Snowshoeing The Mont Blanc best of

Duration: 5 days

Level:

Level 1: You have never practiced.

Level 2: You have some initial experience.

Level 3: You practice occasionally.

Level 4: You practice regularly.

Level 5: You have a sustained practice.

Price from: 630€

For more information, contact Pôle Randonnée :

+33 (0)4 50 53 92 78

Information Request

Explore our exceptional snowshoeing program, designed specifically for hiking enthusiasts seeking grand and occasionally technical adventures in tranquil settings. Enjoy a wide range of destinations and discover the unique territory of the Mont Blanc region. Traverse the Aosta Valley in Italy, explore the Swiss Valais, roam through the Chamonix Valley, and uncover the Arve Valley. A diversity of breathtaking landscapes awaits you. In addition to these iconic places, each day holds unexpected gems and exciting discoveries in these renowned regions.

A dynamic and invigorating journey crafted for nature and adventure lovers. Immerse yourself in an experience far from the beaten paths. This trip is tailored for seasoned hikers who appreciate exploring vast expanses and remote corners. Over these 5 days, we invite you to explore the majestic Mont Blanc region through carefully selected unconventional routes. We are delighted to share these unforgettable moments with small groups, limited to a maximum of 8 people. Our dedicated team ensures that this journey becomes an unforgettable memory.

Group session associate several people who don't know each other. It allows for a planned program to benefit from an attractive price on fixed dates. This formula is ideal for people looking for the friendliness of a group.

Dates : See below for the group booking module

Price 2024 : 630€ per person based on minimum 4 participants

This price includes :
- organisation and mountain leader guiding service
- cable car tickets
- transportation with a Cie mini bus
- lunch and snacks
- snowshoes, poles, avalanche transceiver (DVA), shovel and probe

This price does not include :
- transport to the meeting point
- drinks (make sure you have at least 2 litres of water)
- repatriation insurance (mandatory)
- anything not mentioned in « included in the price »

Private booking is the historical relationship that binds a guide to his/her client. It allows you to be alone, or in a constituted group, with your guide that meets your specific needs. It is undoubtedly the ideal formula to realize your projects because it guarantees you a maximum of comfort. You are free to choose your departure date (depending on the availability of the huts) and the itinerary can be adjusted, according to your specific expectations.

Prices 2024 :
1 person : 2915€ per person
2 people : 1535€ per person
3 people : 1075€ par person
4 people : 840€ par person
5 people : 705€ par person
6 people : 610€ par person
7 people : 545€ par person
8 people : 495€ par person

The price includes :
- organisation and mountain leader guiding service
- cable car tickets
- transports with a Cie minibus
- lunch and snacks
- snowshoes, poles, avalanche transceiver (DVA), shovel and probe

Not included in the price :
- drinks (make sure you have at least 2 litres of water)
- repatriation insurance (mandatory)
- anything not mentioned in « included in the price »

Find in this in this section, all the information about this activity. For any further information please contact our advisors (contact details above).

Meeting point : Meet at 7:30 am in front of the Compagnie des Guides in Chamonix. Return at the end of the afternoon.

Ability level : 5/5 - Challenging difficulty. Good physical condition and preparation are necessary. The average elevation gain ranges from 3'000 feet to 5'000 feet, with approximately 6 hours of walking. The terrain may include some steep sections requiring good technical proficiency. Prior experience in snowshoe hiking is desirable.

Itinerary : The guide may have to adapt the route to weather conditions and/or to group physical and/or technical ability

Guiding policy : group from 4 to 8 people. The Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix's guiding policy guarantees a high level experience.

Accommodation : no accomodation. Every-day is a full-day hike back and forth to Chamonix.

Documentation : Participants must have an insurance with repatriation cover. Cancellation insurance is highly recommended. You can take out insurance offering both of these types of cover when you sign up

Preparing for the trip : one week before the trip, the mountain guide will be in contact to answer any questions you may have

Documents available for download

We recommend you to pay particular attention to the choice of your equipment. It contributes greatly to the success of your stay. Weight is decisive: you always have to evaluate the ratio weight/comfort, to find the best compromise. In a general way, it is better to pile up several light coats rather than wear one big clothing.

Hiking boots
- Boots for snowshoeing should be warm and waterproof. They should also provide high ankle support. New boots should be worn a couple of times before.
- If your feet tend to get blisters easily, you can apply baby talc on dry feet in the morning before wearing your socks.

Back-pack
- Minimum size 40 L (a back-pack with extra room is better than too small).
- Once everything is packed, make sure there is enough room to fit your picnic lunch.
- Although backpack covers are very convenient in bad weather, we recommend using a very large plastic bag as a pack-liner to protect your personal belongings from getting wet.

Clothing
Underwear : avoid using cotton. Compared to technical synthetic material, it is heavier and it dries slowly. Wool is also getting popular amongst sportswear brands. Synthetic and wool are warmer ; they dry fast, and allow you to pack light.

Carrying weight
Taking enough time to pack is essential, as you are going to carry every item for several days in a row. Avoiding extra weight can easily be done by packing your clothes tightly, placing heavy items at the bottom of the pack, and avoiding empty spaces. As a result weight is better spread throughout your back and weight impression diminished).

Daily needs
- 1 synthetic long-sleeve shirt,
- 1 light polar fleece,
- 1 pair of Goretex pants, 1 long synthetic underwear to wear under your trousers,
- 1 a pair of wool socks,
- 1 Goretex jacket,
- 1 pair of fleece gloves, 1 pair of mittens, 1 pair of silk gloves,
- 1 warm hat, a scarf or neck warmer,
- 1 water bottle (1.5 quart, to 2 quarts minimum) isothermal if possible,
- 1 pocket knife + 1 « spork »,
- Cap or sun-hat and sunglasses (category # 3 minimum), sunscreen (face and lips),
- a camera and a pair of binoculars (optional).
- ID card or passport + spare change for personal expenses + paper tissues and toilet paper,
- gaiters (recommended if your Goretex pants don’t have a boot-skirt).

Don’t forget to bring personal prescription treatment if you have one. Mountain leaders also carry a complete first aid kit.

Our Rental Partners : You can rent your equipment with our rental shops partners and benefit from special price Sanglard Sports, Ravanel & Co & Concept Pro Shop
Our Equipment Partners : Millet, Dynastar, Julbo, Grivel & Monnet

Itinerary

Day 1

Mount Arpille - Switzerland
Located at the eastern end of the Mont-Blanc massif, this summit (6'839 feet) overlooks the Swiss Rhône Valley, bordered to the north by the Oberland and to the south by the internal Alpine arc, the largest concentration of 13'123 feet peaks in the Alps, from the Grand Combin to Monte Rosa. A varied hike offering different atmospheres: forests, alpine meadows, a remarkable panoramic summit that provides access to a fantastic plateau—a vast playground for exploration—and a playful descent. For the more daring, we will embark on an "adventure" ridge route that few are familiar with.
Elevation gain and elevation loss: around 3'000 feet

Day 2

Brévent - Aiguillettes des Houches - France
The gem! It is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful snowshoe hikes in the Alps. From Chamonix, we take the Brévent cable car (8'284 feet). Through a technical and challenging route, we traverse the magnificent and wild plateau of Calaveyron, a natural reserve, and the frozen lake of Brévent. Like explorers, we will navigate through a multitude of relief features, ridge systems, and foothills to reach Aiguillette des Houches (7'497 feet). The entire day, the Mont-Blanc massif accompanies us. A long and beautiful descent takes us to the Chalets de Chailloux and the hamlet of La Flatière (4'437 feet), marking the end of this unforgettable day.
Elevation gain : 1'000 feet - Elevation loss: 4'800 feet

Day 3

The tour of Fetita Pointe - Italy
Above Morgex, on the left bank of the Aosta Valley, the alpine pastures of Ors and Pointe de Fetita (8'612 feet) offer all the ingredients for a complete and varied day: ascent through the forest, open spaces of alpine meadows with panoramic views (especially on the east side of the Grandes Jorasses), crossing the Col de Fetita (8'392 feet), vast wild spaces to circumvent Pointe de Fetita and possibly climb it. We descend along a ridge to reach the Col de Bard (7'142 feet). Following a path through the forest, we return to our starting point. A long day that is worth its weight in gold!
Elevation gain and elevation loss: around 3'000 feet

Day 4

The Rochers de Leschaux - France
Located in the Arve Valley, the Rochers de Leschaux is a beautiful and rugged limestone massif, rich in fissures and mineral crevices known as lapiaz. The Rochers de Leschaux (4'377 feet) separate the plateaus of Solaison and Cenise. In the heart of winter, they provide a striking view of the icy cliffs, shadow, and frost covering the entire Bargy range, along with a beautiful perspective of Sous-Dine mountain and the Glières Plateau.
Elevation gain and elevation loss: around 3'300 feet

Day 5

The Aiguillette des Posettes - France
An sustained and playful ascent allows us to reach the ridge line: here we are, tightrope walkers on a fantastic panoramic ridge. The ridge separates the Vallorcine Valley (literally the Valley of Bears) from the Chamonix Valley. From the Aiguillette des Posettes (7'218 feet), the view is spectacular in 360 degrees. From the summit, we explore wild spaces for our greatest pleasure.
Elevation gain and elevation loss: around 3'000 feet

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Calculate your carbon footprint

CO2 emitted per person for the activity: 13 kg. Learn out more about the footprint calculation of this activity

CO2 emitted per person for this activity & journey(s) = 0 kgIn order to limit global warming to +2°C by 2100, the COP-21 agreement stipulates that each human should emit no more than 2t of CO2 per year. According to the French Ministry of Ecology, today European citizens emit an average of 11t per year, and American citizens emit an average of 21t annually., or 1.3€The price for a ton of CO2 is currently 100€ in the European Union to offset.

Find out more about our zero impact strategy.