Classic Tour du Mont Blanc in Comfort

Make your own way to Les Houches, a resort located 6 km/3.8 miles from Chamonix which nestles under the Mont Blanc massif. This evening you will have a meet and greet with our local team before enjoying your evening meal. Accommodation: Stay in a very comfortable 2* chalet-style hotel facing the Mont Blanc range. All rooms are ensuite. The hotel has a shaded garden and a lounge. Food is homemade with seasonal products and regional specialties.

Today will certainly get the legs and heart working. A steady climb from Les Houches (950m) via Col de Voza (1653 m) and below the tip of the Bionassay glacier to the Col de Tricot (2120 m). There is a very steep descent from the col to the Chalets de Miage (1550m), followed by a short climb over Truc before descending further through forest to Les Contamines (1170m). Les Contamines is a ski resort in winter and has several restaurants and bars, also a well-stocked supermarket. Many walkers start by taking the cable car up from Les Houches to Bellevue, Col de Voza; this saves about 800m, approx 2 hours walking and makes for a more enjoyable start to your walking holiday. 12.9km/ 8 miles, +708m /-1335m Accommodation: A 4* hotel with ensuite rooms, a swimming pool, restaurant or a welcoming modern chalet.

Ascend to the Col du Bonhomme (2329m) and then traverse to the slightly higher Col de la Croix de Bonhomme (2479m) before descending to Les Chapieux. Les Chapieux is a tiny and remote settlement, 15 km/9 miles from the nearest village of Bourg St Maurice. There is a little shop in the hamlet where you may wish to purchase some Beaufort cheese for your lunch tomorrow. Accommodation: You'll stay at a very welcoming family-run guesthouse with a restaurant, an outdoor bar and a lovely garden. The evening meal is included accommodations and offers home-cooked, local specialities. All rooms are ensuite. Packed lunches are available. Due to limited options, you may stay in a hotel in Bourg St Maurice - this stay excludes dinner and includes a return taxi transfer from/to Les Chapieux.

Today is the toughest day in terms of distance, and perhaps the most tiring one overall, but can be shortened considerably at both ends by using buses. There are about 3 options on the route today. It is an exceptionally scenic walk with, in good conditions, fantastic views of Mont Blanc, Mont Tiondu, Aiguille des Glaciers and Aiguille Noire de Peuterey amongst many others and of course some great glaciers dripping like candle wax from the mountains. These include Glacier des Glaciers, Glacier de la Lee Blanche, and glaciers Miage, Brouillard, Freney and Brenva. Your first objective of the day is to cross the Col de la Seigne (2516m) into Italy. The Elisabetta refuge is a popular lunch stop. There is a choice of routes onwards: a high route via Lac Checrouit or a shorter route via La Visaille. There is a local bus service along the Val Veni from Cantine de la Visaille to La Saxe and Courmayeur, reducing the distance by some 10km. From La Saxe or Courmayeur you can walk or catch the bus up to La Palud (1370m). The first 7km of the day can also be avoided by taking the local bus up towards Refuge des Mottets. The middle option via Dolonne and Lac Checrouit: 29km/ 18miles, +1473 / -1832m, 9 h. The shortest option via La Visaille: 20.2km /12.5miles, +991m /-886m, 6h30 Accommodation: You stay at a comfortable modern 3* hotel. All rooms have private facilities. There is a large terrace, a bar and a lounge. It is a short bus ride to the historic town and modern shopping centre of Courmayeur but it is also possible to walk to Courmayeur via La Saxe.

A chance for a well-deserved rest. On a clear day you may like to take the cable car from La Palud to Pointe Heilbronner (3462m) on the crest of the Mont Blanc massif with impressive views across the Glacier du Geant. Alternatively, you can take one of the TMB variations, from Courmayeur over Mont de la Saxe or Col Sapin, via the Bertone and Bonatti Refuges returning by bus from La Vachey or Pra Sec along Val Ferret to La Palud. 13.6km /8.4 miles , +1116 / -613, 5 hrs walking

Today you pass close by Mont Dolent and cross the Grand Col Ferret (2537m) to re-enter Switzerland. From Grand Col Ferret descend through alpine meadows past the summer pastures and barns of La Peula (refreshments available) and the tiny village of Ferret to our hotel in La Fouly (1595m). This walk can be shortened up to 10km by taking the bus to La Vachey or Arnuva. Accommodation: Stay either at a small, simple 3* hotel, a simple auberge or a mountain gite - rooms have private facilities.

Follow the beautiful Swiss Val Ferret and pass through some pretty villages before leaving the valley to climb through woods to Champex in its picturesque lakeside setting. An easy day – in warm weather there is time to cool off in the open-air swimming pool. Champex-Lac is a little resort town at the northeastern end of the Mont Blanc range. Accommodation: a charming family-run 3* hotel, all rooms have ensuite facilities.

A chance to stroll around the lake and visit the botanic gardens. Alternatively, there is an walks from Champex. One of the most challenging walks is from La Breya (upper cable car station at 2198m) to the mountain hut at Cabane d’Orny (2811m). Walk 9.3km / 5.7km, +/- 796m, 4h. Good weather and a head for heights are needed for this walk. For art lovers it is possible to use this day for an excursion by bus and narrow gauge train to the neighbouring town of Martigny, where the renowned Pierre Gianadda Gallery hosts summer exhibitions. Matisse, Picasso, Toulouse Lautrec, Renoir and Da Vinci have been on show in the past. In Champex, there is a good choice of restaurants with specialities such as raclette, lake trout and local fruit from the Valais. There is also a small shop in the town for picnic items.

Ascend through woods to reach the barns of Bovine (1987m); food and drinks are usually available before you descend to the Col de la Forclaz (1526m); in season, try the local tarte aux myrtilles (blueberry pie). There is then the option of a walk to the Chalet du Glacier and a bit beyond for fine views of the Trient Glacier, before descending to the village of Trient. We consider the ‘Bovine’ route so scenic that it should not be missed. From here, you will have a shuttle transfer to Argentiere for your overnigth stay. Accommodation: Stay 2 nights in a comfortable hotel in the centre of Argentiere.

Early in the morning a 20min drive will take you back to the trail in Trient. Hike into France via the Col de Balme (2191m) revealing the Chamonix Valley below and the Mont Blanc massif. The distance quoted is for the longest variant as there are a couple of shorter ones. On the way up to the col there is a longer but very scenic and satisfying alternative via Les Grands (head for heights is an advantage). The best way on from Col de Balme is via the spectacular and easy Posettes ridge, from the end of which there is a steep descent on good paths through forest to Tre le Champ and our hotel at Argentiere. For those who want a more leisurely day, a shorter (and still scenic) descent from Col de Balme to Argentiere is possible via Le Tour. 14.3km /8.8miles, +937m/-1000, 5h45

Once again there are several route options today depending on the weather and your head for heights. Climb via Tre le Champ (1417m) and Les Cheserys and make a detour to the scenic Lac Blanc (2352m) before rejoining the Grand Balcon route, which looks across the Chamonix valley towards Mont Blanc. On one of the routes there are some ladders so a head for heights is necessary. From La Flegere (1877m) you can normally either descend to the valley at Les Praz de Chamonix on foot or by gondola and cable car. From Les Praz, you make your way to the hotel either by bus or by walking through the pleasant environs; or you can continue along the Grand Balcon for another 2 hours to Plan Praz, from where there is another cable car (or gondola) and another footpath down to Chamonix. Option A: With ladders etc. 16 km /10 miles, +1590m /-808m, 9 h Option B: With less exposure: 15.8km / 9.8miles, +1502m /-718m, 9 h Option C: Via Col des Montets 17km / 10.6 miles, +1543/-812m, 7.5h Option D: Bad Weather route: 11km / 6.8 miles, +1092m/ -317m, 6.5 h Note that all these distances assume that you are taking the cable car down from Plan Praz Accommodation: Spend two nights in a comfortable 3* hotel. For your relaxation, the hotel has got a bar and a sauna. All the rooms are ensuite.

We recommend taking the cable car up to the Aiguille du Midi (3842m). You can also catch the train to Montenvers and the Mer de Glace glacier or explore Chamonix and its surroundings. For those who might prefer something totally different from walking, Chamonix boasts an Olympic standard pool and aquatic centre, a summer luge course, paragliding, golf etc. There are also art galleries and a very interesting Alpine Museum.

Rejoin the trail either at La Flegere, using the cable car from Les Praz de Chamonix, and continue along the Grand Balcon to Plan Praz or at Plan Praz via the Brevent cable car from Chamonix. From Plan Praz ascend to Col de Brevent and up to the peak of Le Brevent (2525m), one of the highest points of the tour. This day offers some of the finest views of the route. From Brevent you descend to Les Houches (1010m) and make your way to the hotel where we spend the last night. In case of bad weather or low cloud there are good low/medium level walks leading to Les Houches along the flanks of the Chamonix valley such as the ‘Petit Balcon’ and the ‘Rive d’Arve’. These named walks are well marked and signposted. End your Tour du Mont Blanc trek with dinner in the hotel's tastefully decorated restaurant. Option A: Via Le Brevent 12.4 km /7.7 miles, +563m / -1526m, 6 h Option B: Via Aiguillette du Brevent15.5 km /9.6 miles, +708m / -1335m, 7.5 h Option C: Bad Weather route; 10.3km/ 6.1 miles, +659m /-654m, 3.5 h Note Options A and b distances are from Plan Praz (top station) Option C starts from Chamonix directly Accommodation: On your return to Les Houches, stay at the same hotel as on the first night of the tour.

It's the end of your Tour du Mont Blanc walking holiday. Depart Les Houches for your onward journey.