Trips

From our hotel in Chamonix we walk to Les Praz and take the cable car to La Flégère (1,860m – 6100). The trail today is named the ‘Grand Balcon’ and is on the opposite side of the valley from Mont Blanc, affording excellent views of the whole massif lying to our south. Initially we contour and then climb to reach the high point of the day, Lac Blanc (2352m – 7715ft). The trail descends and then contours high above the valley before dropping steeply to the hamlet of Les Frasserands and Montroc (1,371m – 4500ft). In the afternoon there is a very short section of ladders/steep steps with handrails to descend. We return to our hotel in Chamonix in the afternoon.

8.00 hours walking. 500m – 1640ft up, 980m – 3220ft down

We leave the Col de la Forclaz, where we can look directly down into the Rhône valley and the Swiss town of Martigny and follow an historic path used to take the cows to high pasture, the ‘Bovine route’ (2049m – 6720ft). Our trail takes us through meadows and high alpine pastures before we descend to the charming town of Champex (1486m – 4880ft) set beside a picturesque alpine lake.

7.5 hours walking, 680m – 2230ft up, 720m – 2360ft down

Still following the same valley and the river ‘La Drance’, we climb to the ‘Grand Col Ferret’ (2537m – 8320ft), the highest pass of the tour. Now in Italy, the valley is also called ‘Val Ferret’. The mountain views from the Col are stunning with the Grandes Jorasses dominating the scene. We walk down the valley to Arp Nouva (1770m – 5800ft) then travel by bus to our hotel in La Palud near Courmayeur. (BLD)

7 hours walking, 970m – 3180ft up, 800m – 2600ft down

We start with a short bus ride to pick up the TMB and from the road (1675m – 5500ft ) climb up to the Bonatti refuge (2025m – 6640ft). Today we follow a beautiful contouring path around Mont de la Saxe to Courmayeur. The views of the south Mont Blanc massif are exceptional as are those of the towering, peaks of the ‘Grandes Jorasses’ and the glaciers which crowd the northern flank of the Val Ferret. In the afternoon we have a long, steep descent to Courmayeur (1230m – 4030m) (superb ice creams!) from where we take a short bus ride into the spectacular Val Veny (1530m – 5020ft).

8 hours walking. 500m – 1640ft up, 900m 4400ft down

We have now reached the southwest corner of the circuit and turn north to climb once again. Today is a longer day; first we make a steep climb to the Col de la Croix du Bonhomme (2478m – 8130ft) and then contour around to the Col du Bonhomme (2328m – 7640ft). We then descend (again on a Roman road) to our campsite in Les Contamines (1180m – 5900ft). A short bus ride down the valley takes us to the pretty village of St Gervais, the perfect place for a day off.

8.5 hours walking time including breaks and lunch etc. 930m – 3050ft up, 1340m – 4400ft down

Today is a challenging day with plenty of ups and downs. From St Gervais we have a 10 min transfer to re-join our route before ascending to the Chalets de Miage (1560m – 5120ft). From here we take a trail that climbs steeply to the Col de Tricot (2119m – 6950ft) before descending very close to the snout of the Glacier de Bionnassay. Good views of the north side of the Mont Blanc Massif. Eventually we make another ascent to reach the Col de Voza (1652m – 5418ft) where we re-enter the Chamonix Valley and make our final descent to the village of Les Houches (993m – 3225ft).

8.5 hours walking time including breaks and lunch etc. 1200m – 3980ft up, 1370m – 4500ft down

Free day in and around Chamonix. There are several good walks in the Chamonix valley. Chamonix itself is also a great place to spend a day. The most popular excursions, weather depending, would be the spectacular ascent by cable car to the Aiguille du Midi or the Montenvers cog railway.