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Trek famous circuit in one week from Switzerland to France
Start at the designated hotel at Col de la Forclaz, Switzerland. A short (unguided) walk to view the Trient Glacier is an option this afternoon, depending on arrival time. In the evening there is an introductory briefing by your leader and time to spilt bags between items to be delivered to the hotel in Chamonix, for the end of the trip, and things you will carry with you. Hotel at Col de la Forclaz, Switzerland.
We leave the Col de la Forclaz (1527m – 5010ft) from where we can look directly down into the Rhône valley and the Swiss town of Martigny. Following our path through the forest and up to high alpine pastures (great for flowers in the early season) the 'Bovine route' (2049m – 6720ft) affords dramatic views over Swiss peaks and valleys. After lunch we descend to Champex (1486m – 4880ft) and the east side of the Mont Blanc Massif. Walking south we descend through woods to the Val Ferret and on to Orsières (887m – 2910ft), a pretty alpine village nestled in the valley at the foot of the St Bernard Pass. Hotel in Orsières (Switzerland). 8.5 hours walking time including breaks and lunch etc. 730m – 2400ft up, 1300m – 4260ft down
Distance in Km: 18
Distance in Miles: 11
We hop aboard the local bus to rejoin the TMB at the village of La Fouly (1600m 5250ft) dominated by the glaciated face of Mont Dolent, whose summit is the meeting point of the French, Swiss and Italian borders. Still following the valley and the river 'La Drance', we climb steadily to the 'Grand Col Ferret' (2537m – 8320ft), the highest pass of the tour. The mountain views from the Col are stunning with Grandes Jorasses dominating the scene. Now in Italy, we descend into the valley also called 'Val Ferret' (1760m – 5770ft ) then travel by bus to our hotel in La Palud. Hotel in La Palud (Italy). 7.5 hours walking time including breaks and lunch etc. 3180ft up, 800m – 2600ft down
Distance in Km: 14
Distance in Miles: 9
We travel by bus to La Visaille (1,660m – 5450ft) then climb gently along the Val Veny beneath the massive glacier de Miage and pass Lac Combal. The gradient becomes steeper as we follow the old Roman road and head for today’s pass: the 'Col de la Seigne' (2,516m – 8250ft), which marks our re-entry into France. A fairly steep descent brings us through La Ville des Glaciers (1,789m – 5870ft) and finally after a long walking day to Les Chapieux (1,553m – 5100ft), a small hamlet inhabited only during the summer months. Auberge in Les Chapieux. 8.5 hours walking time including breaks and lunch etc. 870m – 2840ft up, 970m – 3180ft down
Distance in Km: 20
Distance in Miles: 12
By now we have now reached the southwest corner of the circuit and we turn north to climb once again. Today is a big day, first we ascend to the Col de la Croix du Bonhomme (2,479m – 8130ft), then contour across to the Col du Bonhomme (2,329m) and finally descend again on a Roman road into the Val Montjoie and the town of Les Contamines (1,175m – 3860ft). Our path continues through the village and we arrive at our overnight stop with time for a well-deserved cold drink. Auberge in Les Contamines. 8.5 hours walking time including breaks and lunch etc. 930m – 3050ft up, 1340m – 4400ft
Distance in Km: 19
Distance in Miles: 12
Another big day! Our route continues with a steady ascent to the Chalets de Miage (1,560m – 5120ft), a great spot to sample some home cooked delicacies. From here we take a trail that climbs steeply to the Col de Tricot (2,119m – 6950ft) before descending very close to the snout of the Glacier de Bionnassay with good views of the north side of the Mont Blanc Massif. Eventually we make another ascent to reach the Col de Voza (1652m - 5420ft) where we re-enter the Chamonix Valley, and finally descend to the village of Les Houches (993m 3260ft) and take the bus to our hotel. Hotel in Chamonix. 8.5 hours walking time including lunch and breaks etc. 1200m – 3980ft up, 1370m – 4500ft down
Distance in Km: 17
Distance in Miles: 11
Our final day presents perhaps one of our most spectacular walks; trekking a section of the Grand Balcon Sud route past the beautiful and photogenic Lac Blanc (2352m - 7715ft) with grand vistas over the Chamonix Valley and Mont Blanc behind. Our route will then drop sharply down to Chamonix (1,030m) and the end of our trek. Hotel in Chamonix. 8 hours walking time including breaks and lunch etc. 900m – 2950ft up, 1330m – 4370ft down
Distance in Km: 16
Distance in Miles: 10
5 nights 2 and 3 star hotels, 2 nights Inns6 days point-to-point walkingLight
backpacking; some steep ascent/descentsAltitude maximum 2537m, average 1400m
All breakfasts and dinners are included except dinner in Chamonix on day 7 of
the itinerary.Typical MealsBreakfast: Will usually consist of coffee, tea,
cereal, yoghurt, fresh fruit, bread, and conserves.Lunches: No lunches are
provided but can easily be bought locally from either shops or the
hotel/refuge.Evening meal: Generally consists of a first course of soup,
salad or charcuterie, a main course of meat with one or two vegetables or
rice or pasta, a dessert course. Drinks are not included in the price of
evening meals.Vegetarians: We happily cater for vegetarians but please inform
us at the time of booking.If you take a vegan diet we recommend that you
bring supplementary food and should expect that variety of food may be
limited whilst on this trip. Unfortunately it is relatively uncommon in this
region and we cannot guarantee that the hotels will provide meals that have
the necessary variety to be considered satisfying when on a more restricted
diet.
5 nights 2 and 3 star hotels, 2 nights Inns6 days point-to-point walkingLight
backpacking; some steep ascent/descentsAltitude maximum 2537m, average 1400m
This trip is Activity Level 5 - Challenging. Some of the days are long, quite
often involving ascents of 900-1200m (or 3000-4000 feet), equivalent to 3 to
4 hours walking uphill, followed by similar descents, amounting to 8 to 9
hours of walking each day (including rest stops and lunch). Although the
paths are well maintained there are sections that are rough underfoot.As this
is a group holiday you need to be confident that your fitness will allow you
to enjoyably walk at a consistent and steady pace that matches the group
average, therefore allowing the group to finish the day at a reasonable time.
You will also enjoy the trek a great deal more if your fitness allows you to
walk the route in relative ease. You will have to carry your own gear with
you (there is no vehicle support), but this need not weigh more than 8 to 10
kilos if you pack carefully. The route throughout is non-technical, although
there is a short section with a fixed sloping ladder and metal footsteps to
help traverse what would be a steeper section. We will be walking mountain
paths throughout however and this trip is not advised for severe vertigo
sufferers.If you are unable to walk during the itinerary and want to opt out
of a day, please take note that this can sometimes be a little tricky
dependent on where on the circuit you are. To reach the next point you will
need to take a public bus (which run at limited times) or taxi (which can be
expensive when in a more remote location). Our support vehicle is not
suitable for taking passengers so please be aware of this when deciding to
book this trip.All ascents, descents and walking distances listed below are
approximates. We have decided the most accurate method is to map the routes
carefully using google earth. That said it is impossible to obtain a
completely true figure of the distances walked. Regarding GPS - due to the
inherent inaccuracies of defining an exact waypoint with a GPS and the
cumulative overall inaccuracy this causes, you may find that our distances
and GPS distances you obtain on trek with your personal GPS/phone, may differ
by quite a margin.You may find our Fitness Training Guide a useful reference:
http://www.exodus.co.uk/assets/pdf/Exodus_WT_Fitness_Training_Guide.pdfPlease
note: On this trip it is essential to have helicopter evacuation cover
within your travel insurance.
Hotels & InnsThroughout the trek we use long-established family run 2 and 3-star
(equivalent) hotels and inns. Most of the hotels/inns sit in stunning
locations often with panoramic vistas over the mountains and culturally
represent the countries and environment they are in. These hotels are a vital
source of income to the local community. All are clean and well run and set
up with the needs of the trekker in mind. Single rooms not availablePlease be
aware that room sizes (twin, double or very occasionally triple or quadruple
rooms) and facilities will vary from hotel to hotel and sometimes from room
to room within one property and occasionally there may be bunkbeds. On 4 of
the nights facilities are en suite whilst the others have the possibility,
depending on availability and group size, of shared bathroom and toilet
facilities 'on the landing'. Couples will always have their own room but we
cannot guarantee whether this will be twin or double. Single clients must be
prepared to share with one or occasionally two or three other members of the
same sex. We are unable to accept bookings for single rooms due to the small
size of the hotels used and the fact that we are usually staying only one
night in each property. On day 4, due to limited availability, it is very
rare, but occasionally, necessary to sleep in dormitories. If this is the
case we will endeavour to let you know before booking.
We provide a qualified International Mountain Leader to escort the group on
each walking day. Our walking leaders are true mountain professionals as well
as being skilled group leaders. This not only helps to assure safety on the
mountain but also that your leader has experience and knowledge in wider
mountain environment such as flora and fauna, geology, weather and local
customs.
All breakfasts and dinners are included except dinner in Chamonix on day 7 of
the itinerary.Typical MealsBreakfast: Will usually consist of coffee, tea,
cereal, yoghurt, fresh fruit, bread, and conserves.Lunches: No lunches are
provided but can easily be bought locally from either shops or the
hotel/refuge.Evening meal: Generally consists of a first course of soup,
salad or charcuterie, a main course of meat with one or two vegetables or
rice or pasta, a dessert course. Drinks are not included in the price of
evening meals.Vegetarians: We happily cater for vegetarians but please inform
us at the time of booking.If you take a vegan diet we recommend that you
bring supplementary food and should expect that variety of food may be
limited whilst on this trip. Unfortunately it is relatively uncommon in this
region and we cannot guarantee that the hotels will provide meals that have
the necessary variety to be considered satisfying when on a more restricted
diet.
All transport mentioned in the itinerary is included. We use a variety of
transport to facilitate our route around the circuit; this includes local
buses and taxis. For the transfers to and from Geneva airport we normally use
a private coach.
Travelling flight inclusive from London: 8 daysThe group flight from London
is a daytime flight departing on Day 1 of the itinerary.Flights from LondonWe
normally use the scheduled services of Swiss International Airlines
(depending on availability). As flight timings and schedules change regularly
we recommend you call one of our specialist sales staff or your agent to
confirm up‐to‐date timings. Please note timings may change at a later
date and cannot be confirmed until approximately two weeks before
departure.Train from LondonWe can book your train travel to this trip.
Starting at London St Pancras, you'll change trains in Paris and spend the
day travelling through beautiful mountainous terrain, crossing the
spectacular Cize-Bolozon viaduct over the Ain Gorge, before arriving at
Geneva in the early evening, and transferring to your hotel.Read more about
travelling by train with Exodus here, or call our Sales Consultants for more
information.Travelling land only: 8 days starting in Col de la Forclaz and
ending in ChamonixYour trip normally starts at the hotel in Col de la Forclaz
on Day 1 of the itinerary. Details of how to reach the start point are
provided it the Final Joining Instructions - sent approximately two weeks
before departure. Low cost airlinesIt is possible to fly direct to Geneva
with some budget airlines. It is likely that flights from regional airports
will arrive at different times to the group flight from London; where this is
the case a wait at the airport for the group transfer, or alternative
transfer arrangements at your own cost, may be necessary (see
below).Alternative flight options: Bristol, Manchester, Gatwick, Luton,
Liverpool, Edinburgh ‐ Easyjet. Heathrow ‐ BA. City, Heathrow ‐ Swiss
Air.
Airport transfers are included for those on the group flights. Please note
that transfers are not included for clients arriving on any other flight,
even if Exodus has booked it.If you require airport transfers, you may (by
prior arrangement only) be able to join the group transfer. Transfers are
arranged to coincide with the arrival time of the group flight ‐ please
check the group flight details 2 weeks before departure. If you do not take
this transfer, or miss it, you must make your own way to the joining point at
your own expense.Airport Transfers for land only itineraryThose
arriving/departing on non‐group flights can join the group transfer free of
charge (by prior arrangement only) if your flight arrives before or, at the
end of the holiday, departs after the group flight. Please note that
transfers are not included for clients arriving on any other flight, even if
it has been booked for you by Exodus. Please check with the Exodus office if
you are unsure whether or not a transfer is included. As mentioned group
flights can be rescheduled, so you must check the group flight details 2
weeks before departure. If you do not take this transfer, or miss it, you
must make your own way to the joining point at your own expense. For those
arriving at different times to the group flight it is very easy to book a bus
transfer with a local company and you should do this at least a week before
your departure date. A shared transfer (with others who have booked with them
also) will cost approximately €30 one way if booked in advance with our
partner Mountain Drop Offs. Book on their website
‐ www.mountaindropoffs.com and quote the following promotional code
EXOCHX. Unfortunately the discounted rates only run from 10 June to 17
September. Outside this time the full price will be charged.Take The TrainFor
those arriving at different times to the group flight it is very easy to
take the train directly from Geneva airport to Martigny, Switzerland and
from there use a local bus or taxi to the start hotel. Details of train/bus
times and prices can be found at the following website:
https://www.sbb.ch/en/home.htmlJourney time is approx. 2 hrs. 30mins and it
costs around 60CHF. A taxi from Martigny to the Col de la Forclaz is approx.
60CHF.From the UK to Geneva Airport - It is only possible to reserve train
seats 3 months before your departure date and our sales team will be happy to
book this for you in cooperation with Rail Europe.
From late June to early October fair weather is to be expected, but all
mountain ranges create their own weather patterns and the Alps are no
exception. It can and does rain and on the high passes especially it can be
surprisingly cold at times. Expected daytime temperatures are in the range of
15 to 25ºC in the valleys (although it can sometimes reach 30ºC in
July/August), 5 to 15ºC on the passes (though it will feel colder if wet and
windy) and 5 to 15ºC in the valley at night; possibly a little lower early
and late in the season. There is always the possibility of lying snow,
especially in the early season, and snowfall even in August and September
when we may find new snow on the passes. Please note that on late season
treks (September) the days are shorter and we will need to make early starts
to make the most of the available daylight hours.
Rucksack of 40-60 litres capacityWalking bootsWaterproof rucksack liner or
bin-bagSmall wash kitHead-torchWaterproof jacket and waterproof
over-trousersWater bottles (at least 2 litres capacity)/ CamelbakSunhat, sun
cream, sunglassesWarm hat and glovesLightweight down jacket or warm fleece
topWalking poles x 2
GaitersPair of light weight shoes/sandals/flip flops for evening
timeBookSwimming costume/trunks (swimming in lakes!)EarplugsTupperware if you
prefer a bit more protection for your packed lunch and to reduce plastic
wasteFollowing a briefing by your leader on the evening of day 1 of the
itinerary, you will be given time to arrange your baggage. All of the above
should be taken with you on trek, however if you wish to have a small bag
taken with extra clothes directly from the Col de Forclaz to be waiting for
you when arrive in Chamonix on day 6, please clearly label this separate bag.
We recommend that you take any valuables with you.
While walking in Switzerland drinks and snacks can be bought in Euros, so it
is not necessary to have Swiss Francs. If you prefer to pay in CHFs you can
obtain them from ATMs or possibly exchange Euros for CHFs through the group
leader.
Although optional, a tip for the leader and chalet staff at the end of the
trip is greatly appreciated. The sum you choose to give is entirely personal,
but as a reasonable starting point, we suggest a contribution from €20
(US$22) per leader. Smaller groups may wish to give a little more per person.
It is customary and appreciated to leave a small tip when settling your
drinks bill at group meals in restaurants.
Travel insuranceSingle accommodation not availableVisas or vaccinations
Ved skriftlig aksept av vårt tilbud bekrefter du/dere at våre betingelser er både lest og forstått og at evt kansellerings gebyrer kan tilkomme ved en evt. avbestilling av reisen.
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