Day 1 – Arrival Day
Arrival and check in to your hotel in Chamonix. We will organise a time to meet you to run through the itinerary and answer any questions that you might have.
This night’s accommodation is B&B only, so we can recommend a restaurant in Chamonix if you would like our advice.
Day 2 – Chamonix to Les Contamines
Your first day starts with taking the local bus to the nearby town of Les Houches in the Chamonix valley. Public buses are free in Chamonix with the “carte d’hôte” guest card that will be issued by your hotel.
You take the Bellevue cable car up to a plateau at 1800m and set off towards the Bionnassay glacier, crossing a suspended rope bridge to reach the Col de Tricot at 2120m. A steep descent brings you to the Miage pastures where you can enjoy a refreshing drink in a pretty little chalet. From there a short climb over another col, before heading down through the forests to the small town of Les Contamines.
Ascent: 680m
Descent: 1300m
Hiking Time: 7-8 hours
Day 3 – Les Contamines to Les Chapieux
Starting along a Roman road, you make a long ascent through mountain pastures, passing the church of Notre Dame de la Gorge and Refuge Tre la Tete to reach Col du Bonhomme at 2469m. You then traverse the hillside to Croix du Bonhomme where ibex can often be seen, before a gentle descent to the lovely hamlet of Les Chapieux, where herds of sheep, goats and cows spend the summer grazing.
Ascent: 1350m
Descent: 850m
Hiking Time: 8-9 hours
Day 4 – Les Chapieux to Courmayeur
Today begins with the chance to sample some local award-winning cheese at the start of the route from Ville des Glaciers. Then it is onwards up to the Col de la Seigne (2516m) on the border with Italy, saying hello to the donkeys at Refuge des Mottets on the way past. The views from the top of the col are quite incredible, form here you can see the Brenva face of Mont Blanc. The descent into Val Veny is nice and easy, taking you to the end of the Miage Glacier before one last climb up to Plan Checrouit and then a short descent to the legendary ski resort of Courmayeur, a lively and charismatic little town.
Ascent: 1200m
Descent: 950m
Hiking Time: 7 hours
Day 5 – Courmayeur to Refuge Bonatti
Leaving the town of Courmayeur behind, you will hike up into the mountains to visit two delightful mountain huts. First, the Rifugio Bertone at 2000m where you can relax and take in the splendid views of Les Grandes Jorasses. Then a beautiful balcony trail leads gently upwards to Rifugio Bonatti at 2025m. You can either stay here for the night (highly recommended), or continue to Arnouva and pick up a bus back to Courmayeur.
Ascent: 1200m
Descent: 200m
Hiking Time: 5 hours
Day 6 – Col du Grand Ferret to La Fouly
Setting out from Rifugio Bonatti, you follow the high mountain trail along Col du Grand Ferret (2537m) until you cross another international border to hike into Switzerland. The terrain changes from rugged mountains to picturesque meadows as you descend through cowfields to La Fouly, where you spend the night in a pretty little Swiss village.
Ascent: 850m
Descent: 1300m
Hiking Time: 5 hours
Jour 7 – De La Fouly à Champex
A chance to take it easy today with a gentle, mostly downhill walk through a very different environment to the dramatic landscapes that you will have experienced so far – fragrant alpine forests and quaint Swiss villages down to the charming lakeside town of Champex.
Ascent: 600m
Descent: 730m
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
Day 8 – Champex to Trient
The well-named Bovine Trail gives a taste of typical Swiss rural farming, as you hike up a steep path to the high pastures where cows graze on lush green grass and meadow flowers during the summer. The farms up here are famous for their traditional local cheeses and if you have time, you can even call in at one to sample the goods. Today’s route boasts magnificent views of the Bernese Alps, the Upper Rhone Valley, and the Canton of Valais, as it drops down to Trient via the Col de Forclaz (1572m)for your final night in Switzerland.
Ascent: 700m
Descent: 800m
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
Day 9 – Trient to Argentiere
Leave the village and enter the forest, emerging from the trees to enjoy your last views over the Trient glacier as you hike up to the Franco-Swiss border at Col de Balme (2191m). Back on French soil, you can either hike down through the Le Tour ski area and follow a balcony trail to Argentiere, or take a lift back down to the car park and then a bus to Argentiere.
Ascent: 950m
Descent: 950m
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
Day 10 – Lac Blanc
Your final day starts with a climb up through the Aiguilles Rouges, on the opposite side of the Chamonix valley from Mont Blanc. Climbing up through forests, the path takes you through part of a nature reserve where you can often seen alpine wildlife such as marmottes and bouquetin. Once you come out of the trees the views across the valley are spectacular – jagged granite peaks, interspersed with glaciers and the rounded snowy summit of Mont Blanc. You will hike past Lac des Chéserys and up to Lac Blanc, a dramatic pool of clear water that reflects the mountains like a mirror. It is the perfect place to enjoy lunch before descending back to La Flegere, from where you can either continue hiking down the trail or take the cable car to Les Praz, a small village in between Chamonix and Argentiere.
Ascent: 950m
Descent: 950m
Time: 5 hours
Day 11 – Departure Day
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before checking out of your Chamonix hotel.
