Italian, French & Swiss Alps Lodge-to-Lodge Hiking Tour
Italian, French & Swiss Alps Lodge-to-Lodge Hiking Tour
6 days
5 nights
Activity Levels 3-5
Casual & Premiere Hotels
2025: Jun-Sep2026: Jun-Sep
Epic Alpine Adventure from Chamonix to Mont Blanc
It's a hiker's dream. The dazzling peak of iconic Mont Blanc. A once-in-a-lifetime trek through three of Europe's most beautiful countries. Spectacular Courmayeur. Legendary Chamonix. Classic Swiss peaks. Mountain culture at its finest. It's a world ignited by a pink alpenglow. Or perhaps it's la vie en rose.
Highlights
- Toast the sunset over the mountains from our historic alpine lodge—a truly singular experience
- Get to know the awe-inspiring Alps from multiple perspectives in Italy, France and Switzerland
- Gaze over the dramatic escarpments and snowfields of Mont Blanc, Western Europe’s highest mountain
- Hike on France’s exquisite Mer de Glace glacier and then explore the charms of elegant Chamonix
Start/End Geneva
* Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Itinerary
Days 1-2
Arrive in Chamonix and enjoy a scenic hike overlooking the Chamonix valley • In the evening, stroll the town—known for mountaineering and steeped in history • Ride the Mont Blanc Express train to the French and Swiss border • Take a gondola above the tree line • Spend a pleasurable day hiking with incredible views of the mountains in all directions • Walk through fields of wildflowers and past small alpine lakes • Cross the border by foot—welcome to the Swiss Alps!
Nights 1-2
Built in 1840 and exuding mountain charm, this local landmark was the first grand hotel in Chamonix. (pool, spa)
Day 3
Head out with your mountaineering boots and crampons for an exciting exploration of the awe-inspiring landscape on a glacier walk led by expert guides • Alternatively, explore the charming town of Chamonix and hike the beautiful mountain paths from Chamonix to Montenvers • Feel as though you have the Alps to yourself as you watch the sun rise and fall from our secluded high-altitude oasis.
Night 3
Wake up to a panorama of the Mer de Glace and Aiguille des Drus in this 19th-century mountaineering landmark that once hosted Victor Hugo, George Sand, Charles Dickens and Napoleon III.
Days 4-6
Discover the Aiguille du Midi, a needle of rock looming at 12,777 feet • Pause to admire vistas of majestic Mont Blanc, western Europe’s highest peak • Hike on a balcony trail with views overlooking the Chamonix valley • Trek over Val Ferret, a lush valley on the Italian side of Monte Bianco (Mont Blanc) • Take in the scene over a cappuccino at a friendly rifugio (high-elevation hut) • Fly over glaciers and peaks as you cross the border between Italy and France by gondola • Hike a portion of the Tour du Mont Blanc trail, considered one of the best in the world • Dine on hearty Northern Italian cuisine • Feel at home in the region’s unique and irresistible mountain culture • Visit lively Courmayeur and relax at an atmospheric alpine hotel.
Nights 4-5
Sophisticated style with a warm yet minimalist aesthetic is paired with spectacular views of the Mont Blanc massif and a rugged mountain landscape. (pool, spa)
What's Included
See moreStraight Talk
We want to make sure you're on the trip that's right for you. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
We ordinarily staff our trips with three leaders: two leaders out on the trail offering support—allowing everyone to have the experience they want, whether it’s an easygoing interpretative walk or a rigorous hike—while the third leader moves the van from trailhead to trail end. This trip is a little different in that our routes are not readily accessible by van. This means that you’ll still have the same two leaders providing excellent trail support without the need for a third leader to move the van.
Our hikes through the Alps’ captivating, rugged terrain climb rocky and sometimes uneven paths, many of which are remote and do not intersect with roads. Vehicles will get us to and from the trailheads, but due to the nature of these trails, we won’t see our vehicles along the route. Ample trail support in the form of water, snacks and encouragement is provided by your Backroads leaders and local guides.
Hiking in the mountains can mean quickly changing, unpredictable weather, even during the warm and sunny summer months. Careful packing is essential for your comfort and overall enjoyment. Be prepared to carry multiple layers every day on the trip—warm base layers, a windproof/rain jacket and rain pants, and even a down jacket, hat and gloves for our day hiking on the glacier.
While the hotels on this trip offer outstanding service and are ideally located for exploring the Alps, please note that some of them are not equipped with air-conditioning. Despite the region’s generally temperate climate and cool nights, guestrooms can occasionally become warm during peak temperatures.
Hotels
Adventure-Ready Hotels
Ideally located with ready access to trip activities, our Casual hotels are also known for their character and charm.
Hotels may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.
Nights 1-2
*Deluxe Hotel
Built in 1840 and exuding mountain charm, this local landmark was the first grand hotel in Chamonix. (pool, spa)
Night 3
Casual Hotel
Wake up to a panorama of the Mer de Glace and Aiguille des Drus in this 19th-century mountaineering landmark that once hosted Victor Hugo, George Sand, Charles Dickens and Napoleon III.
Nights 4-5
*Premiere Hotel
Sophisticated style with a warm yet minimalist aesthetic is paired with spectacular views of the Mont Blanc massif and a rugged mountain landscape. (pool, spa)
Gallery
Review Snapshot
by PowerReviews
Reviewed by 7 customers
Absolutely amazing trip!!
Incredibly personable and skilled leaders helping you and encouraging you while you hike amazing trails in the Alps. The scenery is stunning, the people you meet become friends and you enjoy a top notch experience. Stop thinking about it and just go!!
Fantastic trip - can't wait to do another one!
Traveling with Backroads allowed us to travel hassle-free knowing the everything from A-Z is taken care of. The leaders were so knowledgable and friendly, always eager to go the extra mile to make our experience incredible. We met interesting people, saw awe-inspiring views, ate delicious food, and stayed in nice and unique places. The hiking was simply perfect and there were always options to make it easier or harder so that everyone on the group felt it was suitable to them. We absolutely loved it!
Best mountain hiking ever!
This hiking tour in the Alps was next level. Our trip leaders Mathieu and Annabel were totally awesome and very professional. You can't go wrong with Backroads!
Wonderful experience!
Incredible views, fantastic hikes and great guides. The hotels were located in convenient spots and very comfortable. We would definitely recommend this trip.
Trip of a lifetime!
This trip far exceeded my expectations. The Alps were simply amazing and words cannot begin describe the beauty of the trails that we traversed. Backroads and our fabulous leaders, Perrine and Geoffrey, thought of every detail allowing us to simply go along for the ride. We gained friendships that will last a lifetime as we hiked, sampled delicious local food and wine, and laughed our way through the region. We can't wait to sign up for our next Backroads adventure!
Stunning location, great activities, wonderful guides
Mont Blanc is a magical place. Backroads does a great job giving you a sense of its varied terrain and communities. 5 or 6 hours a day on excellent trails and with great food. The only problem you have is on return, since you took so many pictures you can't sort them out!
Fabulous trip!
Every day of this trip was amazing. The scenery was breathtaking, the hiking was just hard enough, and the food and accommodations were all top notch. Many thanks to our wonderful guides, Perrine and Frantz, who were constantly cheerful, friendly and helpful. The itinerary was well thought out, and brought us to beautiful trails that I could not have found on my own. The glacier hike was particularly memorable. It was great to have a morning of hiking and then be led to a beautiful lunch - all with no thinking or planning on my part. This was my first Backroads trip, and I can't wait to take another.
Dates & Prices
Dates & Prices
Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations (if any) and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy in USD.
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