NEW TRIP
Beautiful Walks & Charming Villages of the Alps with Killian Buckley & Tania Masi
Treasures of Mont Blanc
Overview
Walk magnificent mountain trails in the Mont Blanc region, but instead of the challenging hikes of the classic Tour du Mont Blanc, we’ll enjoy moderate hikes as we move from France to Italy to Switzerland. We begin in gorgeous Lake Annecy, then walk off-the-beaten-path trails in the sublime French Alps. Arriving in stylish Courmayeur, below Mont Blanc’s Italian flanks, we hike below the alpine giants of the Aosta Valley. In Switzerland, we walk among ancient Swiss chalets and grazing cows, and finish in Chamonix, birthplace of alpinism, right at the foot of Mont Blanc. Jaw-dropping scenery, charming hotels, and cultural and culinary exploration make this a perfect alpine adventure.
Arrive: Talloires, France
Depart: Chamonix, France
Highlights
- Enjoy off-the-beaten-path hikes and French alpine culture in the traditional Tarentaise Valley
- Savor the comforts of alpine living with time to take advantage of the spas, museums, and delightful restaurants
- Walk high trails on mighty Mont Blanc, including two short hikes on the famed TMB trail
- Explore Italy's spectacular Aosta Valley, with a private cooking class
- Discover Courmayeur, the chic Italian mountain town at the foot of Mont Blanc
- Walk amid the chocolate-box chalet villages and flower-speckled meadows of the Swiss Valais
- Enjoy Chamonix, birthplace of alpinism
Itinerary
From our lakeside hotel in the charming town of Talloires, we'll hike up to Rocher du Roux for stunning panoramas of mountain-ringed Lac D'Annecy. After a walk in the nature reserve of Roc de Chere, we boat to Annecy town to explore the town's cobbled streets.
A scenic drive over the Cormet de Roselend, a high mountain pass that is a famed stage on the Tour du France, brings us down into the traditional Tarentaise Valley, where we'll hike amid ancient chalets in the heart of the French Alps. Generations of alpine herders moved their sheep and cattle in this area long before the world-renowned ski resorts arrived.
In the hidden gem of the Aosta Valley, we're surrounded by more than 40 mountain peaks including Western Europe's two highest peaks: Mont Blanc and Monte Rosa. From Courmayeur, we'll take the impressive Skyway Monte Bianco Cable Car up to Punta Hellbronner (11,358') for jaw-dropping views of Mont Blanc, then hike a spectacular trail on this grand massif. We'll also explore charming Aosta town, with its Roman ruins, and even take a private cooking class.
We cross the historic Grand St. Bernard Pass (8,100') to enter Switzerland. From our cozy mountain retreat in the tiny Swiss hamlet of Commeire, we'll hike, enjoy mountain panoramas, and visit the acclaimed Pierre Gianadda Museum in Martigny. On our final hike, we'll walk past grazing cows with ringing bells and take in vistas of the whole Chamonix Valley and mighty Mont Blanc. Our last night is in Chamonix, the birthplace of alpinism. Depart on Day 11.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 3, Moderate, according to our trip grading system. It is an active journey with hikes and walks that can be enjoyed by anyone in reasonably good health who has recent hiking experience. You will need to be comfortable hiking six miles in a day and being on your feet for 3-5 hours a day. Trail conditions, weather, and the group’s level of fitness can affect hiking times and pacing.
Average Hiking Day
Review Trip Level Details
Average Hiking Day
- 4 miles
- 3-4 hours
- 1,400' ascent/descent
- Altitudes range 4,000 to 8,000 feet
- Day 6: 7 miles, 5 hours, 1,800' ascent/descent
At lower elevations, the trails are usually packed dirt, but at higher elevations they are often much rockier. While we’ve worked hard to find smooth hiking paths with gentle elevation gains, we will experience some rocky and uneven terrain on a few hikes. There will also be a bit of elevation gain and loss (roughly 2,200 feet at most), but generally in the mid-hundreds), but at a moderate pace and often with an option for a shorter hike.
We strongly urge you to train for your trip, as your enjoyment will be highly dependent on your level of fitness. The best training for a hike is to hike, especially over hills or rough terrain. Next best are running, swimming, bicycling, or other cardiovascular exercises. Stair-climbing machines are excellent preparation for hiking uphill. Your feet should also be well prepared—make sure your hiking boots are sturdy, comfortable, and thoroughly broken-in. Altitude is generally not a problem on this trip. However, some people still experience a few problems when they first reach high altitude. Slight headache and sleeplessness are the most common symptoms.
Temperatures during the day will likely be in the high 60s°F. At night, they will drop quite a bit, depending on the altitude. Mountain weather can be fickle, and it can range from blue skies with temperatures in the 70s°F to cloudy, wet, and cold days on which rain gear and warm garments are necessary. The early-season departures may encounter snow on the trails. There is a chance that we will need to choose alternate hikes if weather conditions are poor.
Overnights are in mountain towns and alpine villages with great charm and character. They are comfortable hotels but not five-star resorts. The rooms are clean and comfortable, but are not always of uniform size or amenities. Our leaders do their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole.
Lunch will usually be in a local café or perhaps at a picnic spot amid the beauty of the surrounding mountains. Evening meals are at small restaurants of character, often featuring the cuisine the region is known for. Please note that in Europe, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be at 7:30 pm.
Our support vehicle will transport the group’s luggage, so you only need to carry a daypack (rain gear, sweater, camera, water bottle, etc.).
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Book your trip today
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.