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Europe Trekking Programs - Tour of Mont Blanc
Summer Walking TourThe Tour of Mont Blanc is one of the classic walking itineraries
of the Alps. The tour visits Italy, Switzerland and France. On your way around
the highest summit of the Alps, you will also get closer to the people that live
in the Alps and better discover their way of life. There are many opportunities
to see wildlife and very bountiful flora. You will walk over some of the oldest
mountain passes in the Alps, some dating back to the Roman era.The classic trip lasts 8 days, but there are many different
variations that can shorter or lengthen the walk. Come discover the
"true" Alps and the people that live here with your professional
hiking leader, a native European. The start of the walk begins in the famous alpine valley of Chamonix and
works it's way counter clockwise into first Italy and then Switzerland.The Tour of Mont Blanc Route
DAY 1: COL DE VOZA - LA BALME |
The tour gets underway from the small
town of les Houches, just down the valley from Chamonix, where you will
meet your trip leader at the Bellevue cablecar.
From here, the Col de Voza 1653m, you will walk down to the pretty hamlet
of Bionnassay 1314m and then past the snout of the impressive Bionnassay
glacier. From here, the views are absolutely outstanding up towards Mont
Blanc.
We then head towards Tresse 1020m and
then up to le Lay 1170m. We then head to thw Notre Dame de la Gorge and
it's very lovely church, followed by the spectacular roman cobbled stone
path to Hotel du Nant Borrant 1460m and finally la Blame 1706m. |
Total time = 6.5 hrs up 850m down
700m
Hut telephone number : +33 (0)4 5047
0354 |
DAY 2 LA BALME - CHALETS DES MOTTETS |
Leaving from the hut, we head up the
to the Col du Bonhomme at 2329m, then onto the col des Fours 2665m. From
here, the views of the backside of Mont Blanc are outstanding! Then our
route heads down to the chalets des Tufs 1993m, and finally into the
sleepy little village of Ville les Glaciers 1789m.
We then finish the day with a walk along
the road to the Chalets des Mottets 1870m for a very authentic taste of
Savoyarde hospitility! |
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Total time = 6.5 hrs up 1050m down 900m
Hut telephone number : +33 (0)4 7907 0170 |
DAY 3 CHALETS DES MOTTETS - COURMAYEUR |
An early start is the order of the
day to head over the long pass of the col de la Seigne2516m, one of the
oldest passes of the Alps. From the top, we are on the French/Italian
border and the views are quite outstanding.
The walk down into the Val Veny is very
pretty and the sights are of rugged, eroded mountainsides. Our walk will
take us down past the refuge Elisabetta Soldini and the lac Combal 1975m
and finally the shuttle bus into Courmayeur for the evening. |
Total time = 5 hrs up 750m down 700m
Hotel telephone number : Hotel Svizzero
+39 0165 1684 2035 |
DAY 4 COURMAYEUR - REFUGE ELENA |
Starting form the center of Courmayeur, we head up
through some very lovely forests, past the refuge ??? and onto the superbe |
Total time = 8.5 hrs up 1550m down 500m
Hut telephone number : +41 (0)27 475 4534 |
DAY 5 MOIRY CABIN - GRIMENTZ |
From the cabin we head back down to the Lac de Moiry
2249m and it’s huge dam. Next we head down past Le Mayen 1784m. Here we
enter another valley – the Val d’Anniviers – and will spend the
evening in the charming village of Grimentz 1564m. |
Total time = 3.5 hrs up 0m down 1300m
Hotel telephone number : Hotel Becs de Bosson +41
(0)27 475 1979 |
DAY 6 GRIMENTZ - ZINAL |
Today will be a short day spent admiring the
magnificent scenery of the Val d’Anniviers.
We start by heading down to les Morasses 1521m and
along the valley down to the "Pont du Bois" 1455m.
From here we head into the lost village of Zinal 1675m
to stop for the night at the a small hotel which is owned by an old friend
of mine – Christian – who will certainly be more than happy to tell us
many stories from the past… |
Total time = 3 hrs up 240m down 100m
Hotel telephone number : Auberge Tom Pouce +41 (0)27
475 1224 |
DAY 7 ZINAL - GRUBEN |
From Zinal 1675m, we head up to the la Perranja
2085m, Tsahelet 2523m and finally over the Col de la Forcletta 2874m. The
views are outstanding from this lovely pass. This is now the German
speaking part of Switzerland – the Turtmantel valley. Down the other
side Chatte Berg 2488m and then to Bossigu – Hungorli 2041m and then
little village of Gruben 1822m for the night. |
Total time = 6.5 hrs up 1200m down 1000m
Hotel telephone number : Hotel Walderuh +41 (0)27
932 1327 |
DAY 8 GRUBEN – ST. NICKLAUS |
Today we start by heading off to Mittlstatel 2369m
and up the Augstbordpass 2894m, then down to Jungu 1955m and finally our
destination of St. Nicklaus 1127m which is located in the Mattertal
valley, the valley of Zermatt. |
Total time = 7 hrs up 1000m down 1600m |
Some numbers & facts:Total elevation gain = 6630m (TMB 1997 = 7200m)Highest point = 2987m Col du Prafleuri (Day 2)Toughest day = Day 4 (1550m – 8.5 hrs)One transfer day from Zinal to La Forclaz by shuttle bus (Day
4).Is this for you?
The day to day walking/hiking is fairly strenuous and it is important to be in
very good shape, used to walking 5-6 hours a day.Cost: $1,250
The price is per person and includes full pension in hotels and refuges and
shuttle bus transfer.Not included in the cost is any alcoholic beverages or
transportation to and from Chamonix.General Information The best time of the year for the Haute Route
is mid - June through the end of September. This is, of course weather and
conditions permitting. Too early in the year and some of the higher passes may
be snow covered, not permitting safe passage. I highly recommend the last week
of August through mid - September as the "optimal" weeks - there are
far fewer people and the weather is often very clement.ClothingIf one uses huts and is able to obtain precise, certain weather conditions,
it is possible to do the Haute Route with a light pack. Being light means being
able to move quickly, therefore safely – and with more pleasure. One can do
the Haute Route with a pack weighing no more than 18 lbs.The following list indicates the usual basic equipment :
- Waterproof Jacketlightweight fleece jacketpair of lightweight spring glovesski hatbaseball cap (for the sun)glacier glassessun block and lip creaminsulated bottle (1Liter)small headlampsmall 35mm camerasmall toilet kit w/ tooth brush, aspirin, personal stuff.
- medium sized pack
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