France Active Journeys Switzerland Italy SelfSelf----GuidedGuided Hiking tour
Tour descriptions and distances Day 1 Arrive Chamonix 13 or Day 2 To Les Houches 17 km
Day 3 13 or To Contamines 18 km
Day 4 16 km To Ville des Glaciers
Day 5 / 6 27 km Tour de Mont Blanc Courmayeur and Rest Day
Day 7 14 km To Bona Three Countries all in One Hike!
Day 8 20 km This spectacular trip crosses three interna onal borders and circles 15,770-foot Mont To La Fouly Blanc. But even armed with a handful of languages, you'll struggle for words to describe the Day 9 15 km ridiculously beau ful vistas gracing this 105-mile, seven- to 12-day journey. It dips into To Champex France, Italy, and Switzerland, with steep, snow-frosted mountains towering 10,000 feet Day 10 18 km over the valleys all the while. From ancient cobblestones to dirt trails, the route tops seven To Trient alpine passes.This amazing circuit straddle three countries; France, Italy, and Switzerland. Day 11 15 km Cross over mountain passes that allow the avid hiker to enjoy the magnificent scenery on To Argen ere this long loop.
Day 12 14 km To Chamonix Mont Blanc itself, the highest peak in the Alps, needs no introduc on to hikers. Our circuit begins and ends in France, star ng in Chamonix. Day 13 End of Tour We use hotels and for two nights, mountain huts. You pass through and stay in tradi onal alpine villages in three countries in twelve days. This hike is reasonably demanding and Tour Details 2015 suitable for the reasonably fit experienced hiker. Dates : Daily mid-June 15 to
mid-September Length: 13 days / 12 nights Fast Facts Cost: $3695 per person • Hiking through the Alps on a well- • Each town connected by bus or train Single Supplement: $695 marked trail—through 3 countries • Take a short cut if you need to by cable Grade: Intermediate / Challenging • Breakfasts and 8 dinners included car or other local transportation Starts: Chamonix • Self-Guided hikes daily • Not suitable for beginners, elevation Ends: Chamonix • Lovely accommodations each night climb and descent each day about 1000 • All breakfasts and 8 dinners included meters or 3000 feet
Active Journeys Contact: 11----800800800----597597597----55945594 or 416416----236236236----50115011 Email: [email protected]
ITINERARY Day 1 Chamonix Arrival in Chamonix, B&B hotel accommoda on
Day 2 Chamonix to Les Houches: You will start your Tour du Mont Blanc trek from Chamo- nix with the op on to take the telepherique to Plan Praz and then walk via Col du Brevent and Bel Lachat to Les Houches. BD • Distance: 13 kms Height gain: +600 Descent: -1200 • Distance: 17 kms Height gain: +1500 Descent: - 1200 / without cable car
Day 3 Les Houches to Les Contamines From Les Houches you have the op on to take the telepherique to the Bellevue 1802m and trek to Les Con- tamines via the Col du Tricot and the Chalets des Mi- age. BD • Distance: 13 kms Height gain: +800 Descent: -1300 / • Distance: 18 kms Height gain: +1500 Descent: - 1300 / without
Day 4 Les Contamines to Refuge Mo ets From Les Contamines we make our ascent to the Col du Bonhomme and the Col de la Croix du Bonhomme, Col des Fours. Descending steeply to Ville des Glaciers and our rest stop for the night atRefuge Ville des Glaciers. BD • Distance: 16 kms Height gain: +1500 Descent: -900 • No luggage transfer today
Day 5 Ville des Glaciers to Courmayeur Leaving town, we climb steeply at mes to the Col du Seigne passing over the French/Italian border. We de- scend through the Val Veny and make our final ascent via the Vielle d'Arp and on to Courmayeur. As this is a tough day there is an op on to get the bus from the Val Veny to Courmayeur reducing the distance height gain and de- scent. BB • Distance: 27 kms Height gain: +1100 Descent: -1700
Day 6 Free day in Courmayeur A day of rest & relaxa on in prepara on for the second half of the tour. Visit the spa, take the li up to Hel- bronner 3462m & see the Italian side of the Valley Blanche or perhaps just relax & enjoy this beau ful Italian alpine town.
Day 7 Courmayeur to Refuge Bona From Courmayeur you climb up passing the refuge Berto- ni where you traverse high above the Val Ferret before reaching your HB accommoda on at the Refuge Bona . • Distance: 14 kms Height gain: +1050 Descent: -0 • No luggage transfer today
ITINERARY con nued
Day 8 Refugio Bona to La Fouly You make your way past the Refugio Elena and on to the Col du Ferret on the Italian/Swiss border and descend to La Fou- ly and your accommoda on for the night. BD • Distance: 20 km Height gain: +900 Descent: -1400
Day 9 La Fouly to Chapex-Lac Walking in the Val Ferret you pass through the Swiss villages of Praz de Fort and Issert before making your ascent to Champex-Lac and your res ng place for the evening. BB • Distance: 15 km Height gain: +420 Descent: -570
Day 10 Clampex-Lac to Trient You climb up steadily to the Alpage Bovine and on to the Col du Forclaz with a final descent to Trient. BD • Distance: 18 km Height gain: +750 Descent: -950
Day 11 Trient to Argen erre Through alpine woodland to the Alpage of Tseppes, Catogne and on to the Col du Balme 2191m and the Swiss/French boarder. Decending to the village of Argen erre and your hotel accommoda on. BD • Distance: 15 km Height gain: +900 Descent: -900
Day 12 Argen erre to Chamonix Today takes you back into the Aiguille Rouges to Lac de Chesery & on to Lac Blanc. We decend to Chamonix via Fleg- ere and your B&B accommoda on for the end of the tour. BB • Distance: 14 km Height gain: +1200 Descent: -1350
7 Day op on available with route choices (2) on some days: Day 1: Arrival in Chamonix / Les Houches Day 2: Les Houches to Contamines 13/15 km Day 3: Contamines to Ville des Glaciers 16 km Day 4: Ville des Glaciers to Courmayeur 24/30 km Day 5: Courmayeur to Champex-Lac 14 km Day 6: Champex-Lac to Trient: 15/18 km Day7: Trient to Argen erre /Chamonix: 13/15 km Day 8: Departure Chamonix
Includes: all accommoda ons with one night in a refuge, all break- fasts and 4 dinners. Luggage transfers, route notes and local sup- port also included.
Cost: $2650 per person What to Expect Getting There What will the weather be like? The day me temperature will be warm and sunny. In June and July, you can ex- There are numerous flights going pect high 70’s, maybe even 80’s (high 20’s C), and cooler evenings. Sunscreen is a directly to Geneva and /or Paris. must during the day, as is a sweater for the cooler nights. Normally it does not From there you can take a local train rain, but we recommend rain gear, just in case. to Chamonix. We also depart from How many hours of hiking a day? Chamonix, which also has a centrally- Be prepared to hike between 5 to 6 hours daily, rarely on flat terrain. The country- side is all hills. You are either going up or down almost all the me; you are as- located train sta on. You can ar- cending and descending about 1000 meters a day. range bus transporta on directly to
How fit do I need to be? the airport as well locally. The fi er the be er, and past hiking experience is recommended and required. It may be less expensive to fly to You have the op on of taking a day off and not hiking, or only doing half the route Paris and take the train directly from if you want. There are many short cuts available throughout the journey, such as the airport. You can buy a rail pass using buses, trains, trams, cable cars and chairli s. which would include both countries What are the hotels like? for 3 full days at a reasonable cost. We use good hotels and lodges with twin-bedded rooms, all with private facili es. There are only two nights in a refuge en route that is below this standard (but the best available in the area for miles). It is primarily dormitory, but has some double rooms now.
What are the meals like? There is a full buffet breakfast and a 2 or 3 course meal for dinner. You will have a choice of two or three entrees, and should et us know if you have any dietary re- quirements in advance.
How to book your holiday
• Contact our office to make sure there is space available. One of our travel planners will walk you through the en re booking process.
• Download the reserva on form from our website and send in the completed form by fax or email. Once this is done, your space is confirmed and a pre-departure packet will be sent immediately.
• A deposit is required immediately, and final payment is due 60 days prior to departure. Terms & condi ons are outlined on the back of our Reserva on Form.
• Plan your air travel as soon as possible.
• We encourage you to purchase travel insurance, either Extra services through us or directly from a travel insurance provider.
Extra night in Chamonix or Courmayeur $150 per • Ensure that you are in proper health for the trip. Contact us for person twin, or $195 for single room. Can be more informa on on vaccina ons, inocula ons, and fitness upgraded as well. requirements.