OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW
Trek the western route of Tour du Mont Blanc, hiking from Chamonix in France to the Italian mountain town of Courmayeur. This shortened version of one of the world’s classic alpine treks begins in the legendary adventurers’ town of Chamonix. From here, trek underneath the Bionnassay Glacier to the enchanting Refuge de Miage and onto the delightful town of Les Contamines in the Haute Savoie region, famous for its Reblochon cheese.
Hike to the Italian frontier via the Col de la Seigne (2515m) to be presented with dramatic, jagged peaks of the southern Mont Blanc Massif. Descend into Courmayeur where you can choose from two different walks that present incredible vistas of tumbling glaciers, snowy summits and forested valleys. In the evenings, stay in family run hotels and chalets serving traditional dishes such as beef stew with polenta, Beaufort cheese tart and of course, a large glass of red wine!
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Hike the westerly route of ‘Tour du Mont Blanc’ from Chamonix to Courmayeur
- Explore the adventure capital of the Alps, Chamonix
- Walk over the Col du Bonhomme (2329m) and enjoy far reaching views to Lac de Roseland
- Trek from France into Italy, crossing the Col de la Seigne (2515m)
- Spend the evening in traditional alpine chalets and hotels
- Trek the Val Ferret with majestic views of Mont Blanc (4808m) and Grandes Jorasses (4208m)
- Each day, choose different routes to suit your needs
- Private rooms and luggage transfers included
WALK OVERVIEW
TYPE OF WALK
SELF GUIDED
TRIP LENGTH
6 DAYS
WALK GRADE
Moderate to Challenging 
Grade 4 - Moderate to Challenging
Distances are longer up to 20km. Steep hill sections and rough surfaces. Walking experience and active lifestyle necessary.PRICE FROM
$ 1795
per person twin/double share
SINGLE OCCUPANCY
$ 395
Accommodations charge the same price per room regardless of whether there are one or two people occupying it. To cover the cost of the accommodation when occupied by one person we need to charge the single occupancy fee.
per person
ITINERARY
WHAT’S INCLUDED
-
Pack-free walking
-
25+ years experience
-
Customised
-
Eco Travel
- Walk pack free with luggage transfers from accommodation to accommodation arranged for you
- 5 nights accommodation in 3* hotels & auberges (simple hotels)
- 5 breakfasts and 2 dinners
- Maps, guidebook, GPX tracks and daily route summary
- 24/7 telephone support
- Itineraries can please flexible to account for weather conditions
- Rest days can be added if you would like to further explore the region
- Enjoy worry free navigation with Auswalk’s authored comprehensive tack notes and maps
ACCOMMODATION & DINING
OVERVIEW
During this tour you will stay in 3* hotels, mountain auberges (small simple hotels) and/or a mountain refuge (in a private en-suite room). All the accommodations are accustomed to welcoming trekkers and are very well equipped to make your stay comfortable regardless of the weather conditions. Typically, rooms are quite simple but very comfortable. As many of the overnight stays are in small villages or towns, on occasion we may have to book another similar accommodation of equal standard. We will discuss these options with you during the booking process.
Single Rooms
The alpine trekking season is very short and therefore accommodation is very busy. Single rooms may not always be possible in every overnight stay, very often single rooms are not available on night 3. We will endeavour to always try and meet your requirements. If you are travelling with family and/or friends and would like single rooms for your party, we would advise booking as soon as your plans are finalised to secure your rooming preferences.
Dining
You will be provided with 5 breakfasts and 2 dinners. If you have any food allergies or intolerances, please let us know at the time of booking so we can let your hosts know. Should you have severe food allergies, it’s always worth bringing a few of your own snacks with you, especially as ingredients and supplies can be hard to obtain in the mountains.
You will find in many of the smaller accommodations, dining is very often on communal tables with set mealtimes. This enables small kitchen teams to ensure everyone is fed on time and nobody is left hungry after a long day of trekking! Lunches can be purchased locally which is a great part of the experience. The towns and villages you pass through are renowned for their speciality breads, cheeses and meats (many of which continue to be produced by hand). If you’re lucky enough to encounter a local farmers market, the choice and range of local foods is staggering. Many of your accommodations will also make a picnic lunch for you. A staff favourite is the Beaufort cheese from La Vallee des Glaciers, which you can purchase fresh from the farm. Within your daily walk notes, there are detailed suggestions of where to buy lunch each day.
GENERAL INFO
AVAILABILITY
This walk is available from early July through to late September.
In early July it is possible the trail might remain closed due to heavy snowfall. Should this happen we would do our very best to reschedule the tour for a later date (on occasion it is possible the tour might even be cancelled, but this is rare). Up until late July, some of the higher passes may still have snow on them (with the possibility of them being closed). Should this happen, you will be provided with comprehensive information about taking an alternative route and/or local transport. In the event of any major route closures, we will contact you prior to travel and discuss the alternative walk options with you.
Towards the end of the season (early September) some transport options will have stopped operating. You should therefore be prepared to walk the full distance every day. There is always the option of using a local taxi if necessary. Within your travel notes, advice will be given for all transport options to shorten or skip the walking for that specific day.
THE WALKING
Moderate to Challenging – Tracks and trails on this tour will have prolonged ascents and descents, through sections of rough surface and steps. Having an active lifestyle and being an experienced walker makes the journey enjoyable. We would suggest an exercise regime of 3 to 4 times a week in addition to your usual weekly walks.
You will be walking around 20km a day with up to 1500m of ascent and descent. Trails are well-defined, well waymarked and cover a variety of terrains which include; forest tracks, high alpine pastures, rocky mountain paths and into mountain towns and villages. It is also possible you may have to cross some snowy patches on the ascent or descent of higher mountain passes, so good mountain footwear is required!
Although the route is well way marked for each of your walks, you will be provided with guidebook, a summary of daily walks, maps (and GPX tracks if you require to use for your own device). Mountain weather can change quickly so it is essential that at least one of your trekking party is confident in using a map and compass to navigate (should visibility drop). You should always be able to locate your whereabouts on a map.
HOW TO GET THERE
This walk starts in Chamonix and ends in Courmayeur. The closest airport to the starting town of Chamonix is Geneva Airport.
Geneva Airport (or city) to Chamonix
There are a number of regular private bus transfer services to Chamonix Valley from Geneva Airport. We’d recommend Mountain Drop Offs. We will supply you with a discount code for you to pre-book your required transfers to and from Geneva Airport with Mountain Drop Offs at the time of confirming your booking. If we can assist you with any private airport transfers required, we can easily arrange these for you.
Onward Travel From Courmayeur
If you wish to return to Chamonix for onward connections back to Geneva Airport there is a regular daily bus service from Courmayeur to Chamonix (the journey time is around 45 minutes). If you are travelling further south into Italy, a bus service connects Courmayeur to the town of Aosta where you can change for train services through to Milan and Turin.
Another useful planning tool for travel is Rome2Rio should you be travelling from, or to, other destinations.
MAP
DEPARTURE DATES
-
DATESAVAILABILITYPRICESingle OccupancyDETAILS
-
1 Jul 2020 - 30 Sep 2020AVAILABLEfrom
$1795
SINGLE OCCUPANCY$395
Overview
SELF GUIDED
6 DAYS
Moderate to Challenging
Book now
OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW
Trek the western route of Tour du Mont Blanc, hiking from Chamonix in France to the Italian mountain town of Courmayeur. This shortened version of one of the world’s classic alpine treks begins in the legendary adventurers’ town of Chamonix. From here, trek underneath the Bionnassay Glacier to the enchanting Refuge de Miage and onto the delightful town of Les Contamines in the Haute Savoie region, famous for its Reblochon cheese.
Hike to the Italian frontier via the Col de la Seigne (2515m) to be presented with dramatic, jagged peaks of the southern Mont Blanc Massif. Descend into Courmayeur where you can choose from two different walks that present incredible vistas of tumbling glaciers, snowy summits and forested valleys. In the evenings, stay in family run hotels and chalets serving traditional dishes such as beef stew with polenta, Beaufort cheese tart and of course, a large glass of red wine!
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Hike the westerly route of ‘Tour du Mont Blanc’ from Chamonix to Courmayeur
- Explore the adventure capital of the Alps, Chamonix
- Walk over the Col du Bonhomme (2329m) and enjoy far reaching views to Lac de Roseland
- Trek from France into Italy, crossing the Col de la Seigne (2515m)
- Spend the evening in traditional alpine chalets and hotels
- Trek the Val Ferret with majestic views of Mont Blanc (4808m) and Grandes Jorasses (4208m)
- Each day, choose different routes to suit your needs
- Private rooms and luggage transfers included
WALK OVERVIEW
TYPE OF WALK
SELF GUIDED
TRIP LENGTH
6 DAYS
WALK GRADE
Moderate to Challenging
Grade 4 - Moderate to Challenging
Distances are longer up to 20km. Steep hill sections and rough surfaces. Walking experience and active lifestyle necessary.PRICE FROM
$ 1795
per person twin/double share
SINGLE OCCUPANCY
$ 395
Accommodations charge the same price per room regardless of whether there are one or two people occupying it. To cover the cost of the accommodation when occupied by one person we need to charge the single occupancy fee.
per person
Itinerary
ITINERARY
What’s Included
WHAT’S INCLUDED
-
Pack-free walking
-
25+ years experience
-
Customised
-
Eco Travel
- Walk pack free with luggage transfers from accommodation to accommodation arranged for you
- 5 nights accommodation in 3* hotels & auberges (simple hotels)
- 5 breakfasts and 2 dinners
- Maps, guidebook, GPX tracks and daily route summary
- 24/7 telephone support
- Itineraries can please flexible to account for weather conditions
- Rest days can be added if you would like to further explore the region
- Enjoy worry free navigation with Auswalk’s authored comprehensive tack notes and maps
Accommodation & Dining
ACCOMMODATION & DINING
OVERVIEW
During this tour you will stay in 3* hotels, mountain auberges (small simple hotels) and/or a mountain refuge (in a private en-suite room). All the accommodations are accustomed to welcoming trekkers and are very well equipped to make your stay comfortable regardless of the weather conditions. Typically, rooms are quite simple but very comfortable. As many of the overnight stays are in small villages or towns, on occasion we may have to book another similar accommodation of equal standard. We will discuss these options with you during the booking process.
Single Rooms
The alpine trekking season is very short and therefore accommodation is very busy. Single rooms may not always be possible in every overnight stay, very often single rooms are not available on night 3. We will endeavour to always try and meet your requirements. If you are travelling with family and/or friends and would like single rooms for your party, we would advise booking as soon as your plans are finalised to secure your rooming preferences.
Dining
You will be provided with 5 breakfasts and 2 dinners. If you have any food allergies or intolerances, please let us know at the time of booking so we can let your hosts know. Should you have severe food allergies, it’s always worth bringing a few of your own snacks with you, especially as ingredients and supplies can be hard to obtain in the mountains.
You will find in many of the smaller accommodations, dining is very often on communal tables with set mealtimes. This enables small kitchen teams to ensure everyone is fed on time and nobody is left hungry after a long day of trekking! Lunches can be purchased locally which is a great part of the experience. The towns and villages you pass through are renowned for their speciality breads, cheeses and meats (many of which continue to be produced by hand). If you’re lucky enough to encounter a local farmers market, the choice and range of local foods is staggering. Many of your accommodations will also make a picnic lunch for you. A staff favourite is the Beaufort cheese from La Vallee des Glaciers, which you can purchase fresh from the farm. Within your daily walk notes, there are detailed suggestions of where to buy lunch each day.
General Info
GENERAL INFO
AVAILABILITY
This walk is available from early July through to late September.
In early July it is possible the trail might remain closed due to heavy snowfall. Should this happen we would do our very best to reschedule the tour for a later date (on occasion it is possible the tour might even be cancelled, but this is rare). Up until late July, some of the higher passes may still have snow on them (with the possibility of them being closed). Should this happen, you will be provided with comprehensive information about taking an alternative route and/or local transport. In the event of any major route closures, we will contact you prior to travel and discuss the alternative walk options with you.
Towards the end of the season (early September) some transport options will have stopped operating. You should therefore be prepared to walk the full distance every day. There is always the option of using a local taxi if necessary. Within your travel notes, advice will be given for all transport options to shorten or skip the walking for that specific day.
THE WALKING
Moderate to Challenging – Tracks and trails on this tour will have prolonged ascents and descents, through sections of rough surface and steps. Having an active lifestyle and being an experienced walker makes the journey enjoyable. We would suggest an exercise regime of 3 to 4 times a week in addition to your usual weekly walks.
You will be walking around 20km a day with up to 1500m of ascent and descent. Trails are well-defined, well waymarked and cover a variety of terrains which include; forest tracks, high alpine pastures, rocky mountain paths and into mountain towns and villages. It is also possible you may have to cross some snowy patches on the ascent or descent of higher mountain passes, so good mountain footwear is required!
Although the route is well way marked for each of your walks, you will be provided with guidebook, a summary of daily walks, maps (and GPX tracks if you require to use for your own device). Mountain weather can change quickly so it is essential that at least one of your trekking party is confident in using a map and compass to navigate (should visibility drop). You should always be able to locate your whereabouts on a map.
HOW TO GET THERE
This walk starts in Chamonix and ends in Courmayeur. The closest airport to the starting town of Chamonix is Geneva Airport.
Geneva Airport (or city) to Chamonix
There are a number of regular private bus transfer services to Chamonix Valley from Geneva Airport. We’d recommend Mountain Drop Offs. We will supply you with a discount code for you to pre-book your required transfers to and from Geneva Airport with Mountain Drop Offs at the time of confirming your booking. If we can assist you with any private airport transfers required, we can easily arrange these for you.
Onward Travel From Courmayeur
If you wish to return to Chamonix for onward connections back to Geneva Airport there is a regular daily bus service from Courmayeur to Chamonix (the journey time is around 45 minutes). If you are travelling further south into Italy, a bus service connects Courmayeur to the town of Aosta where you can change for train services through to Milan and Turin.
Another useful planning tool for travel is Rome2Rio should you be travelling from, or to, other destinations.
Map
There are no any content available.
MAP
Departure Dates
DEPARTURE DATES
-
DATESAVAILABILITYPRICESingle OccupancyDETAILS
-
1 Jul 2020 - 30 Sep 2020AVAILABLEfrom
$1795
SINGLE OCCUPANCY$395
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ENQUIRE NOW
If you’re looking for further information on any of our walking holidays please fill out the enquiry form and we’ll be in touch.