The day before
Meeting with your guide at 6:30 pm at the Guides office of Saint-Gervais. Moment of exchange to settle the last logistical details and present you in detail the route.
Day 1 Tramway du Mont Blanc – refuge de Miage
Departure from Saint-Gervais with the Tramway du Mont-Blanc, the famous train built in 1909. The Bellevue plateau stands between the valleys of Saint-Gervais and Chamonix. It will be our starting point of this circuit through Val Montjoie. By a path, which offers beautiful views of the classic route to Mont Blanc and the Aiguille de Bionnassay, we descend to the plateau de l’Are and then to the suspended bridge of the Bionnassay glacier. By a climb through the alpine pastures we arrive at the Col du Tricot (2120m) in the footsteps of the first guides. An easy descent and we arrive at the Mountain pasture of Miage, one of the most beautiful sites of the Val Montjoie. Overnight stay at Miage's refuge.
D+ 700m/D- 500m – walking time: 6h
Day 2 Vallon d’Armancette and refuge of Tré-la-Tête
The day begins with a beautiful climb to the plateau du Truc. We discover one of the oldest mountain pastures in the Val Montjoie with its traditional farms (including the Auberge du Truc, once a place where milk was collected). Followed by a descent into the forest with a detour to Armancette lake. From there we take the “chemin Claudius Bernard” path, overlooking the valley facing Mont Joly, to reach the refuge de Tré-la-Tête, starting point of some of the most emblematic climbs of the massif, including the famous Dômes de Miage!
D+ 900m/D- 800m – walking time: 6h
Day 3Rollaz forast and alpine pasture "les prés"
After a descent into the forest of by the Combe Noire waterfall, we cross the bucolic alpine pasture of la Laya, nestled in the middle of the spruces near some preserved turf lands. We pass by the cold springs, a place full of calm and serenity in the middle of the Contamines nature reserve. After a detour by the refuge of Nant Borrant and the Rollaz forest we arrive at at the alpine pasture of “les prés”. A few more minutes until the new refuge des prés from where we will have a beautiful sunset on the southern slope of Mont Blanc.
D+ 700m/D- 600m – walking time: 6h
Day 4Mont Joly ridge – Mont Joly refuge
We go in the direction of the Col de la Fenêtre to switch to the Beaufortain region and its rich alpine pastures as far as the eye can see. We reach the Col du Joly and the Aiguille Croche, a part of Saint Gervais locked in between Megève and Contamines-Montjoie. An aerial trail leads us to Mont Joly (2525 m), the highest point of our hike, magnificent 360° viewpoint on the Mont Blanc massif and the Pre-Alps. From there we go down to the Mont Joly refuge where we will spend our last night. This refuge has a rich history because this old pavilion once hosted the curists from the thermal baths, who rode there on the back of a mule.
D+ 1000m/D- 850m – walking time: 8h
Day 5 Mont Joly refuge – Saint Gervais
After a last evening of exchanges and a good night it is the start for our last stage. Following the ridges and the forest, we cross the old alpine pastures of Saint Nicolas de Véroce and Saint Gervais.
It is also the discovery of the local Hermance cheese, cousin of the famous Beaufort. Finally, descent to Saint Gervais by the path with the name “schoolchildren’s path” ...
D- 550 m –walking time: 3h
The elevations and walking times are approximate and may vary.
Depending on the weather and the level of the participants, the guide may modify the program.
Register either directly online, or by returning the completed 2025 registration form to us by email, dated and signed.
For further information, please contact us by e-mail or telephone on +33 (0)4 50 47 76 55 (Saint-Gervais) or +33 (0)4 50 47 10 08 (Les Contamines). We’ll be happy to guide you in the realization of your project.
Departure with the mythical “Tramway du Mont Blanc” for five days of some of the most beautiful alpine pastures of the region, right under the famous Dômes de Miage.
During this trek between Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc and Les Contamines Montjoie, we will observe, every day, from different angles, the Aguille de Bionnassay which culminates at more than 4000 m. Mont Blanc will also be our daily landmark.
This trek on the “secret” side of Mont Blanc is for all those who want to discover magnificent sites and meet the local actors of the valley, who value important local activities by their work: alpacists, refuge keeper, loggers, guides ...
Departure on Mondays 11, 18 and 25 July then 8 and 22 August.
Other dates on request for private groups (depending on availability at the huts).
Supervision is provided by a hiking guide.
Groups of 4 to 6 people maximum for a more personal experience.
For a hiker in good physical condition, trained and with experience of day hiking in the mountains.
Between 6h to 8h of walking per day on trails.
Passage on rocky surfaces or snow depending on the conditions, aerial passage on the 4th day on the ridge of Mont Joly.
You will be carrying personal belongings and picnics for the day, the weight of the backpack must not exceed 6Kg to 8Kg (with water included)! Do not hesitate to contact us if you are not sure about the required physical capacities.
Group sessions:
€810 per person (minimum 4 people and maximum 6 people)
Price of the private formulas:
The price includes:
We also have the offer without luggage transport, you can ask us for the price.
The price does not include:
For any information, contact us by email or by phone at +33 (0)4 50 47 76 55 (Saint-Gervais) or at +33 (0)4 50 47 10 08 (Les Contamines). We will be able to help you in with the realization of your project.
Being covered by a "repatriation - assistance" insurance is mandatory to participate in our stays: it will have to cover you in the high mountains for search and rescue by helicopter outside the ski areas.
If you do not have «assistance-repatriation» insurance, we can offer you one at the price of €5 per day.
We also offer optional "cancellation" insurance at the rate of €12 per day.
The insurance booklets can be downloaded here for cancellation and assistance-repatriation.
The day before we meet up for a briefing where you will meet your guide and the group, we expect you at 18h30 at the guides' office at Saint Gervais, we can advise you for accommodation on site. Our address : 43 rue du Mont Blanc, 74170 Saint Gervais les Bains
If you are unable to attend, please call us around the same time so the briefing can be done by phone.
The weight of your backpack for the day should not exceed 6/8 kg. Keep in mind to leave some space for your daily picnics.
Provide a second bag that will be delivered to the huts (except day 2 and 3): do not exceed 10 kg, do not take rigid suitcases or bags that are too large.
Clothing
Accessories
Personal pharmacy
