Trail in France
Mont Blanc Trail Camp
Technical lev. : 3 / 5
Physical lev. : 4 / 5
The Tour du Mont Blanc is well known thanks to a number of major trail courses, so Esprit Montagne offers you the chance to discover the most beautiful spots in the Mont Blanc massif by covering the balconies and peaks that surround the Mont Blanc. Away from the crowds, you can enjoy the scenery and summits with your trail guide. Make progress while having fun!
. Guidance from one of our team's state-qualified mountain leaders, who is passionate about and specialises in the Trail.
. A different way of doing the Tour du Mont Blanc
. Wild routes, far from the classics!
. Mandatory transport to Italy in a private minibus as part of the programme.
. Video support to help you progress and improve your technique
. Theoretical input on mountain running with explanations of EAD techniques (Dynamic Articular Stacking) - your guides have been trained by Fred Brigaud, osteopath and trail specialist.
. Pack of photos / videos of the technical workshops
Dates & Prices
Arrival
End
Price *
Status
Du 04/08/2025 au 07/08/2025
au 07/08/2025
570 €
Bookings in progress
Du 18/08/2025 au 21/08/2025
au 21/08/2025
570 €
Bookings in progress
* Price per person (without insurance)
Trip
Jean Luc is our trail specialist, and has been traversing the Alps since 2002. He's passionate about trail running in the mountains and discovering the most beautiful itineraries.
You'll make technical progress thanks to exercises on the ground with video support to improve your movement!Take advantage of his advice and enjoy some of the most beautiful trails in the Alps!
You will discover the Val Veny and the Val Ferret in Italy on the southern side of Mont Blanc, then we will discover the Glaciers du Trient in Switzerland before returning to France via the Col de Balme and the famous Posettes. One day will be spent on the Balcons du Mont Blanc at the Aiguillette des Houches.
You'll be riding some of the most beautiful sections of the Tour du Mont Blanc.
You'll discover the Mer de Glace, the Aiguilles de Chamonix and the Aiguillette des Houches, running close to the Aiguilles Rouges reserve. With a bit of luck, we'll see some chamois and ibex - they're usually close to our wild paths.
Great days, day after day, to help you progress!
The paths of the Tour du Mont Blanc are quite demanding, so experience of mountain trails is preferable. You'd better not be afraid of heights and you'd better be focused...
A trail between France, Switzerland and Italy! Your guide will choose the route according to the weather, depending on which side of the mountain you choose. In Italy, the weather may be fine, while in Chamonix the weather is not so good, or vice versa. With this trip, you'll have a better chance of getting good weather!
Program
Duration: around 5 to 7 hours including breaks and technical points
Elevation gain and kilometres: +1410 m and -1410 m approx. 18 km
Meet your guide at 8:00 am at Chamonix-Mont-Blanc SNCF station.
We start the week with one of the most beautiful climbs in the Chamonix valley, from Les Gaillands to one of the most beautiful viewpoints on the Tour du Mont Blanc, the Aiguillette des Houches. The ascent is fairly steep, giving us just over a kilometre of vertical ascent, and the descent is on slower paths so as not to strain our legs too much. It's the first day, and we'll be taking our time to acclimatise, staying below the maximum aerobic threshold to get a good feel for the route. Those who go faster can come back to pick up the last group and set off again with the mountain leader, so that the group feels more cohesive, all the while enjoying a magnificent panorama of Mont Blanc. We'll eat our picnic in several portions to help us digest during the trail.
At the end of the day, we take our minibus to our accommodation in Italy via the Mont Blanc Tunnel.
We discover Courmayeur and the Val Veny valley, where we sleep every night in a small dormitory chalet in a campsite at the foot of Mont Blanc.
We'll eat in Courmayeur town in the evening and at the campsite for breakfast, and every evening we'll prepare picnics for the next day after shopping in Courmayeur.
Duration: 6 to 7 hours approx.
Elevation gain and kilometres: + 1650 m and - 1650 m approx. 22 km
We discover the southern slopes of Mont Blanc, heading for Val Ferret to run facing the Grandes Jorasses. We pass the refuge named after Walter Bonatti, one of the world's most famous mountaineers. We climb up a very wild valley and reach a summit with one of the most beautiful panoramic views of Mont Blanc.
The route takes us along beautiful paths through pastures, leading us to the Testa Bernarda above Courmayeur and then back to our starting point.
We discover Courmayeur, a superb town at the foot of the south face of Mont Blanc.
Duration: 7 to 8 hours' trail running
Elevation gain and kilometres: +1550 and - 1550 m approximately: 23 km
The Val Veny is the valley at the foot of Mont Blanc. We'll be exploring the South Face of Mont Blanc at Mont Fortin, surely the most beautiful viewpoint on the Tour du Mont Blanc and also one of the most challenging. The day can be shortened or lengthened depending on what you feel like doing and the weather.
We return to the minibus and enjoy the evening in Courmayeur and our base camp at the foot of Mont Blanc.
Duration: 7 to 8 hours' running on technical routes if you're feeling well.
Elevation gain and kilometres: + 1900 m and -1900 m with 25 km to 30 km.
On the final day, we return to Chamonix, leaving by minibus after our last breakfast in Val Veny.
Once in France, we can leave from Vallorcine or from Switzerland at the Col de Forclaz.
If we leave from the Col de Forclaz, the day will be longer and we'll get a closer look at the glaciers.
Depending on the weather and your level of fitness, your guide will choose the route with you, and there are possible short cuts, so we won't be under too much pressure to arrive on time in the evening.
We'll be back in Chamonix around 5.30pm.
See you soon for more adventures!
Itineraries may be modified in the event of bad weather or to suit the level of the group.
Your mountain leader is a keen trail runner who will show you around the mountains and explain how to learn about what can be a hostile environment ....
Materiel
Consider a backpack of 15/20 leters for the day and space enough to bring your packed lunch and energy bars.
Your guide will have a more complete pharmacy in the event of a bigger accident.
For relaxing time: A small book or Card game…
Level
DIFFICULT MOUNTAIN WALKING
The hike has dizzying, physical and technical passages, the path is sometimes equipped with cables and ladders to allow progress.
You must master the activity, you are autonomous in the mountain in the easy passages, the guide will help you in the difficult passages.
You will learn about the weather and how to use a mountain rope to help you progress.
SPORTY & TRAINED PEOPLE
Effort corresponding to approximately 1200 - 1700m of ascent per day.
You like and practice endurance sports at a good level.
Useful Info
Cancellation and repatriation insurance is mandatory, as is mountain search and rescue insurance (minimum cover of 10,000 Euros).
Esprit Montagne offers the following insurance: https://www.assurance-multi-sports.com.
Meeting at the hotel La Pointe Isabelle with your Trekking Guide at 5:30 pm for the week briefing and backpack check.
Given the situation after Covid 19, in order to guarantee you a better standard, we have decided to offer you a stay with accommodation in a nice and comfortable 3-star hotel La Pointe Isabelle, where you will be accommodated in quadruple rooms, with other members of your group.
Dismissal of the group at the end of the day in Chamonix Mont-Blanc.
You can park your car for free in Chamonix at the Parking des Planards.
We recommend La Pointe Isabelle which is a historic hotel located in the heart of Chamonix town centre, the one in which you will be staying for the duration of the trip.
And l'Auberge de jeunesse HI is just a few steps from Chamonix and offers very reasonable prices, as well as the possibility of a reduced-price pass the day after the course if you want to go and see the Aiguille du Midi before or after the course, depending on your arrival and departure dates.
When you register online, you can choose whether or not you wish to take part in the car-sharing scheme to get to the starting point of your course. Once you have made your booking, you can log back into your Esprit Montagne account to access a section dedicated to carpooling. Here you will find the contacts of the other participants who are interested in car-sharing, so that you can contact them directly.
. Guiding of a certified Trekking Guide of our Team;
. First night in B&B - you can have dinner wherever you prefer;
. Full board accommodation for the rest of the nights, as described in the program - picnics at lunch;
. Mandatory transports along the program.
. Dinner for the first night at your arrival;
. Cancellation / interruption of stay / luggage loss and accident insurance;
. Cable car tickets (optional on free time);
. Drinks and personal expenses;
. Additional nights outside the program;
. Out-of-program visits and transfers;
. Tips;
. All that is not indicated in the section "The price includes".
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The Mont Blanc Marathon takes place every year in the French Alps, in Chamonix. The race generally takes place in June, and registration for the event opens at the beginning of the year. Places are limited and runners need to register as early as possible to be sure of a place!
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