight is in Chamonix, at the foot of Mont Blanc. Depart on Day 11.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 3, Moderate, according to our trip grading system. It is an active journey with hikes and walks that can be enjoyed by anyone in reasonably good health who has recent hiking experience. You will need to be comfortable hiking six miles in a day and being on your feet for 3-5 hours a day. Trail conditions, weather, and the group’s level of fitness can affect hiking times and pacing.
Average Hiking Day
Review Trip Level Details
Average Hiking Day
- 4 miles
- 3-4 hours
- 1,400' ascent/descent
- Altitudes range 4,000 to 8,000 feet
- Day 6: 7 miles, 5 hours, 1,800' ascent/descent
At lower elevations, the trails are usually packed dirt, but at higher elevations they are often much rockier. While we’ve worked hard to find smooth hiking paths with gentle elevation gains, we will experience some rocky and uneven terrain on a few hikes. There will also be a bit of elevation gain and loss (roughly 2,200 feet at most), but generally in the mid-hundreds), but at a moderate pace and often with an option for a shorter hike.
We strongly urge you to train for your trip, as your enjoyment will be highly dependent on your level of fitness. The best training for a hike is to hike, especially over hills or rough terrain. Next best are running, swimming, bicycling, or other cardiovascular exercises. Stair-climbing machines are excellent preparation for hiking uphill. Your feet should also be well prepared-make sure your hiking boots are sturdy, comfortable, and thoroughly broken-in.
Altitude is generally not a problem on this trip. However, some people still experience a few problems when they first reach high altitude. Slight headache and sleeplessness are the most common symptoms.
Temperatures during the day will likely be in the high 60s°F. At night, they will drop quite a bit, depending on the altitude. Mountain weather can be fickle, and it can range from blue skies with temperatures in the 70s°F to cloudy, wet, and cold days on which rain gear and warm garments are necessary. The early-season departures may encounter snow on the trails. There is a chance that we will need to choose alternate hikes if weather conditions are poor.
Overnights are in mountain towns and alpine villages with great charm and character. They are comfortable hotels but not five-star resorts. The rooms are clean and comfortable, but are not always of uniform size or amenities. Our leaders do their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole.
Lunch will usually be in a local café or perhaps at a picnic spot amid the beauty of the surrounding mountains. Evening meals are at small restaurants of character, often featuring the cuisine the region is known for. Please note that in Europe, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be at 7:30 pm.
Our support vehicle will transport the group’s luggage, so you only need to carry a daypack (rain gear, sweater, camera, water bottle, etc.).
Client Testimonials
"This trip ranks as one of the best WT trips I have done. Such a good mix of hiking, sightseeing, dining, and cultural experiences."
Bartley B.
Lebanon, TN
"It was a very well designed trip with diversity of challenge and culture and experiences."
Carol W.
Faytteville, AR
"This was the most amazing trip we have been on. The hikes were great and were planned amid such interesting cultural activities. The lodging enabled us to take in the beauty and awesome views of Mont Blanc. I was struck by the creativity of the planning of this beautiful trip and was excited for each day's new treasures."
Ellen B.
Boulder, CO
"This trip exceeded expectations for a number of reasons, including Killian's leadership and ability to adapt our itinerary according to weather/heat while ensuring that the group experienced all the trip highlights and "surprises!" — and the beautiful settings of our hikes and accommodations!! The hikes were physically challenging and rewarding. Our trip leaders were very knowledgeable and experienced, and the cultural experiences with local guides, chefs, and musicians were unique and unforgettable!"
Ellen L.
San Diego , CA
"The itinerary was excellent and well thought out. The food quality was fantastic, with Michelin-starred restaurants coupled with local cuisine that truly reflected the cultural aspects of the region."
George L.
San Francisco, CA
"Would recommend for all who love the mountains, hiking, eating good food, making nice friends. Such beautiful scenery. Everywhere one turned was another picture."
Iris I.
Owings Mills, MD
"Excellent trip. Great mixture of hiking and adventure and culture! Really perfect in every way!"
Jennifer T.
Avondale Estates, GA
"A treasure indeed! This tour is brilliantly designed—chock full of diverse activities, local interaction, food experiences that are more than just dining, not to mention lovely walks in beautiful settings. "Treasures of Mont Blanc" jumped to the top of our WT favorites list (of which there are many)."
Jo L.
Santa Barbara, CA
"We were blown away with the thoughtful design of this trip. Such diversity in hikes, experiences, and accommodations! All joyful and memorable."
Lois M.
Denver, CO
"This trip exceeded every expectation that I had by far! Every day there was a new adventure and a new surprise that our guides prepared for our group. The hiking was spectacular and stunning. The cooking class with the Michelin star chef was wonderful; the snail farm with the great escargot was a treat, as well as the hike to it. There were wonderful spas at most of the hotels. Suffice to say that I will be booking more trips on Wilderness Travel in the future."
Marcie D.
Pasadena, CA
"The trip was flawless. Everyone had a wonderful time! We felt well taken care of and for some of us, pushed out of our comfort zones in a very positive way. I refer to this trip as 'Mont Blanc Transformation,' to express the effect it has had. Our trip leaders were absolutely EXCELLENT, attending to every detail and making informed modifications for our group needs and the variable mountain weather. They each knew the region extremely well, were able to answer all our questions and provide context for us."
Suzanne L.
Sausalito, CA
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Itinerary
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With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.