New this year: Tour de Mont Blanc

The Tour de Mont Blanc is a rite of passage for and alpine walker. The route is one of the most popular in the Alps and takes around two weeks to complete in the summertime. But for some reason, despite the routes panoramic vistas, interesting terrain and remoteness, the route is not often completed as a ski tour, until now.

Mountain Tracks are pleased to offer the legendary tour as a holiday package for the first time this season. As far as we are aware there are no other tour operators offering this route.

If you have any questions about this trip please call Dan or Susie on +44 (0)20 8123 2978 to find out more.

Following the summer route but in reverse to exploit the best snow conditions, this week-long tour is a perfect mix of hut and hotel accommodation. Whilst there are some small deviations, the circular route remains as true to the summer trail as is possible, circumnavigation Mont Blanc in an clockwise direction.

Starting just outside Chamonix the group will warm up in the quiet resort of Le Tour. This is the busiest part of the trip, and still relatively quiet. Once the blood is pumping a 2-hour skin up to the Col des Autannes, in so crossing the first border of the trip. The long rolling descent passes over the Glacier du Bron and ends in the Swiss village of Trient. The 1400m descent is the perfect way to blow away the cobwebs and set you up for a fantastic week of touring.

The following morning a taxi ride to La Fouly is followed by a sharp climb of over 1000m to Grand Col Ferret at 2537m. The rest stop at the col is a highlight of the trip, if we could stay there all day we would. The views down to the Italian Val Ferret are breath-taking and Mont Dolant rises up in front of you – the join of Switzerland, Italy and France. Here you really feel as though you have escaped the hustle and bustle of the bust valley towns like Chamonix.

Tearing yourself away from the view is no mean feat but leave you must. Don’t forget your passport though as gravity pulls us towards the Italian border. Sweep past the Rifugio Elena, and descending to the valley floor there is a short sharp skin up to the Rifugio Bonatti, where we will spend the night in isolated and remote bliss.

The comfy hut has all the essential facilities and welcomes guests with warm Italian hospitality. Watching the sun descend with a glass of wine whilst recounting the day’s events is one of the pleasures of this style of ski touring, and there are few better locations for it.

The following day is started with an ascent towards the Tete entre deux Sauts at 2729m via the beautiful Vallon de Matatra. Eventually descending to Planprincieux, where we take the ski bus to Courmayeur ready for the night.

Following the summer route around the Mont Blanc massive the rest of the tour is filled with much of the same, but we doubt you will tire. The dramatic views will more than once stop you in your skin tracks. Skirting around the South East side of Mont Blanc you eventually cross the border back on got France and return to Chamonix.

To finish the week off there is the option to ski the legendary Valee Blanche descent that Chamonix is so well known for, that is of course unless your legs have other ideas!

For a full itinerary head to the Tour Du Mont Blanc holiday page and to find out more call Dan or Susie on +44 (0)20 8123 2978