Overview
Join Rich and Gina Solomon on this special private tour as they experience the different cuisine cultures of France, Switzerland, and Italy while exploring the towns and historic cities of these amazing countries.
The Tour du Mont Blanc passes through three different countries with three amazing cultures & cuisines – France, Italy and Switzerland – providing superb mountain views of the Mont Blanc Massif and the surrounding valleys. The trip takes you through a gorgeous wildflower-strewn Alpine backcountry by day, and charming mountain towns by evening. It traverses high Alpine passes offering a stunning scenery of lush pastures dotted with cows, wild mountain streams, rugged peaks, and impressive glaciers. The trails around Mont Blanc don’t wander much above 8,000 feet, but still access the best of Mont Blanc’s impressive and legendary scenery. Each day’s leg covers between 4 – 10 miles, and our expert mountain guides will set a comfortable pace that gives you plenty of time to relax and take pictures.
You will sleep in beautiful accommodations (three and four star hotels and mountain chalets), and will dine on delectable food and wine served in quaint restaurants. On certain days you will commence, and finish, with a private transfer from the hotel to the start/end of the walk, and also use cable cars to take you up & down the mountain. The trip will be co-led by a professional hiking guide.
Tour Dates & Pricing
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Itinerary
Day 1 - Bellevue Walk
Departing the city of Geneva we transfer to the town of Les Houches where we take a cable car up to Bellevue (5900 ft); the start pointing of our walk. After a lunch in the Refuge du Fioux we enjoy a gentle walk down the mountain along alpine pastures and through pine forests, whilst being offered spectacular view on the Mont Blanc massif, to the small alpine town of Bionnassay. From here we transfer by private bus to our comfortable accommodation in the nearby town of Saint Gervais. After we check-in at the hotel in the evening we join for a welcome dinner in the town.
Day 2 - La Miage Walk
This morning we ride from Saint Gervais to the village of Les Contamines. Leaving town we walk up the flanks of the mountain to the Refuge de Miage, an alpine mountain hut where we will have lunch. Alongside the Torrent de Mirage and passing by the impressive and wild Gorges de la Gruvaz we descend to Le Champel. From there we transfer to our accommodation in Bourg-Saint-Maurice. Once again we enjoy a wonderful dinner at one of our favorite local family restaurants in town.
Day 3 - Col de la Seigne Walk
We have a very early start to our very special day! A short transfer takes us up La Ville des Glaciers (village of the glaciers) where today's walk commences. Today's a true alpine route where we cross the Col de la Seigne, a high mountain pass (8240 ft), into Italy. We pass the Refugio La Casermetta and traverse below impressive glaciers and morenes. Reaching the hamlet of La Visaille we will be met by our private bus to take us to our hotel in Courmayeur.
Day 4 - Free Day
Enjoy your day at leisure in pleasant Courmayeur having a nice cappuccino, shopping on its main street or ride the Skyway cable car that takes you up into the high, icy world of the Mont Blanc. Tonight we will enjoy a traditional dinner at an excellent Italian restaurant.
Day 5 - Col Ferret Walk
Another day where we will reach 'great' heights enjoying the marvelous ambiance of the Mont Blanc massif. In the morning we ride from Courmayeur to Arp Nouvaz situated at an elevation of 5850 ft. The impressive Grand Jorasses is right next to us as we walk across the Col de Ferret into Switzerland. For lunch we stop at the Peule mountain hut, with magnificent views to enjoy while we relax and refuel. After lunch we'll have a pleasant downhill walk to the hamlet La Fouly and transfer onward to today's final destination in Argentiere.
Day 6 - Tête de Balme Walk
From the hotel we transfer to a mountain cablecar in Le Tour, which whisks us to our trailhead. Here commence a gentle ascent that takes us up to the Col de Balme which forms the border between Switzerland and France. We'll enjoy marvelous views of a high plateau as we walk down to the trail junction at Col de Posette. Our trail now begins a winding climb to reach the peak of Aguilla de Posette, and your reward will be some of the best views imaginable! We'll relax and drink them in as we have our trail lunch atop the mountain. Retracing our steps, we then take a cable car down the mountain to the cablecar. Our private vans will transfer us to the village of Chamonix, our home for the next 2 days.
Day 7 - Free day
Enjoy your day at leisure in the exciting alpine ambiance of Chamonix. There are lots of options to occupy your day...take the Skyway to the shoulders of Mont Blanc for some impressive glacier views, or book a paraglide trip down the valley! Maybe a more relaxing day is your speed, in that case you'll find an endless assortment of shops, bars, and restaurants in the large pedestrian center of beautiful Chamonix. Tonight we'll meet again for a group dinner at one of our favorite mountain restaurants.
Day 8 - Grand Balcon Walk
A short walk from our hotel takes us to one of Chamonix's cablecars, and we'll soon find ourselves high in the Alpine scenery. We'll have a beautiful walk along the huge plateau of Grand Balcon to reach the Refuge La Flégère. Along the way you have a good chance to spot the Alpine Ibex with their impressive curved horns. At Flegere we have our lunch after which we take the Téléphérique de La Flégère down the mountain to Les Praz de Chamonix, from where we reach Chamonix on foot to complete our Tour du Mont Blanc! Tonight we'll have an amazing farewell dinner and relive our unforgettable journey together.
Day 9 - Au Revoir
This morning we’ll have a group transfer to Geneva airport.
HOTELS
Due to availability at the time of booking, hotels listed may change to similar hotels
Saint Gervais - 3 Star Hotel Le Couer Des Neiges- This classic mountain chalet-style hotel was built in 1901 and reflects the cozy style of a small, family-run inn. Located in the heart of the charming alpine village of Saint Gervais, Le Couer Des Neiges is the perfect place to relax after your day in the mountains.
Bourg-Saint-Maurice - 3 Star Hotel Autantic Hotel- At the entrance to the Haute-Tarentaise, at the foot of the biggest summer and winter ski resorts of Savoie, a charming hotel offers you the comfort and tranquility of a three stars establishment. You will be welcomed any day of the year, in a green and relaxing environment where the nobility of the stone, the warmth of the wood, the originality of the antique and period furnishings all contribute to the creation of a savoyard ambience.
Courmayeur - 4 Star Hotel Lo Scoiattolo Your stay at the Hotel Lo Scoiattolo in Courmayeur will make your mountain holiday even more special! This 4-star hotel will be able to give you unique emotions by paying painstaking attention to detail and top-quality care for the services they offer you. The wellness center, the restaurant, the internal wine cellar and the gazebo with a patio that opens out onto the splendid backdrop of the Alps are only a few of the ways to pamper yourself in their hotel!
Argentiere - 4 Star Hotel Grands Montets Hotel Grands Montets is situated at the foot of Mont Blanc in the alpine village of Argentière. It has been nearly 18 years now since Stella and Alain, both in love with the Chamonix valley, left their natal Vercors region to embark upon a big project : the renovation of that hotel in Chamonix at the start of the Grands Montets ski slopes, turning it into luxury accomodation for the best family holidays in Chamonix! Renovations began in 2000 and soon the inside pool was built as well as a fitness and spa area, including a sauna, hammam, and massage parlor. All shared areas were renovated using old wood, stone, warm shades and antique furniture in order to recreate the cosy and homely atmosphere of an alpine chalet. Every Autumn since, Alain's masterful hands and creative imagination have gradually transformed the hotel into the luxurious yet welcoming and homely place it is today, with its comfortable lounge nestled around a big open fireplace, its cosy rooms with beautiful views, and its open areas such as the bar and outside jacuzzi facing Mont-Blanc, where you can simply relax after a long day out on the slopes or the trails.
Chamonix - 4 Star Grand Hotel des Alpes The original building was constructed in 1840, to serve the summer mountaineering tourists and climbers who were just discovering the area. At the end of the first world war the sport of skiing took hold in the Alps, and 1924 sees the launching of winter sports in the Chamonix valley, and the first Winter Olympics. This historic hotel is part of the history of Chamonix and the symbol of Savoy hospitality. It's 30 refined rooms of warm woodwork and amazing views will welcome you back after your day in the mountains. Enjoy the views of Mont Blanc from the lounge or swimming pool, or relax with a massage in the spa. Situated in the exact center of the old town, it's location is perfect for exploring the village.
What´s Included
- 2 nights at a 3 Star hotels in Saint Gervais, Bourg-Saint-Maurice
- 6 nights at 4 Star hotels in Courmayeur, Argentiere and Chamonix,
- Meals as specified: 8 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 6 dinners, 1 wine tasting
- 6 walks
- 5 cable car rides (as per itinerary)
- Transportation once the tour has begun
- All gratuities for waiters and coach drivers.
- Group departure transfer to Geneva airport
- Professional hiking guide throughout the itinerary
- Fully escorted by a Go Get Lost tour leader
- A lifetime of unforgettable memories!
What´s not Included
- Airfare package
- Gratuity for primary local tour leader
- Visa fees, if applicable
- Meals not specified in itinerary
- Trip Cancellation/Interruption and Medical Insurance (strongly recommended), call for details
- Single supplement charge
- Items of a personal nature; phone calls, laundry, etc.
