Chamonix – For the Tour du Mont Blanc, it’s best to fly to Geneva, and we’ll arrange your private transfer to Chamonix, the world-famous resort and mountaineering center at the foot of Mont Blanc.

Enjoy the ambiance of this beautiful village with impressive views of Mont Blanc. Stay in a luxurious 5-star hotel in town.  We love the casual elegance of the Hameau Albert, with gorgeous, memorable food and beautiful pool and gardens.  Dinner will be on your own in one of Chamonix’s many fine restaurants.

• Hotel Hameau Albert 1er, Mont Blanc or similar

Chamonix – Warm-up hike today.  One of the classic hikes in the region leads to Lac Blanc for picture perfect views of the Mont Blanc mountains.  The hut itself makes a great lunch destination.  It’s popular, but unforgettable, and we’ll send you on some quieter trails to the hut.

This high-mountain lake sits in the Aiguilles Rouges Nature Preserve, a rugged ridge across the valley from Mont Blanc, and commands one of the greatest mountain views anywhere. Make good use of local cable cars to enjoy more time hiking near the lake, and keep an eye open for bouquetin – a mountain goat with long curved horns that are frequently sighted in this region. Return to Chamonix for a 2nd night.  Dinner is on your own in Chamonix tonight.  We’ll include suggestions for some of our favorites.

• Hotel Hameau Albert 1er, Mont Blanc or similar
• B
• hike: 6-8 hours, 8 miles; Elevation: 3200 ft. up, 1670 ft. down

les Contamines – After a hearty breakfast at your hotel, your Mont Blanc circuit starts with a cable car above the scenic Voza Pass to the lovely Bionnassay Valley, a wooded region with impressive glaciers and waterfalls, and capped by blinding peaks.

Stop at a quaint mountain restaurant for lunch as you walk through Miage Valley, mountains soaring above you, as you dive right in to the good life.  We recommend the blueberry torte for dessert.  A wooded descent then brings you to the quaint village of les Contamines, where you’ll stay in a comfortable 3-star hotel.

• 3-star Hotel Chemenaz or similar
• B / D
• hike: 6-8 hours, 7.5 miles; Elevation: 1660 ft. up, 2730 ft. down

les Mottets/les Chapieux – Today the tour du Mont Blanc route leads you on a long ascent across two lofty passes, Col du Bonhomme and Col de la Croix du Bonhomme, on your biggest required hike of the tour.

An alpine hut near the pass makes a perfectly-placed stop for a mid-day break. Descend to the Valle des Glaciers and stay the night in a lively hiker’s inn in either les Chapieux or les Mottets. We have 3 inns to choose from, and although it’s a popular corner of the tour, private rooms are normally available.  If not, we arrange a taxi to take you to nearby Areche, where you can stay in a comfortable hotel, returning in the morning for your hike to Courmayeur.

• hiker's inn in Chapieux or Mottets, or hotel in Areche
• B / D
• hike: 7-9 hours, 11.5 miles; Elevation: 4320 ft. up, 3050 ft. down (to les Chapieux) or 7-9 hours, 12.5 miles; Elevation: 5130 ft up, 2800 ft down (to les Mottets)

Courmayeur – Leaving les Chapieux, 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.

As you hike down into the valley, you’ll pass the scenic Elisabetta hut, a great place to stop for lunch, before you continue on.  Although it’s possible to walk all the way, we’ll arrange for a taxi to meet you at a restaurant partway down.  You’ll still cover the best parts of the hike, and will ride in comfort into the medieval village of Courmayeur, where you stay in an impressive 5-star hotel.

• 5-star Auberge de la Maison or similar
• B / D
• hike: 6-8 hours, 12 miles; Elevation: 3270 ft. up, 2910 ft. down (from la Nova) or 5-7 hours, 9 miles; Elevation: 2220 ft. up, 2910 ft. down (from les Mottets)

Courmayeur – A second day in Courmayeur is a great way to break up the Tour du Mont Blanc. The Pre St. Didier spa is also a luxurious way to recharge half-way through your tour. Courmayeur is a beautiful village, with cobblestoned pedestrian-only alleyways filled with comfortable cafes and stylish shops, and is always fun to explore.

There is plenty to do in the village, cable cars take you up to high vantage points, or there are great day hikes near town.  We like to relax with a cable car up to the stunning views of Col Checrouit and enjoy an afternoon at the nearby Maison Vielle restaurant. Or hike the extremely scenic balcony route to Bonatti hut, returning to Courmayeur by bus. Stay in the same hotel a second night.

• 5-star Auberge de la Maison or similar
• B / D
• hike: 5-7 hours, 9 miles; Elevation: 3920 ft. up, 3150 ft. down

La Fouly – A private morning transfer whisks you from Courmayeur to the end of the Ferret Valley, Arnuva, and brings you to the beginning of your hike over the Ferret Pass and into Switzerland.

The ascent is steady and straightfoward, with plenty of opportunity to stop and enjoy the views back to Mont Blanc and the Grandes Jorasses mountains, as well as the beautiful glaciers toward the end of the valley.  After reaching the pass, you’ll descend to the tiny village of la Fouly.  You’ll stay in either a 3-star hotel or a nearby hiker’s inn with friendly service and private rooms.

• Hotel Edelweiss or Hotel du Col de Fenetre
• B / D
• hike: 5-7 hours, 9 miles; Elevation: 2950 ft. up, 3580 ft. down

Champex – One of the easier hikes on your Mont Blanc tour takes you through woods and typical Swiss countryside and up to the pretty, lakeside village of Champex.

If you’re in the mood for a bigger hike today, a much more strenuous alternate route leads over a high pass, to a hut perched along the edge of the Orny Glacier, before descending to Champex.  A fantastic challenge if you are inclined.  Stay in a comfortable 3-star village hotel.

• 3-star Hotel Mont Lac, Splendide or similar
• B / D
• hike: 4-6 hours, 9.5 miles; Elevation: 1380 ft. up, 1790 ft. down

Chamonix – An undulating trail leads through alpine pastures and pine forests, with sweeping views of the Rhone Valley, leading to the popular hiker’s inn at Col de la Forclaz.  Their outdoor terrace is a great place to unwind at the end of your hike.

Weather permitting, a more rigorous possibility leads up to the high pass of Fenetre d’Arpette, one of the highest points along the tour and along the Trient Glacier.

We will arrange for a taxi to meet you at Forclaz and take you to Chamonix.  Finish the day with a final night at your luxurious 5-star hotel in Chamonix.  You’ll have a celebratory dinner at one of your hotel’s restaurants tonight.

• Hotel Hameau Albert 1er, Mont Blanc or similar
• B / D
• hike: 7-9 hours, 9.5 miles; Elevation: 3940 ft. up, 3740 ft. down (Bovine) or 7-9 hours, 9.5 miles; Elevation: 3940 ft up, 3740 ft down (Fenetre d’Arpette)

depart – Today you say au revoir, and depart for your post-Mont Blanc destinations. Your private taxi will meet you at your hotel and take you to the Geneva airport.

• B