French & Italian Alps Walking & Hiking Tour
French & Italian Alps Walking & Hiking Tour
6 days
5 nights
Activity Levels 2-4
Premiere Hotels
2025: Jun-Sep2026: Jun-Aug
Geneva to Mont Blanc & Chamonix
Explore a landscape of storybook villages, forested foothills, needle-sharp peaks and welcoming rifugi. Join us to experience alpine life from two perspectives: français and italiano. Doubly sublime.
Highlights
- Savor the exquisite cuisine, warm hospitality and lively traditions of two distinct mountain cultures
- Stroll through the streets and among the shops of Chamonix and glamorous Megève, tucked in the Mont Blanc foothills
- Walk across the snowfields of Glacier du Géant with a mountain guide and take in views of needle-like Aiguille du Midi
- Hike amid glorious scenery in the Val Ferret region, from timbered valleys and dramatic peaks to dazzling meadows thick with wildflowers
- Sip a sunset aperitivo while you look out at pink-tinted mountain vistas from our luxurious lodges
Start/End Geneva, Switzerland
* Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Itinerary
Day 1
Hike in the hills above Combloux to an alpine meadow and catch your first glimpse of legendary Mont Blanc • Savor a lunch of regional specialties, including homemade cheeses, at a high-elevation refuge • Walk in the old-school chic hamlet of Megève, tucked in the rolling Mont Blanc foothills • Once a simple farming village, Megève now brims with sophisticated boutiques and is a delight to explore on foot • Lounge by the pool or at the spa at our cozy mountain retreat.
Night 1
Coolly blending rustic design with a luxury finish, this elegant escape is surrounded by lush gardens and nestled in the foothills of the Alps. (pool, spa)
Days 2-3
Jaw-dropping vistas of commanding Mont Blanc steal the show • Hop aboard a historic cogwheel train from St-Gervais-les-Bains alongside climbers setting off for the summit • At Aiguille du Midi, trek along a stunning balcony trail to the Signal de Forbes overlook • Gaze down over the Alps’ second-largest glacier, the Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice) • Take in spectacular views of Mont Blanc while hiking to the famed mountaineering town of Chamonix • An alpinist's mecca in any season, this captivating hub earned its status as a world-renowned ski resort when it hosted the first ever Winter Olympic games • Celebrate with a dinner of hearty highland fare.
Nights 2-3
Relax at this luxurious and historic alpine hotel featuring ideal access to the charms of Chamonix's village center. (pool, spa)
Days 4-6
Let’s go to Italy, or shall we say, andiamo in Italia! • Walk with expert high-mountain guides across the Dente del Gigante (Giant's Tooth) glacier and enjoy a picnic lunch at 11,000 feet • Discover the town of Courmayeur, a historic capital for mountaineering and hiking • Explore the gorgeous Val Ferret valley on the Italian side of Monte Bianco • Follow a portion of the Tour du Mont Blanc trail • Marvel at peaks that seem to stretch forever above the valley and glacial river below.
Nights 4-5
Mountain charm and tradition are highlights of this hotel, as are its stunning views of the Italian Val d’Aosta Alps. (pool, spa)
What's Included
See moreStraight Talk
We want to make sure you're on the trip that's right for you. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
We ordinarily staff our trips with three leaders: two leaders out on the trail offering support—allowing everyone to have the experience they want, whether it’s an easygoing interpretative walk or a rigorous hike—while the third leader moves the van from trailhead to trail end. This trip is a little different in that our routes are not readily accessible by van. This means that you'll still have the same two leaders providing excellent trail support without the need for a third leader to move the van.
Our hikes through the Alps’ captivating, rugged terrain climb rocky and sometimes uneven paths, many of which are remote and do not intersect with roads. Vehicles will get us to and from the trailheads, but due to the nature of these trails, we won’t see our vehicles along the route. Ample trail support in the form of water, snacks and encouragement is provided by your Backroads leaders and local guides.
Hiking in the mountains can mean quickly changing, unpredictable weather, even during the warm and sunny summer months. Careful packing is essential for your comfort and overall enjoyment. Be prepared to carry multiple layers every day on the trip—warm base layers, a windproof/rain jacket and rain pants, and even a down jacket, hat and gloves for our day hiking on the glacier.
While the hotels on this trip offer outstanding service and amenities, please note that they are not equipped with air-conditioning. Despite the region's generally temperate climate and cool nights, guestrooms can occasionally become warm during peak temperatures.
Hotels
World-Class Hotels
Our hand-selected Premiere hotels offer exceptional hospitality and experiences as special as the regions we explore.
Hotels may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.
Night 1
Premiere Hotel
Coolly blending rustic design with a luxury finish, this elegant escape is surrounded by lush gardens and nestled in the foothills of the Alps. (pool, spa)
Nights 2-3
Premiere Hotel
Relax at this luxurious and historic alpine hotel featuring ideal access to the charms of Chamonix's village center. (pool, spa)
Nights 4-5
Premiere Hotel
Mountain charm and tradition are highlights of this hotel, as are its stunning views of the Italian Val d’Aosta Alps. (pool, spa)
Gallery
#MyBackroadsTrip
Review Snapshot
by PowerReviews
Reviewed by 32 customers
Adventure if a lifetime in the French and Italian alps
I had a most fabulous experience hiking in the alps with wonderful guides Davide and Raph! I traveled solo and never felt left out of the groups traveling together. Everyone was so friendly and inclusive. The scenery, food, culture, new friends I made, put this trip on my top 10 best trips of a lifetime.
Excellent excellent trip ! Will do it all over again
Went with my sister for her 50th birthday bucket list trip and it was fabulous. Met such wonderful people and had such a great time. Will do it all over again and recommend this trip to anyone who love beautiful mountains and hiking. Our leaders Tim and Jess were wonderful .
A week we will never forget!
This was our 6th Backroads trip and like every trip before, it makes us want to plan the next one as soon as we get home. I'm pretty sure the word "breathtaking" was invented in the French and Italian Alps. Cannot say enough great things about this trip. The hikes, the food, the hotels - everything was fabulous. But the best part of our trip were our leaders. Davide and Jess brought so much joy and excitement to our group. Cannot thank them enough for a week we will never forget.
Wow!
I have a hard time imagining ever going on a more memorable trip. This trip has some of the most spectacular hiking vistas you could ever see. Our leaders were a critical part of the success of the trip. Davide and Sara were phenomenal. Great hotels. Well thought out logistics. Very challenging at times but worth the effort.
Amazing experience, beautiful hikes and superb leaders!
I can't say enough good things about this tour. It delivered exactly to our expectations. Wonderful places to visit, amazing hikes and a smooth and perfect experience. The leaders were so great to be around and took care of everything. I highly recommend!! We will be taking another tour with Backroads in the near future.
Exceeded our expectations
An amazing experience. Everything was taken care for us from beginning to end. We were well informed before and during the trip. The leaders were exceptional and ensured we had the most incredible time. Hikes were diverse and scenic. Meals were delicious and accommodations wonderful.
Wonderful hiking tour of Mont Blanc
Absolutely lovely experience. Each day better than the next. Kudos to our guides Daphne and Davide who made us feel like family. Can't recommend highly enough.
Outstanding hiking trip around Mt. Blanc
A First-Class, 5-star trip: hiking, hotels, restaurants, shuttle services. The guides were outgoing, fun, and incredibly knowledgeable about the areas we visited.
French and Italian Alps Hiking trip
My husband and I had a wonderful time on this trip. Our guides Max and Jeremie were the best! They were both very knowledgeable, helpful, and fun. The hikes were beautiful, and we enjoyed each one. They were challenging at times so recommend doing hikes before heading on the trip! The hotels were all amazing! The accommodations were comfortable and spacious, with great staff in each.
Mont Blanc TMB
If you want to experience the Swiss Alps with a penchant for fine dining after a full day of hiking the majesty of the French/Italian/Swiss Alps this is a must trip to take. Accommodations were extraordinary and our guides couldn't have been more detailed and joyous. A 5*+ adventure of a life time. Well done Backroads!!
Dates & Prices
Dates & Prices
Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations (if any) and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy in USD.
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