Courmayeur – We’re going to start in beautiful, medieval Courmayeur.  Fly to Geneva, catch your private transfer (included) through the Mont Blanc tunnel to the sunny village of Courmayeur in Italy.  Our home here is a very pleasant and friendly hotel near the center of town.

If you arrive early, there is plenty to do in the village, cable cars take you up to high vantage points, or just wander through town.  Courmayeur is a beautiful village, with cobblestoned pedestrian-only alleyways filled with comfortable cafes and stylish shops.  Later in the afternoon, you’ll meet your guide and group for dinner as your Mont Blanc tour begins.

• Hotel Bouton d'Or
• D

Courmayeur – After one of our favorite breakfasts at the Bouton d’Or, you’ll head out on a dayhike high above town.   One of our favorite hikes leads up to a high ridge above town.  You’ll reach incredible views of Mont Blanc and the Grandes Jorasses on a pleasant balcony walk to Bonatti hut.  Stop for a drink at the hut and descend to the valley to transfer back to Courmayeur for a 2nd night.  This is a grand panoramic hike and is a stunning introduction to the Mont Blanc region.

If you’d rather take it slow and easy today, Courmayeur is great for people-watching and relaxing, perhaps even taking a short trip on your own down to the Pre St. Didier Spa with its renowned natural mineral baths. You’ll again have dinner with your group in Courmayeur tonight.

• Hotel Bouton d'Or
• B / L / D
• hike: 5-7 hours, 9 miles; Elevation: 3920 ft. up, 3150 ft. down

la Fouly – The Italian side of Mont Blanc is steep and rocky, and the Grand Jorasses rivals Mont Blanc as the focal point of our views on one of the highlight hikes of the tour.

On this stage of the TMB, we’ll cross the Grand Col Ferret and into Switzerland, with rolling green meadows filled with happy cows. We’ll descend to la Fouly, and tiny village at the end of a quiet valley in Switzerland.  It’s quaint, quiet and beautiful here.  Our luggage will be transferred here from Courmayeur.

• Hotel Edelweiss
• B / L / D
• hike: 6-8 hours, 12.5 miles; Elevation: 3360 ft. up, 4830 ft. down

Champex – An easier day today takes us through the Swiss Ferret Valley.  This is one of the more relaxing days on the tour.  Waterfalls cascade down mountains as we hike down-valley and then up to the pretty lakeside village of Champex.

Champex is postcard-perfect, a painfully cute town next to a beautiful surrounded by mountains.  It’s a great place to spend an afternoon on a terrace overlooking the lake.  Our luggage will be waiting at our 3-star village hotel and we’ll have a hearty meal at our hotel tonight.

• Hotel du Glacier or Splendide
• B / L / D
• hike: 7-9 hours, 9.5 miles; Elevation: 1380 ft. up, 1790 ft. down

Trient – The next stage on the TMB presents us with a choice – the high rugged Arpette route, or the wooded Bovine route.  Your choice will depend on weather, conditions and general mood.  If we stay low, the Bovine route takes us through woods and past waterfalls to a rustic farm with sweeping views of the Rhone Valley.

Weather permitting, a more rigorous possibility leads up and over the steep Fenetre d’Arpette pass with dazzling views to the Trient Glacier, a popular variant on the traditional TMB route. We’ll stay in the Grand Ourse, a hiker’s inn in nearby Trient.

• Hotel la Grande Ourse
• B / L / D
• hike: 5-7 hours, 9.5 miles; Elevation: 2660 ft. up, 3160 ft. down (Bovine) or 7-9 hours, 9.5 miles; Elevation: 3940 ft. up, 4440 ft. down (Fenetre d’Arpette)

Chamonix – The final hike on our Mont Blanc tour is another great one.  A steady uphill trail leads us through woods and meadows to the Balme Pass on the border with France.

Enjoy gorgeous views of Mont Blanc and the entire Chamonix Valley as we cross the pass and descend to la Tour.  After a short bus ride back to Chamonix, we’ll have a bit of time for the pool at our Chamonix hotel, and then enjoy a special celebratory dinner at a favorite local restaurant.

• Hotel les Aiglons
• B / L / D
• hike: 5-7 hours, 7.5 miles; Elevation: 3090 ft. up, 2590 ft. down

depart – Today we say au revoir, and depart for our post-Mont Blanc destinations.