8-Day Mont Blanc Highlights – A Pack Free Guided Walking Tour by Life’s An Adventure
Life’s An Adventure invites you to experience the stunning beauty of the Mont Blanc region on an 8-day Pack Free guided walking tour, showcasing the highlights of one of Europe’s most iconic alpine destinations. This journey covers the best sections of the renowned Tour du Mont Blanc, providing a unique opportunity to explore the highest mountain in the Alps and Western Europe without the burden of carrying a heavy pack.
Starting in France, the tour takes you through the captivating landscapes of the Mont Blanc massif. Marvel at the majestic glaciers, including the famous Mer de Glace (“Sea of Ice”), as well as the dramatic peaks and sheer cliff faces on the Italian side of the mountains. As you cross into Switzerland, discover serene green pastures, picturesque villages, and idyllic rolling valleys that offer a beautiful contrast to the rugged alpine terrain.
Each day’s walk provides breathtaking scenery, with every step revealing a new aspect of this incredible region. Traverse scenic trails with panoramic views of snow-capped peaks, crystal-clear alpine lakes, and flower-filled meadows. Along the way, encounter traditional mountain culture, charming chalets, and the warm hospitality that makes this part of the world so special. This walking tour by Life’s An Adventure is designed with flexibility in mind, allowing guests to opt out of any day’s walking and join our host guide to explore local towns at a more leisurely pace. Private transfers ensure that you can enjoy a relaxed itinerary, with the freedom to walk as much or as little as you choose. Accommodation is carefully selected to enhance the experience, with stays in boutique hotels that blend comfort with the unique charm of the region. Enjoy each evening in beautiful alpine lodgings, where you can unwind after a day’s walk, taking in the mountain views and indulging in delicious local cuisine.
The 8-day Mont Blanc Highlights walking tour is more than just a hiking holiday—it’s a journey through the heart of the European Alps, where spectacular landscapes and cultural encounters create an unforgettable adventure. Join Life’s An Adventure and discover the magic of Mont Blanc, making memories that will last a lifetime.
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Carry as little as your water, camera and lunch
This walk is designed as a Pack Free walking allowing our guests to enjoy the landscapes they walk, without the burden of carrying a heavy pack. After all, walks should be enjoyed not endured. Each day our guests will walk with a small day pack big enough to carry your lunch, water and camera and your bags will be transported to your accommodation each day.
France
Situated right in Chamonix, La Folie Douce is at once vibrant and relaxed, catering for all different age ranges and tastes and is a microcosm of the travellers who come to Mont Blanc. Live music is played nearly every night. There is also a fitness and well-being centre, and different summer activities every week.
France
La Chamenaz is a gorgeous family owned 40-room chalet. All the spacious rooms come with a large bay window, sun lounge, and are sound-proofed and decked in beautiful and traditional wooden panelling. With a pool and day spa to relax in after your day’s walking. The restaurant, La Trabla, prides itself on its delectable, traditional Savoy-style menu, with some secret localised family recipes, giving you all the energy you will need for the next day’s walk.
France
Hotel L’Autantic in Bourg Saint Maurice is a charming hotel that offers comfort and tranquility. The rooms are simply decorated and feature a wooden or wrought iron bed as well as an ensuite. There is an indoor pool, a garden, bar and a terrace.
Italy
Located centrally in Courmayeur, Hotel Chalet Svizzero features panoramic terraces, cosy lounges, and a wellness centre including a hot tub, hammam and sauna. Your room at the Svizzero Hotel includes free internet, a TV and private balcony. Each room is individually designed and furnished with old wood and other natural materials. A buffet breakfast is available each morning in the dining room. The restaurant serves Aosta Valley specialities, made using seasonal ingredients, and some of the finest, local cheeses and wines.
Switzerland
This is a traditional hotel that dates back over 100 years. The hotel offers well-furnished and spacious rooms and apartments. The hotel includes a number of facilities, including activities such as tennis, biking and hiking, and a restaurant and bar. In summer, the terrace and the garden offer panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.
plus a Life's An Adventure Host
Guides are essential in delivering the ultimate walking experience. You’ll be accompanied by a local guide who has a passion and enthusiasm for the area and a second host guide, one of our experienced Senior Guides from Australia who will accompany you for the entire trip ensuring we deliver a world-class walk up to our high standards.
On this walk you will indulge in superb dining with perfectly matched wines.
All tours are small and intimate with a maximum group size of 12 people. However, if you have a bigger group please contact us for details.
This is an all-inclusive tour with no hidden extras:
BOUTIQUE ACCOMMODATION:
SUPERB MEALS & WINE:
Note: The Tour Mont Blanc is an exceptionally popular hike – and for good reason. However, this can occasionally mean that accommodation can become overbooked or full. Whilst the hotels mentioned above will always be first sought, sometimes unforeseen circumstances can result in alternate accommodation being necessary.
The Alps are an extreme environment. While your guide will always attempt to follow the above itinerary, their primary concern is your safety, hence there is the possibility, due to dangerous weather conditions, that different hikes and/or routes may have to be taken than those outlined above.
Guests will need to organise their own flights to Geneva, Switzerland (nearest airport to Chamonix, France) the day prior to the tour. Transfer companies offer transfers from Geneva to Chamonix.
SUGGESTED PRE-TOUR ACCOMMODATION: Aparthotel Adagio Genève Mont-Blanc in Geneva near the airport (Switzerland) or La Folie Douce in Chamonix (France)
Make your own way to the hotel La Folie Douce in Chamonix, picturesque French town at the base of Mont Blanc (the highest summit in the Alps), near the borders of Switzerland and Italy. Today is free for you to explore the town and its amazing mountain surroundings. Year-round, cable cars take visitors up to several nearby peaks with panoramic views, including Aiguille du Midi above town, and Pointe Helbronner, across vast glacier fields on the Italian border. The old city is a delightful maze of small streets with pastel-painted building and shops some selling lace, as this town once famed for its lacemaking. Tonight join your group for dinner in the hotel for a briefing to go over the trip. Enjoy some delicious regional food served with French wine.
After a delicious breakfast, we transfer 15 minutes to the start of our walk. Leaving the pleasant village of Les Houches, we enjoy an adventurous beginning by taking the cable car up to Bellevue at 1,802 metres. From here, the Mont Blanc path contours through the forest high above the Bionnassay Valley and the western end of the Mont Blanc range. The Dôme du Goûter and Aiguille de Bionnassay dominate the skyline, divided by the impressive Bionnassay Glacier. We then begin our climb to the Col de Tricot, followed by a descent on a series of switchbacks that lead us to the charming Chalet de Miage. After lunch, a short but steep rocky ascent awaits, before we continue with a 5 km steep descent on varied terrain into Les Contamines. At the end of the walk, we transfer 1 km to our accommodation for the night at Chalet Hotel La Chemenaz, or a similar property. This evening, enjoy dinner at the hotel featuring fresh regional produce and local wines.
The morning begins with a steady walk along the river, crossing the glacial waters of the Torrent le Bon Nant before rolling green pastures lead us to the charming Notre Dame de la Gorge church, known for its beautiful baroque-Savoyard architecture (3 km mark). From here, we start our steep ascent into the mountains, following an ancient Roman road that once traversed the Alps. The forest thickens as we climb, eventually opening out onto a broad alpine meadow before we reach Refuge de la Balme. The ascent becomes more demanding beyond this point, with the trail narrowing to single track as we make our way toward the awe-inspiring Col de la Croix du Bonhomme (12 km mark, 1,200 m elevation gain). A further 2 km of undulating, more technical terrain brings us to the Bonhomme Refuge, where we stop for a picnic lunch (14 km). After lunch, we begin our descent through the valley, eventually arriving at the village of Les Chapieux. At the end of the walk, a 20-minute transfer takes us to our hotel for the night, Hotel L’Autantic in Bourg-Saint-Maurice. Dinner follows with a short vehicle transfer to a local restaurant.
After breakfast, we transfer back to the Vallée des Glaciers, where a shuttle takes us 5 km further up the valley to a small Beaufort cheese hamlet. From here, a tough but spectacular climb brings us to the Col de la Seigne, where you can stand on the border of France and Italy and take in sweeping views in every direction, including Mont Blanc itself (750 m of ascent). We then descend into the Val Veny, stopping to visit the information centre before continuing past Rifugio Elisabetta, where we enjoy lunch. Afterward, an easy 8 km non-technical descent leads us to La Visaille. From here, a vehicle transfer brings us to Courmayeur, where you will have the rest of the afternoon to explore this beautiful Italian town at your leisure or relax at the hotel. Our hotel for the night is at Chalet Svizzero or similar. Tonight enjoy dinner at the hotel featuring fresh regional produce and wines.
After breakfast, we take a scenic drive up the Val Ferret to Ferret Refugio, where we begin today’s walk. A short climb brings us to Refugio Elena, before we continue on the more challenging but wonderfully rewarding ascent to the high pass between the two countries. Crossing the Grand Col Ferret leads us into Switzerland, where we make a steady descent through the peaceful and beautifully scenic Val Ferret, finishing in the charming village of La Fouly. Tonight’s accommodation is at Hôtel du Glacier, or a similar property. This evening, relax and enjoy a delicious dinner at the hotel featuring fresh regional produce and local wines.
Lac Blanc is one of the most iconic day hikes in Chamonix. The climb offers spectacular views of the Mont Blanc massif, and the reward at the top is a truly magical blue alpine lake. We begin by taking the gondola from Les Praz to Flégère (or Index, depending on operating schedules). From here, the walk to Lac Blanc is relatively gentle, covering approximately 3 km. After taking in the views, we rejoin the Mont Blanc variant trail, descending about 3.5 km back to the Flégère cable car, where we stop for lunch at the restaurant. As the day continues, we descend by cable car back into Chamonix. This evening, we come together for drinks and dinner to celebrate this remarkable journey.
NOTE: For guests who have travelled with us before your correct pricing will appear in the booking system after you have entered in your email address. If you have any issues please contact our Reservations Team on (02) 9975 4553 or email: walks@lifesanadventure.com.au
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INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS:
Please note your tour price does not include flights to / from the countries visited. We are offering our clients a service to book their international flights and any other travel plans during their holiday. If you would like our Flights Specialist to organise these requirements, please email us at flights@lifesanadventure.com.au with your requirements.
Prices in Australian Dollars (AUD)
INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS
Please note your tour price does not include flights to / from the countries visited. We are offering our clients a service to book their international flights and any other travel plans during their holiday. If you would like our Flights Specialist to organise these requirements please email us at flights@lifesanadventure.com.au with your requirements.
PRIVATE GROUPS:
Departure date of your choice is subjective to availability. A minimum group size of 8 required. Prices are equal to Past Travellers’ discounted rates. Based on twin share – see details about Single Supplement and upgrade extras.
Please contact us for more details on (02) 9975 4553 or email: walks@lifesanadventure.com.au
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SOLO TRAVELLERS & EXTRAS:
SOLO TRAVELLERS WILLING TO SHARE
If you are a solo traveller willing to share a room, we will attempt to match you with another solo traveller of the same gender. If we can’t find you a match of the same gender by around 12 weeks prior to the tour, you will be charged the single supplement cost. Subject to availability at time of booking.
SOLO TRAVELLERS
WANTING THEIR OWN ROOM
For those wanting to guarantee their own room, a single supplement cost will be charged at the time of booking. Subject to availability.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $1429
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FlexiWalk – Cancel for Any Reason:
Purchase a FlexiWalk Add-On for normal price tickets and cancel 96 hours prior to departure for any reason. Price: $295 per person. See conditions below for full details.
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BOOKING TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Before you book please read our Booking Terms and Conditions. Click here.
SALE TICKET CONDITIONS:
* Super Earlybird, Earlybird and Spot Special Sale Tickets: Must be paid in full at time of booking. Refunds or cancellations are not permitted for Sale Tickets however, transfers to another date are permitted 12 weeks or more prior to departure. We advise taking out travel insurance in case unexpected circumstances prior to the trip, prevent you from joining this tour. Early bird or Spot Special discounts cannot be used in conjunction with another offer. We have partnered with Cover-More to provide travel insurance to our guests. To get a quote or purchase travel insurance directly with them Click here. To receive these special discounts, full payment must be made at the time of initial booking. Flexiwalk Add-On option not available on these tickets.
* Those who have travelled with Life’s An Adventure previously, receive a past passenger discount of $100. This discount will automatically be deducted from future bookings when you book online using the same email address used for past bookings.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
* Prices are per person in Australian dollars and include GST.
* A deposit of $500 per person is required to secure your booking. (unless taking advantage of Earlybird or Spot Specials in which full payment is required at time of booking).
* Note: If you are booking within 120 days of your departure date – we will require full payment at the time of booking
* Prices are based on twin share of rooms. If you are travelling solo you may be required to share with someone of the same gender. If this is not suitable you can request to pay a single supplement, however, limited single rooms are available per trip so are on a request basis.
* Payments must be made online via our NAB (National Australia Bank) secure payment page via credit card (Visa or Mastercard) or over the phone.
* We advise taking our Travel Insurance to cover items such as cancellation of tour due to minimum numbers not met, or adverse weather conditions, injury, evacuation, delayed flights, illness, etc. Click here
* Credit for cancelled activities. If a tour activity has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances a credit for this missed activity can be applied to any future bookings. Click here.
* FlexiWalk Option – Cancel for any Reason Click here for full conditions on our FlexiWalk Option.