Women's Tour du Mont Blanc - Wilderness Inquiry

Overview

Hike the best trails of the legendary Tour du Mont Blanc circuit and take in stunning views of Europe’s highest mountain! Crossing through the beauty of France, Italy, and Switzerland, the Tour du Mont Blanc is one of Europe’s most famous and beloved long-distance hikes. Enjoy spectacular views all day, every day, and spend the evenings enjoying local cuisine and wine and resting in charming huts, hotels, and mountain lodges. Your hiking gear will be transported along the way, so you only need to focus on hiking with your daypack, taking in the views, and having fun! It’s a great match for mountain lovers who are looking for a multi-day trek with a side of cozy Alpine culture. Disconnect from the daily grind, and connect with like-minded women adventurers.

Sample Itinerary

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The trip begins in Geneva, where you’ll meet up with the group. We’ll then head through the Swiss Alps to Chamonix – one of the most iconic mountain towns in the world, nestled at the foot of Mont Blanc in the heart of a dramatic u-shaped valley! There will be time to relax and explore this resort town - where the first Winter Olympics were held in 1924 - before gathering for a welcome dinner.

The day begins with a cable car ascent from Les Praz to Flégère (1059 m) where we’ll start our first hike! Climb slowly up through the sanctuary of wildlife that is the Aiguilles Rouges to the magical site of Lac Blanc, and then down to the Cheserys Lakes. Its mirror-like panoramas of the Mont Blanc massif in its crystal waters are the perfect stop for lunch! Take the Flégère lift back to Chamonix for the evening and, if we’re lucky, we may even come across a group of ibexes on the way down.

Today, we’ll cross into Switzerland above the dramatic Rhone Valley. The Arpille mountain pastures, dominated by the summit of the same name, will give a grandiose viewpoint over some of the highest Swiss peaks! We’ll start from the Col de la Forclaz and climb to the top of Mont de l’Arpille (2084 m) before circling back around the mountain to our starting point where our transfer will take us to the charming village of Lavancher for the night.

Start the day from 'Notre Dame de la Gorge' and head towards the 'Refuge des Prés.' The trail is initially surrounded by forests, then it offers incredible viewpoints before completely opening up onto Alpine meadows. If we arrive early, it will be possible to drop off our bags at the refuge and explore the heights of the valley, with the Col de la Fenêtre in our sights.

After a night at the refuge, set off to explore the Alpine pastures at the bottom of Val Montjoie, where streams meander and splash their beauty onto the lush meadows. We’ll head towards Lake Jovet, a magnificent body of water perfect for a picnic. In the afternoon, we’ll descend to our starting point from the day before and transfer to the idyllic town of Courmayeur.

From Courmayeur, we’ll head to La Visaille where an ascent quickly leads us to Lake Combal at the foot of the immense moraine of the Miage Glacier. We can then head towards Arp Vieille to reach the heights of Courmayeur. We’ll take the Dolonne Gondola back down to the valley for another lovely evening in Italy!

Set out for the last day of hiking, where you’ll discover the south face of the Mont Blanc massif. After a short ascent to the Bonatti refuge - and stop for a cappuccino - we’ll begin our trail on a balcony path with the Mont Blanc directly in front of us, a view we won't lose sight of until we reach the Bertone refuge. From there, we'll start descending to reach Courmayeur via the highlands on foot, spending our final night in Italy together for a special celebration dinner.

After breakfast, we’ll head back to Geneva and connect with homeward-bound flights, ending an unforgettable, action-packed adventure around one of the most famous mountain ranges in the world!

Dates & Fees

2024 Dates	Fee	Registration
9/9-9/16/24 — Women's Trip	$4900	Register Now

What to Expect

TERRAIN/ROUTE: There are a lot of ups and downs on this adventure, so while it’s unlikely you’ll feel the effects of altitude, there’s quite a bit of cumulative elevation gain, so it’s very likely you’ll feel the effects of the many rocky ups and downs in your legs!

HIKING: Hikes range from 4 to 8 miles a day and an average of 4-8 hours of physical activity per day. Some hikes are steep. With a lot of cumulative elevation gain over 6 back-to-back days, the BEST OF the Tour du Mont Blanc is no joke! As with all adventures, the better trained you are, the more enjoyable your experience will be! Stay active, break in your boots, and start conditioning your legs now for LOTS of ups and downs. You will carry your day pack with only what you will need for each day hike.

WEATHER: The Tour du Mont Blanc hiking season is during the summer, even so, it’s not uncommon to encounter some snow on the higher sections of the trail. Mountain climates are unpredictable, so be ready to embrace what Mother Nature throws our way, and put on a layer and dance when it gets cold!

YOUR GROUP: The group size will be up to 14 participants, 1-2 Wilderness Inquiry staff, and 1 local guide. Each group consists of like-minded travelers of various ages, backgrounds, and abilities, including people with disabilities. Our trips are cooperative adventures and people pitch in as they are able.

ACCOMMODATIONS: We will sleep in a variety of hotels and mountain lodges in double/twin shared rooms, with one night spent in a refuge hut in double/twin shared rooms. Typically there are 2 people per room. Your group will travel together in a private minibus with luggage transfers.

SINGLE TRAVELERS: If you are traveling alone, you will feel at home with a welcoming group. If you would like to have your own room throughout the trip, you may purchase a single supplement for an additional fee. Please email or call us if you would like this option.

MEALS: All meals will be provided including picnic lunches while on trail. There will be local snacks provided throughout each day. We’ll enjoy happy hours together, with occasional complimentary alcoholic beverages.

EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING: Since weather can vary, you will need layers. We will provide you a suggested the packing list with our confirmation packet

MEDICATIONS: Please list all of your medications on your registration form. Consider bringing two sets of your medications: one set that can be kept with you, and another set that will be kept by your trip leaders. If you need assistance taking your medications, please explain on your registration form. Wilderness Inquiry will bring a collection of over the counter medications (ibuprofen, Advil, anti-nausea, etc.).

CELL PHONES AND OTHER DEVICES: You are welcome to bring cell phones and other devices like cameras, but they are your responsibility to take care of. You may have spotty cell service, so we’d encourage you to take the opportunity to unplug! Wilderness Inquiry is not responsible for any lost or broken electronic devices.

SAFETY & EMERGENCIES WHILE ON TRAIL: All Wilderness Inquiry guides possess experience in administering First Aid, CPR, and Water Safety, carry fully-stocked first aid kits, GPS communication devices, and are trained on how to respond to emergency situations while on trail. If a loved one is participating in a Wilderness Inquiry experience and you need to get in contact with them due to an emergency, please contact the Wilderness Inquiry main phone line at 612-676-9400. We will work to get in contact with trip leaders as soon as possible.

COVID POLICY: We continue to monitor and update our COVID-19 policies. Wilderness Inquiry strongly encourages everyone to be fully up to date with their COVID-19 vaccination and take other necessary steps for the health and wellness of all. We ask you to self-screen for any signs of illness prior to your trip’s departure. Please contact Wilderness Inquiry if you are exhibiting signs of illness. We will also continue to follow all guidance and requirements of locations that we travel, keeping in mind some international destinations do require vaccinations and/or negative COVID tests. We will update this policy as new information and guidance becomes available.

GROUP EXPECTATIONS: To facilitate a safe and inclusive environment where we can all come together as our true selves, feel supported, and enjoy the outdoors in community, we have developed community agreements that align with Wilderness Inquiry’s core values and brand promise. We ask that you review these before your adventure so you can help Wilderness Inquiry create an inclusive environment for all.

COMMUNITY AGREEMENTS AS WE ADVENTURE TOGETHER
☐ We are safety conscious so everyone can have fun!
☐ We seek to understand each other and celebrate our differences.
☐ We are curious, open-minded, and communicate respectfully.
☐ We are open to trying new things and pushing outside of our comfort zone.
☐ We support each other and collectively contribute to group tasks.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Standard Meeting Places and Times

Start: Geneva Airport (GVA) at 12:00 PM (local time)
End: Geneva Airport (GVA) at 1:00 PM (local time)

About the Area

Mont Blanc is a mountain massif and the highest peak in Europe. Located in the Alps, the massif lies along the French-Italian border and reaches into Switzerland. It extends southwestward from Martigny, Switzerland, for about 25 miles and has a maximum width of 10 miles. Surrounding the massif are the Graian Alps, the Chamonix Valley and Savoy Alps, the Pennine Alps, and the Valley of Courmayeur.