Global Adventure - Trek Hut to Hut on the Tour du Mont Blanc

Itinerary Highlights: This adventure offers intense physical challenge and an opportunity to explore the majestic balconies, high alpine passes, quaint villages, and glorious valleys in the shadows of Western Europe’s highest mountain – Mont Blanc.

After 2 nights in Chamonix for exploring, waiting for any late luggage, and enjoying a group welcome dinner, our trek will start with a short train ride to our trailhead at Les Houches.  Trekking the circuit counter-clockwise, we’ll have a big ascent out of Les Houches on our first day as we tackle Col de Voza (5,436’) and Col de Tricot (6,627’) on our way to Les Contamines - Montjoie.  Day 2 will also be a big day; we’ll trek to the head of Val Montjoie and then ascend Col du Bonhomme (7,641’) and Col de la Croix du Bonhomme (8,133’) to reach the slopes overlooking Vallée des Glaciers.

We’ll start day 3 with an ascent of the barren Col des Fours (8,743’) and a short out-and-back detour to the summit of Tête Nord des Fours (9,040’) – the highest point of our trek.  We cross into Italy later in the day, when we ascend Col de la Seigne (8,254’) before arriving at Rifugio Elisabetta.  Day 4 begins with a traverse of a balcony trail offering gorgeous views of Mont Blanc and ends with a descent into traffic-free and shop-filled Courmayeur.  After two nights and a well-deserved rest day in Courmayeur, on day 6 we’ll continue to Rifugio Bonatti, the mid-point of our trek.

We enter Switzerland on day 7 as we cross Grand Col Ferret (8,323’) on our way to La Fouly, trading Italy’s jagged peaks for Switzerland’s quaint villages and glorious valleys.  After a relatively short and easy trek along the forested floor of Val Ferret, we’ll arrive in the extremely picturesque lakeside village of Champex-Lac on day 8.  Our easy day 8 will help prepare us for day 9, which is described by some as the most challenging of the entire tour: an ascent of the rocky Fenêtre d’Arpette (8,743’), which is tied with Col des Fours as the highest point on the “official” Tour du Mont Blanc (but not the highest point of our adventure, since we’re visiting the summit of Tête Nord des Fours on day 3).

After an overnight in Trient, we’ll cross back into France on day 10 at Col de Balme (7,188’), where we’ll be rewarded with views of Mont Blanc and the Chamonix Valley before we descend to our accommodations in Tré-le-Champ.  Stunning, uninterrupted views of Mont Blanc will continue into day 11, as we ascend a series of metal ladders, rungs, platforms, and timber steps to reach the cairn at Tête aux Vents (6,998’) and then trek the highly-acclaimed Grand Balcon Sud to reach Refuge de La Flégère.  Continuing along Grand Balcon Sud on day 12, we’ll ascend to the summit of Le Brévent (8,284’) for more uninterrupted views of Mont Blanc before we make a big descent to our trailhead at Les Houches.

A short train ride will bring us back to Chamonix, where we’ll have a night to get cleaned up, enjoy a group celebratory dinner, and get some rest before returning home or continuing to other adventures (such as the trip leader's Haute Route trip) the next day.

A total of 15 days, this adventure includes 2 days for arrivals in Chamonix, 12 days of trekking, and 1 day for departing Chamonix.

This trek is Very Strenuous / Challenging.  During our 12 days of trekking, we’ll cover 105+ miles and 39,000’+ gain, with a maximum elevation of 9,040’.  Our daily mileage will vary between 5 and 12 miles per day (with an average of 10 miles per day), and our elevation gain will range from 1,810’ to 5,325’ (with an average of 3,500’ per day).  Our route includes steep/rocky terrain, ascents/descents of ladders, and areas of moderate exposure.

There are options from many places along the route for participants to exit via taxi, bus, train, or gondola if required.  Many days include low-elevation alternative routes.  These public transit options and alternative routes can be used to skip sections of the route in case of bad/hazardous weather, unsafe terrain, time constraints, or injury/illness/fitness.

Participants will carry their own backpacks containing their own gear (trail clothing, hut clothing, batteries, toiletries, 10 essentials, etc), but won’t need to bring or carry tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, stoves, fuel, or cookware.  Participants will also carry lunches and snacks.

Is this adventure right for you?  You enjoy the challenge of very strenuous, high-mileage/high-gain days.  You accept and embrace challenges such as weather, areas of moderate exposure, and steep/rocky terrain where you need to use your hands for balance.  You feel a sense of accomplishment as you enjoy a hot meal and a cold beverage after a long, hard day.  You’re able to roll with the punches and go with the flow; you accept and embrace the proverbial curve balls that will inevitably be thrown our way.  You’re willing to help/support others, and to put the team first.

Time of Year: We’ll be visiting during the region’s peak summer, when the likelihood of clear skies and warm temperatures are highest (though cold, rain, hail, snow, wind, lightning, and other foul weather can arise at any time).

Weather: Expect daytime highs in the 70°F-80°F range, with hot, bright sun and minimal tree canopy.  We can expect chilly nights in the 40°F-50°F range.  An average August in the Swiss Alps has 19 days with some precipitation and a total of nearly 7” of rain.  We should expect days with rain, fog, and possible thunderstorms; temperatures will decrease substantially anytime we’re in the vicinity of glaciers or snowfields.

Lodging:  2 nights in a hotel in Chamonix, followed by 11 nights on-trail in mountain huts, followed by 1 night in a hotel in Chamonix.  All hotels and huts will have restrooms, and all hotels and many huts will have showers (some huts’ showers may be cold and/or require a modest payment).  Our hotels will have double- or triple-occupancy private rooms, and when staying in huts we’ll sleep in 10+ person, mixed-gender, dormitory-style bunk rooms.

Food: While staying in Chamonix before our trek, breakfasts are included and our welcome dinner on August 2^nd is included.  Participants are responsible for other meals while in Chamonix (all meals on August 1^st, lunch on August 2^nd).  During our trek, breakfasts and 8 dinners are included (and will be supplied daily by our mountain huts).  Participants are responsible for all other meals (lunches, snacks, 3 dinners) during our trek.  We’ll be able to purchase lunches and light snacks at many of the huts, as well as in towns both before our trek (in Chamonix) and halfway through our trek (in Courmayeur).  The 3 dinners not included during our trek can be purchased at restaurants near our huts.  On some days during our trek, we’ll pass small cafes and villages where we can purchase additional food or snacks as needed.  While staying in Chamonix after our trek, our celebratory dinner on August 14^th is included and our breakfast on August 15^th is included.  Beverages other than water are not included before, during, or after our trek.

Dietary Restrictions: Vegetarian diets can be accommodated, but other special dietary preferences or requirements may be difficult to satisfy without the participant providing at least some of their own food at their own expense.

Provisions: Good shopping options are available both before our trek (in Chamonix) and halfway through our trek (in Courmayeur).  Participants may want to arrive in Chamonix with all toiletries required for the trek, as well as any special on-trail provisions that they prefer (e.g., favorite drink mixes/electrolytes, coffee flavorings/additives, peanut/almond butter, dehydrated hummus, or other specialty food items) that are unlikely to be offered by huts or stores in the region.

Leader’s experience: Colin Chapman (colindchapman@gmail.com) is an active backpacking, snowshoeing, and winter camping instructor and trip leader with the Mountaineers.  Colin has led dozens of overnight backpacking and snowshoeing trips for the Mountaineers, including trips into areas – such as Greenland’s eastern fjords, Wyoming’s Wind River Range, Torres del Paine’s O Circuit, and Switzerland’s Jungfrau region – with extensive off-trail travel, challenging terrain, and adverse weather.  Colin has completed the Wonderland Trail (twice) and John Muir Trail, has Wilderness First Responder, AIARE 1, and AIARE Rescue certifications, and serves on the Nordic Patrol (part of National Ski Patrol) at Mount Rainier National Park.

Participant requirements:  Must be a current Mountaineers member with an up-to-date waiver on file.

This outing is VERY STRENUOUS, and much of the route is on RUGGED TERRAIN.  Participants must have experience and confidence trekking on steep, rocky terrain including ascents, descents, and traverses of steep scree/talus slopes, boulders, rock slabs, rocky ridgelines, and narrow paths.  Ascents and descents of steep, narrow ladders (with rungs but potentially no side rails) will be required.  Some areas will have moderate exposure, and low-consequence snowfield crossings may be required.  The high-route ascent and descent of Fenêtre d'Arpette is long, steep, and can be icy.  Trekking poles will be required and we will use microspikes if needed; we will take the low-route alternative if conditions warrant the use of ice axes.  Steep ascents and descents on boulders and rock slabs will require the ability to take tall, extended steps up/down while using hands for stability.  All while carrying a loaded backpack.

Participants must be in excellent physical condition and demonstrate their ability to do 12 miles and 3,500’ gain on multiple consecutive days on rugged terrain with a loaded backpack.  Participants must also have the endurance, experience, willingness, and flexibility to deal with extended periods of significant mileage, substantial elevation gain/loss, challenging terrain, and inclement weather (cold, rain, hail, snow, wind, lightning).  Participants must understand that route adjustments could be required in the event of unanticipated weather, terrain, or participant conditions.

A positive, go-with-the-flow, roll-with-the-punches attitude and a demonstrated ability to get along well in group settings under demanding conditions is required.

Potential participants must read, understand and agree with the leader’s Goals, Expectations, and Style for the trip (link).  If these principles don’t match yours then this trip will not be a good fit for you.  In signing the Trip Agreement, you acknowledge that you understand and accept these principles and agree to support them during the trip.

Participants will be screened based on application responses, conversations with past Mountaineers leaders and other respected colleagues, the leader’s past direct experience with the applicant, and the leader’s impressions from in-depth conversations with the applicant. 

NOTE: Your leader makes most of the arrangements and provides logistics support during the trip, but is NOT a tour guide!  As a Mountaineers group we will operate as interdependent, capable travelers making our way together and helping one another succeed and be safe.  You are responsible for your own safety and that of your fellow travelers.  At any time, if weather, tide, terrain, or other conditions become dangerous, we will exit early or find a safer, alternate route.

It is a core philosophy that Mountaineers take care of each other.  As part of this ethic, we strongly encourage all participants before the trip to be up to date on the  relevant vaccinations and boosters required for your age group for respiratory viruses including Covid-19, and to take precautions before the trip including avoiding indoor crowds and gatherings the week prior to the trip that carry a risk of bringing illness to the group, and masking during all transport to the adventure.  During the trip we ask every participant to:

• proactively communicate any symptoms of covid or respiratory illness to your trip leader as soon as they appear; mask when with others in the group; and work with the leader to isolate as much as possible
• carry 4 self-tests and test yourself proactively if you begin to experience any symptoms that could indicate a covid infection
• isolate in the case of any positive test or if you exhibit any contagious respiratory virus symptoms, until fever is gone without medication and contagious symptoms have declined significantly.

See our latest Global Adventures Respiratory Illness/Covid Prevention Policy at this link.

Each participant will be required to hold emergency medical treatment and emergency evacuation insurance sufficient to get them home in case of an illness or injury during the trek.   We also recommend trip cancellation/interruption insurance to allow you to recover your non-refundable expenses if you have to cancel before or during the trip due to an illness or injury.   (Insurance will be at your own expense.)  Details on travel insurance, what to get and how to get it will be communicated by the trip leader as soon as you join the roster.

Trip Price Detail: $5000.  Price includes all lodging, all breakfasts, welcome and celebratory dinners in Chamonix, 8 dinners during the trek, and planned rail/gondola transfers between Chamonix and the trailhead.  Price does not include transportation between home and Chamonix (~$1700), lunches and snacks (~$400), 3 dinners during the trek (~$150), beverages other than water, or emergency medical treatment and emergency evacuation insurance (~$75-$350).

Registration: Please complete and submit the application form at the button below, after which the trip leader may get back to you with additional questions.  If you receive the trip leader’s approval to join the roster, please pay the 50% deposit to reserve your place on the roster.  Approval to join the roster will not necessarily be a function of your date of application; it will also reflect your experience and fitness.  A place on the roster can only be held with payment of the deposit.  Registration will close as soon as the roster fills.  The balance of the trip payment will be due sometime in the spring of 2026.  As soon as you have registered, you’ll be asked to also complete online Trip Agreement and Liability Release forms.

Application Form

Cancellation Policy:  If you cancel 180 or more days before the August 1^st arrival date, you may receive a refund less a $1000 cancellation fee and any other non-refundable expenses incurred up to that time.  And if you cancel less than 180 days before the August 1^st arrival date, no refund is available.  NOTE: the cancellation fees above may be waived other than a minimum $100 admin fee if someone can be found to take your place on the trip.

Arrive in Chamonix, France anytime on Saturday August 1^st, 2026.  Depart from Chamonix anytime on Saturday August 15^th to return home or continue to other adventures (such as the trip leader's Haute Route trip).

Participants are responsible for their own transportation between home and Chamonix, both before and after the adventure.  Frequent commercial van shuttles (AlpyTransfers) and rail service (SBB) connect the airport in Genève, Switzerland (GVA) to Chamonix – travel time of 1.5 to 3 hours – for approximately $180 round-trip.  Multiple airlines offer daily service between Seattle (SEA) and Genève (GVA) – approximately $1500 round-trip.