Tour du Mont Blanc Camping Trek
Tour du Mont Blanc Camping Trek
Tour du Mont Blanc Camping Trek
15 Days Starting and ending in Les Bossons
Visiting: France, Italy, Switzerland
Tour operator:
Tour code:
TWB
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
5 - 14
Age range:
16-99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTour Overview
Ranked among the best hikes in the world, the Tour du Mont Blanc takes in three diverse countries – France, Switzerland and Italy – and offers the greatest mountain scenery in Europe. Experience has taught us that 15 days is the perfect duration to fully appreciate this memorable circuit around Mont Blanc – 10 days of trekking complemented by three rest days.
Overall the trekking will feel tough with long walking days but the three rest days are incorporated to give you time to rest the legs whilst enjoying three fascinating alpine towns.
Courmayeur is an old worldly Italian gem with windy pedestrian streets lined with chic shops and delightful cafes, bars and restaurants. A short, free, bus ride away is the luxurious QC Therm Spa and wellness centre, a lovely treat. Les Contamines and St Gervais are charming alpine towns with interesting local markets, electric bike hire and gondoliers taking you up to stunning view points. The last free day is in Chamonix, the vibrant heart of the Mont Blanc massif, with a wide choice of activities to try, including paragliding and taking the Aiguille du Midi cable car up to 12,605ft (3,842m) for spectacular, close-up views of Mont Blanc.
Led by an experienced International Mountain Leader, you will climb over six mountain passes, cross beneath colossal glaciers, meander through beautiful alpine meadows, and discover picture-postcard villages. We sleep in campsites throughout the trek, often with outstanding views that aren’t possible from a hotel room. Tents are modern and spacious – designed for three people but only allocated to two – and an unlimited number of single tents is available. For those seeking a little more comfort, mattresses and sleeping bags are also available to hire.
While getting back to nature is a rewarding, energising experience, we recognise that having a comfortable stay along the way can make a camping trek even more special. Delicious three-course meals are on the menu when in camp, and five restaurant meals are also included during the trek. Your baggage is transported between each location by our dedicated camp support leader and van, and tents are put up by our camp crew before you arrive at each campsite, leaving you free to enjoy the inspiring scenery found only on this classic trek.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Start At Les Bossons, Near Chamonix
Meals Included: Dinner
Our start point is the campsite in Les Bossons, which has wonderful views of Mont Blanc and the dramatic, crevassed Glacier des Bossons, especially at sunset. In the evening, there is an introductory briefing by the trek crew.
Campsite: Camping Les Marmottes, Les Bossons
Day 2 : Follow The Grand Balcon Sud From Chamonix To Les Frasserands
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
From Les Bossons (3,320ft/1,012m), we have a short bus journey to Chamonix from where we walk to Les Praz and take the cable car to La Flégère (6,100ft/1,860m). The trail today is named the Grand Balcon and is on the opposite side of the valley from Mont Blanc, affording excellent views of the whole massif lying to our south. Initially, we contour and then climb to reach the high point of the day, Lac Blanc (7,715ft/2,352m). The trail descends and then contours high above the valley before dropping steeply to the hamlet of Les Frasserands (4,500ft/1,371m), from where we take a scenic valley train back to our campsite. In the afternoon, there is a very short section of ladders/steep steps with handrails to descend.
Campsite: Camping Les Marmottes, Les Bossons
Day 3 : Cross Over Col De Balme To Switzerland And Camp At Trient
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After a scenic train ride up the valley to Les Frasserands, we begin by climbing steeply to the Aiguillette de Posettes (7,200ft/2,201m), descend a little and then ascend towards the Col de Balme (7,190ft/2,191m) where we follow one of the paths across the border from France to Switzerland. Enjoy excellent views all morning of Aiguille d'Argentière and Aiguille du Tour and its glacier. After lunch, we descend to the small hamlet of Trient (4,250ft/1,296m), where we will have lovely views of the Trient Glacier.
Campsite: Camping near Trient
Day 4 : Cross Col De La Forclaz To Champex
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We climb first to the Col de Forclaz (5,010ft/1,527m) and then onwards to look directly into the Rhône Valley and the small Swiss town of Martigny. We follow a historic path used to take the cows to summer grazing, the ‘Bovine route’ (6,720ft/2,049m), which takes us through meadows and high alpine pastures before descending to Champex (4,880ft/1,486m), a town beside a picturesque alpine lake.
Campsite: Camping Les Rocailles, Champex Lac
Day 5 : Head Up Val Ferret To La Fouly
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Now on the east side of the main Mont Blanc massif, we walk south, descending through woods to the Val Ferret and on to Issert (3,460ft/1,055m) and other pretty alpine farming villages. If you are visiting early in the season (June/July), this is a great day to see flowers in bloom, including orchids. We continue up the valley to the remote village of La Fouly (5,250ft/1,600m), which lies at the foot of Mont Dolent, whose summit marks the meeting point of France, Switzerland and Italy.
Campsite: Camping les Glaciers, La Fouly
Day 6 : Climb To Grand Col Ferret, The Highest Pass Of The Trek
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Following the same valley and the river La Drance, we climb to the Grand Col Ferret (8,320ft /2,537m), the highest pass of the tour. Now in Italy, the valley is also called Val Ferret. The mountain views from the col are stunning, with Grandes Jorasses dominating the scene. We walk down the valley to Arp Nouva (5,800ft/1,770m) where we take an optional bus to Planpincieux (5,250ft/1,600m). For the first and last trip of the season, the bus may not be running and we may need to walk to camp.
Campsite: Camping Grandes Jorasses, Val Ferret
Day 7 : Rest Day
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today is free for you to rest after the first week’s exertions. The nearby former spa towns of Courmayeur and Entrèves have picturesque older areas that are worth a visit, especially for keen photographers. We also highly recommend the Skyway cable car from La Palud to Point Helbronner (11,350ft/3,461m), which gives close-up views of all the big peaks. Tickets for the cable car can be purchased online or locally at La Palud. Alternatively you might wish to relax and recover in the spa baths at Pre Saint Didier a short bus ride from Courmayeur. It is recommended to book in advance for the spa to avoid disappointment, by clicking https://www.qcterme.com/en/pre-saint-didier/qc-terme-pre-saint-didier .
Campsite: Camping Grandes Jorasses, Val Ferret
Day 8 : Climb To Bonatti Refuge And Traverse High Above The Spectacular Val Ferret Around Mont De La Saxe To Courmayeur And On To Val Veny
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We start with a short bus ride to pick up the Tour du Mont Blanc route, and from the road (5,500ft/1,675m) climb up to the Bonatti refuge (6,640ft/2,025m). Today, we follow a beautiful contouring path around Mont de la Saxe to Courmayeur. The views of the south Mont Blanc massif are exceptional, as are those of the towering peaks of the Grandes Jorasses and the glaciers that crowd the northern flank of the Val Ferret. In the afternoon, we have a long, steep descent to Courmayeur (4,030m/1,230m) where there will be time to stop for a tasty Italian gelato before taking a short bus ride into the spectacular Val Veny (5,020ft/1,530m).
Campsite: Camping Aiguille Noire, Val Veny
Day 9 : Re-Enter France Across Col De La Seigne And Through La Ville Des Glaciers To Les Chapieux
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today’s trail climbs gently along the Val Veny, beneath the moraine of the massive Glacier du Miage. Passing Lac Combal, the gradient becomes steeper as we follow the old Roman road across the Col de la Seigne pass (8,250ft/2,516m), marking our re-entry into France. A fairly steep descent brings us through La Ville des Glaciers (5,870ft/1,789m) and finally to Les Chapieux (5,090ft/1,553m), a small hamlet only inhabited in summer. This is one of the longer walking days, but the experience of walking beneath a glacier and over the Col de la Seigne pass make the challenge well worth it.
Campsite: Camping in Chapieux
Day 10 : Climb To Col De La Croix Du Bonhomme And Contour Around To Col Du Bonhomme
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We have now reached the southwest corner of the circuit and turn north to climb once again. Today is a longer day; first we make a steep climb to the Col de la Croix du Bonhomme (8,130ft/2,478m) and then contour around to the Col du Bonhomme (7,640ft/2,328m). We then descend (again on a Roman road) to our campsite in Les Contamines (5,900ft/1,180m).
Campsite: Camping le Pontet, Les Contamines
Day 11 : Rest Day
Meals Included: Breakfast
A chance to rest or enjoy independent exploration. There are short and long optional walks in the area, many accessed by a chairlift or gondola, with spectacular views of Mont Blanc. Mountain cafes make a nice place for a scenic lunch. Alternatively, you could take the Mont Blanc cog-driven tramway to the Eagle’s Nest – the starting point for many aiming to conquer Mont Blanc itself. Otherwise, time can be spent visiting the half-day market in Les Contamines, or you can simply relax around town or in camp and recharge your batteries for the days ahead.
Campsite: Camping le Pontet, Les Contamines
Day 12 : Cross Col De Tricot And Col De Voza To Re-Enter Chamonix Valley And Descend To Village Of Les Houches
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today will be another long but rewarding day as we return to the start point of our trek. We walk through Les Contamines, ascend to Chalets du Truc (5,614ft/1,720m) and then descend to the Chalets de Miage (4,120ft/1,560m). From here, we take the trail that climbs steeply to the Col de Tricot (6,950ft/2,119m) before descending very close to the snout of the Glacier de Bionnassay, where we will enjoy fabulous views of the northern side of the Mont Blanc massif. Eventually, we make another short ascent to reach the Col de Voza (5,418ft/1,652m), where we re-enter the Chamonix Valley and descend to the village of Les Houches (dependent on the time of year, there is an optional cable car descent from Bellevue to Les Houches). A short bus ride takes us to our camp in Les Bossons (3,320ft/1,012m).
Campsite: Camping Les Marmottes, Les Bossons
Day 13 : Some Of The Best Views Of Mont Blanc Today On The Long Ascent To Brévent; Descend To Plan Praz
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We cross to the north side of the Chamonix Valley and climb through a pine forest. The high point of the day is Brévent (8,290ft/2,525m), from where there are panoramic views of the Mont Blanc massif and Chamonix Valley. We walk down to Plan Praz (6,460ft/1,970m), then descend by cable car to Chamonix and walk to our camp at Les Bossons (3,320ft/1,012m). It is possible to take the cable car descent from the top (dependent on the time of year). This extra journey will be payable locally should you choose not to walk.
Our last day on the Tour du Mont Blanc circuit is long, with a tough climb of more than 4,920ft (1,500m), but affords the best views on the whole trek of Mont Blanc and neighbouring peaks. On our return to Les Bossons, we will have successfully completed the Tour du Mont Blanc.
Campsite: Camping Les Marmottes, Les Bossons
Day 14 : Free Day At Les Bossons
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today is a free day for optional walks or sightseeing. Your leader can advise you of possible walking routes or you may choose to visit the bustling alpine resort town of Chamonix, which has numerous shops, bars, restaurants and cafes. There are several cable car excursions you can make from Chamonix, of which the most spectacular is the ascent to the Aiguille du Midi (12,600ft/3,842m), offering fantastic views of Mont Blanc and surrounding peaks. It should also be possible to take the mountain train up to Montenvers for close-up views of the Mer de Glace glacier, or if you are feeling adventurous you could enjoy a tandem paragliding flight.
Campsite: Camping Les Marmottes, Les Bossons
Day 15 : End Les Bossons
Meals Included: Breakfast
The adventure comes to an end in Les Bossons after breakfast. Start your return journey home, and perhaps start planning your next great walking adventure.
What's Included
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All breakfasts, 10 picnic lunches, 12 dinners
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All accommodation
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All transport and listed activities
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Tour leader throughout
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Group arrival and departure transfers available
What's Not Included
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Travel insurance
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Single accommodation (available on request)
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Visas or vaccinations
Food
We provide 14 breakfasts, 10 picnic lunches, eight home-cooked three-course group meals in camp and four group meals in local restaurants. Due to the small size and remoteness of several of these restaurants, and for speed when serving a large group, these will be set menus.
Breakfast: Usually consist of coffee, tea, cereal, yoghurt, fresh fruit, bread and conserves.
Lunch: Picnic-style lunches will normally include bread, cold meat, cheese, sometimes boiled eggs or tinned fish, fresh salad and fresh fruit. You may wish to bring (or purchase locally) snack bars for an extra energy boost during the day.
Evening meal: Whether in camp or in a nearby restaurant, we endeavour to make dinner something to look forward to. Each day there will be a freshly prepared menu for the whole group, consisting of a soup, salad or similar; a main course of meat, fish or vegetarian served with a selection of vegetables and carbohydrates; and a dessert.
Beer, wine, bottled water, coffee, tea or other drinks are not included in the price of evening meals taken in restaurants. Coffee and tea are included with the evening meal when we eat in camp and beer and wine are also available for purchase at a modest cost.
Vegetarians: We happily cater for vegetarians – please inform us at the time of booking.
Vegans: If you adhere to a vegan diet, you may find the variety of food offered to be limited, since veganism is relatively uncommon in this region.
The feedback we receive for the food we serve is great but please be aware that facilities are limited and practicality forces us to put our efforts into making one excellent group meal with a vegetarian option. Of course, any allergies will be respected.
Accommodation
The campsites are in stunning settings and sharing an after-trek drink with newly made friends as the sun sets over a glaciated mountain is the perfect way to enjoy the great outdoors.
Campsites: The chosen campsites are comfortable and modern. On 12 nights, hot showers are available and there are electricity points to recharge batteries. Many campsites have a bar and wifi, plus a lounge or sitting area. We provide a large communal tent (if we do not use the communal area in the campsite), where we eat at tables with benches and have an unlimited tea and coffee station, plus a camp bar. Two remote campsites are in stunning locations but are a little more basic than others and do not have showers. We eat in restaurants on these nights.
Camp life: Accompanying you throughout the trek is a dedicated camp support leader who takes care of the logistics and catering. Your tent is put up for you each night. In the morning, you will be asked to take your tent down (this should take no more than three to four minutes), put your bag in the back of the van and wash your breakfast dish. On four nights out of 14, you will be asked to join a washing up team and help with the dishes that evening – a 20-minute job. Otherwise, you are free to relax and your time is your own.
Tents and equipment: All our equipment is bought with both comfort and practicality in mind and we hope represents a higher quality than most individuals would buy for themselves.
You spend 14 nights camping in roomy waterproof tents designed to sleep three people, but with a maximum of two people per tent. We use modern dome tents incorporating a 6.9ft x 6.9ft (2.1m x 2.1m) inner tent with sewn-in ground sheet and a supplementary 7.5ft x 2.3ft (2.3m x 0.7m) covered porch that is an ideal place to leave your walking boots and poles.
Single tents are available for a small additional cost, as are camping mats and sleeping bags with liner and pillow. Our full-length camping mats are filled with air and foam, which is comfortable to sleep on and provides excellent insulation from the ground. Our sleeping bags have a synthetic filling, as opposed to feathers, with a three-quarter-length zip and provide plenty of warmth.
Worth knowing
Thermal mattress hire: Approximately £36 – please request in advance with your sales representative.
Sleeping bag hire (three- or four-season), pillow and liner: Approximately £73 – please request in advance with your sales representative.
Check out our Q&As
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What is the maximum group size?
14
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Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?
We are happy to assist with pre and post tour accommodation. Please enquire for detailed information.
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Who is Exodus Travels?
At Exodus Travels, we've been exploring the world for nearly 50 years. From Walking and Trekking, Cultural and Cycling, Responsible Wildlife, to Polar and our new Premium Adventures, we are proud to offer award-winning small group and self-guided tours to 100+ countries worldwide.
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Are flights included in this tour?
International flights are not included with this tour.
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Do you require a visa for this holiday?
No visa required for British passport holders.
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes.
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
Minimum 16 year age people can go on this tour.
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
If you would like to be paired with a tour member of the same gender, there is no additional charge. A single supplement can be requested if you would like your own room.
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Are vaccinations required for this tour?
There are no specific health risks.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.