Walking holidays, tours and vacations in the French Alps, France

The finest mountain scenery in Europe

Our revived and substantially revised route, in the heart of the Alps and at the foot of Mont Blanc, is one of the most awe-inspiring and spectacular landscapes in Europe. Whichever way you turn, you are almost forced to crane your neck to look upwards at one more breathtaking view after another. Mont Blanc, rising innocently some 3800 metres above you can look deceptively near until you view it through a telescope, take the distance into account and then consider how many attempts it took before man reached its summit.
 
But our walk is lower, in the alpages, the delightful meadows, flower-decked in June and July, which demand that you stop, breathe in, listen to the cow-bell silence and take in the extraordinary vistas around you. Sit down and relax before you rush on to your next authentic Savoy hotel, as the paths are demanding, though so rewarding. You will not want to return home.

Hours per day:  4½ - 6

A back to front walk, with some of the longer walking on days 2-4, though you can shorten days 3 and 4. Flexible options from Day 5 on.

Difficulty:  Hard

No ifs or buts, this is alpine country so the views only come when you have earned them.  Be prepared for some stiff ascents and some pole-work on the steep downhills. Average cumulative uphill stretches (CUSs) 600m per day, harder options. GPS referenced.

Total 7 nights in shared room, all breakfasts, luggage transfers, 6 picnics and 4 evening meals

Savings and supplements

Single Room Supplement £115

Lone Traveller Additional Supplement £40

3rd person and over £90 off per person

3+ bedded rooms - call us for savings

Shorter breaks

6 nights (miss night 3) £635; SRS £90; LTAS £40; 3rd person+ £77 off pp

5 nights (miss nights 3 & 7) £550; SRS £85; LTAS £40; 3rd person+ £64 off pp

Fly to Geneva

(All flights are subject to change at short notice - please check carefully before you book your holiday)

From:

Bristol Easyjet;

Birmingham Easyjet;

Dublin Aer Lingus;

East Midlands Easyjet; 

Edinburgh Easyjet;

Gatwick BA Easyjet;

Heathrow BA;

Leeds-Bradford Jet2;

Liverpool Easyjet; 

London City Swissair;

Luton Easyjet;

Typical rail journey:

London: 10:00 Eurostar to Lille Europe (12:24) catch 13:09 TGV to Lyon Part Dieu (16:05), then 17:14 local train to Le Fayet, arrive 20:36. ~10 hrs.

Chamonix Mont-Blanc: 10:39 local train to St Gervais-les-Bains (11:20) for 11:37 to Annecy to connect with the 13:38 TGV to Paris (L) (17:11). Transfer by express metro to Paris (N) for the 19:13 Eurostar, arrive 20:28.  ~11 hrs.

The first hotel is in St Gervais and the final one in Les Bossons/Chamonix. The best airport is Geneva.

Geneva airport:

Land by: 16:00  (14:30 Sat/Sun/jours fériés)  (no time limit if using taxi)

Outward: Taxi/train/taxi (c. €50 pp) or bus/taxi (c. €35 pp) c. 2½ hrs. 

OPTION:  Pre-booked taxi transfer from Geneva airport to St Gervais 1½ hrs (for 3+ passengers only - parties of 1-2 can book independently through shared airport-hotel taxi services such as www.a-t-s-.net).

Return: Train via Lake Geneva (recommended) (c. €45 pp) c. 4 hrs with two changes OR direct bus Chamonix - Geneva Airport (limited service)

OPTION:  Pre-booked shared taxi transfer from Chamonix to Geneva Airport c. 1½ hrs (for 3+ passengers only.  For parties of 1-2, see above).

Return flight earliest: 13:00 if transfer by train, possibly earlier if available bus, no time limit if using taxi.

For pre-bookable taxi prices, see "Price includes"

Nearest railway stations:

Start: St Gervais-Le Fayet (short taxi ride to St Gervais)

End: Chamonix Les Bossons (outside hotel)

IMPORTANT: Do not book your flights until we have confirmed that we have provisionally reserved accommodation for you.