2020 Wilderness Travel Catalog of Adventures

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

Glacier-clad Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in the Alps, with seven distinct valleys radiating into France, Italy, and Switzerland. On our hiking journey circling this famed massif, we’ll cross from one country to the next—on foot! The Tour du Mont Blanc is one of the “Great Hikes of

the World,” and we’ve honed this classic to perfection. Impeccably designed days bring you to epic glaciers, across wildflower- carpeted meadows, and into classic alpine hamlets as we explore each

“A once-in-a-lifetime experience where the beauty of the mountains, the quality of the food and lodging, and the hiking challenges were just magnificent.” Nancy M., Sacramento CA

country’s cultural and culinary delights. Overnights are in cozy mountain hotels and hikers’ inns, and our team of Trip Leaders (up to three on each trip) brings a wonderful esprit to the adventure. Days 1-2 Chamonix / Col de Tricot The charming alpine town of Chamonix, the mountaineering “capital” of Europe, sits right at the foot of Mont Blanc (15,770'). One of our warm-up hikes brings us below the vast Bionnassay Glacier, with a climb up to the Col de Tricot (6,955') for fine views of the long, snow-covered ridge of the Dômes de Miage, one of the most spectacular ridges on the Mont Blanc massif. Days 3-5 Into Italy / Col de la Croix du Bonhomme / Courmayeur From the lovely chapel of Notre Dame de la Gorge, an ancient pilgrimage site with unusual Baroque architecture and Renaissance frescoes, we hike through gentle glades and forests and up through a superb gorge to the top of Col de la Croix du Bonhomme, our first pass. We climb to the Col de la Seigne (8,255'), the mountain pass that marks the hydrological divide between the Atlantic and

DISCOVER THE WT DIFFERENCE IN THE ALPS MARKHAM JOHNSON

• Our guide-to-guest ratio. It’s unmatched—you’ll have two (and often three) Trip Leaders so you can enjoy the opportunity to hike at your own pace. • Hand-picked hotels. We select the most welcoming accommodations, from historic inns and chalets to hike-in lodges in breathtaking settings. • Expert Trip Leaders. They offer wonderful introductions to special people and places you would never find on your own, and they know these regions inside and out. • The best selection of trips in the Alps. From one-week getaways to in-depth two-week hikes, we have the expertise to offer hiking trips for every level and interest.

Below: Hike from France to Italy to Switzerland on our unique circle route around the crown jewel of the Alps. PHOTO: DAN PATITUCCI

40