guided tour in hotel

This trip is guided by a French - English speaking - UIMLA certified mountain leader from 4 to 12 participants. Specialists of the Tour du Mont Blanc, he will guide you on "their" trails through this region.
Your guide will speak English...but don't be afraid if they speak as a French ;-)

All these transfers are included in the tour such as :

• Day 2 : transfer from Chamonix to les Houches ; Cable-car from Bellevue to Les Houches (in service between mid-June and mid-September).
• Day 3 : shuttle bus from Les Contamines-Montjoies to Notre-Dame-de-la-Gorge ; private transfer from Les Chapieux to Bourg St Maurice.
• Day 4 : private transfer from Bourg-St-Maurice to La Ville des Glaciers ; shuttle bus from La Visaille to Courmayeur (in service between mid-June and mid-September).
• Day 5 : private transfer from Courmayeur to Arnuva; private transfer from Ferret to Champex (if you overnight in Champex).
• Day 6 : private transfer from La Fouly to Champex, starting point of the hike (if you overnight in La Fouly); private transfer from Trient to Argentière.
• Day 7 : private transfer from Argentière to Col des Montets ; lift from La Flégère to les-Praz-de-Chamonix (in service between mid-June and mid-September), shuttle bus from les Praz-de-Chamonix to Chamonix (in service from mid-june to the beginning of september).

You will be accommodated in 3 or 4-star hotels, in double or twin rooms (in some cases in triple or quadruple rooms when accommodations lack double room availability). All rooms come with a private bathroom and toilet (except sometimes in Champex - see description below). Bed linen and towels are provided.

- Day 1 : Le Faucigny Hotel (3*). Charming hotel located in the heart of Chamonix.
Wellness area with large hot tub and sauna (free access from 2 :00 to 10 :00 pm).
Private spa use possible (30 minutes, €30, 2025 rate).
Lounge bar, free Wi-Fi, credit cards accepted.

- Day 2 : La Chemenaz Hotel (4*), Les Contamines-Montjoie.
Wellness area with sauna and jacuzzi (free access).
Private spa use possible (30 minutes, subject to availability).
Outdoor heated pool open in June and September, from 10 :00 am to 7 :00 pm.
Massages and treatments available by reservation, rates depending on service.
Lounge bar, restaurant, fiber Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, credit cards accepted.
* For the August 2 departure, accommodation is at Christiania Hotel (3*) in Les Contamines-Montjoies - similar comfort and services.

- Day 3 : Base Camp Lodge. Modern alpine-style hotel in the center of Bourg-Saint-Maurice.
Restaurant and lounge bar, snacking options, and a panoramic terrace with mountain views.
Live music or concerts on certain evenings (in season).
Fiber Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, credit cards accepted.

- Day 4 : Berthod Hotel (4*), in the center of Courmayeur.
Wellness area : jacuzzi, sauna, Turkish bath, emotional shower, and herbal tea corner (open 3 :30 pm - 8 :30 pm).
Private access : 1h30 use, by reservation - €25/person (minimum 2 people, 2025 rate).
Massages and treatments available on request.
Lounge bar, free Wi-Fi, credit cards accepted.

- Day 5 : Le Glacier Hotel (3*). Traditional mountain hotel in Champex.
Wellness area : sauna, jacuzzi, infrared therapy bench - free access.
Lounge bar, homemade pizzas, free Wi-Fi, credit cards accepted.
* For the July 12 departure, accommodation is at Edelweiss Hotel (3*) in La Fouly - similar comfort and services.
* For the August 2, August 16 and September 6 departures, accommodation is at the Relais du Val d'Arpette in Champex - a traditional and welcoming mountain inn, offering a genuine alpine experience.
Rooms with 2 to 4 beds, shared bathroom facilities located outside the rooms.
For this night, please bring your own towel, as it is not provided.

- Day 6 : La Couronne Hotel (3*), in Argentière.
Wellness area : sauna (80°C) and steam room (45°C), open from 10 :00 am to 8 :00 pm.
Massages and treatments available on request.
Lounge bar, restaurant, free Wi-Fi, credit cards accepted.

These hotels are located in the valley. On certain days, a transfer by vehicle will be organized from the end of the hike to the hotel, if the latter is not easily accessible on foot or if the route to be followed is of little interest.
Depending on your arrival time, you'll have the opportunity to take a leisurely stroll through the villages and enjoy the stores, especially in Chamonix and Courmayeur, where the town center is particularly charming.

Note: odd number of people are considered with a triple room. Single room always depends on availability and is with a supplement.

If you wish to arrive earlier or extend your stay, it's essential to book your accommodation in advance. We can arrange one or more extra nights at one of our partner hotels. Just ask !

Our goal is to ensure that you eat well-balanced meals suited for the effort required each day, and to lighten your pack load as much as possible.

Dinners : in the hotels, dinner typically consists of a fixed three-course menu, including a starter, main course, and dessert. In Courmayeur, you'll have the delight of dining at a traditional Italian restaurant, where you can enjoy an authentic local culinary experience

Breakfast : in the hotels, you'll enjoy a generous and diverse buffet featuring pastries, fresh bread, homemade jams, fruits, and cereals. For those who prefer savory options, there's also a selection of breads, cheeses, ham, and eggs.

During our trekking trips, our guides are careful to ensure that these shared meals are special moments, and try to diversify the menus as much as possible while taking into account the constraints related to transport and food conservation in the specific conditions of the trip.

We commit ourselves to :

 
If you have strict dietary constraints, we invite you to communicate them to us before departure.
Remind your guide of this during the first briefing: he will be in charge of the picnics and will be your contact with the accommodation providers.

Drinks: beverages (excluding water) are not included. Please pay for all drinks consumed on site before your departure, to avoid any additional charges after your stay.

You'll only need to carry your day pack and a picnic lunch, while your main luggage is transported by vehicle to your accommodation each evening.
Each person is allowed one soft bag, weighing up to 15 kg, with no food items included.

You'll be sharing your stay with English-speaking people of many different nationalities: British, American, Australian and many more. Get ready for a truly multicultural experience!

Considering the Environment:
While trekking you have to be careful not to destroy the environment you are enjoying so much. It is not only for your enjoyment, but people and wildlife also rely on this environment.
 
Here are some simple tips:

• Pick up any litter along the trail.
• Burn all your toilet paper and bury your faeces, make sure you go at least 50m away from any water source.
• Drink tap water instead of mineral water as plastic bottles are an unnecessary waste.
• Stick to the trails to prevent erosion and damage to fragile alpine flora.
• Ensure all rubbish is packed and bring them back down to the villages.

Insurance :
All tour participants should obtain their own personal insurance which covers medical and emergency evacuation at a minimum. You will of course also want cover for loss or damage to personal effects, flight or trip cancellation etc. Please ask us for advice.

Final tips!

• To ensure that you have the best time possible, please respect local traditions, customs, values and the environment.
• Respect privacy when taking pictures.
• Your attempts at speaking some French or Italian will open hearts and break the ice!
• Protect the natural environment, see above.

• No visa is required for American, Canadian, British or Australian citizens for stays of up to 90 days within the Schengen Area (France, Italy and Switzerland included).

Passport Requirements
Travellers must hold a passport that:

• is valid upon entry, and
• remains valid for at least 3 months beyond the planned departure date from the Schengen Area.

It is strongly recommended to ensure a minimum of 6 months' validity prior to expiration to avoid potential boarding refusals by airlines.

• no visa required,
• passport valid for at least 3 months beyond the planned departure date.

Asian Travellers - Visa-Required Countries

Travellers holding passports from China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, and other South and Southeast Asian countries must obtain a Schengen short-stay visa prior to travel, including for stays of less than 30 days.

• Visa applications must be submitted to the relevant French, Swiss or Italian consular authorities in the traveller's country of residence. Processing times may vary.
• Passports must be in good, undamaged condition (no tears, stains, staples, clips, or other alterations).

• Tetanus - diphtheria - pertussis (Tdap)
• Measles - mumps - rubella (MMR)
• Polio
• Seasonal influenza
• COVID-19

These vaccinations are generally recommended for all adults.

Altitude and Physical Effort
Our tours involves sustained daily effort and includes sections at moderate altitude. Travellers are advised to :

• ensure they are in adequate physical condition,
• consult a healthcare professional in case of medical conditions potentially affected by altitude or exertion,
• bring all personal medication required for the entire duration of the trip.

Dentist and general physician:
We recommend a checkup with both before leaving on your trip.  

• wash hands regularly,
• use a clean reusable water bottle,
• avoid drinking untreated natural water sources without proper filtration or purification.

What you need to bring:

If you don't have the luggage transfer option, pack light, remember that you will have to carry all your stuff during the whole trip. We recommend that your backpack doesn't exceed 10 to 15% of your weight. Take only the essentials. 

Head:

• Warm hat.
• Cap or sun hat.
• Sunglasses with good UV protection.
• Buff or neck gaiter.

Clothing :

• Base layers (Merino Wool recommended).
• Fleece or lightweight synthetic jacket.
• Quick drying T-shirt.
• A water and windproof layer (jacket and pants) eg. Gore-Tex.
• A natural or synthetic down jacket.
• Light gloves.
• 1 or 2 pairs of walking trousers.
• 1 or 2 pairs of shorts.
• Casual clothes & footwear for evenings. One set is enough as you will not wear them for a long time.
• Nightwear and underwear.

Footwear:

• Broken-in hiking boots (very important).
• Light hut sandals/flip flap or comfortable shoes for refuges.
• Comfortable shoes for evenings in town (optional).
• Good-quality merino wool walking socks.

For the night:

• Sleeping bag liner - either silk, cotton or fleece (only if you're staying in dormitories in mountain inns, huts). Blankets and pillow are provided in mountains huts.
• Headlamp and batteries (spare batteries too).
• Earplugs.

Equipment :

• Hiking backpack. A chest strap and waist strap are essential to help to distribute the weight. The size 30 L to 45 L is more than enough.
• Large rucksack if you have booked luggage transfer.
• Walking poles are highly recommended on Alpine trails.
• Resealable bags are handy for convenient leak-proof storage.
• Energy bars/snacks (2 per day)
• Airtight and waterproof ‘dry bags' are great for keeping your clothes dry and storing your dirty laundry separate from clean clothes!
• Cash & Cards (Euros and Swiss Francs).
• Pocket knives or cutlery can be useful for picnics.
• Water bottle or camelback - please be able to carry 2 liters of water.

Electronic & useful extras :

• Travel adapter.
• Phone, Camera, batteries and charger.
• Book to read or Kindle.
• Binoculars.
• Notebook and pen.

Toiletries, Health & Personal Medical Kit :

• Any personal medications you need to take.
• Personal toiletries: shampoo, soap, shavers, moisturizer, travel towel (if you're staying in mountains Huts), etc
• Sunscreen & lip balm - 30+ SPF
• Toilet roll/tissues.
• Travel towel for showering in refuges.

Note: All of these items can be purchased there. Please ask us if you'd like some advice about where to go to get any gear.

What about gear I want to leave before the trek?
Before departure for your trek you might pack your ‘town clothes' or anything you don't want on trek with you and ask your hotel (if you come back to the same hotel). If you want to do this, then consider bringing or buying a simple bag here for this purpose. We can also help you organize the storage of a larger suitcase, Please ask us for advice.