You can see more about this trip here.
Day 0:
Arrival in Chamonix
We highly recommend planning your inbound travel so that you arrive in Chamonix by early afternoon. This is especially important if you need to buy any last minute trekking equipment from any local shops. You’ll need time to collect this before the evening briefing, which is essential for a smooth start to your adventure. There is limited time the following morning to buy any items as you will be departing for the mountains straight after breakfast.
You will meet with your guide for a briefing in the evening at approximately 18:00 to go through the plan for the week as well as the current weather and mountain conditions. Here you will have a chance to go through your kit under the experienced eye of your guide and can ask any questions that you may have. There is a group dinner included which will follow the briefing and then it's time for a good night sleep!
Day 1:
Courmayeur to Val Ferret
Today starts a taxi journey to Courmayeur. From Courmayeur you will head toward the Church of Saint Pantaleon and follow the uphill road, Strada del Villair, all the way to the car park where the TMB trail begins. From here, it’s a steep climb through the forest to Rifugio Bertone -perfect for an Italian coffee with a view.
From Bertone, the main trail continues along a gently undulating balcony path toward Rifugio Bonatti. From Rifugio Bonatti, the trail climbs gently for a short distance before crossing a wooden bridge over the river. You’ll then rejoin the balcony path, continuing to traverse the mountainside with open views of the Val Ferret below.
*You’ll either stay at Rifugio Bonatti hut or Chalet Val Ferret (based on availability). Or make the easy 30 minute descent down to the valley floor to make your way to the Hotel Lavachey there, or back to Courmayeur for your accommodation.
Approximate time and distances:
17km / 1200m up / 700m down / 4-5 hours trekking
Day 2:
Val Ferret to Champex
Today we take on the Grand Col Ferret which provides beautiful views of the Grand Combin over in Switzerland and back towards some of the bigger peaks of the Mont Blanc range including the Grandes Jorasses. Once over the border and into Switzerland, we make our way down barren slopes to Ferret, and we continue to La Fouly, an alpine village with a few nice spots to stop for a late lunch and some refreshments. From here we take a short bus transfer to Champex-le-Lac, where we overnight in a cosy auberge.
17km / 1130m up / 1450m down / 6 - 7 hours trekking
Day 3:
Champex to Trient
We have two options to cross over to Trient today. One is the Fenêtre d’Arpette route, which is steeper and more challenging and can only be done in fair weather, and the second is the Bovine to the Col de la Forclaz which is less steep and cuts around the mountain with amazing views out over the Valais. Both routes offer spectacular scenery. Either way we will end up in Trient, a cute village of no more than a handful of houses, and a lovely family run Auberge to stay for the night.
14km / 1200m up / 1650m down / 7 hours trekking
Day 4:
Trient - Chamonix
And here we are already... our final day! We will leave Trient early and hike over the Col de Balme back into France. It's again a fairly steep climb that will be mostly in the shade early on, and it leads us back to the sunny side and we are greeted by the panoramic views of Mont Blanc. From here we descend to Le Tour and then on to Montroc, from where we take the train back to Chamonix. With one final night in a hotel in Chamonix and a group dinner to celebrate!
15km / 1100m up / 1300m down / 7 hours trekking
Day 5:
Departure Day
After one last hearty breakfast, we sadly bid you farewell. Check out at 10am.
