Tour of Mont Blanc trek comfort

The meeting and kick-off point for our adventure is at the Bellevue cable car station, situated in the charming village of Les Houches. Here, you'll gather with the guide and the rest of the group. After boarding the cable car, we'll ascend to 1800m, marking the starting point of our journey on foot. As we trek, we'll pass by the majestic Bionnassay glacier before ascending to the Col de Tricot at 2120m, eventually reaching the picturesque Miage chalets. Continuing onwards, we'll make our way to Contamines-Montjoie, our overnight stop for the day.

In the morning, a taxi will transport us to the trek's starting point in Bourg d'Arud, nestled in the valley carved by the river Veneon. Although today's stage isn't particularly lengthy in distance, it does involve a considerable ascent until we reach the La Muzelle refuge, our overnight stay at 2102m. Upon reaching the refuge, for those interested, there's the option to undertake an additional ascent of 400m.

We'll journey through the Muzelle Pass at 2613m, crossing over to the Béranger valley. A satisfying descent will lead us to Valsenestre (meaning "valley on the left"), our overnight stop nestled at 1280m in a quaint village tucked away in this enchanting corner of the Écrins. The initial ascent is striking, particularly the trail on the Valsenestre side, but fear not—it's well-marked with no need for cables or iron supports.

We'll start the day with a stroll along the valley floor, but before long, we'll ascend the Col de Côte Belle at 2290m. Prepare for breathtaking panoramas and a captivating ascent through the limestone terrain, where very interesting geological formations await. Our evening will be spent at a gîte nestled in the charming village of Le Désert in Valjouffrey, situated at 1250m altitude.

We'll push onwards towards the southeast, with the path gradually steepening until we reach the Vaurze Pass at 2500m. As we descend, we'll traverse an ancient glacial cirque nestled just below the Souffles peak. Our evening will be spent at 1968m, in the contemporary refuge that shares the same name.

Today's itinerary offers a great mix: two cols, a glacial lake, and a stunning high-altitude trail winding through rocky terrain. Following the picturesque l'Olan Pass, we'll catch sight of the refuge nestled at 2344m. Our night's rest awaits us at the foot of Olan, a majestic peak soaring to 3564m. This refuge is a popular haunt for mountaineers embarking on various routes to summit the peak. Expect a magnificent and challenging day surrounded by the high mountains.

After a night spent among the rocks, we'll descend to the valley floor, leaving behind the rugged terrain. After a few bends, we'll reach the quaint town of La Chapelle in Valgaudemar, sitting at 1080m. Here, we'll have time to wander its streets, admire the traditional architecture of its houses, and maybe even pay a visit to the Écrins National Park museum. Our journey carries on as we ascend alongside the Severaisse River to reach the refuge where we'll spend the night.