Day 1 at 16:30 sharp in front of Chamonix train station.

If you arrive late: in case of last minute delay, leave a message to the taxi Besson (04 50 93 61 47 or 00 33 4 50 93 61 47).

If you are late (more than 15mn) the taxi will be charged (around 90 €).

Access by train: Chamonix station, plan to arrive the day before

Paris Gare de Lyon : 08h11              2 connexions              14h42 : Chamonix

Lyon Part Dieu : 10h34                     2 connexions              14h42 : Chamonix

Marseille : 06h44                              3 connexions              14h42 : Chamonix

Indicative schedule to be checked on SNCF website http://uk.voyages-sncf.com/en/

Access by car: Chamonix Station.

www.viamichelin.fr

Car Parks : All the car parks in Chamonix : http://www.chamonix.net/english/transport/parking

You can park in covered secure Parking d’Entrèves, (tel: 00 33 4 50 53 65 71), (address :275 promenade Marie Paradis). Take Chamonix South, road station Chamonix South. Price : aound 48 € per week.

Access by air : Geneva Airport : www.gva.ch

The airport has direct access from Check-in and Arrivals floors to European train. All the train stop at Geneva-Cornavin (town center) : 5 trains per hour, 7mn trip.

Travel tip : around 15 shuttle service Companies between Geneva airport and Chamonix. Low cost and more convenient than trains. They serve all the sites of the Chamonix Valley.

http://www.chamonix.net/francais/transport/transfert

On day 07 at 6:00 pm in front of Chamonix Station

By train: Chamonix station the next day

The next day :  Chamonix : 07h14        2 connexions        12h49 : Paris Gare de Lyon

                         Chamonix : 07h14        2 connexions         11h22 : Lyon Part Dieu

                          Chamonix : 07h14        3 connexions         13h25 : Marseille

By Air: Geneva Airport : www.gva.ch

Shuttle or train service (see above)

Accommodation before or after the trek:

If you arrive a day before or leave the day after we can reserve additional nights in a “gîte d’étape” (mountain huts). They are all located in the Chamonix Valley (see the prices section underneath).

The shuttles and the small train of the Valley will take you easily to the accommodation or to the meeting point in Chamonix station. This service is charge less for the people staying in the Valley for the night.

Valid Identity card or passport

Insurance :  A guarantee which covers “Search and Rescue” expenses is highly recommended.  You can subscribe to our French insurance if your insurance coverage excludes this guarantee. In Switzerland particularly this type of Emergency Service is very expensive (around 4000 euros for a medical helicopter rescue)

For your security, we will ask your phone number tat you will have during your trip so that we can reach you case of any problem.

Height gain average : 740 m                             Maximum : 920 m

Length average : 15 km                                    Maximum : 19 km

Walking time average : 5 h 30 mn                    Maximum : 6 h 15 mn

It is sometimes possible to shorten some of the steps with shuttles (only available in July and August).

Walking Level:

Level 3 which means 6 hours of walking per day with 600 to 800 m of elevation gain.

You are in a good physical shape and practice sports regularly (several hours per week

Some stages can be shortened taking the bus (extra cost) or the baggage taxi (around 30 € per lift).

Be carefull ! In early season (until the beginning of July), the walking conditions can be more difficult, as there is still some snow in some parts of the trip. Choose this time of the year only if you have experience. 

Level of attention: A little attention and a few map reading notions are necessary. You only follow way-marked trails.

Self-guided trips do not have guides. The trip cost includes a Road Book with a detailed description of the route as well as a map of the region in question. Booking a self-guided trip implies that participants have an adequate knowledge of map-reading and orienteering. All participants must conduct themselves in a safe manner and follow the guidelines set in the Road Book.

Any participant must be conscious of risks incurred related to active travel and prepared to unexpected situations (fatigue, animal presence, alteration of the terrain, weather appreciation). You have to get informed at the Tourism Office where the daily weather report is displayed or call a weather forecast phone. In France the Savoy department number is 08 99 71 02 74

The Company cannot be held responsible for accidents caused by the carelessness of the participants (any mistake or change of route) or for any schedule change (late departure, too long picnic…)

Mobile telephone network does not work over the whole mountain area even if it reaches most of the villages (depending on your operator). In a great number of places your mobile will be useless. If you can reach any network, dial the 112 which is the emergency number.

Mountain Hut accommodation or Gîte d’étapes

Beds are equipped with blankets

Rooms are not available before 4:00 pm

The accommodation contact details are provided with your departure file

Dogs are not admitted

Dormitory option :

The dormitories comprise between 4 and 30 beds and include the half board (dinner + breakfast)

Bedrooms or ‘mini-dormitories” option

The bedrooms option means an accommodation in mini-dormitories (from 2 to 4 persons) and includes the half-board (dinner+breakfast). If you are a couple you are likely to share the room with 2 other people. Bathrooms are generally at the upper floor. One night on Day 2 is planned in a 8 person dormitory. The bedroom option is not a hotel-like accommodation, but mini-dormitories in huts.

Confort Option:

We can  sometimes offer a bedroom for 2 people with shower, WC (in the room) and in half board (diner + night + breakfast).

Meals : Dinners offer the opportunity to taste local specialties. They are served around 7:30 pm and most of the time depend on a unique daily menu (with no other choice).

Continental breakfasts which can sometimes be served as buffet are served around 7h30 to 8:00 am. If you wish to have it earlier you will have to ask if this is possible to the hut host the day before.

Picnics : The package includes half-board.

You are in charge of the picnics. Picnics can be purchased directly to the hut (around 11 €) but you will have to order them in the evening. Picnics do not vary a lot.

You can also buy your lunch in Courmayeur, La Fouly et Champex.

A Taxi transfer is included on Day 1 between Chamonix and Courmayer. Please be on time or you will be charged for the lift (around 110 € per taxi).

No other taxi transfer included.

Shuttles to shorten some of the steps are only available in July and August.

Your luggage is taxi transferred from hut to hut.

Please, limit your luggage to one bag per person (preferably a back pack or a soft travel bag) that weighs no more than 10kg or you will be charged for EXTRA bags by the taxis!.

The taxis carrying your luggage have sometimes to walk a few hundred meters before reaching the accommodation. The Company can’t be held responsible for any damage on fragile items (computers for example).

A 8 to 9 kg luggage is enough:

The days are full so no need to bring a library;

Wet clothes can dry each night in the hut. No need to bring complete change clothes for every day;

Take a light pair of shoes for the evening;

Try to reduce the toilet things (samples, travel kits)

Once back home, make 3 piles: one with the things you really used, one with the things you barely used, and one with the things you did not use at all. For the next trek, avoid the last pile and ask whether you need the second !

Self-guided

Group of minimum 2 people

3 weeks before the departure you will receive the full documentation by email.

The rest of the documentation will be sent to the first hotel.

One travel documents for 2 to 5 persons. If you want to have extra documentation,

please ask for them when you reserve. You will be charged for it.

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3 layers of clothes enable to face all the situations:

Breathable long sleeve under sweater (hollow fiber)

Warm fleece jacket

Waterproof and wind stopper jacket (Gore Tex type)

When the weather is fine, the under-sweater may be enough

When it rains, add the waterproof jacket

In severe colds or when you take a break the fleece jacket is necessary.

Bring clothes which can dry easily and quickly (don’t use cotton clothes but prefer wool, silk and synthetic fiber)

Remember to cover yourself before you are cold and to take your jacket off before you are too hot. Sweat is the hiker enemy because clothes are quickly wet and frozen when you stop walking for a while. Rarely would a hiker start the ascent with a fleece jacket.

Ideal list

1 hat or cap

1 scarf

Breathable short sleeve T-shirts (1 for 2 or 3 walking days)

1 breathable long sleeve or shirt

1 polar fleece jacket

1 wind stopper and waterproof jacket with a hood (Gore Tex type)

Large hiking pant

1 short

1 weatherproof pack cover

Hiking socks

Trekking pole/s

Underwear

Bathing suit (option)

1 comfortable pant for the evening

1 light pair of shoes for the evening

In June and September: Gloves/mits, cap,top, pants, gloves, socks, balaclava

PERSONAL GEAR

Rucksack/backpack 35/40 l

Weatherproof pack cover and a large plastic bag to protect the inside of the bag.

High quality Sunglasses

A Water bottle (1.5 l min)

Swiss army knife

Waterproof pocket for money, identity card and Insurance guarantee.

Toilet things (samples, travel kits..)

A quickly dried towel

Earplugs (optional)

Toilet paper + 1 lighter

Sunblock SPF 30+ and lip protection

Picnic plastic box, Knife, fork, spoon, glass

Torch or headlight

1 survival blanket

1 pair of trekking poles

1 sleeping bag liner (sleeping bags are useless)

Camera and binoculars (optional)

First kit Aid :

Your usual medecines

Pain relief drugs (paracetamol)

Sore throat pills, Tweezers

8 cm Adhesive layers (Elastoplast) Sticking plasters (assorted sizes) and toe blister bandages + sterile disinfectant wipes.