Tour de Mont Blanc

Here in the French Alps we have been enjoying some seriously scorching hot weather over the past few weeks and the snowy days of winter seem to be a long way behind us. June is a fantastic time of year to jump into your hiking boots and hit one of the many walks the area has to offer. Now that the snowline has receded, the vast majority of trails are accessible and with the busy alpine summer season just a month away this is also the time to enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the mountains before the tourists arrive.

One of the most famous walks of the area is the hugely popular Tour de Mont Blanc, a trek of roughly 170km which circles the Mont Blanc Massif over a period of about 10 days. Traditionally the walk starts and finishes in Chamonix Mont Blanc, somewhat fitting as the resort is widely recognised as the capital of mountaineering. The route sets off in an anti-clockwise direction running from Chamonix to Les Houches, on to Les Contamines Montjoie and then crosses into Italy. From here walkers pass through the resort of Courmayeur up through the Italian Alps and on to Switzerland, before finally returning to Chamonix for a well deserved rest! All the way around the tour the magnificent towering peaks and glaciers of Mont Blanc are in sight as a constant reminder of how the landscape is dominated by this Massif, offering some of the most spectacular views that can only be appreciated from the top of a mountain.

Accommodation varies en route, some evenings the walk ends in lofty and isolated mountain locations, where cosy refuges wait to receive tired walkers and offer hearty alpine meals and a bunk in a dorm for the night (be warned, they do get busy and you need to book ahead in peak season). In the morning they will send you on your way with a substantial breakfast and sometimes a picnic in your backpack. Washing facilities are basic but good and watching the sunset and sunrise from the absolute peace of a mountaintop is a highlight. On other evenings the walk will end in an alpine village, giving you the chance to stock up on supplies and book into the relative luxury of a cosy auberge or hotel for the evening. Hot, deep baths with plenty of bubble bath, crisp sheets and a private room are a welcome indulgence after some of the more basic refuges and they always seem to come just at the right time!

Whether you choose to do the original trek or extend or shorten the walk according to how much time you have available, it is a beautiful way to explore the region and make the most of your surroundings. For anyone who feels inspired to give it a go there are excellent guides available at

www.cicerone.co.uk. If you don't have time to do the Tour de Mont Blanc just yet but you still need some walking inspiration for some day hikes or even 2-3 day treks, Cicerone has two books on the Haute-Savoie region which provide a great deal of variety.

If you like the idea of your own base in the French Alps to explore some of the fabulous treks on offer, visit our Buy Property page to see what we have available.