Tour du Mont Blanc Trek

Our itinerary begins with your arrival day. If you’re flying into Geneva airport, our transfer partners will meet you there and take you to our hotel in the Chamonix Valley. Our airport transfer is included between 6:30 am and 7:30 pm, please inform LHO Base Camp of your arrival and departure times. For those meeting us directly at the hotel, your LHO Team Leader will be there to greet you. Hotel check-in typically begins at 3 pm, but if you arrive early, you can store your bags and explore the area. Your Team Leader will send you a list of things to do in Chamonix closer to the time. If you need to rent or purchase additional gear, arriving early is advisable as gear shops usually close at 7 pm. We usually aim for an early start the following day before the shops open. In the evening, we’ll have a team dinner and briefing at 7:30 pm, hosted by your Team Leader and lead mountain guide. This will be your first opportunity to meet your fellow adventurers, ask questions, and get excited about the week ahead. Gear checks will be organized by your LHO Team Leader throughout the day based on your arrival times to ensure you have everything you need for the week.

Distance: 8.5 KM | Ascent: 148 M | Descent: 1299 M | Max Altitude: 2,595 M

Our first day of trekking starts with a breathtaking view. After breakfast, we’ll depart from the hotel and take public transport to the Flegere Cable car. From there, we’ll ride the cable car and chair lift to the highest accessible point, called l’index. This is where our Tour du Mont Blanc trail begins. The views are indescribable, with the Mont Blanc massif in front of us, the Aiguilles Rouges towers directly above, and the entire Chamonix valley below. We’ll trek eastward towards Lac Blanc, a trail that takes about two hours over a mix of well-worn paths and rocky terrain. Lac Blanc is a truly beautiful location, known for its turquoise waters and reflections of Mont Blanc. Weather permitting, we’ll have ample time to take pictures, and this spot usually serves as our picnic location. After leaving Lac Blanc, we’ll follow a descending trail toward the valley floor, in the direction of Argentiere, a town to the east of Chamonix. The descent is long and quite challenging but manageable. Trekking poles, especially for long descents, are highly recommended to protect our knees for the journey ahead. Our evening will be spent in Argentiere or the neighboring Le Tour, where you can look forward to hot showers and delicious food.

Distance: 13 KM | Ascent: 832 M | Descent: 1019 M | Max Altitude: 2,201 M

We’ll catch an early bus from Argentiere to Le Tour to avoid a less interesting road section and get right onto the trail for our first significant ascent of the trip. If we stayed in Le Tour the previous night, no bus transfer is needed. From Le Tour, we’ll trek up to the Col du Balme, the natural border between France and Switzerland. With Mont Blanc behind us and the Swiss Alps opening ahead, this trail’s most beautiful feature is the view of the Le Tour glacier to our right, which can feel incredibly close. The path passes through berry fields and cow pastures as it winds its way to the high point of the day. There’s a charming coffee shop at the mountain pass where we often take a break, weather permitting. We typically have our picnic lunch in an open field with fantastic views of the glacier-capped mountains. From the pass, we start our descent into Switzerland, heading for the town of Trient. The approach to the town passes through a dense alpine forest, and a notable feature is the pink church in the town’s center. Our evening will be spent in Trient.

Distance: 14 KM | Ascent: 972 M | Descent: 805 M | Max Altitude: 2,043 M

After breakfast, our trek begins with an ascent to Col de la Forclaz. Our LHO Community highly recommends the berry cakes served at the cafe at the pass, so we’ve made a stop there an essential part of the day. Once we’ve all had our fix, we’ll continue along the trail into a deep forest that leads us to the region known as Bovine. The name comes from the black cows living in the pastures on the slopes. When we reach the high point, we’ll find a clearing for lunch before descending toward Champex-Lac. The descent through the forest is somewhat similar to the previous day. The closer we get to the valley floor, the deeper the alpine forest becomes. The final section of the trail includes a gentle incline into Champex-Lac, the last Swiss village we’ll stay in before crossing into Italy.

Distance: 9.8 KM | Ascent: 770 M | Descent: 788 M | Max Altitude: 2,537 M

Our day begins with a one-hour private van transfer to La Fouley. We avoid walking this section, which largely follows the roadside and would necessitate adding an extra trekking day to the trip. The trail starts in La Fouley, where we’ll ascend open pastures with incredible views toward the Grand Col Ferret, the natural border between Switzerland and Italy. Mont Dolent, the only Mont Blanc summit split between France, Switzerland, and Italy, looms above the pass. The Swiss-Italian summit of Grand Combin is behind us, and ahead is the spectacular Val Ferret and the impressive walls characterizing the Italian side of Mont Blanc. The descent from the col is relatively steep but manageable. You’ll notice a change in language as trekkers switch from the customary French trail greeting of “bonjour” to the Italian “buongiorno.” At the base of the descent, an Italian mountain refuge offers the opportunity to savor your first Italian espresso! We won’t spend too much time here, aiming to arrive in the town of Courmayeur early enough to explore before shops close. After leaving the refuge, we’ll continue along the trail for an hour before taking a local bus to the town center. Our hotel in town provides a delightful treat after three days of walking and a chance to rest, relax, and sample the coffee and Aperol spritzes of this chic Italian resort town. Dinner will be hosted by your LHO Team Leader and guide at a local restaurant.

Distance: 14.4 KM | Ascent: 856 M | Descent: 790 M | Max Altitude: 2,516 M

This day holds a special place in our hearts and is a favorite among all our LHO Team Leaders. It offers stunning views of Mont Blanc from the Italian side and includes beautiful lakes, streams, forests, and open pastures. After breakfast, we’ll take a short bus ride to leave the town heading west. The bus ride is brief, and we’re soon on the trail, following a rushing river through a dense forest. As we gradually ascend, the tree line opens to reveal the entire valley ahead. The rivers and lakes here are fed by glacier melt from the southern slopes of Mont Blanc. We’ll pass through wetlands and cross rivers before making a more direct ascent toward Col de la Seigne. Though it may appear long, the ascent is divided into a series of steeper and flatter sections that make it pass quickly. We typically have a picnic at the pass, weather permitting, though it can be quite windy here even on sunny days. As we begin the descent, you’ll notice the language change as trekkers switch from “buongiorno” to the customary “bonjour” of the French side. We re-enter France in the Beaufort region, renowned for its cheese. The winding descent is long, but with views like these, you won’t want it to end. Upon reaching the valley floor, we’ll follow a farming road to the local bus stop and catch a ride to the small farming town of Les Chapieux, our home for the night. There’s no mobile network coverage here, so it’s a good idea to inform your loved ones that you might be out of reach for a night. However, our LHO Base Camp team receives regular updates and can assist your loved ones should they inquire about you.

Distance: 13.8 KM | Ascent: 709 M | Descent: 1297 M | Max Altitude: 2,408 M

After breakfast, we’ll join the ascending trail to Col de la Croix de Bonhomme. Our final significant ascent begins just outside the hut as we make our way to Col de la Croix du Bonhomme, the pass connecting the Beaufort and Les Contamines regions in France. This is the westernmost part of Mont Blanc. From here, we start trekking eastward, gradually making our way back to our starting point. The ascent features open fields and views of the Vanoise massif behind us. At the top of the ascent is a mountain refuge, where you can grab a coffee and enjoy your packed lunches. The trail continues along a rocky path for a few hundred meters before starting to descend. We re-enter the thick alpine forest for the lower altitude portion of the descent and cross a deep gorge with rushing water. The trail ends at the famous church Notre Dame de la Gorge. From there we will be taking a short ride back to Chamonix, where warm showers, great food, and free time for exploration await. In the evening, we’ll have a team dinner at a local restaurant or hotel, hosted by your LHO Team Leader, and the first round of drinks is on us!

Our last day together is dedicated to airport transfers and farewells. Breakfast is included. Please ensure you provide accurate departure details when filling out your team details form. Our shared transfers operate for flights departing between 9:30 AM and 11:00 PM. If your flight leaves outside these hours, we will need to organize a private transfer at an extra cost. If there are any changes to your travel plans, please inform your LHO Team Leader as early as possible so that appropriate arrangements can be made.