Walk the northern section of the Tour du Mont Blanc from Courmayeur to Chamonix. Trekking through France, Italy and Switzerland, spending each night in hotels.
Traverse high alpine trails and soak up the superb panoramas, including the snow-capped peaks and glaciers of the Mont Blanc Massif. Stay in the charming Swiss lakeside village of Champex and return to France by way of the Col de Balme at the head of Chamonix Valley.
Please note: additional transfer fees may apply if our regular accommodation providers have no availability for your preferred departure date. Should this occur, the cost will be communicated to you prior to confirming the booking. If you choose to cancel as a result, your deposit will of course be refunded in full.
During this tour, you will stay in 3* hotels, small family-run hotels or mountain auberges (small simple hotels). With the exception of Night 5, all rooms are private en-suite. On Night 5 in Trient, accommodation options are limited and bathrooms are shared, but from our experience, they are always clean with a plentiful supply of hot water! Importantly you will have your luggage with you every night. There will be no need to buy and carry sleep sheets or towels and worry about what to carry with you for an overnight without your luggage.
All the accommodations are accustomed to welcoming trekkers and very well equipped to make your stay comfortable regardless of the weather conditions. Typically, rooms are simple but very comfortable. As many of the overnight stays are in small villages or towns, on occasion, we may have to book another similar accommodation of equal standard. We will discuss these options with you during the booking process.
Should you also request a double room, please note it is the norm in Switzerland for two separate single beds with individual bed linen to be pushed together or even placed into one large bed frame.
Dining
You will be provided with 8 breakfasts and 3 dinners. If you have any food allergies or intolerances, please let us know at the time of booking so we can let your hosts know. Should you have severe food allergies, it’s always worth bringing a few of your own snacks with you. Especially as ingredients and supplies can be hard to obtain in the mountains.
You will find in some of the smaller accommodations, dining is very often on communal tables with set mealtimes. This enables small kitchen teams to ensure everyone is fed on time and nobody is left hungry after a long day of trekking! Lunches can be purchased locally, which is a great part of the experience as you even can have a sit-down lunch on the track as you go some days. The towns and villages you pass through are renowned for their specialty breads, cheeses and meats (many of which continue to be produced by hand). If you’re lucky enough to encounter a local farmers’ market, the choice and range of local foods are staggering. Many of your accommodations will also make a picnic lunch for you. A staff favourite is the Beaufort cheese from La Vallee des Glaciers, which you can purchase fresh from the farm. Within your daily walk notes, there are detailed suggestions of where to buy lunch each day.
On the nights dinner isn’t provided, there are many options for you to choose from!
In early July it is possible the trail might remain closed due to heavy snowfall. Should this happen we would do our very best to reschedule the tour for a later date (on occasion it is possible the tour might even be cancelled, but this is rare). Up until late July, some of the higher passes may still have snow on them (with the possibility of them being closed). Should this happen you will be provided with comprehensive information about taking an alternative route and/or local transport. In the event of any major route closures, we will contact you prior to travel and discuss the alternative walk options with you.
Towards the end of the season (early September) some transport options will have stopped operating for the season. You should therefore be prepared to walk the full distance every day. There is always the option of using a local taxi if necessary. Within your travel notes, advice will be given for all transport options to shorten or skip the walking for that specific day.
Challenging – Tracks and trails on this tour will have prolonged ascents and descents along sections of rough surface and steps. An average of 16km, 1061m ascent and 1052m descent each day. You may find some sections have narrow footpaths and for your guidance on very rare occasions on very short sections, safety cable lengths have been put in place for you to use as a handrail if needed. Having an active lifestyle and preparing or being an experienced walker will make the journey enjoyable. We would suggest an exercise regime that incorporates uphill walks at least 3 to 4 times weekly.
You will be walking around 16km a day with up to 1500m of ascent and descent. Trails are well-defined, well waymarked and cover a variety of terrains which include forest tracks, high alpine pastures, rocky mountain paths and through mountain towns and villages. It is also possible you may have to cross some snowy patches on the ascent or descent of higher mountain cols, so good mountain footwear is required! On days 10 and 11 there are short sections of metal ladders, handrails and foot rungs bolted into the rock which is very straightforward to follow. However, if you suffer from vertigo, or have any further questions about these sections, we’d be happy to discuss the options to get around these walks.
Although the route is well waymarked for each of your walks, you will be provided with Stroll comprehensive walk notes, a summary of daily walks, maps (and GPX tracks if you require to use for your own device). Mountain weather can change quickly so it is essential that at least one of your trekking party is confident in using a map and compass to navigate (should visibility drop). You should always be able to locate your whereabouts on a map.
To Courmayeur
This walk starts in Courmayeur. We have not included any transfers, you will need to make your own way to the start of the walk. The closest airport is Geneva Airport. We can arrange a shared transfer from Geneva Airport to Chamonix bus station at an additional cost. This is only available between 10.00am and 7.30pm (9.00pm on Thursday and Friday nights only). From Chamonix bus station it is an easy bus ride to Courmayeur and then a short walk to your accommodation.
There is also a train station in Chamonix if you wish to arrive by train from Paris, for example.
Onward travel from Chamonix
This walk ends in Chamonix. We have not included any transfers for you. You will need to make your own way from Chamonix. We can arrange a transfer from Chamonix to Geneva Airport at an additional cost, please see above times and ask your destination consultant for assistance.
A useful planning tool for travel is Rome2Rio should you be travelling from or to other destinations.
Each morning it will be up to you to place your luggage at the designated luggage pick-up point within the hotel by 8.00 am. This generally will be at reception or where you pick up your luggage the night before. Please consult your hosts if any details. Bags must be less than 15kg (this is French legislation) and be Soft Bags (i.e. not hard cases).
Importantly, any excess kilos can be stored for free at the luggage transfer company.
We require that you have adequate travel insurance against potential losses, damage or injury, including cancellation costs and loss of luggage.
For all trips that require international travel, you must have purchased travel insurance that also includes medical evacuation coverage.
We also charge a cancellation fee if you cancel your walking holiday after we have confirmed it to cover costs incurred from our suppliers and in the office. See the FAQ section for more information.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask one of our destination consultants. You can get in touch with us via our contact form or email us at info@stroll.com
Walk the northern section of the Tour du Mont Blanc from Courmayeur to Chamonix. Trekking through France, Italy and Switzerland, spending each night in hotels.
Traverse high alpine trails and soak up the superb panoramas, including the snow-capped peaks and glaciers of the Mont Blanc Massif. Stay in the charming Swiss lakeside village of Champex and return to France by way of the Col de Balme at the head of Chamonix Valley.
Please note: additional transfer fees may apply if our regular accommodation providers have no availability for your preferred departure date. Should this occur, the cost will be communicated to you prior to confirming the booking. If you choose to cancel as a result, your deposit will of course be refunded in full.
During this tour, you will stay in 3* hotels, small family-run hotels or mountain auberges (small simple hotels). With the exception of Night 5, all rooms are private en-suite. On Night 5 in Trient, accommodation options are limited and bathrooms are shared, but from our experience, they are always clean with a plentiful supply of hot water! Importantly you will have your luggage with you every night. There will be no need to buy and carry sleep sheets or towels and worry about what to carry with you for an overnight without your luggage.
All the accommodations are accustomed to welcoming trekkers and very well equipped to make your stay comfortable regardless of the weather conditions. Typically, rooms are simple but very comfortable. As many of the overnight stays are in small villages or towns, on occasion, we may have to book another similar accommodation of equal standard. We will discuss these options with you during the booking process.
Should you also request a double room, please note it is the norm in Switzerland for two separate single beds with individual bed linen to be pushed together or even placed into one large bed frame.
Dining
You will be provided with 8 breakfasts and 3 dinners. If you have any food allergies or intolerances, please let us know at the time of booking so we can let your hosts know. Should you have severe food allergies, it’s always worth bringing a few of your own snacks with you. Especially as ingredients and supplies can be hard to obtain in the mountains.
You will find in some of the smaller accommodations, dining is very often on communal tables with set mealtimes. This enables small kitchen teams to ensure everyone is fed on time and nobody is left hungry after a long day of trekking! Lunches can be purchased locally, which is a great part of the experience as you even can have a sit-down lunch on the track as you go some days. The towns and villages you pass through are renowned for their specialty breads, cheeses and meats (many of which continue to be produced by hand). If you’re lucky enough to encounter a local farmers’ market, the choice and range of local foods are staggering. Many of your accommodations will also make a picnic lunch for you. A staff favourite is the Beaufort cheese from La Vallee des Glaciers, which you can purchase fresh from the farm. Within your daily walk notes, there are detailed suggestions of where to buy lunch each day.
On the nights dinner isn’t provided, there are many options for you to choose from!
In early July it is possible the trail might remain closed due to heavy snowfall. Should this happen we would do our very best to reschedule the tour for a later date (on occasion it is possible the tour might even be cancelled, but this is rare). Up until late July, some of the higher passes may still have snow on them (with the possibility of them being closed). Should this happen you will be provided with comprehensive information about taking an alternative route and/or local transport. In the event of any major route closures, we will contact you prior to travel and discuss the alternative walk options with you.
Towards the end of the season (early September) some transport options will have stopped operating for the season. You should therefore be prepared to walk the full distance every day. There is always the option of using a local taxi if necessary. Within your travel notes, advice will be given for all transport options to shorten or skip the walking for that specific day.
Challenging – Tracks and trails on this tour will have prolonged ascents and descents along sections of rough surface and steps. An average of 16km, 1061m ascent and 1052m descent each day. You may find some sections have narrow footpaths and for your guidance on very rare occasions on very short sections, safety cable lengths have been put in place for you to use as a handrail if needed. Having an active lifestyle and preparing or being an experienced walker will make the journey enjoyable. We would suggest an exercise regime that incorporates uphill walks at least 3 to 4 times weekly.
You will be walking around 16km a day with up to 1500m of ascent and descent. Trails are well-defined, well waymarked and cover a variety of terrains which include forest tracks, high alpine pastures, rocky mountain paths and through mountain towns and villages. It is also possible you may have to cross some snowy patches on the ascent or descent of higher mountain cols, so good mountain footwear is required! On days 10 and 11 there are short sections of metal ladders, handrails and foot rungs bolted into the rock which is very straightforward to follow. However, if you suffer from vertigo, or have any further questions about these sections, we’d be happy to discuss the options to get around these walks.
Although the route is well waymarked for each of your walks, you will be provided with Stroll comprehensive walk notes, a summary of daily walks, maps (and GPX tracks if you require to use for your own device). Mountain weather can change quickly so it is essential that at least one of your trekking party is confident in using a map and compass to navigate (should visibility drop). You should always be able to locate your whereabouts on a map.
To Courmayeur
This walk starts in Courmayeur. We have not included any transfers, you will need to make your own way to the start of the walk. The closest airport is Geneva Airport. We can arrange a shared transfer from Geneva Airport to Chamonix bus station at an additional cost. This is only available between 10.00am and 7.30pm (9.00pm on Thursday and Friday nights only). From Chamonix bus station it is an easy bus ride to Courmayeur and then a short walk to your accommodation.
There is also a train station in Chamonix if you wish to arrive by train from Paris, for example.
Onward travel from Chamonix
This walk ends in Chamonix. We have not included any transfers for you. You will need to make your own way from Chamonix. We can arrange a transfer from Chamonix to Geneva Airport at an additional cost, please see above times and ask your destination consultant for assistance.
A useful planning tool for travel is Rome2Rio should you be travelling from or to other destinations.
Each morning it will be up to you to place your luggage at the designated luggage pick-up point within the hotel by 8.00 am. This generally will be at reception or where you pick up your luggage the night before. Please consult your hosts if any details. Bags must be less than 15kg (this is French legislation) and be Soft Bags (i.e. not hard cases).
Importantly, any excess kilos can be stored for free at the luggage transfer company.
We require that you have adequate travel insurance against potential losses, damage or injury, including cancellation costs and loss of luggage.
For all trips that require international travel, you must have purchased travel insurance that also includes medical evacuation coverage.
We also charge a cancellation fee if you cancel your walking holiday after we have confirmed it to cover costs incurred from our suppliers and in the office. See the FAQ section for more information.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask one of our destination consultants. You can get in touch with us via our contact form or email us at info@stroll.com
High-season surcharge may apply in August
High-season surcharge may apply in August