Experience the famous Alps walking routes including the Tour du Mont Blanc, Walkers Haute Route, Tour du Monta Rosa, Vanoise National Park and the Gran Paradiso...
The Alps form a natural border between many European countries. Alpine trekking routes and ‘walking tours’ give the opportunity to visit two or sometimes three countries at once, with their contrasting mountain refuges and mountain food. These tours use tried and tested mountain huts and refuges for overnight accommodation. This adds to the authenticity of your experience in the mountains. You will leave each refuge having had an unique experience with other trekkers, fortified with great hut food. A cross-border trek is enormous fun.
Within this hiker’s heaven, there are four classic alpine treks that are absolute standouts. These treks are defined by high alpine trails and passes that have been used for hundreds of years, and some for thousands of years.
The Tour du Mont Blanc is the classic trek around the Mont Blanc massif. The centre piece is western Europe’s highest peak—Mont Blanc—but that’s just the start. There are dozens of other dramatic peaks and spires in the Mont Blanc range to amaze you, along with the glaciers, streams, and valleys which flank its slopes. Your route takes you from France through Italy, Switzerland, and back to France.
The Haute Route is really a network of trails connecting Chamonix, at the base of Mont Blanc, with Zermatt, at the base of the Matterhorn. Each day is defined by ascending historic and challenging mountain passes. As you pass within view of the highest peaks in the Alps, you’re treated to daily glaciers, alpine lakes, fir forests, and mountain streams. Each night you descend into villages with comfortable accommodation.
The Tour du Monte Rosa circumnavigates the ten 4000m summits of the Monte Rosa massif taking you through two alpine regions within Switzerland & Italy. Approximately 140 kilometre in length with an accumulation of approx. 7,000m of elevation, the Tour of Monte Rosa starts and finishes in the iconic alpine town of Zermatt. This trek gives you the opportunity not only to view the glorious Monte Rosa massif but will give you sight of some truly iconic Swiss 4000m peaks, Weisshorn, Dom, Breithorn, Caster, Pollux, Liskamm, Weissmies and of course the mighty Matterhorn.
The Traverse of the Gran Paradiso or Alta Via 2 is a remote and stunningly beautiful gem taking you 130 kilometers from Chardonney to Courmayeur in the Aosta valley. This eight day Traverse of the Gran Paradiso takes you over high altitude cols and through seemingly pristine untouched rugged terrain resting in mountain huts and hotels. This long distance trek is must for the seasoned trekker who is looking for the next challenge.
Dolomites. The stunningly beauty of Italian Dolomites offer breath taking scenery as you trek through an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The trek makes its way through rugged terrain passing by the iconic limestone pinnacles from Largo di Braies in the north to La Pissa in the south of the region. The Alta Via 1 is 120km in length and takes approximately ten days. Accommodation is mountain refuges and simple hotels.
The Vanoise is France's first national park in the area of the Western Alps. It is a largely unknown jewel and well worth the effort. The Tour of the Vanoise takes you into high and remote places, trekking from hut to hut in un-spoilt, tranquil and stunningly beautiful surroundings. This 80km tour is a real challenge, the terrain is not for the faint hearted, steep arêtes and exposed traverses makes the this tour a real adventure.