Tour du Mont Blanc Hotel Trek

Chamonix may well be among the best-known ski resorts in the world, but it's also where we come together as a group for the first time. We'll gather at the hotel in the evening for a welcome briefing, where we'll chat about the trek, meet each other and get to know our expert tour leader. The base for the first two nights is along the Chamonix valley in Argentière. Stay: Hotel de la Couronne (or similar) (D).

From our hotel we head to Les Praz and take the cable car to La Flégère. The trail today is named the Grand Balcon and is on the opposite side of the valley from Mont Blanc, affording excellent views of the whole massif lying to our south. Initially we contour and then climb to reach the high point of the day, Lac Blanc (7715ft/2,352m). The trail descends and then contours high above the valley before dropping steeply to the hamlet of Les Frasserands and Montroc. In the afternoon, there is a very short section of ladders/steep steps with handrails to descend. Stay: Hotel de la Couronne (or similar) (B/D).

We travel back to Montroc at the top of the Chamonix valley where we begin our ascent to the Aiguillette de Posettes (7,200ft/2,201m), descend a little and then climb towards the Col de Balme from where we follow one of the paths across the border from France to Switzerland. Excellent views all morning of Aiguille d'Argentière and Aiguille du Tour and its glacier.

After lunch we walk through to the small Swiss hamlet of Trient. Good views of the Trient Glacier. A sting in the tail today as we finish with a steep climb from Trient to our hotel at the Col de la Forclaz. Stay: Hotel Col de la Forclaz (or similar) (B/D).

We leave the Col de la Forclaz, where we can look directly down into the Rhône valley and the Swiss town of Martigny and follow a historic path used to take the cows to high pasture, the 'Bovine route' (6,720ft/2,049m). Our trail takes us through meadows and high-alpine pastures before we descend to the charming town of Champex set beside a picturesque alpine lake. Stay: Hotel Splendide (or similar) (B/D).

Now on the east side of the main Mont Blanc Massif we walk south, descending through woods to the Val Ferret and on to Issert and other small, pretty, alpine farming villages. This is quite a good day for flowers, including orchids. We continue up the valley to the remote village La Fouly (5,250ft/1,600m). This is at the foot of Mont Dolent, whose summit is at the meeting point of France, Switzerland and Italy. We then take a public bus to our hotel in the village of Orsières. Stay: Hotel de l'Union (or similar) (B/D).

Still following the same valley and the river La Drance, we climb to the Grand Col Ferret (8,320ft/2,537m), the highest pass of the tour. Now in Italy, the valley is also called Val Ferret. The mountain views from the Col are stunning with the Grandes Jorasses dominating the scene. We walk down the valley to Arp Nouva then travel by bus to our hotel in La Palud near Courmayeur. Stay: Hotel Astoria (or similar) (B/D).

The nearby ex-spa towns of Courmayeur and Entrèves have picturesque older sections, which are worth a visit, especially for the keen photographer. There is a cable car from Entrèves to Point Helbronner (11,350ft/3,461m) and on across the glacier to Aiguille du Midi (and in fact on down to Chamonix).

This is a splendid (optional) excursion, which gives close-up views of all the big peaks. Alternatively you might wish to relax and recover in the spa baths at Pre Saint Didier a short bus ride from Courmayeur. It is recommended to book in advance for the spa to avoid disappointment, by clicking https://www. qcterme. com/en/pre-saint-didier/qc-terme-pre-saint-didier Stay: Hotel Astoria (or similar) (B).

We start with a short bus ride to pick up the TMB and from the road climb up to the Bonatti refuge (6,640ft/2,025m). Today we follow a beautiful contouring path around Mont de la Saxe to Courmayeur. The views of the south Mont Blanc massif are exceptional as are those of the towering peaks of the Grandes Jorasses and the glaciers which crowd the northern flank of the Val Ferret.

In the afternoon we have a long, steep descent to Courmayeur from where we take a short bus ride into the spectacular Val Veny. Stay: Hotel Astoria (or similar) (B/D).

Today we are heading for the Val Veny and the start of our walk at La Visaille. We'll reach this by bus to then start climbing gently along good paths beneath the massive glacier de Miage and pass Lac Combal before the gradient becomes steeper as we follow the old Roman road and head for today's pass: the Col de la Seigne (8,250ft/2,516m), which marks our re-entry into France. A fairly steep descent brings us through la Ville des Glaciers and finally after quite a long walking day to Les Chapieux, a remote hamlet inhabited only during the summer months. Stay: Auberge de la Nova (or similar) (B/D).

We have now reached the southwest corner of the circuit and turn north to climb once again. Today is a longer day; first we make a steep climb to the Col de la Croix du Bonhomme (8,130ft/2,478m) and then contour around to the Col du Bonhomme. We then descend (again on a Roman road) to Les Contamines. A short bus ride down the valley takes us to the pretty village of St Gervais, the perfect place for a day off. Stay: Hotel Val Joly (or similar) (B/D).

A well-earned rest day. There are many options to fill your day including taking the cog railway to Le Nid d'aigle – the Eagles Nest – a popular start point to climb Mont Blanc, or browsing around the local market of Les Contamines. There are plenty of optional walks in the area or one can simply relax around the pleasant town of St Gervais or even treat yourself to a rejuvenating spa. Stay: Hotel Val Joly (or similar) (B/D).

Today is a challenging day with plenty of ups and downs. From St Gervais we have a 10-minute transfer to re-join our route before ascending to the Chalets de Miage. From here we take a trail that climbs steeply to the Col de Tricot (6,950ft/2,119m) before descending very close to the snout of the Glacier de Bionnassay. Good views of the north side of the Mont Blanc Massif. Eventually we make another ascent to reach the Col de Voza where we re-enter the Chamonix Valley and make our final descent to the village of Les Houches. Stay: Hotel St Antoine (or similar) (B/D).

We cross to the north side of the Chamonix Valley and climb steeply through pine forest and then on open mountainsides to reach the high point of the day at Brevent (8,290ft/2,525m). This is a long walking day but will probably afford the best views of the French side of Mont Blanc and its neighbouring peaks that we shall have on the whole trek. We descend to Plan Praz and take the cable car to Chamonix for a well-deserved beer. Stay: Hotel la Verticale (or similar) (B/D).

Free day in and around Chamonix. There are several good walks in the Chamonix valley. Chamonix itself is also a great place to spend a day. The most popular excursions, weather depending, would be the spectacular ascent by cable car to the Aiguille du Midi or the Montenvers cog railway. Stay: Hotel la Verticale (or similar) (B).

We enjoy our final breakfast as a group together, before going our separate ways. It's a good chance to reflect on your adventures together, swap numbers, and, perhaps, start planning your next trek (B).