Le Grand Saconnex
$6.000,00
Product Code: 251472P1
Activity Type: Hiking & Camping (Outdoor Activities)
Duration: 10 days
Considered by many to be the birthplace of modern mountaineering, the Tour du Mont Blanc is one of the most popular treks in Europe– and with good reason! By foot, we traverse through France, Italy, and Switzerland, tasting some of the regional cuisines, histories, and geological features of each.
We will cover about 90 miles of the route on this 10 Day Tour, and one important thing to note is that we may take an entirely different variant of the trail on any given day depending on weather conditions and our groups overall fitness. In general, we are hiking on well-maintained mountain trails, sometimes including easy out-of-trail sections. While this trek includes some of the finest creature comforts and scenery you can imagine, you must ultimately be prepared to train for a physically demanding multi-day hike. Please contact our office if you have any questions about the physical requirements of this trip.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Geneva
Pass By: Geneva Airport Transfers, Geneva Switzerland
Arrive in Geneva airport, Switzerland. Group transfer to Chamonix. Meet with our guides for a welcome dinner and orientation at 6pm.
Dinner, overnight and breakfast in your 3-stars hotel in Chamonix.
Meals included:
• Dinner: We have our introductory dinner at our first hotel.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 2: Domes de Miage
Pass By: Mont Blanc, Switzerland
After a short transfer to the trailhead leading to the Col de Voza (5,500′) we enjoy panoramic views of the Mont Blanc range. We continue hiking down to the tumbling Bionnassay Glacier just below the pass, then detour for a scenic lunch at the Chalets de Miage (5,115′). After lunch, a short climb takes us up to Truc (5,942′), then down into the thickly wooded hillside all the way to the charming mountain town of Les Contamines (3,829′). (6 hours hiking.)
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 3: Savoie & Beaufortain
Pass By: Mont Blanc, Switzerland
After a short drive to Notre Dame de la Gorge, we hike up the old Roman road to Plan des Dames. We make it up the long ascent to Col du Bonhomme (7,641′) and Croix du Bonhomme (8,100′) mountain passes. We stop at the latter for lunch. In the afternoon, we follow the trail, downhill and across the grassy hillside to the hamlet of Les Chapieux (5,500′). Along the way we may see some chamois and lots of marmots, not mentioning the beautiful wildflower fields. (61⁄2 hours hiking.)
Dinner, overnight and breakfast in Les Chapieux or Bourg Saint Maurice
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 4: Into Italy
Pass By: Mont Blanc, Switzerland
We transfer to the end of “Vallée des Glaciers,” then hike over Col de la Seigne (8,245′) and down into Italy to Lac Combal.
Dinner in a restaurant in Courmayeur. Overnight and breakfast at Croux hotel, Courmayeur or similar.
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 5: Courmayeur
Pass By: Mont Blanc, Switzerland
A day rest to enjoy Italian culture, massage our muscles at the Pré Saint Didier Spa and indulge ourselves with traditional gelato and other Italian delicacy… yum!
Dinner on your own. Overnight and breakfast at Croux hotel or similar.
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 6: Mont de la Saxe
Pass By: Mont Blanc, Switzerland
Today is definitely one of the highlights of our journey around Mt Blanc! After a short transfer to Villair, we start on the beautiful trail up a larch forest leading to alpine grass and Bertone hut. Mont de la Saxe balcony trail looks over the Italian Val Ferret. Numerous great peaks of the Mont Blanc range rise straight up in front of our eyes. Tumbling glaciers and steep rocky faces are a marvel to the eyes! Aiguilles Noire de Peuterey (3700m/ 12200ft), Dent du Geant (4013m/13240ft), Grandes Jorasses (4200m/13530 ft), Aiguille de Leschaux (3760m/12400ft)and Mont Rouges du Triolet ( 3620m/11946ft) are peaks on the faces of which many original legendary mountaineering adventures took place.The balcony trail of Mont de la Saxe takes us right to our chalet hotel in Arnuva (1880m/5 940’)
Dinner, overnight and breakfast at Chalet Val Ferret, Arnouva.
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 7: La Fouly: Into Switzerland
Pass By: Mont Blanc, Switzerland
From Italian Val Ferret we hike up past the spectacular “Glacier de Pre-de-Bar” to reach Grand Col Ferret (8,300′) and enter Switzerland just at the pass; a scenic descent leads to the traditional Swiss village of La Fouly (5,280′), located beneath the Glacier de l’A Neuve. We transfer to Champex.
Dinner, overnight and breakfast at Splendide Hotel or similar.
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 8: Switzerland
Pass By: Mont Blanc, Switzerland
We hike up to Bovine and experience a very Swiss “cow day”… Down below the pastures the upper Rhone valley reveals its surrounded ranges, with the Wildstrubel and further in the distance the Oberland range… Dinner, overnight and breakfast at Buet Hotel – Transfer note : 20 min to the hotel.
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 9: Into France again
Pass By: Mont Blanc, Switzerland
Transfer in the morning to Trient. We return to France over Col de Balme, a.k.a “Smugglers pass”. At the top the view is purely outstanding: the Chamonix Aiguilles rise high above the eponymous valley, while Mont Blanc, crowns up the view magnificently!
Dinner, overnight and breakfast in your 3-stars hotel in Chamonix.
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 10: Depart Geneva
Pass By: Geneva Airport Transfers, Geneva Switzerland
Transfer to Geneva Airport
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.