|
ITINERARY
Day 1
Meet at Geneva airport at 18:00 (6pm). We will then transfer you to your
hotel in Les Houches – the trip takes just over an hour. There will
be a short briefing by our Tour Leader about the week ahead followed by
dinner at a nearby restaurant. Hotel
Day 2 A short walk from
the hotel is the Bellevue cable car which takes us up to 1800m where we
join the main path of the Tour du Mont Blanc. The route contours through
forest and high alpine meadows where alpine orchids are usually seen in
early July. We cross a bridge at the mouth of a glacier and then climb
to the Col de Tricot (2120m) for great views of the surrounding peaks.
A steep descent brings us to the Chalets de Miage which are dominated
by the great Domes de Miage – part of the Mont Blanc massif. We
then head, via a small peak, to Les Contamines where we can buy ice cream
and a beer. Dinner is in a local restaurant. Hotel
Day 3 Continuing along the
Tour du Mont Blanc, we follow a river that brings us to a small chapel
at Notre Dame de la Gorge. From here, we climb steadily through forest
and then onto open meadows above the tree-line. Our goal is the Col du
Bonhomme (2329), often full of Alpine flowers. Contouring through rocky
terrain, where we may spot marmots, brings us to a second col and a mountain
hut where we can stop for lunch. Finally we make a steep descent to Les
Chapieux (1549m) – a wild place surrounded by steep-sided hills
- where we spend the night. Today and tomorrow we carry our own personal
gear as the main bags will not be transferred round to Les Chapieux. Auberge
Day 4 A long, gentle path
winds away from Les Chapieux towards the Col de la Seigne (2516m) and
marks the border between France and Italy. The views into Italy are incredible:
this side of the Mont Blanc range is very steep and dramatic with huge
glaciers and has some of the most testing climbing routes on Mont Blanc.
Following a wide glaciated valley we eventually arrive at the road head,
having covered over 22km, and take a short bus ride to Courmayeur and
then change to another bus to travel through the Mont Blanc Tunnel to
Chamonix. Hotel
Day 5 This morning you meet
your UIAGM Mountain Guide and, after an equipment check, take the short
bus ride to Le Tour and then a chair lift to gain some altitude. A pleasant
3 hour walk through open countryside brings you to the magnificent Glacier
du Tour and the Albert Premiere refuge (2702m). The afternoon is spent
with the Guide familiarising yourself with the crampons and ice axe and
learning how to walk on the glacier. Mountain refuge
Day 6 An early start is
essential as we head further into the mountains along the glacier crossing
crevasses and negotiating steeper sections. The views are staggering as
we climb higher and the sun comes up. After 2 or 3 hours we arrive at
the base of today’s peak – the Petite Fourche (3520m) –
a snow slope followed by a short rock scramble to the summit. There are
outstanding views all around of steep mountains, granite spires and tumbling
glaciers. Having descended back to the glacier a short abseil takes us
into Switzerland and we have a relaxed walk across the vast glaciated
Plateau du Trient to the Trient Refuge (3170m). This is a wild and impressive
place to spend the night. Mountain refuge
Day 7 Another early start
takes a different route across the Plateau du Trient towards the Aiguille
du Tour – an impressive peak at 3542m. We climb the straightforward
snow slope and then scramble to the summit for magnificent views of the
Alps. We descend via a col and return to the Albert Premiere refuge for
an early lunch. We follow the path down to the valley and return to our
hotel and enjoy a well-earned shower and restaurant meal. Hotel
Day 8 We depart at 09:00,
arriving at Geneva airport by 10:15 in time for your flight home. Those
not taking the group transfer to the airport will leave the hotel in the
morning and make their own arrangements.
Occasionally, it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned.
This may be for a variety of reasons – climatic, political, physical
or other. In these circumstances we will make the best alternative arrangements
possible that maintains the integrity of the original itinerary.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Is it for me?
This trip should appeal to you if you are confident of your fitness, regularly
take walking weekends and are happy covering 12-15 miles a day and climbing
a number of peaks en-route. On the trek we normally walk for 5 to 7 hours
(12-20km), although it will be more if we take in any summits or side
trips. We generally follow good, well-maintained paths and the highest
altitude we walk at is 2700 metres.
During the climbing section, the days will start early in the morning
and finish in the early afternoon before the snow gets too mushy. You
can expect it to be freezing cold in the early mornings and baking hot
by mid morning. The climbing is not technical and you should not be concerned
if you have not climbed before as the Alpine Guide will give you full
instruction – you just need stamina and determination. The maximum
elevation reached will be approximately 3600m and you are likely to feel
slight effects of altitude, such as being out of breath, although the
trip is structured to allow gradual acclimatisation.
Please be aware that we may be forced to change the location of the glacier
trek and climb if conditions are not safe or the weather is prohibitively
bad.
Group size
Minimum 3, maximum 12. We welcome single people as an activity holiday
is a great way to meet new friends. You must be 18 years or over.
Price, dates and what it includes
This trip is arranged on an ad-hoc basis and we make arrangements for
clients once they have confirmed on which dates they would like to travel.
Once a date is set we then have this as a fixed departure and it is listed
on the Availability & Prices page so that other clients can book on
the same departure date. (Link to Availability & Prices: HERE)
Price: £730 per person
All trips run Saturday to Saturday and are only possible between July
1st and September 1st.
Accommodation throughout the week is on a twin-share basis in hotels,
and in dormitories at the mountain refuges. At the auberge in Les Chapieux
it is likely that there will be 4 to a room. We provide 7 breakfasts,
3 picnic lunches on the trek and 2 dinners in the mountain refuges. Transfers
to and from the airport (specified times only – see Airport transfers
below). All transfers to and from the walks and cable cars when part of
the organised trek. All walks are lead by a fully qualified International
Mountain Leader (IML) and the climbing and glacier walking is lead by
a UIAGM Mountain Guide.
Accommodation and meals
For this trek we stay at a mixture of hotels, mountain refuges and an
auberge.
Hotels & auberge
We stay at comfortable, family-run hotels that are rated 1 or 2 stars.
Rooms are on a twin-share basis normally with attached bathrooms. At the
auberge, it is likely that there will be 4 to a room and the bathrooms
will be communal. Full bedding is provided at hotels and the auberge.
Meals at hotels and the auberge
A continental breakfast is normally served. The evening meal at the auberge
is a set menu: the food is normally very good and reasonably priced. On
other nights we will eat at reasonably priced restaurants.
Mountain refuges
The mountain refuges have mixed-sex dormitory style sleeping arrangements
with up to 30 people sharing a room. You are given and blanket and a pillow
by the refuge and so you may like to bring a sheet-sleeping bag for your
comfort. The huts provide slippers as you are not allowed to wear your
boots inside. The huts tend to be warm inside even if it is cold outside
in the night air. The toilets are basic – normally a shed with a
hole in the floor. There is no hot water, but you can wash your hand and
face using the cold-water taps outside. Breakfast and evening meals are
a set menu and served at set times. Vegetarians are not well catered for
and are often served the main meal minus the meat. More information on
refuges, see accommodation: HERE.
Typical meals at the mountain refuges:
Breakfast: bread, jam, tea, coffee or hot chocolate.
Dinner: the main meal will be meat and vegetables with pasta or potatoes
and there will be either a starter or a dessert.
The refuges also sell soft drinks, beer, wine, mineral water, cakes and
a variety of chocolate bars.
If you chose not to take or eat any of the meals provided throughout this
trip, there is no refund.
Airport transfers
We arrange an airport pick-up from Geneva International Airport on Day
1. We meet in the Arrivals Hall near the Information Desk at 5:30pm (17:30hrs)
where a representative will be holding a sign with Salamander Treks. Our
minibus will leave Geneva Airport at 6pm (18:00hrs) so that we arrive
at the hotel in Les Houches at 7:30pm (19:30hrs) in time for dinner at
a local restaurant. Many clients arrive in Geneva on different airlines
and at different times of the day so we leave the pick-up until 6pm so
that most people can take the transfer. If you arrive at Geneva airport
early in the day take a short train ride into the city and spend the day
sightseeing or shopping. You can leave your baggage at ‘Left Luggage’
at the airport train station. (Please see our useful links HERE)
Clients arriving after the minibus has departed at 6pm should call us
for special arrangements which may involve hiring a taxi and any costs
incurred will be the responsibility of the client.
For the ‘drop-off’ at the end of the holiday (Day 8), we ensure
that you are at Geneva International airport by 10:15am (10:15hrs). If
clients need to be at the airport earlier, we will organise a taxi that
must be paid for by the client.
You are of course welcome to arrange your own transport to the chalet,
but at your own expense.
Transport during the holiday
Transfers to and from the airport will normally be in our 8-seater minibus.
Occasionally we may use cars – it depends on the size of the group.
The transfer from Val Veny to Courmayeur and from Courmayeur to Chamonix
will be by public bus. Any transfers in the Chamonix Valley will be by
public transport. We intend to use cable cars and mountain railways to
gain and lose altitude on some days. These are included in the cost. See
‘Price and what it includes’ for details.
Baggage
When on the trek, your main baggage will be transferred by us to the next
night’s accommodation, except for the night at Les Chapieux when
you will be carrying only what you need for that night (ie. light backpacking).
When on the climbing section of the trip you have to carry all your own
gear. See ‘clothing & equipment’ below.
Staff
For the trek you will be accompanied by a fully qualified International
Mountain Leader. For the climbing you will be lead by a UIAGM Mountain
Guide.
Weather
In the summer, daytime temperatures can vary from 15-25°C in the valleys
to 0-20°C at higher altitudes (at the cols it can be cold and windy).
It all depends on whether the sun is out and it can often feel very hot:
occasionally it reaches 30°C in the valley and can feel quite muggy
in the late afternoon; even when on the climbing section it can be baking
hot in the day-time sunshine. At night the temperature is 5-12°C in
the valleys and will drop close to zero at the mountain huts. As with
all mountain ranges it can rain – either as frontal weather or as
thunder storms after a hot day – and you should come prepared for
this. It can be cold and windy at higher elevations and snow is not unknown.
We pay special attention to the local weather forecasts and will adjust
the day-to-day itinerary if we feel it is necessary to get the best from
your holiday.
Clothing and equipment: trekking section
Good walking boots are recommended for the trek. These can be either leather
or fabric and should be worn-in before you arrive. We do not recommend
trekking shoes as it is not unusual to encounter snow at some of the passes.
You need a full set of waterproofs. The jacket should be good quality,
for example Goretex or e-Vent, and able to withstand a heavy downpour:
a ‘pac-a-mac’ is not good enough. The waterproof trousers
do not have to be so robust but will be welcome if we have hard rain.
In addition, you need trousers or skirts, short trousers and a range of
T-shirts and tops that includes a jumper or fleece jacket. You should
have a rucksack (40-50 litres is recommended) that will give you enough
room to carry a few clothes plus other items for the nights when we you
will be carrying your own gear (ie. Days 3&4 and on all the climbing
days). During the day, you will need a sun hat, sun cream, sunglasses,
water bottle (1.5-2 litres) , warm woolly hat and gloves.
Clothing and equipment: climbing section
In addition to the equipment needed for the trek you will need a boot
that can take a crampon, crampons, ice axe and harness. You can hire all
of these in Chamonix if you do not already have them. Ropes will be provided
by the Guide. It can get extremely hot on the glaciers during the day
and so layers are best. Good sunglasses are essential.
For the nights at the refuges you may like to bring sheet sleeping bag,
a change of underwear, basic toiletries and a torch – please remember
that you will have to carry it all. Although it may be cold outside the
refuges at night, it will be very warm inside and so down jackets are
not needed. You are required to carry your picnic throughout the trip
and will probably have your cameras and a blister kit with you.
Extra expenses & money
There are ATMs (hole-in-the-wall machines) in Les Houches, Courmayeur
and Chamonix. Do not use the ATM’s at Geneva airport as they will
give you Swiss Francs – France and Italy are part of the Euro zone
– so wait until you arrive in Les Houches. You need to buy lunch
when on the climbing part of the trip (days 5,6 & 7) and 5 dinners
in restaurants (allow 150 euros, approx £110, though this does not
account for drinks – this will be extra). In addition, you will
need extra money for drinks and any snacks you might buy at mountain refuges
or cafés: allow 10 euros extra per day. Chamonix has many cafés,
restaurants, map shops and outdoor stores with a huge range of equipment.
Passports, visas and insurance
All nationalities require a full passport that must be valid for six months
beyond the intended length of stay. It is your responsibility to have
the correct personal documents and to obtain your own visa if one is necessary
in accordance with the regulations of the country you are visiting. Visas
are not currently required by nationals of the following countries: Britain
and other EU countries, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada. Other nationalities
should check with relevant authorities.
All people who come on this holiday must have adequate travel insurance
that includes repatriation. You must check with your insurer that you
are covered for trekking and climbing in the Alps, all the activities
mentioned in the Trip Notes and any optional activities you may take part
in. Anyone who does not have insurance will not be allowed to take part
in the holiday until cover is arranged. This is part of our booking conditions.
|
