Mont Blanc Highlights

Mont Blanc Highlights

8 Days Starting and ending in Chamonix

Visiting: Chamonix, Hike to Bionnassay glacier, Hike to the Swiss border, Hike to " Lac Blanc", Planpraz and Brevent pass, Montets pass

Tour operator:

Intrepid Travel

Tour code:

ZFXM

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

1 - 14

Physical rating:

High

Age range:

15-99 years

Tour operated in:

English
From: $3145

NB: Prices correct on 05-Nov-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

If you’re looking for unforgettable alpine views, rewarding hikes and a fantastic place to rest your head each night, you’ve come to the right place. Set out on an eight-day hiking adventure through the Alps where you’ll explore the white landscapes on foot each day before returning to your base in Chamonix. With cable car rides included on several days, you’ll spend more time exploring and less time tackling tiring climbs – and with an International Mountain Leader guiding the way, you can trust that you’re in safe hands.

Highlights

  • There’s no denying that the Alps provide some of Europe’s most stunning sights, and a week of hiking will reveal awe-inspiring glaciers, lakes and mountains.

  • Soar over spectacular scenery and soak in unbeatable views during a series of cable car rides, meaning you can walk through the region’s best landscapes without the tiring climbs.

  • Explore with an experienced International Mountain Leader, a highly qualified guide who will ensure the group’s safety while bringing the scenery to life.

  • Stay in a historic hotel in the heart of Chamonix , surrounded by snow-capped peaks. Unpack just once and enjoy an epic location that can’t be topped.

  • Hiking can really work up an appetite, which is why all meals are included on hiking days, ensuring you’re fuelled up for your adventures.

  • Spend a week hiking the French Swiss Alps to see some of Europe’s most beautiful natural sights, including glaciers, lakes and mountains.

  • Explore with an experienced International Mountain Leader – a highly qualified guide who will ensure the group’s safety while bringing the scenery to life.

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Chamonix

Location: Chamonix

Bienvenue! Welcome to the French Alps. It’s recommended that you fly into Geneva airport, where bus transfers are readily available to Chamonix – the French town where you’ll be based for this adventure. When you arrive, settle into your accommodation – a historic and scenic hotel, surrounded by snow-capped peaks, that’s been run by the same family since its opening in 1914. You’ll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight to meet your local leader and the other traveller. After, maybe get to know each other over dinner in one of Chamonix’s local restaurants.

Day 2: Hike To Bionnassay Glacier

Location: Hike to Bionnassay glacier

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner

This morning you’ll take a cable car up to Bellevue. Not only does this cable car journey make the day’s hike more pleasant, you’ll also be treated to spectacular sweeping views of the surrounding landscape, including the Chamonix Needles, the Mont Blanc massif and the Aravis Range. Hike along the path of famous Tour du Mont Blanc, in the forests below the Bionnassay glacier, before hiking up the little summit of Tete de la Charme (1882 m). Descend to the village of Bionnassay for a taste of typical life in the mountains, and perhaps visit the local museum. Transfer back to your accommodation in Chamonix and enjoy a relaxing evening.

Included Activities:
-Bellevue cable car ride
-Tête de la Charme summit hike

Optional Activities:
-Bionnassay museum visit

Day 3: Hike To The Swiss Border

Location: Hike to the Swiss border

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner

Wake up and breathe in the fresh mountain air before heading out for another active day. Catch a train to the village of Le Tour, then start your hike through the Balme mountain pastures, first crossing through the untamed Posettes pass. Take some time to admire the iconic needles of the Mont Blanc massif, stretching from the Aiguille du Tour through the Drus and the famous Aiguille du Midi. You’ll also be able to see across to Switzerland and the Emosson Dam. Return to Chamonix by train and enjoy and evening at leisure.

Included Activities:
-Col de Balme & Col du Posettes guided hike

Day 4: Free Day In Chamonix

Location: Free day in Chamonix

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast

Today is a free day to take on your own adventure. You may like to spend some time exploring the numerous bars, cafes and restaurants that line the streets of Chamonix. Or perhaps you’d rather set out in search of breathtaking views – there are several cable car excursions available from Chamonix, one of the most spectacular being the ascent to Aiguille du Midi (3842 m), offering fantastic views of Mont Blanc and surrounding peaks. If you fancy getting active, there are loads of mountain biking, white water rafting, paragliding and hiking options in the area.

Optional Activities:
-Aiguille du Midi cable car ride

Day 5: Hike To " Lac Blanc"

Location: Hike to " Lac Blanc"

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner

Today’s hike will lead you to Lac Blanc, also known as the mirror of Mont Blanc. First, climb into the mountains on the Flegere cable car, which offers amazing alpine views that can only be seen by those travelling this way. After your ride, begin your hike towards the lake – one of the most beloved and celebrated walking routes in the region. Follow a high balcony path while keeping an eye out for wildlife – marmots, ibex and eagles are all frequently spotted along this trail! When you arrive at Lac Blanc, take some time to admire the snowy peaks in the reflective water – this is one scene you won’t forget. Give your legs a well-earned rest and return via the Flegere cable car, descending into the beautiful valley below.

Included Activities:
-Flégère cable car ride round trip, Lac Blanc guided hike

Day 6: Chamonix

Location: Chamonix

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner

Your hike today will lead you from Chamonix to Mer de Glace – France’s largest glacier. Lying above the Chamonix valley, this sprawling stretch of ice is one of the region’s most impressive sights. Walk uphill through dense patches of forest, taking in fantastic views of the valley and the surrounding peaks. After reaching the glacier, you have the option to continue a downhill loop back to Chamonix, or you may prefer to take the Montenvers train for a shorter scenic trip back.

Included Activities:
-La mer de Glace guided hike

Optional Activities:
-Montenvers Train trip

Day 7: Planpraz And Brevent Pass

Location: Planpraz and Brevent pass

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch

Today, you’ll take the cable car up to Brevent Station for perhaps the best view of Mont Blanc and the expansive Chamonix Valley – what better way to celebrate your last full day in the French Alps! Look over the Brevent Pass, then continue hiking to the Bel Lachat refuge and up to Brevent Lake, the perfect spot to pause and admire the landscape. Soak in views of the Mont Blanc massif and a land of ice and rock below. In the afternoon, take a scenic cable car ride, dropping from 2500 m all the way to Chamonix, sitting at 1000 m above sea level. Tonight, you may like to gather with your group for a final dinner to look back on everything you’ve seen and achieved over the past week.

Included Activities:
-Brévent cable car ride, Brévent pass & Bel Lachat guided hike

Day 8: Montets Pass

Location: Montets pass

Meals Included: breaksfast

Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast today, but for those keen to keep the fun going, there’s time for one last walk. Speak to your leader about the option of an unaccompanied bus ride and 1-hour signposted walk through flower-covered meadows to the Col des Montets. If you would like to extend your stay and need help organising additional accommodation, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.

Optional Activities:
-Col des Montets guided hike - Free

What's Included

  • Accommodation
    Hotel (7 nights)

  • Bellevue cable car ride

  • Tête de la Charme summit hike

  • Col de Balme & Col du Posettes guided hike

  • Flégère cable car ride round trip, Lac Blanc guided hike

  • La mer de Glace guided hike

  • Brévent cable car ride, Brévent pass & Bel Lachat guided hike

  • Meals

    7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners

What's Not Included

  • Tipping and Gratuities

  • International Travel

Transport

  • As this is a walking trip the majority of distances will be covered on foot. Some stretches may be done by public bus or private vehicle.

Accommodation

  • OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
  • The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
  • TWIN SHARE BASIS
  • Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis. We pair up solo travellers with another traveller of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on different Intrepid trips than your own.
  • CHECK-IN TIME
  • Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.
  • PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
  • If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.
  • FACILITIES
  • Your accommodation may not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don't provide kettles or fridges.

Important Information

  • 1. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm on Day 1. Please see Joining Point Hotel listed in the Essential Trip Information for this itinerary.
  • 2. Your adventure ends on Day 8 after breakfast. There are no activities included on that day.
  • 3. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

Mode of Transport

  • As this is a walking trip the majority of distances will be covered on foot. Some stretches may be done by public bus or private vehicle.

Check out our Q&As

  • Is this trip right for you

    This is a walking trip, and you must be in a good physical shape to fully enjoy it. On most of the walking days, we will walk for up to 5 hours.

    To avoid long and difficult climbs, cable car lifts have been included on 4 walking days. These rides will reward you with breathtaking views, but please be aware you will be very high off the ground.

    Be sure to bring the appropriate gear required for alpine hikes. See the ‘Packing’ section of the Essential Trip Information for more detail.

    This trip visits points over 2500 m, where there is a risk of being affected by Acute Mountain Sickness. Please be aware of the symptoms and let your leader know if you or any of your fellow travellers experience any.

    On this trip you must pack as lightly as possible because you will be expected to carry your own bag and although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes), we strongly recommend keeping the weight under 15 kg (33 lb). Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice. You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera for daytrips.

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room

Reviews of this operator

Maroochy Dazza (Google Reviewer)  

Just leaving a review to...

24-Aug-2023

Just leaving a review to share how much I enjoyed my Central America trip. I thought the guide, Aura was so knowledgeable and organised and clearly a great ambassador for Intrepid. She gave us lots of information on each region, helped us organise anything we needed and dealt with queries from passengers very well and diplomatically. She made the trip run smoothly. She was also keen to explain the Intrepid vision and how the company values making a difference to locals and is a credit to your company. I did Guatemala and beyond and thoroughly enjoyed it - very fast paced, lots to see and do and a great overview of the region. I would definitely recommend 👍

LivvyGrace 4 (Google Reviewer)  

I just completed my first...

15-Jul-2024

I just completed my first Intrepid tour which was 33 days travelling around Central America - I had the time of my life! It was great to have the benefit of a guide (Fluffy was amazing!) and be able to ask questions at any point, but I also liked the freedom that you were permitted throughout. The group tour made boarder crossings seamless and the whole process felt easy - there was never one hiccup. As a solo female traveller, I felt safe throughout, and I cannot recommend Central America enough - the people, the food, the sun and the activities were just amazing :) Can't wait to book my next adventure soon!

V Open (Google Reviewer)  

I have just come back...

26-Oct-2022

I have just come back home after doing Intrepid's 10-day Vietnam Express Northbound tour. What a SUPERB tour. We saw lots and did lots, it was jam-packed full of sights and activities. Our tour leader, Tam, was the best ever. Very knowledgeable, organised and lots of fun too. The other 10 people on the group were all lovely. The places we visited were very interesting. We even visited local homes and ate just like the local people do. I highly recommend Intrepid to anyone considering touring a new country. This was my 5th tour with them and they have consistently been fantastic.

Jack Edwards (Google Reviewer)  

I have travelled with Intrepid...

03-Jun-2024

I have travelled with Intrepid a number of times now and can't recommend them enough. The trips are always exciting, full of history and immersive in the culture and environment. The office staff are great too and always happy to help with any questions you might have. Everywhere I have gone with the company has been different but the guides and itinerary have always been excellent and full of knowledge and passion for their country. Add in the social responsibility angle the company has and it top quality ethical practice and you can't go wrong

Jo Clayton (Google Reviewer)  

I recently went on an...

15-Mar-2024

I recently went on an 11 day tour of India with Intrepid and was impressed with every aspect of the tour, the tour leader and the organisation behind the scenes. I always travel alone so it was a big deal to join a tour, I didn't want to feel less independent or ferried about. I loved being part of a group and the things we saw and did on the tour, I would never have known about or seen if I had been by myself. I loved it from start to finish. Yes the overnight trains were not easy to sleep on, but I managed. Meeting locals on board was a high light for me. English is widely spoken in India and its amazing who you strike up a chat with. I had two problems on the tour - one my own fault and one hotel related. The support from Intrepid was amazing. I cannot thank them enough for going the extra mile to support me. I recommend Intrepid 100% and have gone from thinking an organised tour is for people who don't know about Lonely Planet and can't do solo stuff, to realising its a faster, better, more fun way to get to know a country truly and deeply whilst on a bit of a budget. I will book again and again with Intrepid. I loved it that much! Big thanks to tour leader Daddy H. Devender for his help on day one, and Nick in the Oz office for his fab customer care skills. Also the person who staffed the emergency whatsapp in India - you saved my sanity helping me get there a day late! THANK YOU ALL X

Nicole  

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12-Oct-2021

This was my first international solo trip, but I never felt “alone” - there was always someone to go shopping, hike, or grab a quick bite with. The itinerary was a great balance between organized activities, while still allowing free time for exploring. Each location was unique and charming in its own way. Spending the night in the holy city of Moulay Idriss and wandering the winding streets of Chefchaouen were especially memorable. Thank you Mustapha and Intrepid for an incredible adventure!

Alice Norton (Google Reviewer)  

I have just completed a...

29-Feb-2024

I have just completed a 12 day food tour of Vietnam, and had an amazing time. Our tour leader was great, knowledgeable and kind, who helped throughout the trip with recommendations for places on our free days, and spas. All the food we tried was delicious. It is a very fast paced tour, and Bon tried to maximise our experiences for the best.

Henry Guy Robinson   United Kingdom

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13-Aug-2024

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Book with Confidence

  • Free Date Changes

    Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.

    Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.

    At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.

    At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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