Tour du Mont Blanc

This is a long-distance trek for sporty and fit people who want to do their first multi-day hike. A typical day in the mountains can be trekking for up to 8-9 hours with a rucksack, so you need a very good level of physical fitness and endurance. We recommend a good and intensive training with any sport (endurance sport) that you enjoy (e.g. running, swimming, tennis). Training hikes will also help, ideally for a full day with a 10kg rucksack.

Yes - your full bag should be no more than 8kg (we recommend aiming for 5kg). Pack as light as possible but bring all the items on the packing list.

Included:

• Qualified mountain guides
• Airport transfers
• Accommodation in mountain huts in dormitories / shared bedrooms
• Food (Day 1: Lunch Pack, Dinner, Day 2: Breakfast, Lunch Pack, Dinner, Day 3: Breakfast, Lunch Pack, Dinner, Day 4: Breakfast, Lunch Pack)
• Any planned transport 

The course excludes:

• International flights
• Tips for guides and porters
• Any visa fees
• Personal travel and rescue insurance

Day 1:

Distance: 8km

Ascent: 550m

Descent: 50m

Max altitude: 2056m

Day 2:

Distance: 20km

Ascent: 870m

Descent: 1290m

Max altitude: 2536m 

Day 3:

Distance: 16.5km

Ascent: 810m

Descent: 1000m

Max altitude: 2050m  

Day 4:

Distance: 15.1km

Ascent: 875m

Descent: 1192m

Max altitude: 2202m  

The minimum age for this trek is 18.

You stay in mountain huts, in remote locations, on each of the nights. The huts are dormitory-style with shared bathrooms. Electricity, warm showers, snacks are available. Most accommodations do not have wifi. Bedding will be provided for you in each hut - you just need to bring a sleeping bag liner. 

Additional Items for Travel during Covid-19

The following additional items must be brought by all participants, whilst the Covid-19 pandemic is ongoing:

• Face mask for use in the huts
• Personal hand sanitizer

Documents

• Passport  

• Travel insurance details  

• Boarding passes for flights  

• Cash – Euro’s and Swiss Franc  

• Credit/Debit Card  

Sleeping

• Sleeping bag liner

 

Footwear

• Trekking boots: 3 or 4 season lightweight  

• Light weight shoes for the evenings (such as house shoes, flip flops, sandals etc.)

  

Clothing  

Please make sure that you have non-cotton fast drying clothing for trekking.  

  

• 1 x pair of synthetic under-top and bottom (Long johns or similar)  

• 2 x t-shirts for the hike   

• 1 x comfortable shirt for the evening  

• 4 x socks for hiking  

• 3 - 4 x pairs of underwear  

• 1 x fleece  

• Light down or Primaloft jacket  

• Rain and windproof jacket with hood  

• Rain and windproof trousers  

• 1 x pair of hiking trousers: We recommend a pair that zip off into shorts.  

• Comfortable trousers for the evening  

• Hat and gloves (only in June & September)

• Buff or scarf  

• Swimming shorts/Costume  

  

Other

• A daysack: 35 - 45 litres – All your kit should fit in this bag  

• Travel towel  

• Dry Liner or Dry Bag  

• Water bottle: At least 2L. Nalgene bottles best.  

• Sunglasses  

• Suncream and additional sun protection such as baseball cap or similar

• Personal medication – Inhaler, Blister pads etc  

• General Toiletries, Contact lenses, Glasses (if needed)  

• Electronics - Head torch, travel adaptor, phone & charger  

• Lipsil  

• Hand sanitizer, wet wipes   

Walking poles are available for rent. The cost is 10 euro’s and these must be requested on your registration form, at least 1 week before departure.   

This is part of the full Tour Du Mont Blanc, which otherwise takes 10 - 14 days in total. We believe these are 4 of the best days on the full route!

The trek involves a fair bit of ascent and descent on a mix of trails. This includes – rocky terrain, forest trails and sometimes gravel tracks.

Absolutely! We get lots of solo travellers - it's a great way to meet like-minded people. If you want, we can also put you in touch with some of the other trekkers in a Facebook group.

Water

During the summer it can be quite warm in the Alps so it is important to carry enough water. We strongly recommend taking between two and three litres of water. The tap water at the accommodations you will stay is usually drinkable but there are limited resources along the way to fill up your bottle. Your guide can give you advice on this for each day.

Food

Whilst trekking, you will have the chance to taste a great variety of local specialities. The breakfast is continental, often with a variety of juices, tea and coffee. The three-course dinner in the evening is hearty and the plates are quite big. During the day, a pack lunch will be freshly prepared for you. 

If you have any food allergies (vegetarian, vegan, gluten intolerance etc) please make us aware of this when completing your registration form, found on your Skyhook dashboard.

We can't advise you on this, but we recommend you check at http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/home.aspx.

During the summer in the Alps (June – September) you can experience usually fair and quite warm weather. It is often sunny and the temperatures can reach 30° Celsius. The weather in the mountains can be quite unpredictable and weather situations can change very quickly. Therefore, it is necessary to be always prepared for such a change. On a rainy-day, temperatures can drop quite low and it is necessary to have a good rain jacket and sometimes even a hat and a pair of gloves. See the kit list for full details.

Yes, the guide can either pick you up at Chamonix train station or at the airport in Geneva. Please inform your guide via your dashboard at least 30 days prior the tour.

You can store any luggage that you do not need, at the start/end point of the trek. Please note that you will not have access to this luggage whilst trekking. Luggage for storage needs to be in a closed small unit (max. 1 item per person). Open bags or loose items cannot be accepted due to logistical and safety reasons. Please do not store any food, heat sensitive products or goods of high value (e.g. electronical devices) in your excess luggage.

It is not mandatory but expected. In the Alps, there is no fixed amount and it really depends on what you would like to give to show your satisfaction.

The currency used in France and Italy is Euro’s. In Switzerland they use Swiss Franc. We recommend changing your money before you arrive as it is not possible once you've left the airport. Credit cards are in most of the places along the way not accepted.

Start:

On day 1 of your itinerary, pickup details are as follows:

11:30 at Geneva Airport (the group cannot wait for delayed flights so please fly in with enough time spare). The guide will meet you in the arrivals hall (next to the Montreux Jazz Coffee Shop).

13:00 at Chamonix Sud Main Bus Station (The pickup time here will be +- 15 minutes depending on traffic. You will be informed by SMS when the group leaves the airport).

It is important that you do not miss your start time as you will not be able to meet up with the rest of the group until the evening of Day 1 or even the morning on Day 2 on your itinerary. Please note that you'll have to cover any costs resulting of a delayed arrival.

End:

You will be dropped off in Chamonix at 5 pm, or Geneva Airport at 6:30 pm on day 4 of your itinerary. Feel free to take any flight leaving the airport at 8 pm or later.

Your transfers are included to Chamonix. However if you are travelling on a different day, you can also take a shared transfer from the Airport up to Chamonix. You can book a transfer directly with one of the companies below:

• www.chamonixfirst.com
• www.alpybus.com 
• www.easybus.com 

Yes, whether you are vegetarian, vegan or have allergies. You must inform your guide via your dashboard about your diet requirements at least 30 days prior the tour.

Yes - you must have travel insurance including search and rescue, with hiking up to 3000m. Popular providers include the British Mountaineering Council and Snowcard. 

Your host recommends the following accommodation in Chamonix:

• Hotel Le Faucigny
• Hotel Pointe Isabelle
• Hotel Oustalet

Cheaper dorm-style hotels are:

• Hotel Fleur des Neiges
• Chamonix Lodge

Yes - you can leave your car at the free car park here - https://goo.gl/maps/86zgSUK7kYx5Z5Wu7 . Please note that we are not affiliated to this car park and you do leave your car at your own risk here.