Mont Blanc Encompassed

What's Included

• Meals

  9 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 9 dinners (does not include drinks) – continental breakfasts are served and usually consist of breads, jams, coffee, tea and juices. Lunch is picnic style. Dinner will consist of 2 or 3 courses which include regional specialties.

• Accommodation

  9 nights in mountain refuges/gîte-hostels on a dormitory share basis. It is possible to spend 4 nights in a double room, 1 night quadshare, 4 nights dorm – additional cost applies.

• Luggage Transfer

  Luggage transfer by mule (max 7kgs - early and late season departures use luggage van for transfer (up to 15kgs)).

• Mountain Guide

  Experienced mountain guide.

• Internal Transfers

  Internal transfers by local bus.

• Travel to Les Houches and from Chamonix

  Travel to Les Houches and from Chamonix.

What's Not Included

• Drinks

  Drinks are not included.
  
  

• Personal Items

  Items of a personal nature are not included.
  
  

• Luggage Storage

  Storage of luggage is not included.
  
  

• Transfers

  Transfers are not included.
  
  

• Travel Insurance

  Travel insurance is not included.
  
  

Accommodation

9 nights in mountain refuges/gîte-hostels. Accommodation is mixed dormitory style in mountain refuges or gîte hostels. There can be up to 40 people in one room in some refuges but less on most nights (around 10-12). Beds are often bunks but can also be one long platform with separate mattresses or one long continuous mattress. Blankets are provided, but you will need to bring a sleep sheet. Bathrooms and toilets are shared. Whether staying in dormitory accommodation or the double rooms option, the group will stay together in the same accommodations each night. Whilst the double room option offers the privacy of your sleeping quarters, often the bathrooms will still be shared. The double room option is not available for single travellers. In alpine huts if there is a free bed it will be sold regardless of whether you as an individual have requested a single room. To avoid this likelihood we do not offer a single option in this category. Single travellers should take the dormitory option.

Grading

MODERATE to CHALLENGING – GRADE 4
During this walk you will ascend over 9000 vertical metres - more than the height of Mount Everest. The walking is graded moderate to challenging (4) with daily guided walks of around 5-9 hours, between 8 and 15km and maximum ascents / descents of 1700 metres per day. There are some challenging stages during the walk with steep uphills, descents, and many sections of the trail which require care (eg steep drops, rocky terrain). There are more challenging variant sections of the TMB route which may require climbing ladders for short stages - the guide will use his/her discretion as to groups abilities and weather conditions to determine which route will be taken each day. The accent is on keeping a steady pace with time to stop and take photos (subject to weather conditions and walking pace). You will need a good to excellent level of fitness to participate fully in this adventure. It is considered suitable for experienced walkers who are sure footed with a good walking pace. If your pace is slow in mountainous terrain we recommend you book on our Rambler trip.
If for any reason during the trip the guide considers, in his or her sole discretion, that your fitness or mental or physical health is likely to cause danger, distress or annoyance to others, he or she may direct you not to continue and you must follow the guide’s instructions. In this case you will not be entitled to any refund.
Early in the season (June) you may encounter snow on the passes which may be quite deep and alter the grading of the trip to challenging. At any time during summer, weather conditions may be variable and you should be prepared for all conditions including snow, ice, strong sun and extreme winds.
As with all our moderate to challenging programs, we expect participants to be regular outdoors people, enjoying aerobic sport around four or five times a week over some period of time. Preferably this has been a long term interest but if not, you have set a program of fitness preparation with at least three months lead in time to your trip. The fitter you are for your trip, the more of a holiday it will be. Activities as close to the actual activity on your trip are the best training; in this instance walking with and without a pack. This builds leg strength, aerobic capacity and confidence in your ability to travel comfortably with a pack for extended periods. At the same time, you are also comfortable with the layers you like to wear and footwear. Important note: good quality walking boots with ankle support are strongly recommended for your participation. Runners or shoes without ankle support are not ideal for the conditions encountered on this walk.

Mode of Transport

Internal transfers by local bus. Travel to Les Houches and from Chamonix. Luggage transfer by mule (max 7kgs - early and late season departures use luggage van for transfer (up to 15kgs)).