Choose challenging hikes or leisurely activities each day, it's Mont Blanc for everyone!

Finally, the Tour du Mont Blanc for couples and friends with differing ideas of how to have fun! After years of observing hundreds of couples and friends traveling together on our classic Tour du Mont Blanc hiking adventure, we've designed a trip that allows you to travel together, dine together, and wake up each morning together—with the flexibility of two distinct daytime options for strenuous hiking or leisurely touring. Each day, you'll decide between the challenging hikes of the famous Tour du Mont Blanc, or enjoy a day of fully-guided easy to moderate activities including light hiking, touring, shopping, spa visits, museum visits, and more! At the end of the day, return to the same hotel as the rest of your group for lively conversations over dinner and in the delight of experiencing three countries—France, Italy and Switzerland—together, but with your choice of activities during the day.

Activities

10 days of strenuous hiking, easy-to-moderate hiking, touring, glacier walks, spa visits, shopping (all activities are optional)

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• It's your choice: Hike the challenging trails Tour du Mont Blanc or be a tourist!
• Breathtaking scenery, charming hotels, and delicious regional cuisine at night
• Experience France, Switzerland, Italy, no matter which option you choose
• Easier options include exploring villages; visit to Aguille du Midi, the Beaufort cheese factory, painting exhibits, Pré St Didier spa and more!
• Hikers enjoy a 10-day circuit of the Mont Blanc massif, across three international borders on challenging trails
• MTS is the only company to offer this dual-activity adventure!

Duration: 12 days Start Location: Geneva End Location: Geneva

BRIEF Itinerary

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  Day 1 : Arrive in Geneva, transfer to Chamonix

  Arrive in Geneva, Switzerland, and transfer to Chamonix, France. There will be an orientation and welcome dinner in the evening.

• Day 2 : Chamonix

  Visit Montenvers and the glacier above Chamonix. The touring group will also explore the ice cave.

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  Day 3 : Chamonix to Les Houches

  Enjoy fabulous views of the north face and glaciers of Mont Blanc while hiking to Les Houches, a traditional unspoiled French village with picturesque wooden chalets. Touring group will take a ride on the famous Aiguille du Midi cable car, then hike gently down to Les Houches.

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  Day 4 : Les Houches to Les Contamines or Baroque Trail

  Today's hikers trek from Les Houches to Les Contamines, while our walkers explore the Sentier du Baroque, or Baroque Trail.

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  Day 5 : Savoie and Beaufortain or Beauforst cheese factory

  Hike into Italy crossing three passes en route, or visit the local cheese factory.

• Day 6 : Into Italy!

  Transfer to the “Vallée des Glaciers” for a relatively easy hike over the Col de la Seigne (8,245'). We then make a descent into Italy and transfer to Courmayeur (3,800'), where we spend the night. The touring group visits the Filaterie Arpin, the hospice, and archeological sites.

• Day 7 : Courmayeur to La Vachey or Pré St. Didier

  A hike with remarkable views of Mont Blanc en route to La Vachey, or visit to Pré St. Didier hot baths and spas!

• Day 8 : Into Switzerland!

  Cross the Grand Col Ferret (8,300') into Switzerland. Descend to La Fouly (5,280'), then transfer to Les Champex; or visit Aosta—the Little Rome of the Alps.

• Day 9 : Champez to Col de la Forclaz

  Our hikers will go high above the Rhône Valley, then follow an old smuggler's path to the Col de Balme (7,188') and the border with France. Great views of the Mont Blanc massif with the Chamonix Valley stretched out below. The other group will enjoy a shorter hike, then end the day at a museum in Martigny.

• Day 10 : Col de la Forclaz to Vallorcine Valley

  Today, hikers will follow an old smuggler’s path to the border with France where there is a simply wonderful view of the Mont Blanc massif. We will make our way down to the Vallorcine Valley and stay at a historical inn. The touring group will visit Emosson Dam and the village of Finhault with a short hike around a lake.

• Day 11 : Back to Chamonix!

  From Le Col De Montets (4,800') we will hike to Les Cheserys (7,130'), enjoying views of the Le Tour and Argentiere glaciers, and all the Mont Blanc range. Descend to Chamonix. The touring group will hike a much easier trail with outstanding views of Chamonix Valley.

• Day 12 : Return to Geneva - Fly home!

  Return to Geneva and fly home.

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  Hotel Les Aiglons

  Chamonix

  Five minutes from the town centre, at the foot of the Midi summit, three star Les Aiglons Resort & Spa has undergone a full renovation.

  Resolutely contemporary whilst breaking down the barriers of traditional mountain resort hotels, three star Les Aiglons Resort & Spa has undergone an audacious redesign and decoration, with warm and modern colours, natural materials, glass and light…

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  Hotel du Bois

  Les Houches, France

  A warm, welcoming atmosphere and individual service makes the Hotel & Chalet du Bois a place that feels like home. We welcome you with a smile and offer you quality service, where the little things matter. A peaceful retreat to get away from the noise and stress of big cities.

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  Hotel La Chemenaz

  Les Contamines-Montjoie, France

  La Chemenaz chalet hotel is located in the french alps, in the Haute-Savoie at Les Contamines-Montjoie village resort (Village 1,100m - highest skiing 2487m), very close to the Lay ski lifts, which lead to the whole of the Contamines-Hauteluce ski domain.

  All the comfort, services, and the specific hotel location to spend one of the best stay at Les Contamines-Montjoie, in the heart of the Mont Blanc massif country, in wintertime or summertime as well...

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  Auberge de la Nova

  Les Chapieux, France
  
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  Hotel du Col de La Forclaz

  Trient, Switzerland
  
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  Hotel du Buet

  Vallorcine Chamonix Mont Blanc

  For 120 years in the hands of the Chamel Family, "Hotel du Buet" is renowned for its warm mountain atmosphere.
  
  Next to the Buet train station, it's the starting point for the ascent of the Buet, the Berard Valley and many ski touring and trekking trips.

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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 Berthod

  Courmayeur

  The ancient residence of the Berthod and De Morò families, Hotel Berthod is owned and run as a family establishment, and guests can expect a customized welcome. Just steps away from Courmayeur's main street, outfitted with indoor spa facilities and cozy, personalized rooms.

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Beatrice Mugnier

  Beatrice is a native of Chamonix, France, and has been guiding professionally in the Alps since 1989. She comes from a family of mountain climbers. Her Grand father was also a professional mountain guide. Aside from being an expert hiking guide, Beatrice is also an avid climber and accomplished skier, and is a ski instructor during the winter months. She loves the mountains, and will share her enthusiasm and her great experience with you during your trip.

photo credits: MTS Photo File