Walking in the French & Swiss Alps
Discover Europe’s most spectacular mountain scenery on this intoxicating walking tour of the French and Swiss Alps. Our first base is France's Chamonix Valley and from here we enjoy a series of superb walks. Via alpine forest, we climb to Col du Balme (2200m) via the smaller peak of Aiguillettes des Possettes. Using the ski-lift network we reach Brevent (2525m) and from here we embark on a wonderful circular walk of the area, where we are greeted with spectacular views of Mont Blanc at every turn. Travelling on an historic cog railway we reach Montenvers and get up close to the impressive Mar de Glace glacier. En route to our second base of Zermatt, on the Swiss side of the Alps, we stop at the charming Swiss town of Sion to explore its impressive medieval quarter. In the Zermatt Valley we walk through pastoral meadows and via ancient hamlets to experience stunning views of the legendary Matterhorn. Free days are also scheduled in both Chamonix and Zermatt to explore the many attractions of the valleys.
Itinerary
| Day Number(s) | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | (Sat) Arrive in Chamonix. |
| 2 | Transfer to the head of the valley and walk to Col du Balme (2200m) via Aiguillettes des Possettes (2180m). Descend to Vallorcine (1260m) and transfer back to Chamonix (13km). |
| 3 | Ski lift to summit of Brevent (2525m). Spectacular views of Mont Blanc. Loop walk returning to Brevent. Descend by cable car to Plan Praz (2000m) and take the Grand Balcone Sud path to Fleger (13km). |
| 4 | Ride the historic Montenvers cog railway to Montenvers (1630m). View and enter Mar de Glace glacier. Walk to the mid-station of Aiguille du Midi (2290m) and take the lift to 3342m to view the glaciers and higher slopes of Mont Blanc (6km). |
| 5 | Morning transfer through the valleys into Switzerland. Explore the charming Swiss town of Sion en route. Continue to Zermatt, home of the famous Matterhorn. |
| 6 | Walk out of Zermatt (1630m) through the old hamlets and pastoral lands to under the north face of the Matterhorn. Cross a glacier river (2220m) then head back towards Zermatt on the northern valley side and pass through the hamlet of Zmutt (13km). |
| 7 | Free day to explore the Zermatt Valley and its many attractions. Optional half-day walk. |
| 8 | Tour ends after breakfast in Zermatt (Sat). |
Trip Highlights
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At A Glance
Trip Length |
8 days |
Trip Code |
PEWA |
Activities |
|
| Walking (Moderate) | |
| Min Altitude | Max Altitude |
| 1050 | 3342 |
Countries Visited |
|
| France, Switzerland | |
Start City |
|
| Chamonix, Rhône-Alpes, France | |
End City |
|
| Zermatt | |
