You'll have two nights without your luggage, mixing stays in remote inns and huts with village hotels. You'll start with 2 nights in Chamonix, in a luxurious 4-star hotel, followed by a night in one of our favorite mountain inns in the nearby Bionnassay valley. The next day, a van transfer takes you from nearby les Contamines to the distinctive village of Courmayeur, on the Italian side of Mont Blanc. After a night in Courmayeur, hike through one of the most spectacular valleys in the Alps, the Italian Val Ferret, for a night in the very comfortable Bonatti hut. Finally, hike to the Ferret pass to peer into Switzerland before returning by bus to finish your tour in Courmayeur.

Your typical day starts with a continental buffet breakfast at our inn, which gives you the energy needed for a big day of hiking. Before setting out on your hike, visit a bakery and market for lunch supplies, or bring some money for a stop in one of the alpine restaurants along your route. Soon, you'll be out on the trail for 6-8 hours. With a couple of passes to cross, the hiking is often strenuous, but there will also be opportunities for easier days.

You should finish your hike around 4-5 pm, giving you time to wash up, relax, and gaze upon Mont Blanc and the surrounding scenery. After that, enjoy a delicious dinner at your inn or on your own in town. These are multi-course feasts, featuring delicious local French and Italian specialties. A hearty meal provides a satisfying end to your day.

With hikes in three countries, beautiful inns, and select trails among the highest mountains in the Alps, the Chamonix Mont Blanc tour is a gorgeous journey that does true justice to this amazing region.

Day 1 Arrive in Geneva, and we will arrange your transfer to Chamonix, the world-famous resort and mountaineering center in France. Enjoy your first impressive views of Mont Blanc, with perhaps time for a daytrip up the Aiguille du Midi cablecar. Relax at the pool or garden of your exquisite 4-star hotel. (Hameau Albert 1er)
Day 2 One of the classic hikes in the region leads to Lac Blanc for an introductory dayhike. This high-mountain lake sits in the Aiguilles Rouges Nature Preserve, a rugged ridge across the valley from Mont Blanc, and commands one of the greatest mountain views anywhere. Make good use of local cablecars to can enjoy more time hiking near the lake, and keep an eye open for bouquetin - a mountain goat with long curved horns that are frequently sighted in this region. Return to Chamonix for a 2nd night. (Hameau Albert 1er)
Day 3 Hiking the traditional first stage of the Mont Blanc tour brings you over the minor Voza pass to the lovely Bionnassay valley, a wooded region with impressive glaciers and waterfalls, and capped by blinding peaks. Here you'll stay in a quaint, flower-covered inn for a rustic and memorable night. (auberge de Bionnassay)
Day 4 After a morning hike to the nearby village of les Contamines, transfer by private taxi through the Mont Blanc tunnel to the charming, cobblestoned village of Courmayeur, the heart of the Italian Mont Blanc region. Stay in a friendly and comfortable 3-star hotel and enjoy a night of la dolce vita while exploring the village center! (Hotel Bouton d'Or)
Day 5 One of the most spectacular hikes in the Mont Blanc region climbs from Courmayeur above the Val Ferret, with the vertical cliffs of Mont Blanc and the Grandes Jorasses towering above you to the west while the valley falls away below. Serious hikers can climb to the top of the Mont de la Saxe ridge, while lower trails make an easier, scenic traverse. Truly a magnificent day, and one of the highlights of the Mont Blanc circuit. Stay in a comfortable alpine hut. (rifugio Bonatti)
Day 6 Hiking toward the Grand Col Ferret, you'll descend down to the valley floor with time for an optional hike to the Grand Col Ferret pass separating Italy from Switzerland, and returning by bus to Courmayeur for the final night of your self-guided Chamonix Mont Blanc Highlights tour. (Hotel Bouton d'Or)
Day 7 After breakfast, return by van to Geneva.

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Our self-guided prices are per person, based on two people sharing a standard double room. This tour includes 4 nights prepaid hotels in Chamonix and Courmayeur, breakfast each day, reservations for 2 nights and meals in remote mountain inns, Geneva airport transfer to Chamonix and back from Courmayeur, taxi transfer from les Contamines to Courmayeur, hiking maps, detailed route descriptions (including longer, shorter, and rainy day options), train schedules, sightseeing suggestions, and lots of useful information to help ensure a successful trip.

Not included are lunches, dinners, drinks with dinners, extras (such as laundry, phone calls from the room, etc), transportation other than the transfers mentioned above, or the cost of the nights and meals at Auberge de Bionnassay or Bonatti hut (about $50-60 per person per night). The large single supplement is required because of fixed room rates in Chamonix and taxi costs.

If you'd like to lengthen or shorten this tour, add destinations, or create a customized tour of the Mont Blanc region from scratch, let us know. We have extensive experience all over the Alps, and will be happy to work with you to build the hiking vacation that best suits your needs.

Learn more about custom and self-guided tours