Wilderness Travel 2018 Catalog of Adventures

We bring you from France to Italy to Switzerland on foot as you circle the glorious “crown jewel” of the Alps. PHOTO: RUTH TOMLINSON

Tour du Mont Blanc ON FOOT FROM FRANCE TO ITALY TO SWITZERLAND

One of the “Great Hikes of the World” is the walk that encircles Mont Blanc from France to Italy to Switzerland. We’ve honed this hiker’s classic to perfection with impeccably designed days that bring

Days 1-2 Chamonix / Col de Tricot The charming alpine town of Chamonix sits right at the foot of glacier-clad Mont Blanc (15,770'), western Europe’s highest mountain. One of our warm-up hikes brings us up to the Col de Tricot (7,000') for panoramic views of the snow-covered Dômes de Miage, one of the most spectacular ridges on the Mont Blanc massif. Days 3-4 Into Italy / Col de la Croix- du-Bonhomme From the lovely chapel of Notre Dame de la Gorge, an ancient pilgrimage site, we hike through gentle glades and forests and up through the superb gorge called the Nant Borrant as we make our way to the top of the Col de la Croix-du-Bonhomme. The next day, crossing into the Aosta region of Italy on foot, we enjoy fantastic vistas of Mont Blanc’s 11,000-foot-high southern face. On

one festive evening, we may find ourselves passing the traditional grolla (a bowl of espresso and grappa, flambé!) to toast our day’s adventures. Days 5-6 Into Switzerland / Champex / Trient Glacier / Col de la Forclaz Crossing into Switzerland on foot, we traverse the Val Ferret, with its flower-filled meadows and charming chalets. From lakeside Champex, our hikes take us along the edge of the magnificent Trient Glacier to Col de la Forclaz. Days 7-8 Col de Balme / Chamonix Our trail climbs through a serene larch forest to the Col de Balme (7,234'), the border between Switzerland and France. With the glory of the Mont Blanc massif before us, we look over the beautiful Chamonix Valley and descend, coming full circle on this classic adventure. Depart on Day 8.

you to epic glaciers, across wildflower-

“I had an amazing time. Everything had been thought of and the trip ran perfectly. It was a superb adventure.”

carpeted meadows, and into mountain hamlets as we hike in to discover each valley’s cultural delights. Overnights are in cozy mountain hotels and hikers’ inns, and

Bridget G. Wanaka New Zealand

our team of Trip Leaders (up to three on each trip) brings esprit de corps to the adventure.

COMBINE ANY TWO EUROPE TRIPS FOR A $400 PER PERSON DISCOUNT! 38