Chamonix – Arrive in Geneva, and transfer to Chamonix, the world-famous resort and mountaineering center in France.

An airport pickup is included, making this an easy and relaxing hour and half journey. Enjoy your first impressive views of Mont Blanc, with perhaps time to relax at our charming Chamonix hotel before meeting the group for dinner.

• Hotel les Aiglons
• D

Chamonix – One of the classic hikes in the region takes us to Lac Blanc, high above the village.

This high-mountain lake sits in the Aiguilles Rouges, across the valley from Mont Blanc, and commands one of the greatest mountain views anywhere. We’ll make good use of local cable cars so we can enjoy more time hiking near the lake. Return to Chamonix for a 2nd night.

• Hotel les Aiglons
• B / L / D
• hike: 6-8 hours, 8 miles; Elevation: 3200 ft. up, 1670 ft. down

les Contamines – An undulating trail leads through alpine pastures and pine forests, over the Tricot pass and through the quiet and quaint Miage Valley on one of the prettiest corners of the TMB.

Passing through a tiny hamlet of stone houses where cows and horses graze peacefully surrounded by hanging glaciers, we’ll stop in the small village of les Contamines for a night at a friendly local hotel.  Our luggage will meet us here.

• Hotel Gai Soleil
• B / L / D
• hike: 5-7 hours, 7.5 miles; Elevation: 1660 ft. up, 2730 ft. down

les Mottets – A quick bus ride or an easy valley walk brings us to our trailhead at Notre Dame de la Gorge, a small chapel at the very end of the valley rebuilt in 1699.

Hiking up along an old Roman road, we continue the TMB tour with a long, steady ascent across two lofty passes, Col de la Croix du Bonhomme and Col du Bonhomme. After lunch near the pass, we’ll descend into the Valle de Glaciers, and stay in a popular hiker’s inn along the valley floor, with a charming dining room, many private rooms and new 4-person dorms.

• refuge les Mottets
• B / L / D
• hike: 7-9 hours, 12.5 miles; Elevation: 5130 ft. up, 2800 ft. down

Courmayeur – Leaving France, a gradual ascent through quiet alp pastures leads to the Col de la Seigne and into Italy.

Here you’re greeted by an amazing view into the Veny Valley and the Mont Blanc range. The Aiguille Noire de Peuterey is particularly impressive from this vantage point, and Mont Blanc itself dominates the view ahead of you. Continue down valley and into the medieval village of Courmayeur, with narrow, cobblestoned alleyways and a lively, pedestrian-only core. Our luggage will be waiting for us at our 3-star village hotel.

• Hotel Bouton d'Or
• B / L / D
• hike: 5-7 hours, 7 miles; Elevation: 2220 ft. up, 2910 ft. down

Courmayeur – After one of our favorite breakfasts at our hotel, a second day in Courmayeur gives you a chance to either rest up or take an optional dayhike high above town.

Courmayeur is an extremely atmospheric village, with cafes, bakeries, gelaterias, and stylish shops. It’s great for people-watching and relaxing. Or take the cable car high above the valley to the upper reaches of Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco in Italian) for close-up views of the highest peaks in the Alps. Or spend the day hiking along an unbeatable balcony walk to rifugio Bonatti. The options are plentiful!

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

la Fouly – The second half of the Tour du Mont Blanc is slightly less rugged, with easier passes, but just as beautiful.  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 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.  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, on a pleasant path long the river with waterfalls cascading down mountains as we hike down-valley.

After a break for lunch, we hike up through forest to the pretty lakeside village of Champex, a beautiful place to spend an afternoon on a terrace overlooking the lake. Our luggage be waiting at our 3-star village hotel.

• Hotel du Glacier or Splendide
• B / L / D
• hike: 4-6 hours, 9.5 miles; Elevation: 1380 ft. up, 1790 ft. down

la Forclaz/Trient – The next stage on the TMB takes us through woods and farms along the Bovine route with sweeping views of the Rhone Valley. 

Weather permitting, a more rigorous possibility leads to the Fenetre d’Arpette with famous views to the Trient Glacier, a popular variant on the traditional TMB route. We’ll stay in either the popular hiker’s inn at Col de la Forclaz or the Grand Ourse in nearby Trient.

• Hotel Col de la Forclaz or la Grande Ourse
• B / L / D
• hike: 6-8 hours, 9 miles; Elevation: 2460 ft. up, 2260 ft. down (Bovine) or 7-9 hours, 9.5 miles; Elevation: 3940 ft. up, 3740 ft. down (Fenetre d’Arpette)

Chamonix – The final hike on our Mont Blanc tour 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. Finish with a bus ride back to Chamonix, where we meet up with our luggage once again, and enjoy a delicious celebratory dinner at a favorite local restaurant.

• Hotel les Aiglons
• B / L / D
• hike: 6-8 hours, 10.5 miles; Elevation: 2890 ft. up, 3120 ft. down

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

• B