Self-guided
Hiking
lvl. 3Level 2: An average of 4 to 5 hours of hiking per day on a well-marked hilly path or trail.
Level 3: An average of 4 to 5 hours of hiking per day on well-marked trails and/or 600 to 800 meters of vertical gain, and/or distances up to 15 kilometers.
Level 4: An average of 6 hours of hiking per day on well-marked trails or off trail, and/or 700 to 1000 meters of vertical gain, and/or distances of 15 to 18 kilometers.
Level 5: An average of more than 6 hours of hiking per day off trail or on rugged terrain, with more than 1000 meters of vertical gain (and/or distances up to 20 kilometers). Possibly sections at high altitude.
Level 6: An average of more than 7 to 8 hours of strenuous hiking per day off trail or on rugged terrain, with more than 1000 meters of vertical gain and/or distances up to 20 kilometers. Possibly sections at high altitude.
Our trip
A classic multi-day mountain hike.
France, Italy, and Switzerland: explore three alpine cultures.
Hike to Lac Blanc included.
A selection of very comfortable accommodations.
Your choice of lodging + Luggage transfers
Hotel 3 stars From mid-June to late-September
Hotel 4 stars From mid-June to late-September
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Are you looking for a singular experience with family, friends, colleagues, or a club, organized and led by one of our professional mountain guides? Travel with a guide |
* Price based on 4-person group
Itinerary
Level 3: An average of 4 to 5 hours of hiking per day on well-marked trails and/or 600 to 800 meters of vertical gain, and/or distances up to 15 kilometers.
Duration : 8 daysLuggage transfers : 2 options: with or without luggage transfer
Lodging : Hotel
Guiding : Self-guided
Group : Minimum 1 person
Season : From mid-June to late-September
Day by day
Arrive in Chamonix
Getting to the mountain town of Chamonix Mont Blanc is easy by train or shuttle. Once you arrive, settle into your comfortable hotel, stroll through Chamonix's quaint cobblestone streets, and relax before embarking on what will be a truly amazing through-hike.
LES HOUCHES - LES CONTAMINES MONJOIE
Lodging : hotel. Included meals : breakfast, dinner. Meals not included : lunch.
Take the Bellevue aerial tram. At the top (1780m), stare in awe at the high peaks looming above as you stand at the foot of the standard route for climbing Mt. Blanc and the trailhead for day 1 of your tour. Start with a traverse to the Bionnassay Glacier. Next, hike through the beautiful alpine meadows that lead up to Col de Tricot Pass (2120m). After a short break to admire the views of Contamines-Montjoie Valley, hike down a steep trail to the quaint rural chalets in Miage (1559m). Finally, contour around Mt. Truc (1811m) and then hike down into the village of Contamines-Montjoie, where you will spend the night.
Please note: it is possible to shorten this hike if you bypass the ascent to Col du Tricot Pass. An alternate route is described in the roadbook.
LES CONTAMINES-MONTJOIE - COL DE LA CROIX-DU-BONHOMME PASS - LES CHAPIEUX BOURG SAINT MAURICE
Lodging : hotel. Included meals : breakfast. Meals not included : lunch, dinner. Transfer : 45 min.
BOURG SAINT MAURICE - VILLE DES GLACIERS - COL DE LA SEIGNE PASS - VAL VENY - COURMAYEUR - ELENA HUT
Lodging : hotel. Included meals : breakfast, dinner. Meals not included : lunch. Transfer : 45 min.
(In June and September, the lifts are closed. For the 800 vertical meter descent on foot, add 1.5 hours.).
COURMAYEUR ELENA HUT - GRAND COL FERRET PASS - LA FOULY - CHAMPEX
Lodging : hotel. Included meals : breakfast, dinner. Meals not included : lunch.
Transfer from Courmayeur to the upper end of Val Ferret.
This short day at the halfway point on your tour offers the opportunity to take it easy and recuperate. After spending an unforgettable night at the foot of the Pré-de-Bar Glacier and Mt. Dolent (3823m), start the day's hike with an ascent to Grand Col Ferret Pass (2537m), where you cross from Italy into Switzerland. Take one last look back into Italy before starting the descent through Switzerland's gentle alpine meadows as you hike all the way down to the small hamlet of Ferret (1740m). Transfer by bus to Champex, a charming village along a lake.
Please note: it is possible to add a balcony traverse to the village of La Fouly. This alternate route is described in the roadbook.
CHAMPEX - BOVINE (OPTION: FENÊTRE D ARPETTE) - TRIENT- Argentière
Lodging : hotel. Included meals : breakfast, dinner. Meals not included : lunch. Transfer : 30 min.
From Champex, start by hiking through the Swiss mountain pastures and alpine meadows known for the grazing cows that produce some of the Alps' most famous cheeses! From Bovine, enjoy incomparable views of the Rhône River Valley. We also offer an alternate hike: please be aware that this option presents a much longer and more committing adventure. Fenêtre d'Arpette (2665m) is a spectacular high-mountain notch located near the Grands Glacier. Finish the day in the village of Trient (1280m). Transfer to Argentière in France where you will eat dinner and spend the night in a Hotel.
ARGENTIÈRE COL DES MONTETS PASS - LAC BLANC ARGENTIÈRE OR CHAMONIX
Lodging : hotel. Included meals : breakfast. Meals not included : lunch, dinner.
Departure
Pricing
Prices (incl. taxes) from june to september 2022
| Hotel 3 stars Price per person | With luggage transfers |
|---|---|
| Single season | |
| 1 person 1 single room | 1995 € |
| 2 people 1 double room | 1500 € |
| 3 people 1 room with 3 beds | 1450 € |
| 4 people 2 double rooms | 1425 € |
| 5 people 1 double room, 1 room with 3 beds | 1400 € |
| 6 people 3 double rooms | 1380 € |
- Single season : From 08 Jun 2022 through 21 Sep 2022
| Hotel 4 stars Price per person | With luggage transfers |
|---|---|
| Single season | |
| 1 person 1 single room | 2500 € |
| 2 people 1 double room | 2000 € |
| 3 people 1 room with 3 beds | 1950 € |
| 4 people 2 double rooms | 1925 € |
| 5 people 1 double room, 1 room with 3 beds | 1900 € |
| 6 people 3 double rooms | 1880 € |
- Single season : From 22 Jun 2022 through 20 Sep 2022
Pricing
The price includes / does not include
The price includes
-
Accommodations as described.
- Transporting
your bags if you choose this option.
- Breakfast
for days 2 through 8.
- Dinners for
days 2 through 6.
- The roadbook (as well as a map and
reservation vouchers) for a 2 to 4 person group.
- Private transfers:
- from Les Chapieux to Bourg St Maurice (day 3, 45 min drive),
- from Bourg St Maurice to la ville des Glaciers, stat of the hike (day 4, 50 min drive),
- from Trient to Argentière (day 6, 20 min drive).
- The gpx tracks for each day's hike, upon request.
The price does not include
-
Transportation to the meeting point at the start of the trip and from the point
where the trip officially ends.
- Insurance
for trip cancellation/interruption, lost/stolen baggage, or assistance.
- For
reservations made less than 15 days before the start, all additional fees for
priority processing.
- Anything
that is not specified in the "price includes" list.
Other expenses
- Lunches: at
grocery stores or huts for your picnic lunches.
- Public
transportation and chairlifts/gondolas during the tour:
- the cable-car between Les Houches and Bellevue, approximately €15,
- the shuttles
(regularly scheduled) from Visaille to Courmayeur and from Courmayeur to
Arnuva, approximately €3 each. At the beginning and the end of the season, you
need to reserve a taxi. Check with your hotel/hut/guest house manager to ask if
there are other hikers in the same situation with whom you can share the fare,
- the bus
(Postal Bus in Switzerland) from Ferret/La Fouly to Champex, approximately €9.
- Tickets to
visit monuments or museums.
- Drinks.
- Tips.
Currencies
France and Italy are part of the Euro zone. You may find ATMs easily in the main cities and towns.
Better to have cash in the most remote areas to purchase extras (ex.: for drinks). Huts do not always accept credit cards.
Italia
France and Italy are part of the Euro zone. You may find ATMs easily in the main cities and towns.
Better to have cash in the most remote areas to purchase extras (ex.: for drinks). Huts do not always accept credit cards.
Switzerland