Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Climbing up the Cols and witnessing the magnificent views of the surrounding Alps was jaw dropping. A real motivation to plod along knowing you will be subjected to some beautiful views. The final day up to the Brevent was fabulous. Sat eating my lunch with the Mont Blanc Massif around me will remain in my memory for a long while.

Thoughts on Group Leader

John was a terrific leader and team builder. He was so chilled and unregimented I strongly believe this attitude resonated down the group. It made us all feel relaxed and un-pressed to go marching forth. Instead he would pace us all at a leisurely comfortable way stopping quite often to share his knowledge on the surrounding environment. He would teach us how to trust our boots when walking and encourage us to take 5 smaller steps than to waste energy by lunging up one step with greater exertion. He would share local knowledge of flora and fauna. History of the mountainsides and even an impromptu berry tasting session. John was a brilliant teacher who clearly showed great enthusiasm and huge respect to the environment that he was show casing to the rest of us. John was almost host-like rather than our guide. Wonderful chap who made the tour far more enjoyable. You could truly trust he was looking after you.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Four seasons sleeping bag and comfortable mat for a good nights rest.

Most Inspirational Moment

Our guide, John, on the first day, gave us some tips and the opportunity to practice some walking skills particularly on managing the steeper ascents and descents. This was inspirational as the new skills helped make the ascents and descents so much easier to manage and also less tiring, which meant more time to enjoy the scenery and take photos. I've always been slower on the descents but using John's techniques made the effort less stressful on feet, knees and ankles and descents became much more fun. The scenery, is of course, just outstanding. Each day provided many "awesome" moments. Our group, mostly individuals, also got on very well - sharing camp duties, helping each other out, hanging out and having fun as well as walking well together.

Thoughts on Group Leader

John was an excellent group leader. He has a relaxed manner but keeps everything under control without ever coming across as authoritarian or overbearing. He was quietly vigilant in making sure each group member was travelling well and I think his personality and approach was a key factor in our group of individuals bonding and getting on so well. He definitely has a good sense of humour and an apparently endless supply of and desire to sing (fairly quietly) power ballads as he walked! His extensive outdoor skills and knowledge of mountains, walking, hiking and of the area around Mt Blanc gave each us a strong sense of confidence and this meant we could relax and enjoy the walk without having to worry about anything going wrong, or stressing on the details. Egle, our camp manager also did an outstanding job and produced fantastic meals, kept us all well fed and was a delight to have around.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you are doing the camping version remember to take a warm sleeping bag and a warm jacket for night time as it gets colder than you think. With these items you will be comfortable. Work on your fitness prior to the trip but you don't have to go super crazy trying to achieve maximum fitness. Also definitely take advantage of your rest day and take the gondola ride across the top if the weather is fairly decent. The views up the top over the glaciers and of Mt Blanc are stunning.

Most Inspirational Moment

It would be hard to pin down the most inspirational moment. However, it goes without saying that my fellow travelers made the trip. They were a wonderful mix of nationalities, ages, genders and backgrounds. Everyone was willing to pitch in making for a terrific camp atmosphere.

Thoughts on Group Leader

I thought that our group leader was sub-par. She set an unrelenting and blistering pace for no apparent reason. It was her last trip of the season and it showed. It often felt as though she was just trying to get through the trip. Each night we would meet as a group to review the following day’s agenda which included the walking distance, terrain and estimated time. We routinely arrived to camp at least 1-1.5 hours early. Kim allowed members of the group to race far ahead putting pressure on those that were keeping a pace consistent with the trip notes. The result was losing a hiker on Day 12. After that incident, she kept the group together but by then there was just 1 day left. I would have far preferred a more reasonable pace that gave us an opportunity to enjoy the stunning scenery.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for the elevation gains and losses. Consider getting a single tent. That will give you the opportunity to spread out a bit and will take some of the edge off of two weeks under canvas. I had been on a camp-based group trek before, so I knew what to expect, but for those who don’t, be advised that everyone pitches in to make the camp run effectively.

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the top of col du tricot after a long 60 minutes ascent is well worth it. Getting the cable car up to Helbronner is a must for some breathtaking views of the mountains

Thoughts on Group Leader

Kim was a great leader, always launching and joking with us. Emily did a great job in camp and made sure there was always plenty of food (and beer!) for us each evening after a days trek.

Advice for Potential Travellers

There are alot of ascent and descent on this trip so you need to be physically fit, and have strong knees. The last few days walking can be really touch in the heat but well worth it

Most Inspirational Moment

enjoyed the ice cold swim in the lake

Thoughts on Group Leader

excellent, informative, good sense of humour, managed the group well.

Advice for Potential Travellers

N/A

Most Inspirational Moment

John tried to inspire us to challenge ourselves by hiking up to Col de Tricot as fast as we could, and I was motivated to do so.

Most Inspirational Moment

Completing the whole circuit and finishing at Brevent. The views are super and that is your reward for walking up hill all day (1500m). Going up the Aiguille du Midi is also incredible, it is great to get so close to Mont Blanc. The gondola ride across the glacier is also very memorable.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jenny was a great leader, she was very knowledgeable about the trail and knew where all the lovely hut stops were.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You need to enjoy walking up and down, you are not often walking on flat trails, so practice those ups and downs. The Aiguille du Midi is definitely worth doing. It is cheaper to go up from the Italian side, however if the weather is bad wait until you get to Chamonix.

Most Inspirational Moment

Near the end of the trip, we reached 'the Trico challenge' -a stiff climb to a col, which our leader perfectly introduced to us as the toughest climb of the trip. He challenged us to challenge ourselves for the ascent, so as a group we stormed - at our own best speed - up the mountain. We all met the challenge and it was fantastic to sit up the top together with some mountain sheep, feeling triumphant in the sun with the most amazing views.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader was extremely competent and had a very good approach to managing the group and leading us safely and happily so that everyone enjoyed the walks at their own pace. He had a great way about him and really helped make the trip the success it was. The support staff were also attentive, caring, efficient and provided for all our food needs, and more, perfectly.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Being a camping trek, you are up and off early so need to be quite organised and ready for a wee burst of activity first thing as you wrestle your pop up tent into its bag, get breakfast and packed lunch etc ready. The days themselves, though, are relaxed and although they can be long, are perfectly interspersed with regular stops along the way to refuel on local, homemade goodies at amazing mountain refuges along the route. Walking poles were really useful and think about taking two camping towels in case it's raining and one gets wet -the warm shower at the end of the day was worth having a dry towel for!

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the Vallee Blanche, the cable car ride across it from Aiguille du Midi at 3842m and the icy blue crevasses which you see to and from the Helbronner cable car. Beautiful.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Kim Jackson was our group leader and looked after us all throughout the two week camping trek and kept a good pace, not too fast and not to slow. Great giggles along the way. Andres Urban our camp manager made us feel at home each day with great logistics support throughout the trek, and top class camping food.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Try and go when its not too hot! It was in the high 20's most days and a little too hot some days when it got steep. Be bold....start early and cold (as Kim would tell us, to avoid the mid day sun). Take a good sleeping mattress / inflatable....you will appreciate it after a few days camping.

Most Inspirational Moment

Watching the the UTMB - hands down the most impressive and awe-inspiring day of the trip closely followed by the trip up in the cable car from Courmayer across to the Aiguille Du Midi and back again.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jenny knew every facet of the trail and where we could deviate to get an even better viewpoint, challenge or piece of cake :) I have a serious addiction to tart aux myrtilles now. My waistline thanks you Jenny

Advice for Potential Travellers

This is a challenging walk. I have done Kili, Toubkal and EBC and this was the most challenging walking by far. True, it doesn't have the altitude of these other hikes, but with about 9,500 meters of ascent in total, it is not a walk in the park.