Tour Du MontBlanc (France, Italy, Switzerland)
Faithful to its myth, Mont Blanc is no doubt one of the most beautiful massifs of the Alps.
Our circuit will lead you from France to Italy and Switzerland in order to discover its various faces. The sceneries are stunning with innumerable alpine peaks and beautiful glaciers all around with the impressive Mont Blanc massif constantly in the background. This walk is reasonably demanding, but you only need to carry a light back each day and in the evening you will enjoy French and Italian cooking and Swiss hospitality in the traditional alpine villages you stay in.
Tour highlights:
♦ Tour du Mont Blanc - a Classic circuit of the Mont Blanc massif (with highest summit 4807 m a.s.l.) and "must-do" for every mountain hiker;
♦ Three countries, three cultures, three cuisines - all on one great trip;
♦ Among other areas you'll be hiking in Chamonix - one of Europe’s most aftersought hiking destinations - with views of spectacular peaks and glaciers every single day;
♦ Charming hotels and fine dining, featuring regional specialties;
Itinerary:
Day 1. Les Contamines
Flight to Geneva airport (You might also fly to Turin or Lion). From there you take the bus directly to the charming, traditional village of Les Contamines. 1st walk possible depending on the arrival time. You stay overnight in a very nice 1* hotel.
After a short transfer to Notre Dame de la Gorge you start walking on the Roman Way. You climb over the Col du Bonhomme and the Col de la Croix du Bonhomme leading to the Chapieux valley. Splendid views over the Aiguille des Glaciers are expecting you today. Overnight in a mountain lodge in Chapieux. (walking time:6 hours, uphill/downhill walking 1300/950m)
Today you make a very spectacular walk over the Col de la Seigne to the Italian side of the border. This is the realm of the alpine Marmots. You will see many of them playing over the snow patches. Descent into Val véni and take the bus from La Cantine de la Visaille to Courmayeur. Overnight in refuge Elena. (walking time:7 hours, uphill/downhill walking 1000/400m)
Across the Grand Col Ferret you arrive in the splendid village of La Fouly in Switzerland. You will enjoy exceptional views over the massif of Combins in the East and on the Italian side of Mont Blanc. Transfer by postal bus to Champex where you stay overnight. (walking time:6-8 hours, uphill/downhill walking 900/1000m)
Luggage transport: You only carry a small rucksack with the necessary luggage for the daily hike. The rest luggage is transported by vehicle.
Included in the price:► Accommodation: the first night in Les Contamines and the last night in Chamonix will be in very nice 1*-2* hotels in double rooms with private facilities. The other 5 nights the accommodation will be in lodges in dormitory with shared facilities (showers and toilettes)► Halfboard with breakfast and dinner at all accommodations except day 7 (when dinner is not served)► Luggage transportation every day► maps and detailed road book in English► NOTE! The price is per person sharing a double room accommodation. Single traveler who has ordered a bed in a shared double room must be prepared to pay for a single room if a room-mate cannot be arranged.
Not included:► Drinks► Lunches► the eventual bus transfers (Courmayeur, Champex, Chamonix) and cableways► Insurances► other personal expenses► the transfer of Day 2 to Notre Dame de la Gorge (about 2€).
Other expenses: Single supplement: 80€ (nights 1 and 7); Option with accommodation in double rooms on shared basis throughout the tour: +113€ per person;
Practical information: It is usually best to leave early in the morning, thereby putting any mountain passes behind you before midday. This will help you to avoid any problems associated with stormy weather, leave you the afternoon to recover from your exertions, and ensure that you're in fine form to carry on the day after. Up until the 15th of July, we strongly advise you to include telescopic walking poles in your equipment.If there are névés (patches of snow of varying depths and dimensions) always approach these with extreme caution, especially if they are frozen hard. Wear mountain boots with good grips on the soles, long trousers and a pullover (no bare legs or arms on steep névés!). If you don't possess an ice axe, descend slowly using the 'steps' already made by someone who has. Avoid running or sliding, as a névé always ends up in a scree, and without an ice axe it's almost impossible to stop.The way marks everywhere are very good; signposts with tables are available on the biggest crossroads en-route. Although the uphill/downhill walks exceed normally 1000m per day, the paths are tourist-friendly – not very steep, making serpentines where needed in order to gain height as easier as possible.
We recommend trip in the period: July - September
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