Circumnavigate Mont Blanc - The Highest Mountain in Western Europe

Limited in vacation time? Try our "express" version of our classic Tour du Mont Blanc! It's four fewer days of hiking, but the breathtaking scenery, cultural attractions, and outstanding cuisine (especially our popular gourmet picnic lunches!) remain unmatched. Accompanied by a symphony of cowbells, you'll follow alpine trails through forest and field, near glacier and ice. Experienced mountain guides bring a wonderful dimension of history, geology, and local color to every aspect of the trip. Their flawless guiding skills and intimate knowledge of the area make this a can't-be-beat adventure! And after a strenuous day of hiking and enjoying the pure mountain air, you'll unwind in the evenings with new found friends while recounting the highlights of the day.

This is one of the world's most awe-inspiring mountain landscapes, full of dramatic spires and crenellated peaks (Charles Dickens called them "innumerable rude Gothic pinnacles"). As you step through the stunning scenery of France, Italy, and Switzerland, you'll enjoy constantly changing views of the mountains, plus the delightful facets of these different countries. A bonus - three countries, three languages, three cuisines, three cultures-all on one great trip!

And if you have more time, consider our longer Tour du Mont Blanc. Between these two trips, there's surely a date to fit your summer schedule!

Activities

6 days moderate to strenuous hiking (max. elev. 8,300')

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Six-day circuit of the Mont Blanc massif - perfect for those with limited time!
  
• France, Switzerland, Italy - hike across three international borders, on challenging trails
  
• Revel in breathtaking scenery every day, relax in charming hotels and enjoy delicious regional cuisine at night
  

2011 PRICES
$3,495 (3-14 members)
Single accommodations in Chamonix only

Duration: 8 days Start Location: Geneva End Location: Geneva Best time to go: June - September

Itinerary

• Day 1 : Arrive, Transfer to Chamonix

  Meet in Geneva, Switzerland, and transfer to the alpine town of Chamonix, France.

• Day 2 : Les Houches to Les Contamines

  Hiking Chamonix, from Les Houches to Les Contamines, enjoying panoramic views of the Mont Blanc range.

• Day 3 : Notre Dame de la Gorge to Les Chapieux

  Hike up an old Roman road to the Plan des Dames, then make a long ascent across two passes. Descend along grassy pastures to Les Chapieux (5,500').

• Day 4 : Into Italy

  Cross the Col de la Seigne (8,245') and descend into Italy. Explore Courmayeur, then transfer to the Val Ferret.

• Day 5 : Into Switzerland

  Cross the Grand Col Ferret (8,300') to enter Switzerland. Descend to La Fouly (5,280'), then continue by vehicle to the mountain-ringed lake resort of Champex (4,808') with its typical Swiss-style chalets and pretty gardens.

• Day 6 : Champex – Bovines

  Hike high over the Rhône Valley and the town of Martigny. An easy descent brings us to the Col de Forclaz, then transfer to the French village of Vallorcine.

• Day 7 : The Chamonix Valley

  Hike through high pastures and cross one last pass with amazing views of Mont Blanc straight ahead and the Chamonix Valley far below. After descending to the valley, transfer to Chamonix.

• Day 8 : Fly Home

  Return to Geneva and depart.

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  Hotel Les Aiglons

  Chamonix
  
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  Hotel La Chemenaz

  Les Contamines-Montjoie, France
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  Auberge de la Nova

  
  
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  Hotel Astoria

  
  
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  Hotel Glacier and Sporting

  Today, Isabelle and Yves Biselx continue the family hotel tradition and look forward with pleasure to receiving you! The fifth generation with their three sons, Adrien, Térence et Timothée, seems well prepared to assure the future.

  The Hotel du Glacier and the family Biselx a happy couple for over 100 years. Therefore, don't miss to visit us, we'll tell you a lovely story …

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  Hotel du Col de La Forclaz

  
  

Properties shown are representative of the accommodations we use on this trip, may not be inclusive of all accommodations we use, and are subject to change.

Expert leadership is the key to an exciting, unforgettable experience. Our trips feature gifted leaders for whom leading trips is a true vocation. Besides showing you wonders you’d never find on your own, they make sure everything runs smoothly and safely without a hitch. They are knowledgeable about all aspects of your trip, and take great pleasure in sharing their insights with you. More than just guides, they positively elevate your experience by being teachers, companions, and the best of friends. You’ll be in good hands with them every step of the way.

• Florence Simond

  A native of Chamonix, Florence is a descendant from two of the area’s oldest families. After growing up in the Chamonix Valley, “Flo” spent several years in the south of France, and then traveled abroad to South America and Asia. She returned to her ancestral home, where the mountains now form an integral part of her life. She has led nearly 50 trips to the Alps, not counting how many times she has done this trip for her own fun! In addition to being an accomplished hiking guide, Flo is a skier and climber. As a member of the Compagnie des Guides, she follows in the footsteps of her forefathers.

• Jean-Marc Vaillant

  As a member of the Compagnie des Guides, Jean Marc began guiding for MTS several years ago. He is what the French call polyvalent (“able to do many things”). His talents range from being a licensed pyrotechnic specialist, snowboard manufacturer, journalist, musical group crew, and theater worker. If this weren’t enough, in addition to his passion for hiking, he also teaches children the skills of mountain biking, skiing, and snowshoeing. Jean-Marc has led over 60 trips to the Alps and proudly carried the Olympic torch to the 2008 Ticino winter games.

• Laurent Langoisseur

  Laurent Langoisseur hails from Normandy, France, having grown up in Argentan (a small village that became famous in August 1944, “tournai sur dives”). At the age of 12, Laurent read La Grande Crevasse by Roger Frison-Roche, and became fascinated by the guiding and climbing descriptions of the Chamonix-Mont Blanc area. At 16, Laurent visited the area and was hooked. At 19, Laurent joined the French alpine troops, and after a year of service, moved to Chamonix. In 1991, he obtained his European Mountain Leader (certification), and in 1995 he was awarded the coveted patch of the Compagnie des Guides. An avid sports enthusiast and inexhaustible hiker, Laurent has hiked the Tour du Mont Blanc more close to 100 times. He is also an accomplished mountaineer, having summated Mont Blanc 3 times, as well as several other mountains over 13,000’. When he is not hiking and climbing, Laurent can be found running long distances for fun. Laurent recently completed a 48-mile race in 6 hours; and has also finished 48 miles in 9 hours with 10,000’ of ascent/descent. Laurent has been guiding for MTS since 1995, and is a Senior guide on our Tour du Mont Blanc, Mont Blanc Express, Mont Blanc to Matterhorn (Haute Route), GR5, Gran Paradiso, and French Riviera trips, as well as any other trip we can get him on! His knowledge of the culture, history, plants, birds, and the name of every single peak and glacier along the trail is a wonderful complement to his guiding skills. When he isn’t guiding for us, he teaches First Aid and Mountain Rescue to mountain and hiking guides; and during the winter, he’s a ski patrol monitor in the mountains above Chamonix.

• Stéphane Berger

  Stéphane is a true man of the mountains, with a Savoyard father and Swiss mother. He grew up in Chamonix, then left the valley to follow his first love, architecture. But the call of the wild proved too strong: numerous travels in North Africa, Siberia, and the Himalaya opened a new door to him—the profession of hiking guide. Nowadays Stéphane lives in a chalet in Chamonix from where he escapes frequently to travel the mountain areas of the world. “Steph” has now been a member of the Compagnie des Guides for many years, with over 100 trips to the Alps under his belt.

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