a 10 day tour du mont blanc in mountain huts

All these transfers are included in the tour such as :

• Day 2: private transfer from St Gervais les Bains-Le Fayet to Les Praz-de-Chamonix ; cable-car from Les Praz-de-Chamonix to La Flégère ; local bus transfer from Col des Montets to Le Tour,
  
• Day 5: private transfer from Arpette to La Fouly/Ferret,
• Day 6 : lift from Courmayeur to Dolonne (or local bus from Courmayeur to Val Veny valley)
• Day 7 : local bus transfer from La Ville des Glaciers to Les Chapieux
  
• Day 9: cable car from Bellevue to Les Houches, local bus transfer from Les Houches to Chamonix.
  

On day 1, you will stay in a simple and comfortable 2* hotel in St Gervais les Bains-Le Fayet in a shared twin beds basis, with private bathroom.

From day 2 to day 8, you'll stay in a selection of mountain huts and mountain inns. These shared accommodations consist of mixed dormitories (from 6 to 12 beds), often with bunk beds. Bathrooms are also shared and mixed.

This type of accommodation has been chosen to enable you to follow the original route of the Tour du Mont Blanc as closely as possible. By staying at altitude, you'll avoid descending into the valley and enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains! 

On day 5, we spend the night at the Bonatti hut, which offers spectacular views of the surrounding mountains, including the Grandes Jorasses and the Italian summit of Mont Blanc. The hut is named after the famous Italian mountaineer Walter Bonatti, considered one of the greatest climbers in history. A pioneer of solo climbing, his iconic ascents include K2 and the Grandes Jorasses. Bonatti is renowned for his profound respect for nature and his mountain ethics. A writer and photographer, he also shared his experiences through his books. His legacy lives on, and the Bonatti refuge pays tribute to his lasting influence on the world of mountaineering. 

We strongly recommend that you bring your own towel and sleeping bag liner. Lightweight and space-saving, this accessory guarantees better hygiene, particularly in areas frequented by hikers during the summer months.

Dinners :
- in the hotels, dinner typically consists of a fixed three-course menu, including a starter, main course, and dessert. The first dinner in Saint Gervais les Bains - Le Fayet is not included to give you all options in town and a dinner on your own.
- in mountain huts and mountain inns, meals are convivial moments when you share the table with other hikers. These meals are a real highlight of the day, providing an opportunity to savor home-cooked meals while sharing with people from all over the world. Meals generally consist of a soup starter, followed by a meat-based main course with carbohydrates (pasta, rice, polenta, etc.), then cheese and dessert. If you wish, you can add a beer or glass of wine to your meal for an additional charge.

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.
- in mountain inns or huts, breakfasts are often simple: bread, butter, jam, coffee, tea and orange juice. If you need extra energy for your day's hiking, remember to pack cereal bars, chocolate or other snacks.

Lunches:
Pack-lunches either prepared by your guide or the accommodation.
The picnic has an important place in a day of hiking. Healthy and balanced, it allows you to regain your strength before continuing the day's hike. The tasting of local products is an opening on the traditions and the regional culture, and then it is above all a moment of convivial exchange.
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 :
* Offer a share of regional products, chosen, when possible, from local producers to support short circuits.
* Favour quality products and integrate a part of organic food.
* Reduce packaging, especially plastic, and recycle the remaining ones.

If you have strict dietary constraints (gluten free, veggie,etc.) 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, except on day 5 at Bonatti (no road access).
Each person is allowed one soft bag, weighing up to 15 kg, with no food items included.

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.

• Hiking backpack. A chest strap and waist strap are essential to help to distribute the weight. The size 30 L to 45 L, will depend on whether you have booked a luggage transfer or not.
  
• Comfortable and worn in trekking boots.
• Warm hat.
• Cap.
• Sun glasses.
• Good quality Merino Wool walking socks.
• Base layer tops - Merino Wool is the best choice.
• Warm mid-layer tops.
• A water and windproof layer (jacket and pants) eg. Gore-Tex.
• 1x Walking trousers.
• Light gloves.
• Shorts.
• Buff or Snood.
• A natural or synthetic down jacket.
• Casual clothes & footwear for evenings. One set is enough as you will not wear them for a long time.
• Nightwear and underwear.
• Sleeping bag liner - either silk, cotton or fleece.
• Sandals or flip flops. 

• Personal toiletries: shampoo, soap, shavers, moisturizer, travel towel (if you're staying in Mountains Huts), etc.
• Toilet roll/tissues.
• Ziplock bags are handy for convenient leak-proof storage.
• Sun block and lip balm.
• Electrical socket adapter.
• Energy bars/snacks.
• Personal first aid kit + any personal medications you need to take.
• Phone, Camera, batteries and charger.
• Airtight and waterproof ‘dry bags' are great for keeping your clothes dry and storing your dirty laundry separate from clean clothes!
• Head torch and batteries (spare batteries too).
• Walking poles are highly recommended on Alps paths.
• Cash & Cards (Euros and Swiss Francs).
• Pocket knives or cutlery can be useful for picnics.
• WATER - please be able to carry 2 litres of water.

• Binoculars.
• Book to read or Kindle.
• Notebook and pen.
• Ear plugs.

• 2 litres of water.
• Sunscreen, sunglasses, sun hat, lip balm.
• Warm fleece or thermal layer and gloves.
• Water proof layer.
• Lunch
• Head torch.
• Hand sanitiser/soap and toilet paper.
• Your camera.
• Any money you want for snacks/drinks along the trail.
• Important - take any personal medications you require during the day - you will not see your kit bag until evening.