Tour du Mont Blanc

We start our journey in Geneva, heading towards the iconic mountain town of Chamonix, nestled in the heart of the French Alps. The dramatic views of Mont Blanc are a sight to behold. After settling into our accommodation at Hotel Pointe Isabelle (or similar), we'll have time to explore the town before gathering for a welcome dinner.

Today, we'll hike above Chamonix to the Mer de Glace, one of the largest glaciers in France. We'll take a train up to Montenvers, overlooking the glacier, and hike further up to Le Signal Forbes for an incredible view. After descending, we'll visit the Grotto de Glace, a new ice cave dug into the glacier each year. The afternoon is free for you to relax and explore Chamonix.

We'll leave Chamonix by Gondola up to Brevent, one of the highest peaks in the Aiguilles Rouges range. From here, we'll hike across the Carlaveyron Plateau, offering unparalleled views of Mont Blanc, the Fiz range, and the Chamonix valley. We'll descend to the village of Les Houches, where we'll enjoy a hearty French mountain meal at Hotel Les Campanules (or similar).

We'll drive a short distance to Annecy, one of the most beautiful towns in Europe. We'll explore the stunning Lake Annecy by sea kayak, discovering its numerous coves and beaches. Later, we'll explore the town's narrow cobbled streets and 16th-century gothic architecture. We'll then head back to Les Contamines, where we'll stay at the Gai Soleil Hotel (or similar).

We'll return to the Mont Blanc Circuit, starting our hike on an old Roman road to Plan des Dames. We'll ascend the iconic Col du Bonhomme, the gateway to the Beaufortain region, famous for its unique cheeses. After lunch, we'll descend into the valley below to Les Chapieux, before driving to our accommodation in the hamlet of Bourg St Maurice, where we'll stay at Hotel Autantic (or similar).

After breakfast, we'll visit a local family-run Beaufort cheese factory in Les Chapieux. We'll then begin our ascent of the 'Vallee des Glaciers'. Our first destination is the Col de la Seigne, the pass that straddles the border between France and Italy. We'll descend into the Italian countryside, passing through green pastures and alpine streams, before reaching the picture-perfect Italian village of Courmayeur, where we'll stay at Hotel Croux (or similar).

We'll leave Courmayeur and hike up to Rifugio Bertone, stopping for an espresso and soaking in the views of Mont Blanc. We'll continue on the Mont de la Saxe balcony trail, offering stunning views of the Mont Blanc massif. After lunch, we'll descend into the Val Ferret and the green pastures of Lavachey, where we'll enjoy a classic home-cooked Italian/French meal at Hotel Lavachey (or similar).

We'll start our hike to Switzerland, crossing one of the Mont Blanc region's most renowned passes - the Grand Col Ferret. We'll hike down to La Fouly through classic Swiss pastures, before a short drive to Champex Lac, a picture-perfect lakeside village and our home for the evening. We'll stay at Hotel Sporting (or similar).

Today is a proper 'Swiss cow day' as we hike through some of the greenest and most picturesque valleys on the planet, accompanied by the soundtrack of cow bells ringing across the meadows. We'll hike to Bovine peak, offering great views of the Wildstrubel. After our hike, we'll head down into the town of Argentiere, where we'll stay at Hotel Dahu (or similar).

We'll start the day with a thrilling mountain bike ride from Argentiere back to Chamonix. After a picnic lunch, we'll take the Aiguille du Midi cable car, offering once in a lifetime views of the Alps from a high altitude perspective. We'll spend the final evening of our trip together in Chamonix, staying at Hotel Pointe Isabelle (or similar).