Spend 6 luxurious days hiking varied Mont Blanc trails on this guided tour based in Chamonix and Courmayeur.
Guided Great Hikes of Mont Blanc
Guided Great Hikes of Mont Blanc
Spend 6 luxurious days hiking varied Mont Blanc trails on this guided tour based in Chamonix and Courmayeur.
- Guided Group,
Support
- Base Camp Adventures,
Style
- Relaxed to Moderate,
Activity Level
Mont Blanc. Chamonix and Courmayeur. These two alpine villages are incomparable. You could spend all summer exploring the quiet trails, side-valleys and mind-blowing views.
We’ll settle for a week, hiking some of the Tour du Mont Blanc’s most classic trails and leaving time to explore more off-the-beaten-path areas as well.
If you are ready to get away, this week in Chamonix and Courmayeur is perfect. Experience gorgeous mountain scenery, epic hikes, comfortable hotels, and exquisite French and Italian cuisine. One of the joys of slowing down is that you really get to know a place. Unpack. Exhale. There are amazing trails to explore, from easy days on balcony trails to heart-pumping climbs to unforgettable vistas. There is so much to see and do.
Our guided tours are all guaranteed… sign up, show up, and forget about everything else. Our guides will choose the right trails and uncover the best viewpoints, and can tell you about the culture and history of the Alps. They’ll let you know when it’s time to go and where you’re going. No need to worry about anything. Mont Blanc is waiting, and it will be well worth it.
Itinerary At a Glance
Days 1-4
Chamonix, France
Explore one of the most beautiful mountain regions in the world. You might think you could get tired of it, but you won’t. There are wonderful hikes, scenic train and cable car rides, and gourmet meals. Hike to Lac Blanc, take the cable car to Aiguille du Midi, hike classic TMB stages or get off-the-beaten-path. There is something new each and every day.
Days 5-7
Courmayeur, Italy
Now head to Italy to stay in Courmayeur, Mont Blanc’s atmospheric Italian resort town. The mountains here are steeper and perhaps even more dramatic. Hike panoramic TMB trails to alpine huts. Return to your comfortable Courmayeur base each night.
Included
Your tour will be led by an experienced Alpinehikers guide with guided hikes daily. All transfers to and from trailheads are included as well as transfer between Chamonix and Courmayeur. You’ll stay 6 nights in a comfortable 3-star village hotels, with all breakfasts, picnic lunches, and 5 of 6 dinners included.
This tour does not include arrival or departure transfers from Geneva. Please ask if you would like help with these.
Full Itinerary
Day 1
arrive Chamonix Mont Blanc
Arrive in Geneva and make your way to Chamonix, the world-famous resort and mountaineering center in France.
Enjoy your first impressive views of Mont Blanc, with perhaps time to relax at the pool and outdoor patio of our comfortable Chamonix hotel before meeting the group for dinner.
Arrival: Geneva. Plan to arrive by the day your tour starts. You can book a private or shared shuttle from GVA to Chamonix. The trip takes 1½ hrs. We recommend booking early with Mountain Dropoffs or Chamonix Valley Transfers.
Hotel les Aiglons
- Dinner
Day 2
Chamonix, hike Bionnassay valley
Hiking the traditional first stage of the Mont Blanc tour brings us to the minor Voza pass to the lovely Bionnassay valley, a wooded region with impressive glaciers and waterfalls, and capped by blinding peaks.
We’ll hike on quiet trails to a rustic inn where you can enjoy a coffee or cold drink along with boundless alpine views. After a day exploring this valley, return to Chamonix.
Hotel les Aiglons
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Day 3
Chamonix, hike to Lac Blanc
One of the classic Mont Blanc hikes leads to Lac Blanc, high above town. 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.
Hotel les Aiglons
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Day 4
Chamonix, hike to Col de Balme
Heading now toward Switzerland, you might hike another traditional stage of the TMB, the Col de Balme pass. Heading up from le Tour, the delightful trail below the Posettes ridge brings plenty of scenic beauty. Alpenrose and wild blueberry bushes surround the trail, with incredible views to the entire Mont Blanc range.
After reaching the Balme pass, you’ll have your choice of an easy descent back to le Tour or a secondary climb up to the Refuge Albert 1er. This alpine club hut is perched high above the le Tour glacier with commanding views and a wonderful sense of accomplishment.
We’re leaving dinner free tonight for you to explore on your own, and we’ll have lots of suggestions for the great culinary spots in town.
Hotel les Aiglons
- Breakfast
- Lunch
Day 5
Courmayeur, hike to Elisabetta hut
After 4 days in Chamonix, it’s time to head to the Italian side of Mont Blanc! We’ll take a morning taxi through the Mont Blanc tunnel, and emerge near the beautiful twin valleys of Veny and Ferret. Val Veny is a good place to start exploring, with great hike up to Elisabetta hut, a popular TMB stop with stunning glacier views.
For a longer day, continue on a high traverse trail with constant views of Mont Blanc, to the alpine restaurant Maison Vieille. Descend to Courmayeur and our friendly hotel for the evening. Courmayeur is a beautiful village, with Mont Blanc views, a pedestrian-only downtown core, and many great restaurants and gelaterias. Now that we’re in Italy, we might visit a favorite local pizzeria for dinner.
Hotel Bouton d'Or
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Day 6
Courmayeur, hike to Bonatti hut
We may have saved the best for last. Now that you have you legs under you, a steep ascent up to a high ridge brings you to perhaps the best viewpoint in the Mont Blanc region. For strong hikers, the top of Mont de la Saxe ridge beckons, but even for a moderate hike, the balcony walk to Bonatti hut is a classic.
Stop at the outdoor terrace at Bonatti and take your time appreciating Mont Blanc, the Grande Jorasses, and the many impressive glaciers flowing down from the heights. Visit with fellow hikers and soak in the mountain atmosphere. Afterwards, a short downhill walk brings you to a bus stop and return to Courmayeur for a final celebratory dinner.
Hotel Bouton d'Or
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Day 7
Depart
After breakfast, depart for your post tour destinations. Au revoir!
Departure: Geneva. Plan departure for the day your tour finishes. You will need to book a private taxi from Courmayeur to GVA. The trip takes 2½ hrs, and it is best to depart early (before 8:30 am) to avoid delays at the Mont Blanc tunnel.
- Breakfast
What's great about this tour
- Perfect flexibility for easy, moderate or epic hiking days
- A flexible base camp adventure
- All departures guaranteed. No minimum group size
- Mont Blanc, and the highest mountains in the Alps
- Glaciers, wildflowers, open trails and gourmet meals
- A blissful and adventurous week in the glorious Mont Blanc region
- 4 nights in Chamonix and 2 nights in stylish Courmayeur
