The trip

LEVEL ****

Ascent: +/- 1000 m on average per day.
Walking time: 5 to 7 hours per day
Type of route: mountain trails with scree slopes and technical passages secured by cables.

You need to be in a good overall physical condition. Regularly practise an endurance sport such as walking, running, swimming or cycling, 3 to 4 hours a week. Your fitness training will make your walk easier and make it all the more enjoyable. Click here for a description of the different levels: levels of difficulty

GUIDING

Group from 6 to 12 people supervised by a qualified professional mountain leader. It is usual to tip your guide at the end of the trek, according to your satisfaction. It is not mandatory but, it is very appreciated.

ACCOMMODATION

6 nights in dormitory, in refuge. All accommodation is equipped with hot showers. However, due to increasingly recurrent periods of drought, access to showers is not guaranteed.

MEALS

Breakfast and dinner are provided in each accommodation. Picnics are included and are carefully daily prepared by your mountain leader, comprising a variety of a healthy salads and local products. Please inform us about your food allergies and special diets at the time of booking. We do our best to accommodate special diets (gluten-free, vegetarian, etc.). However, we encourage you to bring some additional products for your own picnics.

RESPONSIBLE TOURISME

Days 1, 2, 4 and 6 are without luggage transfer so, you will need to carry a small toilet bag and a change of clothes (1-2kg maximum). We have made this choice to favour an enchanting secluded route but also to lower the cost and limit the environmental impact. Please let us know your thoughts!

MAPS

IGN Top 25 - 3530 ET - SAMOENS and Top 25 - 3630 OT - CHAMONIX (1/25 000)
MPA (yellow) Trient valley (1/25 000)

Practical information

ACCESS TO DEPARTURE POINT

Meeting point Sunday at 9:30am at the Buet train station (free parking), in the Chamonix valley.

BY TRAIN
Timetables must be checked on www.oui.sncf

BY CAR
Take the A40 to Chamonix, follow the direction of Argentière, col des Montets and Vallorcine. Le Buet is the first village before arriving in Vallorcine. Large free parking on the right handside of the road and the train station is at the entrance to the village.
If you wish to leave your car in a covered garage, contact: Chamonix Auto Park: 04 50 53 65 71.

CAR-SHARING
Get in touch with people to share a lift! Here are some website :  www.blablacar.fr  www.laroueverte.com  www.roulezmalin.com

CLOSEST AIRPORTS
Geneva (GVA) - Lyon (LYS) - Paris (PAR)

End point Saturday around 4pm at the parking of Le Buet.

ACCOMMODATION BEFORE AND AFTER

Hotel du Buet à Vallorcine www.hotelbuet.com
Chamonix Tourist Office www.chamonix.com
If you book a night in the Chamonix valley, ask the hotel reception for a bus/train pass to use public transport for free in the Chamonix valley. www.chamonix.montblancbus.com/en/bus-lines

TO CONTACT US

If you are late please contact the agency as soon as possible: +33 (0)4 50 79 09 16 or +33 (0)6 42 49 76 07

Equipment & luggage

EQUIPMENT LIST

Clothing

• Walking trousers
• Shorts (Bikini/swimsuit, just in case!)
• Breathable or merino wool t-shirts
• Breathable or merino wool leggings
• Fleece or jumper
• Wind stopper or Goretex jacket
• Waterproof poncho + gaiters or Goretex trousers + waterproof rucksack cover
• Pair of gloves and a warm hat
• Sun hat or baseball cap
• Walking socks (1 pair per day)
• Sturdy walking boots with a good sole, already broken in
• 1 change of clothes for the evening
• A pair of comfortable shoes for the evening

Other Equipment

• Toilet bag
• Quick drying towel
• Sunglasses and sun cream
• Water bottle or Camelback (1.5 litre minimum)
• Knife, fork and spoon
• Plastic lunch box/plate for your picnic lunches
• Plastic cup for coffee
• Small First Aid kit (antihistamine, ibuprofen, Compeed type blister pads...)
• Survival blanket
• Head torch or hand torch
• Sleeping bag liner sheet and pillowcase (blankets provided at accommodation)
• Two adjustable walking poles (highly recommended)
• Identity card or passport

BACKPACK

Bring a comfortable backpack of 40 to 50 litres for your personal belongings for the day (warm clothes, waterproofs, water, plate and cutlery for your picnic, sunscreen and your identity papers), an extra set of clothes and a small toilet bag for the nights without your baggage and also keep a little room to carry a picnic and some snacks.

LUGGAGE TRANSFER

You are allowed 1 soft, sports type bag, with all your possessions inside, of 10kg maximum per person. Your luggage will be transported on days 3 and 5 by our logistics vehicle where access is not always easy.
Baggage which is too heavy won't be accepted by the drivers, please think of their backs! 

YOUR BACKPACK FOR THE NIGHTS WITHOUT LUGGAGE TRANSFER

On nights 1, 2, 4 and 6, your luggage won't be delivered at your accommodation. Here are the things to bring with you (about 2 kilos are enough!):

• small toiletries bag
• sleeping bag liner sheet
• change of clothes for the day after (bare necessities!) and comfortable for the evening.