Tour du Mont Blanc Express, 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 Champex-Lac

From Courmayeur, a short bus transfer takes you to the top of the Ferret valley where your hike begins. The trail goes steadily upwards through scenic mountain pastures. A last Italian coffee stop is possible before you reach the Grand Col Ferret mountain pass. You now enter Switzerland and descend through the idyllic Swiss Ferret valley to the village of La Fouly, where you catch another bus transfer to the charming lake-side village Champex.

Day 7: 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 8: From Trient to Chamonix

You leave the Auberge in Trient for the last leg of the Tour du Mont Blanc. Today’s walk goes up to the Balme pass, where you cross the border back into France. You descend into the familiar surroundings of the Chamonix valley and the jagged peaks of the Mont Blanc chain above you. At Argentiere, you jump on a bus for a short transfer to Chamonix and your hotel.

Day 9: Departure day

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