Tour du Mont Blanc

Welcome to Chamonix, the capital of alpinism! Take the opportunity to discover this vibrant and historic town surrounded by mythical peaks and filled to the brim with mountain enthusiasts from around the world, giving the town a cosmopolitan atmosphere granted to few small towns. The bars are lively and the restaurant selection is of the highest class.

Meeting at the train station in Chamonix at 09:30. Be ready in hiking clothes, with backpack packed for the day, water in the bottle and boots on your feet. At the station you'll meet the taxi company that transports your luggage. You set off towards Petit Balcon Sud, with Mont Blanc and its famous "aiguilles" in front of you. The hike continues to Les Houches, where you take the Bellevue cable car. You can also get there on your own with the valley train or bus (at your own expense). A mountain slope leads to the glacier tongue at Bionnassay. Overnight in Bionnassay, above the Contamines-Montjoie valley.

The day begins gently, then heads upward through forest and meadows to a traverse above Gorges de la Gruvaz. You leave a V-shaped valley, carved by the stream's water, to step into the U-shaped glacial valley Alpages de Miage (1559 m above sea level) – a small alpine idyll at the foot of Dômes de Miage. With a final effort you reach the peaceful Plateau du Truc (1740 m) before descending towards Les Contamines-Montjoie. Here the trail continues up through Val Montjoie to the magnificent baroque church Notre Dame de la Gorge from the 17th century. You follow the old "Roman road" over the Bon Nant torrent, continuing to Chalet du Nant Borrant (dormitories only with 8 beds). The location is inside the Contamines-Montjoie nature reserve. The luggage arrives first around 19:30 (vehicles can only drive in before 07:00 or after 19:00).

A genuinely alpine stage with two passes on the schedule. First you pass the peaceful pastures at Balme, and then reach Col du Bonhomme (2329 m above sea level), the gateway to Beaufortain. From here it's an easy ascending traverse to Col de la Croix du Bonhomme (2479 m above sea level). Then comes the descent to the valley's alpine meadows and the village of Les Chapieux.
Alternatively, you can overnight in Ville des Glaciers via Col des Fours (2665 m), the trip's highest point (+200 m, +1 h), which makes tomorrow's stage shorter. There's also the possibility of accommodation in Bourg St Maurice, where a bus goes (about 6 € on site, July–August).

At Col de la Seigne (2516 m above sea level) you cross the border to Italy and the Aosta Valley. Here Mont Blanc shows its wildest side. The hike goes down through Val Veny to the mighty moraine from the Miage glacier that blocks the entire valley. A small detour leads to the beautiful Lake Miage, wedged between the glacier and the moraine. As you follow the valley floor, views open up towards Mont Blanc's legendary routes: Brouillard, Innominata and Peuterey. Night at Rifugio Monte Bianco. A bus between Les Chapieux and Ville des Glaciers can shorten the stage by an hour (July–August only).

Taxi back to France via the Mont Blanc tunnel. Arrival at Chamonix station around 09:30. Here the trip ends, unless you treat yourself to some extra nights to continue experiencing the mountain energy.