The Best of Mont Blanc

 After enjoying a continental breakfast at La Vieille Ferme, you take a short drive through St. Gervais to the hamlet of Le Champel (1200m) on the eastern side of the Montjoie valley.  Walking up through this charming, typical Haute Savoie outlying settlement, you follow the track up the south side of the Bionnassey valley. After an hour, the path starts to climb up through pine forests, passing the foot of a waterfall that is magnificent in June and early July when the snow is still melting above, emerging by the foot of the Bionnassey glacier (1760m).

It is worth a slight detour to the left to admire and stand on a Himalayan style footbridge that spans the rushing torrent below the tongue of the glacier. Although the glacier here is mostly hidden under rock debris, it is still an impressive sight. Retracing your steps a short way, you start to climb through the Combe du Tricot. The views above of the Bionnassey glacier and the Aiguille du Gouter on the Mont Blanc massif are breathtaking. An hour of steady walking will bring you to the Col du Tricot (2120m), where ibex can sometimes be spotted in the rocks above.

For those with the energy, there is an option to take a short, steep climb up to the West side of the Col to reach the summit of the Mont Vorrassey (2299m). Although you must descend the same way that you came up, this detour gives you an absolutely stunning 360 degree panorama, with the peaks of the Mont Blanc, the Aravis and the Grand Massif all around. If you look very carefully you can even see La Vieille Ferme far below you!

After a break for lunch, you start down the winding path that leads to the lovely Miage valley, dominated by the Domes de Miage peaks. The Chalet de Miage Refuge (1559m) can provide welcome refreshments. At this point you will leave the Tour de Mont Blanc footpath keeping to the path that flanks the foot of the Vorrassey, heading for the mountain hamlet of Le Champel, (1200m) where your transport will be waiting to take you back to the chalet.  (BLD)

Today, you have a break from guided walks and it is up to you what you want to do and you can therefore choose to be as active or as relaxed as you wish.  All optionals are at your own costs.  See later in these trip notes for all options available with their prices.  One option is to catch the mountain train from St. Gervais/Le Fayet Station in the morning and spend the day in the vibrant alpine town of Chamonix, perhaps enjoying a leisurely lunch in one of the town’s many restaurants, browsing the attractive boutiques or visiting the excellent alpine museum. 

Alternatively, you can stay in St Gervais, perhaps cooling off in the outdoor swimming pool or renting a mountain bike to explore the surrounding area.  You could also spend a few hours at the Thermes de St. Gervais spa centre indulging in thermal water treatments or a massage to soothe any aching muscles.  However, if you are up for more walking, you can choose to take the Mont Blanc Tramway up the ‘Eagle's Nest’ and walk to see close up views of the tremendous Bionnassey Glacier that you first sighted on day 2. 

In the evening you will enjoy a group meal (not included in the price) in a restaurant in St. Gervais where it will be possible to sample some of the local cuisine.  (B)

This final walk is the furthest one from the chalet and it is about a 45 minute drive to reach the start point at Le Tour, (1462m) at the head of the Chamonix valley. You will take the cabin lift up to Charamillon and then the chair lift to Balme (2180m).  From the top of the chairlift, the Refuge du Col de Balme and the Swiss frontier is just a few hundred yards away to the north west, but the path turns south east and follows the path that flanks the mountain.

Climbing gently upwards, we pass the small Lac de Charamillon while the Emosson dam in Switzerland becomes visible behind us. This part of the walk is a favourite site to spot marmots.  The path rounds the shoulder of the mountain, and suddenly the view changes totally as the Tour Glacier comes into sight. Several short, sharp sections of uphill path greet you as you quickly gain altitude in the approach to the glacier and the view gets more and more stunning. The path then traverses across a boulder field before reaching the lateral moraine beside the glacier itself.

Here you slowly follow the ridge of the moraine up to the Refuge Albert 1st (2702m), perched on a plateau beside the glacier. You will pass by the refuge and find a place in the rocks above to eat lunch and take time to admire the sumptuous views of the open ice fields of the glacier. The Aiguille du Tour stands above you, and the snow capped Aiguille du Chardonnet dominates the southern horizon, with the Aiguille Verte beyond.

Descending by the same path that you came up, the views of the Chamonix valley, the Mont Blanc and the Aiguilles Rouges are now no longer behind you. Branching off, above the Vormaine valley, you take a path that leads you back to the top of the Charamillon cabin lift, which you descend back to your transport.  That evening, you will enjoy your last group meal at La Vieille Ferme and can celebrate an enjoyable week of walking!  (BLD)