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Get to know the heart of the Alps and hit the high-altitude hiking trails around Mont Blanc. Starting and ending in Chamonix, you will learn why finishing the iconic Tour du Mont Blanc is more than 10 days of top-notch hiking with a backdrop of magnificent Alpine scenery. Enjoy the cultural, historical, and gastronomical aspects of the area located at the juncture of 3 countries and avoid the crowds (your guide knows the paths walked by few). Find out for yourself what makes this one of the world’s best treks!
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Our trip begins in the mountain town of Chamonix, famous for being the adventure capital of the Alps. Located at the foot of Mont Blanc, its cobblestone streets breathe adventure while also exhibiting Alpine small-town charm combined with French sophistication. You will meet the rest of the group at 6pm at your hotel for a short trip briefing and gear check, followed by dinner. Get some rest for tomorrow, as that’s when our TMB adventure officially begins!
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Chamonix -
*After a hearty breakfast, we will take a cable car connecting Les Houches with the Bellevue Plateau, during which we will get to enjoy the panoramic views of the Mont Blanc Massif. After crossing the suspension bridge at the foot of the Bionnassay glacier, your guide will choose the best route taking your group to Les Contamines. This usually includes passing the Col de Tricot (2,120 m / 6,955 ft), with a coffee stop at the Chalet de Miages at the foot of the mighty peak Dome de Miages (3,675 m / 12,055 ft), but a lower level route may be utilized. We will spend the night in a charming local 3* hotel in the French village of Les Contamines.
*Daily departures for hiking will be between 7 and 9am, depending on what time breakfast is served and on the length of the day.
Distance: 15 km / 9.3 miles
Ascent: 837 m / 2,746 ft
Descent: 1,520 m / 4,985 ft
Walking time: 6-7 hours
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: 3* hotel in Les Contamines -
Day 3 begins with trekking up the old Roman road to the picture-perfect 17th-century church of Notre Dame de la Gorge. From here, our path goes uphill, past the Chalet de Barme (a perfect coffee stop!) and all the way to the Col de Bonhomme (2,328 m / 7,635 ft), where we will take our lunch break. Another climb—this time gentler—will take us to Col de la Croix de Bonhomme (2,478 m / 8,130ft), offering a great view towards the Vanoise National Park. After an additional 2 hours, we will have reached Les Chapieux, the location of our lovely chambre d’hôte (bed and breakfast).
Distance: 19 km / 11.9 miles
Ascent: 1,348 m / 4,450 ft
Descent: 960 m / 3,150 ft
Walking time: 8 hours
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Bed and breakfast in Les Chapieux -
We will take a newly-cut path up to Ville des Glaciers (in previous years the TMB took the tarmac road). There is usually the option to have a minibus transfer from Les Chapieux if you prefer (included), the leader will let you know about this. (If you have stayed at Bourg St Maurice or Courmet de Roselend, you will transfer directly to Ville des Glaciers). At Ville des Glaciers, we might have the opportunity to see how the Beaufort cheese is made. After passing Refuge des Mottets, we’ll start to climb more steeply up to our goal, the Col de La Seigne, at 2,516 m (8,255 ft), the 2nd highest pass on the Tour du Mont Blanc. We’ve reached the border with Italy! From here, we descend past the Elisabetta hut (we may divert here for lunch or coffee, depending on how we’re doing for time) and the Lac de Combal to La Visaille, where we take a bus to the vibrant mountain town of Courmayeur.
Distance: 21 km / 13 miles
Ascent: 1,004 m / 3,300 ft
Descent: 850 m / 2,800 ft
Walking time: 6 hours
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Courmayeur -
We start the steep walk up to the Bertone hut and the Mont de la Saxe ridge. If the weather is good and there is not too much snow, we can take the lesser-travelled variant to the Mont de la Saxe ridge, up the Tête de la Tronche, and then down steeply to the Col Sapin. We then have a descent, followed by another climb to the Col Entre Deux Sauts—it’s a fairly long, but really stunning day, there are usually not many people, and the scenery is breathtaking! If the weather isn’t so good, or if you want a more relaxing day, you can take a fabulous balcony path from the Bertone hut to the Bonatti, high above the Val Ferret. It is a shorter day, but by no means a “second choice”, as the scenery is stunning.
Mont de la Saxe Route
Distance: 17 km / 10.5 miles
Ascent: 1,584 m / 5,200 ft
Descent: 940 m / 3,080 ft
Walking time: 7-8 hoursBalcony Route
Distance: 12 km / 7.5 miles
Ascent: 860 m / 2820 ft
Descent: 700 m / 2296 ft
Walking time: 4-5 hoursMeals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Courmayeur
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57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.
We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides and the communities they’re travelling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in the Grand Canyon please refer to the Arizona Office of Tourism.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
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What you get on this adventure:
- An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
- A full day of guided hiking
- Water and picnic lunch in the Canyon
- All necessary high-quality gear (backpacks, trekking poles, etc.)
- Permits and entrance fees
What’s not included:
- Transportation
- Accommodations
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There are hiking and backpacking tours in the Grand Canyon to suit all skill and fitness levels, so even if you’re not an experienced hiker, there’s a trail for you. Your guides will help you choose the optimal terrain, and have the best possible hiking experience in the Grand Canyon.
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- For beginner hikes, if you can walk for three to six miles with little elevation gain while carrying a daypack, you are good to go!
- Intermediate hikes will see more change in elevation and hikes will start to increase in length, hiking anywhere between four to eight miles while carrying a full daypack.
- Advanced hikes are full-day treks with steep descents and challenging switchbacks. Keep in mind that the weather in the summer can be very hot in the Grand Canyon and you’ll also be carrying a full daypack for your hiking trips, so expect a challenging day even for the most avid hikers
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Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
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- Day pack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 25-40L bag)
- Hiking poles — optional
- Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
- Lightweight hiking boots or shoes
- Spare clothes for layering
- Waterproof rain jacket
- Sunhat
- Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
- Headlamp or flashlight
- Sunglasses
- Camera — optional (but recommended)
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
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Group sizes and prices:
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- For these standard tours, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 6:1, but larger groups can be accommodated with additional guides.
- Pricing is per person, and cost does not decrease as your group grows.
Min. age requirements:
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- Anyone over the age of 12 can join these day-hiking tours
- Children between the ages of 5 and 12 may join these day-hiking tours on a case-by-case basis
If you plan to hike with anyone under the age of 12, please contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
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Most people fly into Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, which is a two-hour drive from Flagstaff, AZ, where most people stay. Flagstaff is only a 90-minute scenic drive away from the Grand Canyon.
Your meeting location will be based on the hike you choose, but you’re likely to meet your guide outside The Grand Canyon Association Park Store at the Visitor Center at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Depending on the hike, you will then shuttle or follow in your own car to the trailhead. You can also arrange to be picked up from your hotel in Flagstaff, Williams, Tusayan, or in the Grand Canyon Village.
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