While we try and stick to the tried and tested itinerary below, the mountains and the weather sometimes have other ideas. We will always remain as flexible as possible, which is why we only work with experienced and knowledgable guides, to make sure we can change any plans if required.
This is a proposed itinerary and where you stay is subject to change based on how far in advance you book your trip. There is limited availability on this trek so we highly recommend booking in advance.
DAY ONE:
Arrival in Chamonix
There are no plans on the arrival day other than getting to Chamonix, France and checking in to the accommodation we’ve provided. If you do arrive early and need more equipment, Chamonix has a huge number of outdoor shops with a large choice of kit, so it’s a great place to top up your supplies. Overnight in a centrally located hotel.
DAY TWO:
Courmayeur to Rifugio Bonatti / Rifugio Elena
You will meet your guide in the morning over breakfast where they will provide a briefing as well as check kit. Once we’re all set, we head through to Courmayeur in Italy where we will walk through the old Italian town. The trek starts with a steep push up to the Bertone hut for a late morning Italian coffee. Here, if the weather is good, we can take the variant to incorporate an extra peak: it takes a bit longer but it really is a stunning day – not many people, breathtaking scenery, and avoids the crowds down bellow in the Val Ferret. We spend the night at the Rifugio Bonatti or Rifugio Elena, from where you can watch the beautiful sunset behind Mont Blanc.
12.1kms / 1,088m+ / 263m- / 4-5 hours
DAY THREE:
Rifugio Bonatti / Rifugio Elena to La Fouly
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 FOUR:
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 FIVE:
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 to end the trip at around 13:00. From here you can either transfer to Geneva for an evening flight, or continue your visit by staying on in Chamonix. Let us know and we can help with planning.
15km / 1100m up / 1300m down / 7 hours trekking