Tour du Mont Blanc Week

Customer Reviews

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  Kim

  · September 27th, 2019
  Stunning scenery! It's a demanding hike so make sure you've prepared well because you do the circuit clockwise which has steeper ascents. The accommodation was as expected but most meals weren't great.. I'm sure better choices could be made. Take your own first aid supplies and hiking poles are essential.
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  Trip date: September 2019
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  Daniel Smith

  · July 18th, 2012
  A fast and (preferably) light tour around the iconic Mont Blanc Massif. With an emphasis on seeing the highlights of the Mont Blanc circuit, you can definitely expect your money
  Trip date: July 2012
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  Aileen Mc Coy

  · July 31st, 2011
  This was a fantastic trek, taking in 3 countries in a week. The scenery was stunning and varied, as was the weather.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Climbing up to the highest pass, looking back at what we had already covered and looking ahead into Italy.The flowers were fantastic all along the route, but especially at his point which made it all the more stunning.What did you think of your group leader?Alison was fantastic; appeared very laid back but was very skilled at managing the group.  She demonstrated what was in her rucksack at the beginning of the trip.  As a result most people carried a lot less, making the trip much more manageable and enjoyable..you really do NOT need lots of changes of clothing, when staying mainly in mountain huts.She was also clearly very fit and experinced in the mountains, and always cheerful and positive.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Ensure you have a good level of fitness and have walked in mountains beforehand; it makes it much more enjoyable.Do not take too much stuff; quick drying gear which can be washed out and dry overnight is ideal, but be prepared for rain/sleet/snow.Is there anything else you would like to add?If taking anyting extra, make it a pair of socks!...
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  Trip date: July 2011
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  Katherine Black

  · December 21st, 2010
  An excellent first experience. My first holiday abroad and my first trip with Exodus. Weather may have been better - so views were not as great as they may have been - however it was an excellent trip, excellent company and an excellent walk leader.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Reaching the first col and then seeing the mist clear to reveal the amazing views down into Italy.What did you think of your group leader?Sean Benz was an excellent leader.  He was clearly aware of the differing needs of the group and worked hard to ensure that we all had a good trip regardless of our needs.
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  Trip date: December 2010
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  Robert Friel

  · September 11th, 2008
  Superb walking holiday. Pretty challenging - but a great sense of achievement.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Going via Fenetre d'Arpete rather than the Bovine route on the first day made it feel like a real mountain holiday (with excellent ice cream as an added bonus).Grand Col du Ferret and Col de la Seigne both have endlessly stunning views. What did you think of your group leader?Our leader Liz was excellent - got the pace and breaks spot onDo you have any advice for potential travellers?Pack light - then get rid of everything unnecessary!  Dorm accommodation so go prepared to have fun with the rest of the group and you'll struggle to top it.Is there anything else you would like to add?Another excellent group and another excellent holiday.Almost as spectacular as the Himalayas! Watch out for the Marmots... 
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  Trip date: September 2008
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  Jacqueline Wilson

  · July 19th, 2008
  As a first-time visitor to this part of the world, this trip gave me a great feel for what makes the Alps such a world destination for climbers and trekkers. We sampled it all, from peaks to glaciers, flora, fauna and food, all while visiting three different countries and having great craic along the way. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Catching my first ever glimpse of a glacier through the bus window on the way to our first hotel from Geneva set my heart racing, but I was repeatedly awed by the close-up views of glaciers we got throughout the week. The highlight for me was seeing the Mer de Glace for the first time. I'm sure I was just as much in awe of it as our Victorian predecessors who trekked to see it. Another highlight was standing as a group on the Grand Balcon Sud route during our descent into Chamonix on our last walking day and waiting for the clouds to drift away revealing the summit of Mont Blanc. What a great end to the trip.What did you think of your group leader?Carey did a great job, especially considering we were a fairly big group (15 or 16). As one person in the group said, she had a very light but firm touch, enabling us all to walk at the pace that suited us best, while making sure we kept a good group dynamic, regrouping at pre-arranged points along the way. She allowed us all to get the most out of the holiday from our own personal perspectives. Once she found out that some of the group were particularly interested in Alpine flora, she went out of her way to help them identify the various plants they saw. She frequently phoned ahead to find out about things people had asked about (such as cable-car times etc). She made a hard job look easy, with her easy-going nature and obvious experience and capability. She was also very sociable and it felt like she was one of the group.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Accommodation - be prepared for lots of nights of staying in dorms. Most are packed with bunks, without much space for your gear; you'll be in close quarters with your fellow travellers, often with just two or three showers for the Exodus group and whoever else is staying! The craic was great in the dorms on my trip, so be ready to take the rough with the smooth and go with the flow. It's only for one week, and you've a lovely hotel in Chamonix to look forward to at the end!Walking - although there are no summits on this trip, be aware that you're carrying all your gear, which is why it has the C/D grade. I personally found it closer to a C than a D. I'm a 36-year-old day/weekend hillwalker and I found it fine. I definitely found it helpful to train up for self carrying, by loading up my bigger rucksack and doing some training walks in advance. Obviously the fitter you are the easier you'll find it, and therefore the more you'll enjoy it. Weather - although the typical photos of the Alps in summer are all blue skies and flowery meadows, I did this trip in mid July 2008 and spent half the week in low cloud with no views. Just be aware that you may get a day or two of limited views due to low cloud. Those Alpine pastures aren't green and lush for nothing... it does rain! Just prepare for rain and sun.Alcohol - be prepared for tiny measures of wine in Switzerland. You'll literally be served a small tasting glass a third full and it will cost you about 2 to 3 euros.Smoking - we had two smokers in my group and they couldn't find anywhere to buy cigarettes for most of the trip. Strangely none of the little supermarkets or bars sold them until we arrived in Chamonix near the end of the trip. Take your week's supply with you!Is there anything else you would like to add?Several days of the trip are in Switzerland and although the shops, cafes and hotels you'll encounter almost all take euros, the rate of exchange between British pounds and Swiss francs is much better than the rate between pounds and euros. We didn't encounter any ATMs until the penultimate day of the trip, when we arrived in Chamonix. Bring enough to last you until then. Also, Chamonix is very expensive.
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  Trip date: July 2008
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  Jennifer King

  · October 4th, 2007
  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?I'll never forget the journey travelling from Geneva to Col de Forclaz, and being inspired by the view of Mt Blanc, and knowing I was going to spend the following week circumnavigating it. It made me feel very privilaged to be there, and I knew then that I had a great week ahead.What did you think of your group leader?Our group leader, was extremely good, if she was not there, our trip would have been very different,. Her dedication and enthusiasm is not found in every group leader, we were very fortunate. She was when required very firm. She knew how much we valued her, and we loved her company. She became a friend to each member of the group.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?That this trip involves alot of accent and decent each day. So therefore it is not a walk which involves walking to a high altitude, for some this will be a bonus for others this may dissappointmentIs there anything else you would like to add?no
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  Trip date: October 2007
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  Sandra Staples

  · September 30th, 2013
  An excellent trip in an area I'd never visited before.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?The views of Mont Blanc and associated mountains on the last day. It was clear, the sky was blue - you couldn't help but keep stopping to admire the viewWhat did you think of your group leader?Nick was a great bloke who was a very relaxed leader but willing (and able) to exercise control when necessary.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Pack light and then remove half of what you've packed - honestly you don't really need that much for what is 4 nights away. You'll appreciate it going up those passes.
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  Trip date: September 2013
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  Ingrid Halfyard

  · September 16th, 2013
  A wonderful week! Great walking, though quite hard work with a pack. You certainly need to be reasonably fit. Fabulous mountain scenery and every day different. The September sunshine added to the beauty. We were part of a lovely,varied group of people and had an excellent guide. We are already planning our next trip into the mountains!What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?The Col de Ferret: beautiful weather, a lovely day's walk and incredible views.What did you think of your group leader?Nick was superb. A light touch from someone with a great deal of experience and knowledge.  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?You need to be quite fit to walk for 7 hours a day up and down mountains carrying your pack.make the pack as light as possible. Nowhere really to do washing. Washed hair once in hotel, but not in dormitory accommodation so no need to carry shampoo along.  Showers were sometimes busy so needed to queue and occasionally cold!Is there anything else you would like to add?It was a really superb week and I would highly recommend the walk.
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  Trip date: September 2013
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  Mary Jenkins

  · July 31st, 2013
  An excellent alpine walking holiday - lived up to all my expectations. Fantastic scenery, wild flowers, characterful accomodation and excellently led.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Being able to see so many alpine flowers in mid July - this was because the snow had stayed later this year - and having a leader who was as interested in identifyingand talking about wild flowers as I am!The baked apple stuffed with nuts and fruit, heated up in an aga at one of the refuges. Walking across snow bridges over glacial streams and seeing glaciers close up. Rupert's homemade dice game with the wooden dice he made - played on a pavement while waiting for the bus!What did you think of your group leader?Rupert was excellent in leading us all, excellent knowledge of alpine wild flowers, very relaxed approach, made sure everyone was OK in the group all of the timen.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Long walking days with over 1000 metres of ascent and descent most days are wonderful - but good to be reasonably fit before you come to get the most out of the trip.Think minimal when packing your rucsac - pack as little as you need - then rethink and pack less!Walking poles are really useful for both the descents and for crossing snow patches.Don't worry about the dormitory sleeping - its fun!Is there anything else you would like to add?As a vegetarian I thought I might have a very boring diet - but no, the trip is fine for vegetarians - I really enjoyed the food.I enjoyed every minute!
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  Trip date: July 2013