Tour du Mont Blanc Classic, Self-guided

TRIP ITINERARY:

Day 1: Meeting in Chamonix

You arrive in Chamonix and check in at your hotel. Your evening is free to explore the many bars and restaurants in Chamonix. Night in hotel.

Day 2: Above Chamonix to Les Houches

Your trip starts with a cable car ride that takes you up to nearly 2000 meters. Here, above the tree line, you begin a stunning high level traverse above the Chamonix valley with exceptional views of Mont Blanc. You descend to the village Les Houches and your hotel for the night.

Day 3: From Les Houches to Les Contamines

You walk (or take a cable car) up through the ski area of Les Houches. A lovely traverse below the Aiguille du Gouter takes you to the snout of the Bionnassay glacier, which you cross via an airy suspension bridge. You climb to the Col de Tricot and descent to the Miage mountain pastures for lunch. After lunch, you have another short climb to the Chalets du Truc before the final descent to Les Contamines.

Day 4: From Les Contamines to Vallée des Glaciers

From Les Contamines you climb steadily up an old roman way towards the top of the Contamines valley. A stunning and wild walk takes you over a succession of mountain passes before your descent to the Vallée des Glaciers (the Glaciers Valley) and the final short stretch to your charming mountain hut.

Day 5: From Vallée des Glaciers to Courmayeur

You leave the hut and ascend to the Seigne mountain pass, where you cross the border into Italy and get the first views of the dramatic Italian side of Mont Blanc. It's a gentle descent into the beautiful Val Veny, before another climb takes you to Col Checrouit and, finally, the long descent into Courmayeur. Your evening is free to explore the many bars and restaurants in Courmayeur. Night in hotel.

Day 6: From Courmayeur to Refuge Bonatti

From the town center of Courmayeur, you start your climb to the Bertone hut and the Mont de la Saxe ridge. You follow the ridge above the Ferret valley, enjoying breathtaking views of the towering peaks that form the Italian side of Mont Blanc. The night is spend in the splendid Bonatti hut.

Day 7: Refuge Bonatti to La Fouly

From the Bonatti hut, you continue traversng above the Ferret valley until you drop down to Arnouva. Here. you start the ascend to Grand Col Ferret, pasing the Elena mountain hut on the way. You now enter Switzerland and descend into the idyllic Swiss Ferret valley to the village of La Fouly.

Day 8: From La Fouly to Champex

A gentle day today, starting with a walk down the Swiss Ferret valley, along a gushing river and through charming old Swiss farming villages. A relatively short ascent takes you through wood land to the lake side village Champex.

Day 9: From Champex to Trient

Leaving Champex, you have a choice of two routes. You can hike over the notorious Fenêtre d’Arpette - a narrow mountain pass cut into a rugged alpine ridge, or you can walk via the gentler and more idyllic Bovine mountain pastures. You descend to the small village Trient, where you spend the night in a bustling auberge, where you can share your experiences with other hikers.

Day 10: From Trient to Argentiere

From Trient, you climb steadily up to the Balme pass, where you cross the border back into France and the Chamonix valley. You traverse the ridge line of the Aiguilette des Posettes, enjoying breathtaking views in all directions before descending to the village Argentiere for the night.

Day 11: From Argentiere to Chamonix

You leave Argentiere for the last leg of your tour, ascending to the Aiguilles Rouges nature reserve. A stunning walk takes you to the beautiful lac Blanc. From the lake, you continue via a stunning high level traverse with some of the finest views in the Alps. All too soon, you arrive at the Planpraz cable car station and your final descend to Chamonix.

Day 12: Departure day

Breakfast in the hotel and the official end to your Tour du Mont Blanc Classic trek.