The Val Montjoie tour (Haute-Savoie)

Duration : 6 days

France, Northern Alps

Level : intermediate

from 730 € / p. from 4 to 8 persons

Description

I offer you a gentle immersion in the mid-range mountains to discover the mountain pastures of Val Montjoie in Haute-Savoie.

During these 6 days of hiking, you'll enjoy the exceptional views of Mont Blanc, the Dômes de Miage, Mont Joly and the Aravis mountain range.

You'll also be immersed in the heart of the Contamines Conservation Area, France's highest conservation area and home of the ptarmigan.

If you like multi-day treks, why not follow me on one of the following itineraries that I also propose:

Program

D1: Meeting and route presentation in Saint-Gervais.
We meet at 6.30pm at the Hotel Sowells in Saint-Gervais, where you can book a room.
We'll take advantage of this first moment of exchange to settle the last logistical details and give you a detailed presentation of the route to come.

D2: Mont Blanc tramway - Miage hut.
Departure from Saint-Gervais on the Mont Blanc tramway to Bellevue station. This is the starting point for tour tour around Val Montjoie. Following a balcony trail, offering beautiful views of the Mont Blanc royal route and the Aiguille de Bionnassay, we descend to the Plateau de l'Are and then to the suspension bridge over the Bionnassay glacier. A steady climb through alpine meadows takes us to the Col du Tricot (2120m). After an easy descent, we reach the Miage mountain pasture, one of the most beautiful spots in Val Montjoie.
Positive altitude difference: 600 meters, Negative altitude difference: 500 meters, effective walking time: 6 hours. Overnight at the Miage hut.

D3: From Miage hut to Tré-la-Tête hut.
The day begins with a beautiful climb to the Truc plateau. Here we discover one of the oldest mountain pastures in the Val Montjoie, with its traditional farmhouses. We then descend through the forest on a balcony path overlooking the valley and Mont Joly, to reach the Tré-la-Tête hut where we spend the night.
D+: 900m, D-: 800m, effective walking time: 6 hours.

D4: From Tré-la-Tête hut to the Prés hut.
After a descent into the Combe Noire forest, we cross the Laya mountain pasture, hidden among the spruce trees. We discover some cold springs, a place of calm and serenity in the middle of the Contamines Conservation Area. After a detour to the Nant Borrant hut and a crossing of the Rollaz forest, we arrive at the Prés mountain pasture. We spend the night in the new Prés hut, from where we enjoy a magnificent sunset over the southern slopes of Mont Blanc.
D+: 700m, D-: 600m, effective walking time: 6 hours.

D5: From Prés hut - Mont Joly ridge - Mont Joly hut.
Today we head for the Col de la Fenêtre to switch to the Beaufortain and its rich alpine pastures. A balcony traverse takes us to the Col du Joly and the Aiguille Croche. We then take a good vertiginous path to Mont Joly (2525m), the highest point of our trekking and a magnificent 360° viewpoint over the Mont Blanc massif and the Pre-Alps. We finally descend to the Mont Joly hut, where we spend our last night.
D+: 1000m, D-: 850m, effective walking time: 8 hours.

D6: Mont Joly hut - Saint-Gervais.
After a final evening in the mountains, we go for our final stage. We walk towards the Crêtet des Vernes, then cross the mountain pastures towards Saint-Gervais.
D-: 550m, effective walking time: 3 hours.

The price includes

Supervision by the mountain leader.
Accommodation in refuges and dormitories from D1 to D5.
Shared meals (½ board) in refuges.
Picnic lunches provided by refuges.
Collective first-aid kit under my responsibility.

The price does not include

Transport to Saint-Gervais, an hour's drive from Annecy or Geneva.
Your accommodation on the evening of D0 (reservation possible at the Hotel Sowells).
Snacks (cereal bar).
All drinks.
Anything not mentioned in "Price includes".

Accommodation

Mountain huts.
In dormitories.

Next departures :

No scheduled departure, but you can contact me to book your dates.