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Walking In The French & Swiss Alps
Fresh alpine air, incredible mountain vistas and invigorating day walks…
Discover Europe’s most spectacular mountain scenery on this intoxicating walking tour of the French and Swiss Alps. Our first base is France's Chamonix Valley and from here we enjoy a series of superb walks. Via alpine forest, we climb to Col du Balme (2200m) via the smaller peak of Aiguillettes des Possettes. Using the ski-lift network we reach Brevent (2525m) and from here we embark on a wonderful circular walk of the area, where we are greeted with spectacular views of Mont Blanc at every turn. Travelling on an historic cog railway we reach Montenvers and get up close to the impressive Mar de Glace glacier. En route to our second base of Zermatt, on the Swiss side of the Alps, we stop at the charming Swiss town of Sion to explore its impressive medieval quarter. In the Zermatt Valley we walk through pastoral meadows and via ancient hamlets to experience stunning views of the legendary Matterhorn. Free days are also scheduled in both Chamonix and Zermatt to explore the many attractions of the valleys.
Gallery View map
Tour Highlights
- Lac Blanc
Inclusions
Peregrine regional tour leader, accommodation, 2 day lift-pass, transport.
- Mini-van
- On foot
- 6 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 2 dinners
Walking In The French & Swiss Alps
Day 1
Arrive Chamonix
Meals Privided:
, Dinner
Your trip starts today with your arrival in Chamonix, a charming old mountain town that lies right at the foot of Mont Blanc (4807m) - the highest mountain in Western Europe. No activities are planned so you may arrive at any time. Please make your own way to the joining hotel (details are in your travel documents), which is centrally located right in the heart of town. Chamonix has been a climbing and skiing centre for over 100 years and is considered the mountaineering capital of Europe. It has a wonderful atmosphere and a well-preserved Old Town, with cobbled streets full of lively sidewalk cafes.In the evening we meet our tour leader and our fellow travelling companions at a Welcome Meeting (this is usually at 6pm, but you will be advised as to the exact time and place in a notice, located near the reception at our hotel), where our leader will give us a briefing on what lies ahead on our tour.
Day 2
Chamonix Valley
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch
Today we take a short transfer to the head of the valley 1350m and our goal is col du Balme, 2200m via Aiguillettes des Possettes 2180m. Looking at the altitudes it seems like a long climb but the path is a steady well graded trail that rises out of the valley under the shade of Alpine forests. As we increase in altitude and the forest thins our views down the valley towards Mont Blanc open out into a truly spectacular vista. From Aiguillettes des Possettes, a small peak enroute, we have a 360 degree panorama of the Alps. A steady contouring paths takes us to col du Balme itself, the perfect place for a packed lunch. Our decent to Vallorcine 1260m is on wide easy trails and from there we take a short transfer back to Chamonix. (Walking distance 13 km)
Day 3
Chamonix – Brevent – Fleger
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch
Today’s plan is to see the best that the valley has to offer. Included as part of our tour is a 2 day full pass of the area allowing us unlimited access to the ski lift network and we use this pass to give us access to two shorter walks. In the morning we will take two lifts to the summit of Brevent (2525m). From here we look directly across the valley to the immense towering mountain side of Mont Blanc. There is no better view in the valley. We descend approximately 350m onto a broad shoulder that will give us no end of great photo opportunities. Looping round we then return to Brevent and descend by cable car to Plan Praz (2000m) where we follow an undulating contouring path to Fleger (1840m) and our final cable car off the mountainside. The path, the Grand Balcone Sud is one of Chamonix’s most popular walks, and rightly so. (Walking distance 13 km)
Day 4
Chamonix - Montenvers
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch
Today is a a day of interesting lifts. We hop aboard the historic Montenvers Cog railway and climb to Montenvers (1630m), a mid-level viewing station over the Mar de Glace glacier. From here we can actually go inside the glacier and see up close this mammoth river of ice. Our walk today is an easy 6 km to the mid station of the Aiguille du Midi (2290m). From here e are whisked to 3342m to view the glaciers and higher slopes of Mont Blanc. A truly spectacular sight. We descend to the valley bottom by cable car. (Walking distance 6km)
Day 5
Chamonix – Sion - Zermatt
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Dinner
Today is a relaxed day and a chance to rest the legs. Our private coach will pick us up in the morning and take us on a very scenic trip through the valleys into Switzerland. Enroute we will stop off in Sion, a charming Swiss town with winding alleyways through a medieval quarter and a 11th century and 13th century Château. After a short visit of Sion, we continue on to Zermatt and the second mountain icon of the Alps, the Matterhorn.
Day 6
Zermatt Valley
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch
Today we walk up and out of the Zermatt (1630m) through the old hamlets that were the once upon a time the summer farms of the region. Our path gently climbs through meadows and then under the north face of the Matterhorn. As the forests become thinner our trail turns on its heal and we cross the glacier river (2220m) and head back towards Zermatt on the northern valley side, passing through a final hamlet, Zmutt, renowned for its great cheese. (Walking distance 13 km)
Day 7
Free day (Zermatt)
Meals Privided:
Today is a free day in the Zermatt Valley to make your own discoveries. There are a number of attractions of offer in the valley and your tour leader will be at hand to offer advice on options available to you. Alternatively a half day walk with views of the Matterhorn can be arranged.
Day 8
End Zermatt
Meals Privided:
Breakfast
Our trip ends this morning after breakfast in Zermatt. Zermatt is well connected by train to onward destinations in Switzerland including direct connections to Geneva and Zurich airports.
IN A NUTSHELL
8 days
$2,575
15
TOUR INFORMATION
| Start | End | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 23/06/2012 | 30/06/2012 | $2,575 |
| 07/07/2012 | 14/07/2012 | $2,575 |
| 18/08/2012 | 25/08/2012 | $2,575 |
| 01/09/2012 | 08/09/2012 | $2,575 |
| 15/09/2012 | 22/09/2012 | $2,575 |
| 22/06/2013 | 29/06/2013 | $2,575 |
| 06/07/2013 | 13/07/2013 | $2,575 |
