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French & Italian Alps Walking & Hiking Tour

French & Italian Alps Walking & Hiking Tour

Geneva to Mont Blanc & Chamonix

From $4,799 - $5,099 pp dbl. occ. | 6 days / 5 nights

(+$1,120 to $3,500 for sgl. occ.)

Needle-sharp peaks soar above peaceful trails through flower-filled meadows. A landscape replete with storybook villages, forested foothills, imposing glaciers and welcoming rifugi. A pleasing mélange of rustic mountain culture and elegant retreats. And majestic Mont Blanc, towering above it all. Join us to experience alpine life from two perspectives: français and italiano. Doubly sublime.

Highlights

Stroll through the streets and among the boutiques of Chamonix and glamorous Megève, tucked in the Mont Blanc foothills
Hike with expert haute montagne guides on a glacier and take in alpine views of Aiguille du Midi and the Mer de Glace
Journey to the Italian side of Mont Blanc and say buongiorno to Monte Bianco, above beautiful Val Ferret
Savor glorious views during high-altitude randonnées (hikes) from forested valleys to dazzling meadows thick with wildflowers

France & Italy

Start/End Geneva, Switzerland

French and Italian Alps walking tour map

Itinerary

Day 1 Journey up a mountain trail for a hike that offers lovely views of the town from above | Savor a lunch of regional specialties, including homemade cheeses, at a high-mountain refuge | Meander in glamorous Megève, tucked in the Mont Blanc foothills | Once a simple farming village, Megève now brims with chic boutiques and is a delight to explore on foot | Lounge in luxury at our exquisite mountain retreat.

Days 2-3 Jaw-dropping vistas of majestic Mont Blanc steal the show | Hop aboard a historic cog-wheel train from St-Gervais-les-Bains alongside climbers setting off for the summit | At Aiguille du Midi, amble along a stunning balcony trail to the Signal de Forbes viewpoint and gaze down over the Alps' second-largest glacier, the Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice) | Take in spectacular views of Mont Blanc while hiking to the famed mountaineering town of Chamonix | Learn about the area's fascinating history from a local alpinist after a dinner of hearty highland fare.

Days 4-6 Let's go to Italy, or shall we say, andiamo in Italia! | Walk with expert high-mountain guides across the Dente del Gigante (Giant's Tooth) glacier and enjoy a picnic lunch at 11,000 feet | Discover the Italian mountain town of Courmayeur and enjoy a festive meal of regional specialties | Sip a cappuccino before exploring the gorgeous Val Ferret on the Italian side of Monte Bianco | Follow a portion of the Tour du Mont Blanc trail | Marvel at peaks that seem to stretch forever above the valley and beautiful river below.

Next: Dates & Prices

The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind — you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due. View cancellation policy.

Cancellation fees may vary based upon departure date. Please review the grid below:

Number of Days Prior to Trip Start	Cancellation Fees (per person)	Departure Dates

For information on our trip transfers see here.

Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.

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C Classic Dates

Gather your favorite people to share a Backroads adventure on a ready-to-book Private Trip - featuring all the legendary Backroads hallmarks from expert leaders to unforgettable activities. Call or email us to reserve your date.

2020 Private Trip Pricing

10 or more guests: from $4,799 pp dbl occ
9 Guests: from $5,299 pp dbl occ
8 Guests: from $5,499 pp dbl occ
2-7 Guests: Give us a call or reach out here!

Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.

Don't see your ideal travel date? Make a Date

2+ AVAILABLE TO BOOK
for 2 or more guests
8+ AVAILABLE TO BOOK
for 8 or more guests
16+ AVAILABLE TO BOOK
for 16 or more guests
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C Couples, Friends & Solos Tours

2020 July

8+ 7/5–7/10

8+ 7/12–7/17

8+ 7/19–7/24

8+ 7/26–7/31

2020 August

8+ 8/2–8/7

8+ 8/9–8/14

8+ 8/16–8/21

8+ 8/23–8/28

2020 September

8+ 9/12–9/17

View Scheduled Dates

The sky’s the limit! Tell us what your dream trip would be and we'll make it happen! Whether you're looking for a honeymoon trip for 2, a 30-person family reunion or a 100-person corporate trip, we can do it all. A dedicated Custom Trip Consultant will work closely with you to bring your dreams to reality. Call us at 800-462-2848 to speak with your Custom Trip Consultant or click on the button below.

REQUEST YOUR CUSTOM TRIP NOW

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Dates

C Couples, Friends & Solos Tours

2020
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep

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Prices

From $4,799 - $5,099 pp dbl. occ.
6 days / 5 nights

(+$1,120 to $3,500 for sgl. occ.)

Reviews

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Premiere Hotels

Les Fermes de Marie

Megève (1 night)

Hôtel Mont Blanc Chamonix

Chamonix (2 nights)

Auberge de la Maison

Entrèves (2 nights)

See Lodging Details

Activity Level

This trip is rated Levels 2-4

See Daily Route Options

What's Included

Services and equipment are included.

See how we include more

Why Backroads

Why Travel with Backroads in French and Italian Alps

Find out What sets us apart

More On This Trip

Backroads French & Italian Alps Walking & Hiking Tour

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Detailed Itinerary Reserve This Trip

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Next: Lodging

Premiere Hotels

Accommodations may vary based on departure date. Any difference from what is listed below can be found by clicking on your desired date on the View Scheduled Dates or Private Dates tabs.

Les Fermes de Marie

Megève (1 night)

Cooly blending rustic design with a luxury finish, this elegant escape is surrounded by lush gardens and nestled in the foothills of the Alps. (pool, spa)

Hôtel Mont Blanc Chamonix

Chamonix (2 nights)

Luxurious and stylishly renovated, this historic alpine hotel provides ideal access to the charms of Chamonix's village center. (pool, spa)

Auberge de la Maison

Entrèves (2 nights)

Authentic mountain charm and warm hospitality are highlights at this hotel in the picturesque Italian Alps. (pool, spa)

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Next: Activity Level

This Trip Is Rated Levels 2-4

Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next—and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.

Daily Route Options (drag to see full )

Day	EASYGOING				ACTIVE				AVID
Daily Route Options
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Level 4		Level 5
	miles	feet gain	miles	feet gain	miles	feet gain	miles	feet gain	miles	feet gain
1			4*	1500	6*	1500	7*	1500
2					5*	1200	7	2100
3	1*	100	4*	1000			8	1000
4	Guided Glacier Walk (4 Hours; 500' elevation gain)
5					7*	1700	8*	1900
6			3*	1000

Note: The terrain on this trip includes paved and gravel access roads, well-maintained dirt paths and rocky exposed trails. During our glacier-walking excursion, we're accompanied by expert mountain guides and we'll wear crampons to walk on snow and ice. An alternative hiking option is available if this activity is not for you. Most activities take place at elevations of 6,000–8,000 feet (and up to 12,000 feet), which can make the routes feel more challenging than the mileage may suggest.

* Includes shuttle.

Learn more about how we determine our activity level and fully support a range of abilities and interests.

Please note that our distance and elevation figures come from Ride with GPS. Other sources may give differing elevation figures due to different GPS and mapping technologies and other external factors.

Previous: Lodging

Next: What's Included

Meals

All breakfasts, 6 lunches, 4 dinners

Also Included

Expertise and services of our experienced Trip Leaders
Snacks and beverages between meals
Additional guides and experts from the region on many trips
Van shuttles to support a variety of route options
Comprehensive Travel Planner with detailed pre-trip information
Private guided tours at museums, historic sites, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the Travel Planner
All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
Special events, including wine tastings and other select attractions as mentioned in the Travel Planner
On biking and multi-adventure trips, use of fully equipped Backroads titanium bike plus helmet and accessories
Trailercycles, carriers, and kid-sized helmets for Family Trips
Equipment and experienced guides for kayaking, rafting, snorkeling, sailing and canoeing as described
Park and other entry fees
Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the Travel Planner
Select coach transfers
Baggage transfers and porterage

Previous: Activity Level

Next: Straight Talk

Next: Why Backroads

Get the Straight Talk about This Trip

We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.

Two Leaders

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 a combination of loop hikes and out-and-back trails that begin and end in the same location. 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.

Terrain & Trail Support

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.

Weather

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.

Air-Conditioning

Hôtel Mont-Blanc and Les Fermes de Marie are Premiere Hotels. While they offer outstanding service and amenities, please note that they are not equipped with air-conditioning. Despite the region's generally temperate climate and cool nights, guestrooms can occasionally become warm during peak temperatures.

Previous: What's Included

Next: Why Backroads

Why Travel with Backroads in French and Italian Alps

A Variety of Routes Each Day

In French and Italian Alps you head off each morning after choosing among several expertly designed routes—all with detailed directions, mileage and shuttle options. Unlike trips with one fixed daily route (or worse, one guide that everyone's obliged to follow), you're free to enjoy the best of the region at your pace, stopping wherever you want to explore further.

Only the Best Hotels

On this trip featuring Premiere Hotels, you can count on the best lodgings French and Italian Alps has to offer. In fact, the hotels we've chosen in this region have higher retail room rates than those offered by any other active travel company—even when their trips cost more.

We Live in the Neighborhood

Our Trip Leaders in French and Italian Alps live in the area and are deeply engaged in their communities, giving them unique inside knowledge they're happy to share in making your experience that much richer. They'll introduce you to people, customs and parts of town you'd likely never encounter on your own—and teach you a few local phrases to help break the ice.

Experts with Secrets to Share

In choosing the ideal experts to enrich your travel experience, we look for people with a wealth of local knowledge, but also the ability to convey their insights in English. Too often travelers find themselves smiling politely, not quite understanding what they're being told. Our experts share intriguing facts, anecdotes and inside stories that stay with you forever.

The Right Local Pairings

Our Trip Leaders combine deep local expertise with a firm grasp of North American expectations around quality of service. By the same token, we pair experienced Backroads leaders with local guides who know how to cater to your needs while cracking open the culture or natural history in ways that are meaningful, memorable and often magical.

Everyone at Their Own Pace

We design and support our French and Italian Alps trips to suit mixed abilities and varied interests—so you can set your own pace, then change things up as the day unfolds. And all guests are free to do the same, traveling together or apart, with no one cramping anyone else's style. Which sounds easy in theory, but it's hard to pull off. Here's more on how we do it.

We Know Where We're Going

Tom Hale has been keeping Backroads on track, with one eye on the horizon, since 1979. His passion for active travel, and for ensuring the highest-quality travel experience, is evident in every detail we add to make a guest's trip unforgettable—and the fact he's right there in the office, making it happen. To hear Tom describe his vision, watch our video.

Choose Your Fellow Travelers

With Backroads you won't end up with kids on what you thought was an adult trip; we have exclusive departures for families, so they're off having their own adventures. As you browse our unrivaled selection of trips and dates, you can count on finding a trip in French and Italian Alps that's geared exclusively to your choice of traveling companions.

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Previous: What's Included

Detailed Itinerary Reserve This Trip

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