France - Tour du Mont Blanc
The Mont Blanc-massif with the towering peak of Mont Blanc itself (4,807m/ 15,771ft.) is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the Alps. On this walking holiday you will experience the French, Italian, and Swiss face of the Mont Blanc-massif. The scenery is magnificent with countless Alpine peaks and fascinating glaciers that beautifully adorn the panoramic views of the Mont Blanc. Your luggage will be transfered on this trip, so you will only carry your daypack between the accommodation sites in the small traditional mountain villages.
This trip is self-guided, and you will receive all relevant information on the date of arrival in Les Contamines. The hikes on this trip is for experienced trekkers and require a good basic physical shape as the terrain is hilly, and most days the hike goes on ascents and descents of 800-1200 meters altitude (2,630 - 3,950 ft). Accommodation will be in mountain lodges with dormitories. We can upgrade the accommodation to doublerooms in hotels and guest houses - see details under the 'Tour info' tab.
Highlights on the walking tour Around Mont Blanc
- Self-guided walking holiday from lodge to lodge around Mont Blanc
- Discover the Mont Blanc massif from three different countries
- The gigantic rock walls in Italy
- The rolling valleys of Switzerland
- The great glaciers of France
- Half board (except in Chamonix and Courmayeur)
- A possible upgrade to double rooms in hotels and guest houses
Great things about this tour
Itinerary See all daysClose all days
Depending on arrival time, it is possible to go for a walk that takes you over 3600 meters of altitude, which will bring you the first nice views of the landscape.
You will stay at a 2-star hotel in the traditional, charming French village of Les Contamines, where dinner is included.
Hotel (example): La Gelinotte
The day starts with a short transfer to Notre Dame de la Gorge. From here the walk begins and you will cross over the pass of Col du Bonhomme and Col de Croix du Bonhomme, which leads you through to the valley of Chapieux. On this stretch you will be greeted by breathtaking views of the Aiguille des Glaciers (3816m/ 12,520ft) as it beautifully raises from the green pastures. You will stay in a mountain lodge*, where dinner is included.
Duration: approx. 6-7 hours
Distance: 15,3km
+1200m / -900m
Hotel (example): Auberge de la Nova (dormitory or double room)
*In cases where double rooms in Les Chapieux are sold out, we will book a double room in a 2-star hotel in Bourg St Maurice instead.
From 1 July to 25 August there is a shuttle bus from Les Chapieux to Bourg St. Maurice. It costs about €6 per person each way. and takes about 25 minutes.
On other dates, a private transfer T/R will be necessary. This costs € 190 per booking, and will be necessary for the trip to be possible.
Hotel (example) in Bourg St. Maurice: Hôtel Arolla** (double room)
You will begin the day by trekking over the la Seigne pass, located on the Franch-Italian border. When crossing over the pass you will come face to face with the beautiful rock walls and icy peaks of the Mont Blanc-massif. Here you leave France and head down into the Italian valley of Véni. From La Cantine to Val Ferret, you will take the local bus, before finaly walking the last stretch up to the mountain hut Elena, situated close to the Pre de Bar glacier.
Note: If you stay in Dormitories then dinner is included this evening. If you stay in double rooms then dinner is not included. Courmayeur has several restaurants to choose from.
Duration: approx 7 hours
Distance: 15,4km
+950m / -1000m
Hotel (example): Refuge Elena (dormitory) or Hotel Bouton d'Or*** (double rooms)
The walk of today leads you up to the great Ferret pass which marks the border between Italy and Switzerland. The beautiful Mont Dolent (3,823m/ 12,543ft) is situated on this border. This mountain is particularly known for having a hillside situated in all three countries; France, Italy and Switzerland. After the pass you will see magnificent panoramic views to various mountain passes in the horizons. From here the trail runs into a steep downhill descent towards the Dranse river where the trek continues through La Fouly, a charming Swiss mountain village. The last stretch is done on a local bus to Champex, from where the final walkingtime is about 45 minutes to the family-run and charming mountain chalet Relais d'Arpette, where dinner is included.
Duration: approx 5-6 hours
Distance: 17km
+600m / -1000m
Hotel (example): Le Relais Arpette (dormitory) or Hotel Splendide*** (double rooms)
Today you will reach the highest point on the trip, Fenêtre d'Arpette (2,750m/ 9,022ft.). This pass is like something out of a movie, with dramatic rocky slopes on both sides, and a narrow passage with a winding path that leads over the pass and down the rustic hillside on the other side. The hike is challenging, but the view is magnificent, as you move down into the valley along the Trient glacier. There is dinner and overnight stay at the mountain lodge Col de la Forclaz which is pleasantly situated in the green hills overlooking the gorgeous snowy peaks.
Duration: approx. 7-9 hours
Distance: 14km
+1050m / -1385m
Hotel (example): La Forclaz (dormitory or double rooms)
*If you are staying in Trient, it's another 20 minutes walk from La Forclaz (-230m and 1,5 km). This distance is deducted from the hike on day 6. (Example in Trient): Auberge du Mont Blanc (dormitory or double room)
On the sixth day you will begin the walk with a hike up to Balme Pass, leading you from Switzerland back to France. This ascent creates a good contrast to previous ascents, as this path climbs up through green pastures in characteristic switchbacks. From the pass the views are beautiful to both the Swiss side and the French side. It will be possible to choose between several scenic routes as you walk down to the village of Argentiére, where you will spend the night in a mountain lodge. Dinner is included.
Duration: approx. 6-7 hours
Distance: 15km
+1000m / -1050m
Hotel (example): CAF du Tour (dormitory) or Hotel Le Dahu** (double rooms)
Dinner is included in dormitory accommodation.
For double rooms, only breakfast is included - and you must buy your own dinner locally.
As you walk with you back to the Mont Blanc-massif you will enjoy panoramic views of the Aiguilles Rouges-massif. The green shades of the valleys, the white glaciers of Mont Blanc, and the reddish color of the pretty Aiguilles Rouges - words can not justify the picturesque scenery that surrounds you. Remember to enjoy the last 6 hours of walking as it brings you through the stunning landscape around the village of Les Praz before finally arriving in Chamonix. On the last stretch down to Chamonix, it is possible to go on one or two cableways, should you want to have this experience. The final night you will stay in doublerooms at a 2-star hotel in Chamonix. On this night dinner is not included, and it is ideal to go out to enjoy a final french dinner on one of the restaurants in the charming town.
Duration: approx. 6 hours
Distance: 16km
+900m / -1100m
Hotel (example): Hôtel du Clocher**
After breakfast you will check-out for departure.
Price includes
- 7 nights accommodation in dormitories at mountain lodges (can be upgraded to double rooms)
- Luggage transportation between accommodations
- Transfer the morning of day 2
- Breakfast and dinner (except in Chamonix, Argentière & Courmayeur B&B)
- Maps and detailed walking descriptions, and other relevant information
- 24-hour service hotline during the entire tour
- This is a packaged holiday and is therefore covered by The Travel Guarantee Fund - See which benefits this means for you - click here
- Transportation to the destination
- Bustransfers (These are easily done on local buses for a few euros - remember that in Switzerland they use Swiss Francs)
- Cableways (tickets purchased directly at the cableway, if you wish to have this experience - It is also possible to walk without the use of cableways)
- Cancellation and travel insurance.
- Transfer from La Nova to Seloge (day 3)
Practical info
Notice: for safety reasons we do not sell this tour for solotravelers. You need at least two people to confirm at booking.
The price is based upon two people sharing.
Check the price quickly
You can quickly check the price of your desired trip without having to fill in anything. Here's how:
- Choose your desired start date
- Click on the green button "See price and reserve your holiday" and go to the booking form
- Select number of people, add any optional extras and see the price at the bottom of the page (you don't have to fill in anything on the form).
Get a quote
For example, if you want a flight included or changes to the trip, you can order a quote for this using the "Get a quote" button. Remember to describe in detail what, if anything, you want changed.
The process of your booking
When you book, we will start booking hotels and arranging all the practical details of the trip. On this particular tour this process can take 2-3 weeks, but some bookings may take longer. If you are arranging your own transport, we recommend that you wait until we have confirmed your booking before arranging this.
Dates
If you can select the date in the tour calendar at the top of this page, this is a possible start date. We continually update the tours with sold-out dates, after which those dates will turn red and cannot be selected.
Important: Please note that transportation to and from Les Contamines in France is not included in the package, and that you have to make sure to book your own flight that matches the holiday start- and end date. This is easily done online or by contacting us for an offer.
There are direct flights to Geneva from most of the European airports.
Important: We recommend that you book the trip with us before you buy your plane tickets.
From Geneva Airport to Les Contamines
To determine, how to get from an airport to your first hotel in Les Contamines, visit Rome2Rio. The link takes you to a search from Geneva Airport (Station) to Les Contamines-Montjoie, but you can choose whichever airport or station as the starting location.
The easiest way to get from Geneva airport to Les Contamines is by a direct transfer, which can be arranged by fx www.resortrides.com. You can request a quick non-binding price offer directly on their website.
From Geneva airport there are also trains to St. Gervais les Bains - Le Fayet and Chamonix (www.sbb.ch).
It is also possible to take a bus from Geneva Airport to Les Contamines, changing in St. Gervais les Bains - Le Fayet (www.sat-montblanc.com)
From Chamonix to Geneva Airport
From Chamonix to Geneva Airport there are several suttles a day with www.easybus.com or www.chamexpress.com. The tickets can be purchased online.
Local Transportation
The easiest way from Chamonix back to Les Contamines is by train or bus via St. Gervais Les Bains - Le Fayet.
(A taxi for this drive costs about 80€)
Drive on your own
Depending on your departure location, it can also be a solution to drive to Les Contamines, where there is free parking (not guarded parking).
What is the absolute easiest option?
You can let us arrange your transportation with a private transfer. You'll be met at Geneva airport and driven directly to the first hotel in Les Contamines. The same applies for the way back, where you'll be picked up at your hotel and driven to Geneva airport, arriving at least two hours before your flight.
You can order the transfer, either one way or both ways, when you book the holiday.
See the prices below.
Geneva Airport to Les Contamines
1-4 people: 200€ in total for the car
Chamonix to Geneva Airport
1-4 people: 200€ in total for the car
Breakfast and dinner are included in the price, and served at the lodges (except Chamonix and Courmayeur B&B). There is fresh water at the lodges, and it is possible to purchase soft drinks, etc.
The first overnight stay in Les Contamines as well as the last one in Chamonix are spent in double rooms at 2-3-star hotels. All nights on the trek are spent at dormitories in small charming mountain lodges.
Breakfast and dinner are included throughout the entire holiday (except in Chamonix and Courmayeur if you're in a double room, and therefore only served breakfast).
Most lodges provide the possibility to purchase a lunch box to bring along (ask about these options when you check in). You can also stock up at the small village shops before you set off on the day's trek. The possibilities for purchasing anything during the day will be scarce as the stores will be far away.
Upgrade
It is possible to upgrade the accommodation, to stay in double rooms at 2-3 star hotels, guest houses and Mountain lodges. This option includes half board on all days except Day 3 in Courmayeur and Day 7 in Chamonix B&B, where only breakfast is included. However, both of these cities offer plenty of nice restaurants to dine at. Note: Even if you stay at a double room, it is not guaranteed that you'll have access to a private bathroom, but we aim to include it wherever possible.
Extra nights
It is possible to book an extra night before or after the trip.
The hike around the Mont Blanc is a grade 3-4. The daily treks are 6-8 hours, on tracks that leads you through ascents and descents of about 1000m/3,280ft of altitude a day. The trip requires good physical condition and we strongly recommend that you bring one or two telescopic hiking poles, for the steeper or possible icy parts. Read more about our grading system here.
Here you can get an overview of the entire route and the elevation profile for each day. The data shows the data from the GPX-files related to the tour. Notice that the routes are sometimes updated, which means that there might be small variations.
Colors
Blue routes: The route as normal
Red routes: Variations/options (such as shortened or extended routes)
We highly recommend that you are covered by a good travel insurance covering at least Medical Expenses, Illness, Personal Accident, Baggage and Repatriation. The customer is responsible to take the necessary travel insurance that covers these costs. Mountain Adventures, or our local partners, do not have any responsibility for our customers not being covered by a necessary travel insurance. You have to arrange your insurance in your home country.
It can be hard to plan your trip according to the weather, but to give an idea of the local climate, see data below:
Statistics for Chamonix as seen on World Weather Online:
We are members of the Travel Guarantee Fund (nr. 2529) and have all available insurances. Read more about that here.
Call our experts on weekdays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Phone: +44 20 3936 1208
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Phone: +44 20 3936 1208
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