Tour of Mont Blanc hiking

We meet at 8:30 am at Notre-Dame-de-la-Gorge, in Les Contamines. After a gentle warm-up in the valley, we begin a long ascent along an ancient Roman road, leading us to the Col du Bonhomme at 2329 m. The traverse towards the Col de la Croix du Bonhomme, followed by the climb to the Col des Fours (2665 m), takes us through the wildest and most remote section of the Tour du Mont-Blanc, with breathtaking alpine panoramas along the way.

From there, we descend into the Vallée des Glaciers, a quiet and secluded valley lying beneath the towering Aiguille des Glaciers. We spend the night in one of its few mountain chalets, immersed in silence and surrounded by the raw beauty of the high alpine landscape.

On the second day, we begin our ascent to the Col de la Seigne (2516 m), marking the border between France and Italy. As we cross into Italy, the landscape changes dramatically and we discover the spectacular southern face of Mont Blanc, descending into the sweeping valley of Val Vény.

From the milky waters of Lac Combal, the trail climbs gently towards the Arp Veille alpine pastures, offering stunning panoramic views over towering peaks and hanging glaciers. A long descent follows, bringing us to Courmayeur, a charming Italian mountain town, where we’ll spend the night in a comfortable hotel, resting up for the next day’s adventure.

We leave Courmayeur and begin our ascent through a peaceful larch forest, reaching the Bertone refuge at 1989 m where we take a well-earned break and enjoy the view.

From there, we follow a spectacular balcony trail with sweeping vistas of the Grandes Jorasses and the glaciers of the Italian side of Mont Blanc. This leads us to the renowned Bonatti refuge, before continuing toward the Petit Col Ferret at 2486 m where we cross into Switzerland.

A gentle, rolling descent brings us into the heart of the Swiss Val Ferret, ending in the picturesque village of La Fouly. We arrive at the gîte in the late afternoon, ready to relax and enjoy a well-deserved evening in this peaceful alpine setting.

We cross the Swiss Val Ferret, passing through a series of small hamlets with beautifully preserved traditional architecture. The trail leads us gently to the village of Issert, nestled at 1050 m.

From there, we begin a steady climb toward Champex-Lac, a peaceful alpine resort perched at 1450 m beside a crystal-clear mountain lake. After a well-deserved pause, we continue with a final short ascent to reach panoramic high pastures in a stunning, secluded valley.

We spend the night at the Relais d’Arpette, surrounded by wide open spaces and mountain silence.

On this final day, we set out for one last challenge with the ascent to the fenêtre d’Arpette, a spectacular mountain pass at 2665 m. The climb is steep and rocky but rewards us with dramatic views over the Trient Glacier and the surrounding peaks.

We then begin a long descent to the relais du Trient, nestled in a peaceful alpine valley. From there, we return to France by crossing the Col de Balme, a beautiful balcony-like traverse that gradually leads us back down into the Chamonix valley.

Our adventure ends in Vallorcine, a quiet mountain village where we arrive in the afternoon.

The expedition concludes around 4 p.m., with tired legs, full hearts and unforgettable memories.