CLASSIC TOUR DU MONT BLANC IN COMPANY (HUTS) EUROPE’S CLASSIC LONG DISTANCE TREK CLASSIC TOUR DU MONT BLANC IN COMPANY (HUTS) SUMMARY This is a one off "In Company" departure of our Classic Tour du Mont Blanc trek. Walk Europe's most famous trek with a small friendly group and experienced group leader. This version of the Tour du Mont Blanc starts and finishes in Les Houches and covers all but two short sections of the circuit. Based in spectacular mountain huts on a half board basis apart from the first and last night in hotels on a B&B basis. Connoisseurs will enjoy this version of the Tour du Mont Blanc as you taste, see and smell all her different sides and have the opportunity to choose several interesting variants. The character of the massif and surrounding valleys change dramatically as you walk through France, Italy and Switzerland on your Tour du Mont Blanc and enjoying the delicacies of each country is one of the highlights of the tour. We will stay in mountain huts, refuges and gîtes during the walk, which gives the proper TMB experience. (The first and last nights are in hotels.) Tour: Classic Tour du Mont Blanc in Com- The Classic Tour du Mont Blanc covers the whole route apart from two sections of the TMB in Val Ferret. pany (Huts) Our TMB starts with a steep climb from Les Houches which immediately immerses you in the glaciers and Code: WFGTMB rugged spires of Mont Blanc. We then follow the trail over Col de la Croix du Bonhomme and Col de la Type: In Company Walking Holiday Seigne where we pass into Italy. The Col Chécrouit is the next highlight of the tour as continue through Price: £695 per person Italy. Single Supplement: See Website Dates: 25 Aug - 4 Sep 2012 From Courmayeur we catch the bus to Arnuva in the heart of the beautiful Val Ferret. The climb over Walking Days: 9 Days Grand Col Ferret delivers you into Switzerland and a short bus transfer brings us to Champex. The next Nights: 10 nights Start: Les Houches day’s walk to Trient via Alp Bovine gives sensational views of the Rhone Valley or you can choose the Finish: Chamonix challenging variant via Fenetre d’ Arpette, a highlight of the Tour du Mont Blanc for many. We then head Grade: Moderate to Strenuous into the Aiguilles Rouges Nature Reserve to Lac Blanc, which perfectly frames Mont Blanc and is the perfect last night high in the mountains. The trail delivers a final flourish as it climbs to Le Brévent before descending back to Les Houches. Is this trip for me? The Classic Tour du Mont Blanc includes The Classic Tour du Mont Blanc in company is ideal if you want to complete the majority of the Tour de most of the sections of the Tour du Mont Mont Blanc with a friendly group of likeminded people and an experienced leader. Accommodation is in Blanc over nine days of walking. It really is a comfortable three star hotels on the first and last nights and in mountain hut/refuge/gîte dormitories for the superlative trek. You will need to be fit and as you are mainly staying at mountain huts in eight nights on the trail. Breakfast is included every morning as are 8 evening meals on the trail. This way dormitories it may not be for everyone. It we can stay high in the mountains each night and experience the best of the Mont Blanc Massif. Baggage helps if you are a sociable type as we cer- transfer is available as an option. Detailed information packs, maps and emergency support are all tainly are. included. WHAT’S INCLUDED? HIGHLIGHTS 2 Nights in three star hotels on a twin/double share basis 8 Nights in mountain huts/refuges/gîtes in dormito- ries Taking on Europe's classic long distance trek 9 Days walking Superb mountain views at every turn of the trail 10 Breakfasts 8 Dinners during the walk (Day 1 & 10 not included) Three countries on one trek; France, Italy & Switzerland Services of an experienced group leader Delicious meals featuring the local specialities of each country Detailed maps, information pack, route notes and Spectacularly located mountain refuges such as Refuge Lac Blanc guidebook Organisational assistance and backup from our Small friendly group and experienced leader add to the fun local representative and our office. CLASSIC TOUR DU MONT BLANC IN COMPANY (HUTS) EUROPE’S CLASSIC LONG DISTANCE TREK ITINERARY Bonhomme. village of Courmayeur (Optional cable car). Enjoy a cappuccino in the stylish capital of the Italian A high mountain path then leads to the Vallée This version of the Tour du Mont Blanc starts and Alps before catching a bus or taxi (transfer not des Glaciers via the Col des Fours. The climb finishes in Les Houches and covers all but two included) to Arnuva, in the heart of the beautiful from Col de la Croix to the Col des Fours short sections of the circuit. Val Ferret, in the Grandes Jorasses. (2716m) rewards with probably the finest view of DAY 1: ARRIVE LES HOUCHES Mont Blanc you will enjoy on the circuit. From the Back on your own two feet you ascend Grand col you descend steeply on scree and through Col Ferret (2,537 m), you are in Switzerland! The sleepy village of Les Houches is easily alpine meadows to the Vallée des Glaciers and Descent to Ferret (1740 m) where you catch the accessible by either train or shuttle from Geneva then continue on to the Refuge des Mottets. local bus to the lakeside village of Champex. Airport in just over an hour. There is also the option of following the standard Walk: Hours: 6h30 Ascent: 800 m Descent: 1550 Overnight: Hotel in Les Houches route to Les Chapieux and then taking the local m DAY 2: LES HOUCHES TO CHALETS DE shuttle to skip the road section to Ville Les Overnight: Gîte in Champex MIAGE Glaciers Our Tour du Mont Blanc starts with a steep Walk: 6-7 Hours, Ascent: 1050 m Descent: 950m DAY 7: CHAMPEX TO TRIENT ascent from Les Houches to the Col de Voza, The official route goes via Alp Bovine, a splendid Overnight: Refuge des Mottets (http:// which can be avoided by taking the Tramway du walk through pine and larch forests interspersed www.lesmottets.com/) idyllically situated the Mont Blanc. From the col there are two options, with alpine meadows and wonderful views down converted from buildings of the refuge over 50 the tougher Col de Tricot Variant contours below the Rhône Valley. Alternatively the demanding beds and a welcome meal at the end of a great the snout of the Bionnassay glacier and the icy variant goes via the spectacular Fenêtre day. Dômes de Miage before arriving at Chalets de d’Arpette to the Trient Valley. Climbing to 2665m Miage. DAY 5: VALLÉE DES GLACIERS TO COL it’s a challenging and exposed route but worth CHÉCROUIT every step. Descending right to the valley floor in Walk: 6/7 Hours, Ascent: 1350m, Descent: 550m Trient (1280 m) you can look forward to a good The Col de la Seigne (2516m) is where you Overnight: Refuge de Miage meal. leave France for Italy and lies 750m above the DAY 3: CHALETS DE MIAGE TO refuge. Just wait until you see the view! Superb! Walk via Alp Bovine: Hours: 5 h 30 Ascent: 750 CHALET DU NANT-BORRANT The trail contours along the steep Italian side of m, Descent: 900 m. the Mont Blanc Massif. Marmotts and marigolds Walk via Fenêtre d’Arpette: Hours: 8 h00 An easier but delightful day of walking through are common on this section and the scenery will Ascent: 1200 m, Descent: 1400 m woodland and pastures high on the slopes above have you reaching for your camera every few Overnight: Refuge the valley through the Contamines Montjoie yards. Hanging glaciers pepper the slopes above Nature Reserve. you and they seem close enough to touch. The DAY 8: TRIENT TO MONTROC/ TRÉ LE Walk: 6 Hours, Ascent: 900m, Descent: 1000m trail from Col de la Seigne to Col Chécrouit really CHAMP VIA COL DE LA BALME must be one of the world’s finest walks. Overnight: Chalet Refuge du nant Borrant From Trient, you climb to reach the French Overnight: Gite Maison Vieille – 1965m - (http:// border at the Col de Balme (2191 m). From the DAY 4 : CHALET DU NANT BORRANT, www.maisonvieille.com). Traditional mountain Col the entire Mont Blanc Massif stretches COL DU BONHOMME, COL DE LA food is a forte of this gîte which enjoys a fabulous ahead; the Chamonix Valley, the summit of Mont CROIX DU BONHOMME, VALLÉE DES position. Blanc, the Aiguilles, the Mer de Glace and the GLACIERS. Argentière glaciers! You then descend to Walk: Hours: 6h30, Ascent: 1100 m. Descent: Montroc (lift optional) in the valley and a short A steady climb reveals increasingly rugged views 950 m. of the high peaks and very quickly you reach the walk brings you to the peaceful village of Tré le rugged landscapes of the Col du Bonhomme DAY 6: COL CHÉCROUI TO CHAMPEX Champ. (2329 m). A further hour on rough and rocky Your day begins with a descent to the Italian Walk: 5.5 Hrs, Ascent: 900 m, Descent: 850 m. ground brings up the Col de la Croix du CLASSIC TOUR DU MONT BLANC IN COMPANY (HUTS) EUROPE’S CLASSIC LONG DISTANCE TREK Overnight: Auberge in Tré le Champ OPTIONAL MONT BLANC SUMMIT (Tram terminus of the entire 2012 season) and EXTENSION (3 DAYS & 3 NIGHTS) by the sometimes rocky path of the air "Rognes." DAY 9 : TRÉ LE CHAMP TO LAC BLANC Mont Blanc tramway and cable car to Bellevue Experienced mountaineers may wish to extend VIA COL DES MONTETS Valley.