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Demi
Tour Mont Blanc treks 2024
4
days holiday, 3 days UIMLA guided trekking,
West / East    |
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Course
overview
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The
demi Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) passes over
the highest passes and most rugged and remote
regions of the whole tour in this spectacular
three day guided trek, with nights in mountain
huts. |
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A
key attraction of this course is that is can
be run on any dates as required, and we provide
prices for various group sizes. We operate
the Demi TMB from
mid June to late September, when huts are
open. |
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There
is so much history and information about the
local area that our leaders have to share
with you, as well as showing you the amazing
scenery, that it is no wonder that this trek
is one of our most popular run on demand courses. |
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Select
from either the West section of the TMB from
Les Contamines to Courmayeur, or the East
section from Courmayeur to Chamonix. The West
is slightly more remote and technical terrain,
whereas the East has more options to make
the route easier or harder on most of the
days, so is more flexible. |
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During
the week you pass through France into Italy
(Demi TMB West), or Italy into Switzerland
(Demi TMB East), so can enjoy the different
cultures, architecture, and the food of each
country over the trek. This is a real attraction,
as the countries are very different. |
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The
treks are guaranteed to be led by a qualified
International Mountain Leader, to ensure your
safety and to provide the highest levels of
mountain leadership throughout your holiday. |
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Brief
Course Itinerary
The
itinerary below is designed to give you a flavour of exactly
where you will trek to each day, but one of the great
things about the Tour du Mont Blanc, is that there are
many variations on certain sections, so you can select
more challenging routes or even some summits. These options
won't affect where you stay each night, but do mean that
you can tailor the route a little on most days to suit
how you are feeling, the weather and conditions. Your
guide will have a massive local knowledge and experience,
and will discuss the options with you en-route.
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Friday
Travel to Chamonix to arrive for the 18:00 check-in
followed by and course safety and itinerary briefings.
There is time for kit checks or rental of equipment.
Briefings are over by 20:00, then you have free
time to prepare your rucksack and to go out for
dinner. Some clients opt to travel out a day or
two early to get their hill legs back and to explore
the town. Extra nights accommodation are often possible
from £30pp. Night in Chamonix. |
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Demi
TMB West
Contamines
to Courmayeur |
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Demi
TMB East
Courmayeur to Chamonix |
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Saturday - Distance: 13km, Height Gain: 1300m, Approx Trek
Time: 6 hours.
Contamines
- Croix du Bonhomme. After breakfast you travel
to the Contamines valley and the start of the
Roman road at the baroque Notre Dame de la Gorge
church. This ascends past the rock arch into the
upper valley past La Barme, and then the long
climb into the higher alpages to reach the Col
du Bonhomme. Here the track turns left over a
rocky section to the next col, below which is
the stunningly located Croix du Bonhomme hut. |
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Saturday - Distance: -km, Height Gain: -m, Approx Trek
Time: 6 hours.
Courmayeur - Champex. Travel
through the Mont Blanc tunnel to reach Courmayeur,
and then a second bus up the Val Ferret to Arnouva.
Trek over Grand Col Ferret, and into Switzerland,
then past Fouly, Praz de Fort and Issert, then
up to Champex Lac along the Sentier des Champignons.
Champex is a small Swiss village perched alongside
a glacial lake. For the night you stay in a lodge
at the far end of the village. |
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Sunday - Distance: 20km, Height Gain: 1150m, Approx Trek
Time: 6 hours.
Croix
du Bonhomme - Elisabetta. If the weather is
good, you ascend over the Col du Fours and take
in the summit of the Tête Nord du Fours, before
descending into the remote valley beyond, on the
route to Ville du Glaciers. You pass the Refuge
du Mottets, and ascend to the Col du la Seigne,
where you enter into Italy. This is a beautiful
region, and you pass the limestone pyramid peaks
to reach the superb Elizabetta Soldini refuge. |
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Sunday - Distance:
-km, Height Gain: -m, Approx Trek Time: 6 hours.
Champex - Trient. There's
a choice of route today, trekking either the Fenetre
d'Arpette or Bovine Alpage routes to reach Trient
village. The Arpette variant requires very good
weather, and offers stunning views across the Trient
glacier. The Bovine route ascends then traverses
high above the old Roman town of Martigny, and the
Rhone valley. The village is quiet and pretty, with
the bright pink church dominating. Night in a lodge. |
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Monday - Distance: 15km, Height Gain: 500m, Approx Trek
Time: 5 hours.
Elisabetta
- Courmayeur.
After leaving the refuge you trek past the moraine
dammed Lac Combal before ascending again to reach
the stunning traverse track that contours around
to reach the Courmayeur ski area and the Maison
Vielle refugio. After a late lunch here you hike
down to Dolonne, and its cobbled streets and archways,
that leads you into central Courmayeur. Return to
Chamonix, and depart for evening flight from Geneva. |
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Monday - Distance:
-km, Height Gain: -m, Approx Trek Time: 6 hours.
Trient
- Chamonix.
Set off trekking steeply up to reach the Col de
Balme, where you enter France, and are rewarded
with a great view of the Mont Blanc massif ahead
of you. Traverse over the ridgeline of the Aiguillettes
des Posettes, and down to Le Tour or Argentiere.
You can even trek all the way to Chamonix, or simply
catch the train whenever suits. Return to Chamonix,
and depart for evening flight from Geneva. |
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| ITINERARY
NOTES: Where possible we follow itineraries. Mountain
adventures are weather and conditions dependant, so occasionaly
we are forced to alter the plans. If this is the case,
suitable alternatives are offered. Please use this outline
itinerary as a guide to the types of route / activity
that you will attempt. |
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Course Prices |
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Standard
course |
3 full days UIMLA guiding, 1:8 max ratio
4 days holiday in total, e.g. Friday-Monday |
£499 |
Live
availability |
Click
on the planner logo to the right to
see the real time live course availability
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Secure
online booking system |
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| Inclusions:
1) UIMLA guide for three days, 2) Chamonix course hosts
for logistics & briefings, 3) Pre course information
booklet, 4) Equipment discount voucher for UK shops, 5)
1 night self-catered accommodation in Chamonix (inc. bedding
& towels), 6) 2 nights mountain hut on a half board
basis, 7) Free 36 page technical Course Instruction Booklet,
8) Chamonix logistics support. |
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| Exclusions:
1) Travel to and from Chamonix, 2) Personal laundry, telephone
calls, lunches, non-hut night evening meals, & any
purchases in mountain huts / hotels / restaurants, 3)
Road / rail transport as required for you and the guide,
4) Activities insurance, & excess baggage charges. |
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| Group
sizes: 3 - 8 people per group.
For group sizes of over 8 people, there are multiple guides,
and the teams travel independently of each other. |
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Current
course availability
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Course Dates
Demi TMB West trek
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Course Dates
Demi TMB East trek
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Spaces
are indicated by the
number in square brackets
before each course date. |
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NOTE:
This trip has scheduled
dates, but if you prefer to have
a private group who are booking
together, it can be operated on
any date,
though a supplement
or discount may apply* |
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Client
feedback
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The
huts you selected to stay in on this
trek were superb, and far better than
some of the others we passed. Great
use of your local knowledge and presence.
Hannah
Stephenson , Demi-TMB
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Thank
you Icicle for arranging this holiday
for my family. We all had a good time,
and found that the information you provided
was good for us to prepare before.
Mohammed
Khan ,
Demi-TMB
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I
did the whole TMB trek years ago, and
was so happy to repeat this amazing
section again, as for me it is the best
bit.
Max
Archer ,
Demi-TMB
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| Testimonials |
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| Press
& media |
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| Films
& videos |
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| Photo
gallery |
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| Read
our full TMB article |
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| Location
data for this trip |
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| The
trips all start in Chamonix valley in the French Alps,
at the foot of Mont Blanc. It is easily accessed via a
90 minute transfer from Geneva airport. |
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Time
Difference
GMT +1hr
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Local
Currency
€ & CHF
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Travel
from UK
1hr flight
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| View
TMB Google Earth |
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We
have developed a Google Earth file with all the key features
and places of interest marked on it. Click
here for Google Earth file.
If you do not already have Google Earth installed on your
computer, click
here. This is
a totally free download, and the satellite images are
constantly uploaded. You can alter the viewing angles
to 'see' the TMB in 3D, and to explore the route. |
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| Suggested
reading and kit |
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View
full course equipment list,
with examples of kit, click
here |
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| Any
further questions? |
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A
key part of choosing a company is being able to come and
talk about your plans with an experienced course advisor
face to face. In an increasingly virtual world, we know
our clients value speaking to real people, getting open
and honest advice. The vast majority of our clients are
British, and our office and outdoor store is based in
Windermere in the English Lake District.
 
Get
in contact to arrange a meeting, and come in for a coffee
to discuss your course in person with a trip
advisor. Many people opt for this service,
and it is an integral part of what we offer, as we are
keen to ensure that you are prepared as possible, and
that you select a course that is suitable for you. It
makes it easier and more enjoyable for you and us, if
you are on the right trip. |
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NEW Tour du Mont Blanc guidebook and map
A brand NEW guidebook for the Tour du Mont Blanc, and an accompanying waterproof map, has recently been launched by Vertebrate Publishing. It's unique and innovative, in several ways; timings for trip planning for all trail users from steady walkers to faster trail runners, 1:40,000 scale custom mapping provided on the description pages of the guidebook, and full appendices and kit lists to help you plan a trip and learn all about the route. The book is a nice size format of 175mm x 120mm, and it's detailed yet compact at 140 pages long, weighing only 300g. It's been designed by a TMB expert.
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That expert is none other than multi award-winning author, and veteran of over 50 laps of the TMB, Kingsley Jones from our guiding team. All of that experience of the route, timings, where to eat or stay, and customised itinerary planning, comes from him spending over a year of his life on the route. We are going to supply a FREE copy of the guidebook (RRP £16.95) and map (RRP £14.95) to each group on our self-guided TMB trips. If you'd like extra copies, or are on a guided trip, you can get them in advance of your trip for reading and planning. Order them from us; TMB guidebook and TMB waterproof map. |
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Icicle logo
is the registered trademark ® of Icicle Mountaineering|UK company 413 6635. VAT 770
137 933 |
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