France, Italy & Switzerland: The Mont Blanc Circuit
On this true hiker’s tour of the Western Alps, Country Walkers brings you Mont Blanc at its very best. Our certified mountain leaders live and work in the region—using their deep local expertise to reveal hidden highlights of the awe-inspiring alpine massifs. Here, you’ll hike from inn to inn, crossing the borders of France, Italy, and Switzerland as your luggage is magically transported to your next hotel. Along the way, you’ll pause in meadows blossoming with edelweiss and gentian to enjoy traditional trailside picnics beneath Mont Blanc’s imposing aiguilles. You’ll also enjoy hearty alpine culture and cuisine at refugios and trailside mountain huts where hikers from all over the world swap tales from the trail. You’re sure to come away with a few lively stories of your own!
Ride the La Flégère cable car into the Chamonix Valley and witness its breathtaking panoramic views of impossibly green hillsides, fragrant forest, and the curving Arve River.
Delight in the best of Savoyard cuisine after an invigorating day on the trail, from creamy fondues and raclettes to savory stews and delicious tarts.
Enjoy the mountaineering culture of the Alps in Courmayeur, visit local shops, or sip a cool drink at a café beneath towering Mont Blanc.
Accompanied by your expert mountain leader, experience the thrill of hiking through the borders between France, Switzerland, and Italy.
Treat yourself to a relaxing massage or visit your hotel’s spa after a rewarding day on the Mont Blanc circuit.
Positive Impact
Country Walkers is proud to support Wine to Water with a donation on behalf of each guest on this tour. Wine to Water is an international organization providing access to clean drinking water and emergency supplies in water-challenged regions. We believe in giving back to the places that have enriched the lives of our guests. We’re committed to identifying and supporting sustainable initiatives in a variety of areas including education, world health, economic equality, safe drinking water, the environment, and the preservation of cultural traditions.
On all Guided Adventures you can count on...
Expert local leaders to introduce you to the best of your destination
Off-the-beaten-path places you’d never find on your own
Delicious multi-course meals—a majority are included
A maximum of 18 fun-loving fellow travelers to share the journey
Gracious accommodations that are a clean, comfortable home away from home
Experts to handle all the details
Air Packages include plane tickets, airport shuttles, and pre- and post-tour accommodations
Terrain Description for France, Italy & Switzerland: The Mont Blanc Circuit
This tour is one of our Guided Walking Adventures, rated challenging, with an average of 6 to 7 hours of hiking per day, very limited options, and only short drives due to the inn-to-inn nature of this itinerary. There are significant ascents and descents averaging 2,600 and 2,400 feet, respectively, per day, typically sustained over 2 to 3 hours on switchback trails. The highest walking altitude on tour is 8,370 feet. The footing is uneven, with hikes on single-track trails with loose rocks, gravel, and roots that can be slippery when wet. Your leaders set a steady yet comfortable pace to maximize your appreciation for this Alpine environment. Hiking boots (not shoes) are required and hiking poles are highly recommended. This itinerary offers limited time for non-walking activities, except for a rest day in Courmayeur, and is perfect for guests interested in day-long hikes.
Miles and Elevation for France, Italy & Switzerland: The Mont Blanc Circuit
Summary of the activity level of the tour France, Italy & Switzerland: The Mont Blanc Circuit
, broken down by day and available options.
Tour Day
Choose Your Route Options
Miles per Option
Hours per Option**
Elevation per Option***
Activity Level
1
Walk
6
05:00
+2600/-1950
moderate-challenging
2
Walk
11
07:00
+4395/-3260
challenging
3
Walk
10
06:30
+2645/-3050
moderate-challenging
5
Walk
8.5
05:30
+2600/-2830
moderate-challenging
6
Walk
9
06:00
+2310/-2060
challenging
7
Walk
8.5
04:00-06:00
+2860/-3080
moderate
8
Walk
7
06:00
+2770/-1560
moderate-challenging
Alternate options may be available **Route mileage, hours, and elevation gain/loss are all approximate ***Elevation gain/loss indicated if greater than 500 feet
A Country Walkers representative will greet you at the Geneva Airport to start your adventure off right. A complimentary car service will whisk you to your centrally located hotel in Chamonix. From here, you are perfectly positioned to explore this charming city at your leisure.
6.5 miles (about 3.5 hours of walking), moderate to challenging, 2,745-ft. elevation gain
After savoring your first delicious and abundant breakfast at your Chamonix hotel, meet your leaders at 8:00 a.m. in the lobby. They’ll be wearing Country Walkers shirts.
Chamonix is the mountaineering capital of the Alps, so it is apt that you begin your exploration of the legendary Mont Blanc Circuit here. Following a morning meeting, you travel ten minutes along a scenic road to the hamlet of Les Tines to start your first hike.
As you ascend among these storied peaks – a mighty range of jagged pinnacles and graceful slopes – you have an excellent introduction to the unique flora of this alpine wonderland. Flowers of the martagon lily, masterwort, and gentian blanket the mountainsides, all protected species for the role they play in this fragile ecosystem. At higher elevations, strata seems painted onto rock faces, revealing the glacial forces that shaped these magnificent vistas.
In the Valley of the Glaciers, arrive at the Refuge des Mottets, once a cattle farm for local ranchers. Today, this retreat at the foot of the spectacular Glacier Needle welcomes hikers overnight. But you’re here to enjoy lunch in its welcoming, rustic café adorned with mountaineering equipment.
After, continue your hike among spectacular mountain panoramas that evoke the spirit of alpine exploration. Your destination is the Montenvers train station, a charming stone structure on a terrace that overlooks the Mer de Glace – the Sea of Ice – the longest and largest glacier in France and the second longest in the Alps. After time to admire its enormous breadth winding through the valley, you board a train back to Chamonix. This evening, toast the adventures to come during a welcome dinner at your hotel.
7 miles (about 5 hours of walking), challenging, 2,460-ft. elevation gain/loss
After breakfast, travel 20 minutes to Les Houches, a charming commune straddling the River Arve. You’ll see plenty of long-haul hikers in this ski resort town, as it is the official start and end point of the Tour de Mont Blanc. Continue by shuttle up the hillside to the district of Le Bettey, from where you begin a stunning walk.
Traverse alpine woodlands, magnificent alpine meadows, high alpine pastures and beautifully crafted chalets. After a couple of hours, arrive at the rustic Chalet de Chailloux, which seems to have been built with a view in mind. Admire the Mont Blanc massif from its vast, sloping “front lawn” of emerald-green vegetation.
You have several options to explore a bit, taking in the stunning vistas of Mont Blanc and the Bossons Glacier from various perspectives. Following a hearty picnic lunch, descend back to Le Bettey and travel 45 minutes to lovely Les Contamines-Montjoie. This village of restored old farm buildings was once home to chamois hunters and, today, is a popular mountaineering and ski resort.
Settle into a cozy, family-run hotel nestled in the Montjoie Valley. There’ll be time to relax before gathering for an exceptional dinner of local specialties in your hotel’s dining room.
11 miles (about 7 hours of walking), challenging, 4,395-ft. elevation gain, 3,260-ft. elevation loss
After an early breakfast, you travel by minibus to the end of the valley and start the most challenging hike of the tour. The trail begins at the Baroque chapel of Nôtre Dame de la Gorge, a pilgrimage site at the foot of the Gorge du Bon Nant. From the church, you walk along an old Roman road that climbs steadily through a beautiful coniferous forest. Leaving the woods, you cross broad, level Alpine pasture, passing rustic chalets as you make your way to La Balme. Continue ascending, occasionally pausing for a snack of tasty Alpine chocolate and views of the dramatic valley below.
By midday, you reach the Col de la Croix du Bonhomme (8,180 feet), where you stop to take in the breathtaking panorama. With the most difficult part of the day complete, you break for a trailside picnic before meandering down to the valley.
The day’s final walking destination is Les Chapieux, a summer village at the southern limit of the Mont Blanc massif. A return minibus journey takes you to your hotel in a Savoyard village. Here, you stroll out for dinner at a local restaurant after, perhaps, unwinding in the sauna or swimming pool.
10 miles (about 6.5 hours of walking), moderate to challenging, 2,645-ft. elevation gain, 3,050-ft. elevation loss
Today you say au revoir to France and buongiorno to the Aosta region of Italy, tracing the footsteps of countless Roman legionnaires. A short drive takes you to the beginning of your hike at La Ville des Glaciers. After 2.5 hours, you reach the Col de la Seigne (8,300 feet). This “hill,” with a broad, flat landscape, represents a watershed between the ancient glaciers that extended along the Aosta and Savoy slopes. Following a descent along an easy, winding trail, you reach a spectacular setting beneath the Aiguille of Combal to stop for lunch. Although you’re in Italy, this valley enjoys a certain regional autonomy, and its friendly population speaks French.
You continue on foot to La Visaille, at the base of the spectacular Glacier of Miage, whose snowcapped domes you saw for the first time two days ago. After another short drive, you are in the resort town of Courmayeur, Italy’s elegant counterpart to Chamonix, and your home for the next two nights. After settling into your comfortable in-town hotel, you are free to dine on your own at one of the town’s lively pizzerias or trattorias.
Today is a rest day, and you have the opportunity to explore the charming Italian resort town of Courmayeur. You may choose to peruse the local shops for souvenirs, sit on a sidewalk terrace to taste a delicious gelato, or simply relax in the hotel’s sauna or Jacuzzi. If you prefer to walk, your leaders offer a hike in the surrounding area (the mileage and level of difficulty will vary depending upon the group’s interests) with a stop for an independent lunch. Another option in Courmayeur is to ride the Skyway cable car, a new aerial lift reaching the closest point to the summit of Mont Blanc. Your leaders can assist with logistics.
This evening, you reunite for a dinner of Italian mountain specialties at a nearby local restaurant.
8.5 miles (about 5.5 hours of walking), moderate to challenging, 2,600-ft. elevation gain, 2,830-ft. elevation loss
Following a hearty buffet breakfast, a 20-minute drive takes you to Arnouva and the start of today’s hike. Exploration of the Val Ferret continues along a winding footpath with a view of the Pré de Bar, the imposing granite peaks of Mont Dolent (12,545 feet), and the Grandes Jorasses. Along the way, you may stop for a rest at the Rifugio Elena for a steaming cup of rich hot chocolate. The climb continues through meadows that are home to Alpine wildlife—from talkative marmots to agile chamois may be frolicking on the glacier after you cross the Grand Col Ferret (8,321 feet). This pass, in use for several centuries, serves as the Italian-Swiss border between Val D’Aosta and the canton of Valais. The descent brings you along a trail with a profusion of wildflowers and the sound of Swiss cowbells echoing across the hillside. This area is truly Heidi country; its tidy chalets with geraniums spilling from the window boxes greet you as you enter the sleepy village of Ferret.
A final minivan shuttle delivers you to Champex, a tranquil Swiss summer resort on a lake with the same name. Upon arrival at your comfortable family-run hotel, there is time to relax, swim, or take advantage of the Jacuzzi before dinner on your own tonight.
8.5 miles (about 4 hours of walking with cable car descent or 6 hours of walking without cable car descent), moderate, 2,860-ft. elevation gain, 915-ft. elevation loss with cable car descent or 3,080-ft. elevation loss without cable car descent
Today starts with a short drive as you leave Switzerland. The trail rises gradually from the secluded valley of Trient, where the imposing village church stands out like a beacon in this green, lush environment. You pass through a tranquil spruce forest with many switchbacks before arriving at the Col de Balme in France. This pass offers tremendous views over the whole of the Chamonix valley, flanked by the Aiguille Verte and Aiguilles Rouges (the “green” and “red” needles, or peaks) surrounding Mont Blanc. The red rock peaks are named after the distinctive color of the granite in the morning sun. Upon descending to the village of Tour, you have the option of using a cable car or continuing to walk on the slopes of the Balme ski area.
Your home tonight is in the village of Argentière—literally “silver” in French, as it was once the site of a silver mine. After settling into your traditional hotel located in the town’s center, your leaders will provide you with recommendations to several nearby restaurants for dinner on your own.
7 miles (about 6 hours of walking), moderate to challenging, 2,770-ft. elevation gain, 1,560-ft. elevation loss, including a cable car descent
Following a few miles’ taxi ride, you set off on the final stage of the circuit. It’s one of the most beautiful parts of the trail, and the stunning Chéserys Lakes are the highlight. Most people seek the famed reflection of the mountains in the still waters of these mountain lakes. Often frozen until the end of June, by August, these lakes are free from ice and snow, and the views of the Mont Blanc massif from this vantage point are breathtaking.
Over lunch, you work together to identify the various peaks that have been part of your journey this past week. Afterward, you descend along a rocky trail for two hours to La Flégère cable car, giving you panoramic views as you ride into the valley. Then, it is a leisurely walk along the glacier-fed Arve River to Chamonix, where an inviting, heated swimming pool awaits your arrival back at the hotel. Reuniting for a farewell feast at a restaurant in town, you can indulge to your heart’s content after completing 60+ miles of walking.
After saying goodbye to your group this morning in Chamonix, you are free to enjoy a day in this relaxing town. Head to the hotel spa, do any final shopping or embark on additional sightseeing. (Lunch and dinner are on your own.)
6.5 miles (about 3.5 hours of walking), moderate to challenging, 2,745-ft. elevation gain
Your leaders will meet you at 8:00 a.m. in the lobby of your meeting hotel in Chamonix. They’ll be wearing Country Walkers shirts.
Chamonix is the mountaineering capital of the Alps, so it is apt that you begin your exploration of the legendary Mont Blanc Circuit here. Following a morning meeting, you travel ten minutes along a scenic road to the hamlet of Les Tines to start your first hike.
As you ascend among these storied peaks – a mighty range of jagged pinnacles and graceful slopes – you have an excellent introduction to the unique flora of this alpine wonderland. Flowers of the martagon lily, masterwort, and gentian blanket the mountainsides, all protected species for the role they play in this fragile ecosystem. At higher elevations, strata seems painted onto rock faces, revealing the glacial forces that shaped these magnificent vistas.
In the Valley of the Glaciers, arrive at the Refuge des Mottets, once a cattle farm for local ranchers. Today, this retreat at the foot of the spectacular Glacier Needle welcomes hikers overnight. But you’re here to enjoy lunch in its welcoming, rustic café adorned with mountaineering equipment.
After, continue your hike among spectacular mountain panoramas that evoke the spirit of alpine exploration. Your destination is the Montenvers train station, a charming stone structure on a terrace that overlooks the Mer de Glace – the Sea of Ice – the longest and largest glacier in France and the second longest in the Alps. After time to admire its enormous breadth winding through the valley, you board a train back to Chamonix. This evening, toast the adventures to come during a welcome dinner at your hotel.
7 miles (about 5 hours of walking), challenging, 2,460-ft. elevation gain/loss
After breakfast, travel 20 minutes to Les Houches, a charming commune straddling the River Arve. You’ll see plenty of long-haul hikers in this ski resort town, as it is the official start and end point of the Tour de Mont Blanc. Continue by shuttle up the hillside to the district of Le Bettey, from where you begin a stunning walk.
Traverse alpine woodlands, magnificent alpine meadows, high alpine pastures and beautifully crafted chalets. After a couple of hours, arrive at the rustic Chalet de Chailloux, which seems to have been built with a view in mind. Admire the Mont Blanc massif from its vast, sloping “front lawn” of emerald-green vegetation.
You have several options to explore a bit, taking in the stunning vistas of Mont Blanc and the Bossons Glacier from various perspectives. Following a hearty picnic lunch, descend back to Le Bettey and travel 45 minutes to lovely Les Contamines-Montjoie. This village of restored old farm buildings was once home to chamois hunters and, today, is a popular mountaineering and ski resort.
Settle into a cozy, family-run hotel nestled in the Montjoie Valley. There’ll be time to relax before gathering for an exceptional dinner of local specialties in your hotel’s dining room.
11 miles (about 7 hours of walking), challenging, 4,395-ft. elevation gain, 3,260-ft. elevation loss
After an early breakfast, you travel by minibus to the end of the valley and start the most challenging hike of the tour. The trail begins at the Baroque chapel of Nôtre Dame de la Gorge, a pilgrimage site at the foot of the Gorge du Bon Nant. From the church, you walk along an old Roman road that climbs steadily through a beautiful coniferous forest. Leaving the woods, you cross broad, level Alpine pasture, passing rustic chalets as you make your way to La Balme. Continue ascending, occasionally pausing for a snack of tasty Alpine chocolate and views of the dramatic valley below.
By midday, you reach the Col de la Croix du Bonhomme (8,180 feet), where you stop to take in the breathtaking panorama. With the most difficult part of the day complete, you break for a trailside picnic before meandering down to the valley.
The day’s final walking destination is Les Chapieux, a summer village at the southern limit of the Mont Blanc massif. A return minibus journey takes you to your hotel in a Savoyard village. Here, you stroll out for dinner at a local restaurant after, perhaps, unwinding in the sauna or swimming pool.
10 miles (about 6.5 hours of walking), moderate to challenging, 2,645-ft. elevation gain, 3,050-ft. elevation loss
Today you say au revoir to France and buongiorno to the Aosta region of Italy, tracing the footsteps of countless Roman legionnaires. A short drive takes you to the beginning of your hike at La Ville des Glaciers. After 2.5 hours, you reach the Col de la Seigne (8,300 feet). This “hill,” with a broad, flat landscape, represents a watershed between the ancient glaciers that extended along the Aosta and Savoy slopes. Following a descent along an easy, winding trail, you reach a spectacular setting beneath the Aiguille of Combal to stop for lunch. Although you’re in Italy, this valley enjoys a certain regional autonomy, and its friendly population speaks French.
You continue on foot to La Visaille, at the base of the spectacular Glacier of Miage, whose snowcapped domes you saw for the first time two days ago. After another short drive, you are in the resort town of Courmayeur, Italy’s elegant counterpart to Chamonix, and your home for the next two nights. After settling into your comfortable in-town hotel, you are free to dine on your own at one of the town’s lively pizzerias or trattorias.
Today is a rest day, and you have the opportunity to explore the charming Italian resort town of Courmayeur. You may choose to peruse the local shops for souvenirs, sit on a sidewalk terrace to taste a delicious gelato, or simply relax in the hotel’s sauna or Jacuzzi. If you prefer to walk, your leaders offer a hike in the surrounding area (the mileage and level of difficulty will vary depending upon the group’s interests) with a stop for an independent lunch. Another option in Courmayeur is to ride the Skyway cable car, a new aerial lift reaching the closest point to the summit of Mont Blanc. Your leaders can assist with logistics.
This evening, you reunite for a dinner of Italian mountain specialties at a nearby local restaurant.
8.5 miles (about 5.5 hours of walking), moderate to challenging, 2,600-ft. elevation gain, 2,830-ft. elevation loss
Following a hearty buffet breakfast, a 20-minute drive takes you to Arnouva and the start of today’s hike. Exploration of the Val Ferret continues along a winding footpath with a view of the Pré de Bar, the imposing granite peaks of Mont Dolent (12,545 feet), and the Grandes Jorasses. Along the way, you may stop for a rest at the Rifugio Elena for a steaming cup of rich hot chocolate. The climb continues through meadows that are home to Alpine wildlife—from talkative marmots to agile chamois may be frolicking on the glacier after you cross the Grand Col Ferret (8,321 feet). This pass, in use for several centuries, serves as the Italian-Swiss border between Val D’Aosta and the canton of Valais. The descent brings you along a trail with a profusion of wildflowers and the sound of Swiss cowbells echoing across the hillside. This area is truly Heidi country; its tidy chalets with geraniums spilling from the window boxes greet you as you enter the sleepy village of Ferret.
A final minivan shuttle delivers you to Champex, a tranquil Swiss summer resort on a lake with the same name. Upon arrival at your comfortable family-run hotel, there is time to relax, swim, or take advantage of the Jacuzzi before dinner on your own tonight.
8.5 miles (about 4 hours of walking with cable car descent or 6 hours of walking without cable car descent), moderate, 2,860-ft. elevation gain, 915-ft. elevation loss with cable car descent or 3,080-ft. elevation loss without cable car descent
Today starts with a short drive as you leave Switzerland. The trail rises gradually from the secluded valley of Trient, where the imposing village church stands out like a beacon in this green, lush environment. You pass through a tranquil spruce forest with many switchbacks before arriving at the Col de Balme in France. This pass offers tremendous views over the whole of the Chamonix valley, flanked by the Aiguille Verte and Aiguilles Rouges (the “green” and “red” needles, or peaks) surrounding Mont Blanc. The red rock peaks are named after the distinctive color of the granite in the morning sun. Upon descending to the village of Tour, you have the option of using a cable car or continuing to walk on the slopes of the Balme ski area.
Your home tonight is in the village of Argentière—literally “silver” in French, as it was once the site of a silver mine. After settling into your traditional hotel located in the town’s center, your leaders will provide you with recommendations to several nearby restaurants for dinner on your own.
7 miles (about 6 hours of walking), moderate to challenging, 2,770-ft. elevation gain, 1,560-ft. elevation loss, including a cable car descent
Following a few miles’ taxi ride, you set off on the final stage of the circuit. It’s one of the most beautiful parts of the trail, and the stunning Chéserys Lakes are the highlight. Most people seek the famed reflection of the mountains in the still waters of these mountain lakes. Often frozen until the end of June, by August, these lakes are free from ice and snow, and the views of the Mont Blanc massif from this vantage point are breathtaking.
Over lunch, you work together to identify the various peaks that have been part of your journey this past week. Afterward, you descend along a rocky trail for two hours to La Flégère cable car, giving you panoramic views as you ride into the valley. Then, it is a leisurely walk along the glacier-fed Arve River to Chamonix, where an inviting, heated swimming pool awaits your arrival back at the hotel. Reuniting for a farewell feast at a restaurant in town, you can indulge to your heart’s content after completing 60+ miles of walking.
Evoking the air of an authentic mountain chalet, Hotel des Aiglons enjoys a long tradition of mountaineering and skiing. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the large atrium-style lobby bring the alpine beauty indoors while the fireplace, wood furnishing with wool throws and pillows and the nature-inspired interiors add to the feeling of the great outdoors. During your stay, indulge in the spa and fitness center, outdoor pool, steam room and sauna in the garden. The dining room, serving local, in-season dishes and shared plates, was thoughtfully designed to bring people together, with large open spaces and small sitting areas for quiet conversation.
This traditional Alpine inn boasts comfortable, spacious, un-air conditioned rooms with balconies. Enjoy stunning views of the Mont Blanc Massif from your room or on the landscaped outdoor terrace or indulge in a dip in the hotel’s swimming pool. The sauna and Jacuzzi are perfect for relaxing after a day of hiking.
This comfortable and spacious three-star hotel is constructed of local stone and wood and stands at the southern limit of the Massif du Mont Blanc. In a quiet landscaped setting, the décor includes Savoyard and antique furnishings, and the hotel boasts a sauna and swimming pool. Rooms are un-air conditioned and include WiFi.
This three-star, family-run country-house hotel is set in an ideal location in the center of charming Courmayeur. The inn offers 25 unique rooms, naturally cooled without air conditioning, with splendid views. Jacuzzi, sauna, and massages are available.
This family-run, classic Swiss mountain hotel is ideally situated on Lake Champex. Each well-appointed room includes WiFi. Enjoy its Jacuzzi, sauna, fireside lounge, and reading room.
A traditional mountain hotel nestled in the heart of the authentic mountain village of Argentière, the Hôtel de la Couronne has warm wooden décor and chalet-style furnishings, with a welcoming bar. Rooms are naturally cooled without air conditioning.
After a delicious included breakfast at your hotel, you are free to explore on your own, using our included city information packet to guide your discoveries.
Evoking the air of an authentic mountain chalet, Hotel des Aiglons enjoys a long tradition of mountaineering and skiing. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the large atrium-style lobby bring the alpine beauty indoors while the fireplace, wood furnishing with wool throws and pillows and the nature-inspired interiors add to the feeling of the great outdoors. During your stay, indulge in the spa and fitness center, outdoor pool, steam room and sauna in the garden. The dining room, serving local, in-season dishes and shared plates, was thoughtfully designed to bring people together, with large open spaces and small sitting areas for quiet conversation.
My wife and I just completed the Country Walkers (CW) 8-day Mont Blanc Circuit trek. From the outset, our experience with CW was excellent. Unlike other travel tour companies we have used, we appreciate that CW assigns you a travel advisor. Our advisor was fantastic. She answered the myriad of questions we had; always with accurate and prompt information. She assuaged our concerns as 60+ hikers, providing us with insights on the trek as she had personally completed it a few years before.
The logistics of the trek were handled seamlessly, starting with a personal car hire from Geneva to Chamonix. All transfers during the trek were handled without a hitch. Our luggage was always waiting for us in the room when we arrived at the end of a long day of hiking. CW also takes care of all the meal arrangements (for the meals listed in the itinerary). They also handle all the tickets needed for cable car transfers. They even arranged for special treats at several refugio stops along the way.
A word here about the lunches. Our guides took great care to provide us with a sumptuous repast for each lunch. There was a wide variety of local cheeses, meats, vegetables and fruits. The meals at the various hotels were also very good. There were several evenings where we dined at fine local restaurants. The hotels were exactly as indicated on the itinerary.
A comment about our guides is in order. Combined, they have over 50 years of experience leading tours throughout Europe and the United States.
Each day, we were provided a detailed summary of what to expect along the trail. We found this management of our expectations to be invaluable. While on the trail, they were careful to manage the pace of the group and watch over the safety of all of us. They also provided excellent background and insight on various topics related to the region: native flora and fauna (we spotted chamois goats several times), historical perspective and the impact of climate change on the region.
Beyond their technical expertise, our guides were upbeat, supportive, kind and caring people. Their sense of humor and concern for the group shone through and made the hiking an enjoyable experience.
As consumers, we all have choices in the companies we choose for our travel needs. My wife and I highly recommend CW. We are already looking at another CW trip.
Mont Blanc cir out is ama, California
France, Italy & Switzerland: The Mont Blanc Circuit
This was the trip of a lifetime! The views were even more spectacular than I imagined. The terrain was ever changing and fascinating. The hikes were challenging but doable with some prep and training. The evening recovery was mountain-luxurious in beautiful inns with good food. What I could not have imagined was the incredible experience of being guided by Corinne and Patricia. They talked to us about the mountains, the flowers, the animals, the mountain climbing history of the region, cheese making (!), and a hundred other interesting topics. Truly a magnificent trip!
Minturn, Colorado
France, Italy & Switzerland: The Mont Blanc Circuit
Expert Local Leaders
Experience your destination like an insider with people who call it home.
Patricia Corbiller
Making her home in Chamonix for over 30 years, Patricia Corbiller is a certified hiking guide in the region as well as a ski instructor. Walking and nature are her dual passions, which she is inspired to share with visitors to the Chamonix Valley. In her free time, she enjoys discovering trails in the mountains around the globe.
Marc Roman
Born in the French province of Savoie, Marc grew up in Chamonix-a mountain enclave emblematic of the Winter Olympic Games. At the age of 16, he decided to live in the mountains-and naturally became a mountain guide and ski instructor. Since the mid-80s, Marc has been traveling these alpine trails and knows them like the back of his hand. In his view, the Tour du Mont Blanc offers a delightful variety of panoramas which are among the most beautiful in the Alps.
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Terrain Description for France, Italy & Switzerland: The Mont Blanc Circuit
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