Guided Walking at Les Contamines

• Our experienced leaders offer the choice of two different walks each day
• Choose the option which best suits your interests and fitness
• We provide flexible holidays. Choose easier walking one day and harder the next or just explore independently or relax around the resort
• Our leaders are friendly and welcoming making your holiday fun and sociable.

   Easier Walks     Harder Walks       High Routes

Easier Walks on generally good paths with steady ascent; Harder Walks are on rougher terrain with some exposed sections.

Early and late season dates will consist of a mixture between itineraries 1 and 2 to suit local conditions.

Mixture of itineraries 1 and 2: Sat 2, 9, 16 June; 8 September 2012

Itinerary One

Sat 30 June; 14 July; 11, 25 August

Day 1: Arrival day

For those arriving on the HF Holidays’ flight to Geneva Airport, the onward journey to Les Contamines is by coach. You should arrive in time to settle into your room and perhaps enjoy a short walk into the village before the evening meal. On the first evening your leaders will explain more about the walks and there will be plenty of time to meet with your fellow guests.

Day 2: South into the Bon Nant Valley

The first day walks start from the hotel and will introduce you to the Bon Nant Valley which heads due south from Les Contamines. The main track through the valley has been in existence since pre-Roman times, and was an important trade route until modern times. Nowadays it is the route of the Tour du Mont Blanc, a popular circular tour around the Mont Blanc massif. The return route passes over the Pont Romain (Roman Bridge) and will pay a visit to the splendid Baroque church of Notre Dame de la Gorge.

Easier Walk: 6½ miles with up to 1,400 feet of ascent and descent

Harder Walk: 10½ miles with up to 2,850 feet of ascent and descent

Day 3: West of Les Contamines

Today’s walks take us west onto the high ground that separates Les Contamines from Megève. One group returns to Les Contamines via high alpine meadows and cols, whilst the other group takes a lower route passing meadows, native woodland and isolated chalets. With good weather, you will be guaranteed some excellent views.

Easier Walk: 7½ miles with up to 1,250 feet of ascent and 2,130 feet of descent

Harder Walk: 10½ miles with up to 2,720 feet of ascent and 1,510 feet of descent 

Day 4: Plateau d’Assy and the Rochers des Fiz

We journey high up onto the limestone massif to the north of Mont Blanc. This area is dominated by the cliffs towering up to the north, and the fantastic views across to Mont Blanc and the valley of Les Contamines to the south. The walks offer a choice of culture and countryside (the village of Plateau d’Assy has a church decorated by many famous artists, such as Braque, Chagal and Matisse), or an exhilarating walk with some mild scrambling to reach the Lac de Pormenaz. Both walks visit the beautiful Lac Vert nestling amongst the trees.

Easier Walk: 5½ miles with up to 1,640 feet of ascent and 720 feet of descent

Harder Walk: 7½ miles with up to 2,660 feet of ascent and descent

Day 5: Free day

Each week there is a free day when no guided walks are offered. This is an ideal opportunity to relax around the hotel, walk independently, or visit local places of interest.

Options for your free day include:

• Les Contamines: The village has a large leisure area at the Parc de Loisirs (Leisure Park). Activities and attractions here include tennis, archery, golf-driving range, skatepark, boating and pedalos, mini-golf, pétanque (boules), bathing in the outdoor lake, polar dog park, volleyball, Go-Ape course and horse-riding.
• Other activities can be booked through the hotel, and include rock-climbing, via ferrata, river rafting, paragliding (parapente) and mountain-biking.
• St Gervais: Easily reached by local bus is the small town of St Gervais. The main attraction here is the Mont Blanc tramway which will transport you high onto the slopes of the mountain.
• Further down the valley at Le Fayet is the Parc Thermal, reputed to be the second best thermal spa in France. A range of therapies are available, including beauty treatments and massages. See www.thermes-saint-gervais.com for more information.
• Chamonix: The bustling alpine resort of Chamonix attracts climbers, mountaineers and walkers from all over the world and is usually the most popular destination for the free day. If there is sufficient interest then your leaders will organise a hired coach for the day. Alternatively, Chamonix can be reached by first taking a taxi to Le Fayet, and then continuing by narrow gauge railway (an enjoyable activity in its own right) to Chamonix.
• The cable cars surrounding the town make skiing possible even in summer, and take the hard work out of gaining height for a number of walks with spectacular views. Chamonix itself is an interesting town and rewards exploration with the possibility of visits to the alpine museum or crystal museum.

Day 6: Col du Joly and the Mont Joly ridge

Today we visit the local area south and west of Les Contamines, utilising the local cable car. One walk explores the meadows around Col du Joly: this is an area which has an abundance of wild flowers, and there is the option to extend the walk through the old hamlet of Le Baptieu. The other walk offers a high level route along the ridge between Megève and Les Contamines, reaching the high point of Mont Joly.

Easier Walk: 5½ miles with up to 920 feet of ascent and descent

Harder Walk: 12 miles with up to 3,150 feet of ascent and 5,440 feet of descent 

Day 7: By the Mont Blanc Glaciers

Both groups will take the coach to Les Houches before ascending by cable car to Le Prarion; this takes us high above Les Houches. The first stage of the walks give a splendid overview of the areas visited earlier in the week, before heading closer to Mont Blanc. The highlight must be the views of the Bionnassay Glacier as it tumbles down from the highest parts of the Mont Blanc massif. The day finishes by catching the cable car down from Bellevue, and our coach back to the hotel.

Easier Walk: 5½ miles with up to 1,400 feet of ascent and descent

Harder Walk: 9¼ miles with up to 3,050 feet of ascent and descent

Day 8: Departure day or free day for guests staying for a 14 night holiday.

Itinerary Two

 Sat 23 June; 7 July; 18 August; 1 September

Day 1: Arrival day  

For those arriving on the HF Holidays’ flight to Geneva Airport, the onward journey to Les Contamines is by coach. You should arrive in time to settle into your room and perhaps enjoy a short walk into the village before the evening meal. On the first evening your leaders will explain more about the walks and there will be plenty of time to meet with your fellow guests.

Day 2: The Nature Reserve of Les Contamines-Montjoie

The Nature Reserve of Les Contamines-Montjoie was created in 1979 and is the highest in France, reaching an altitude of 3,892m (12,760ft). Today’s walks spend some time in the Nature Reserve, before returning to the hotel via the Tour du Mont Blanc.

Easier Walk: 6 miles with up to 1,440 feet of ascent and descent

Harder Walk: 8 miles with up to 2,790 feet of ascent and descent 

Day 3: Above Megève

Both groups take a bus to the resort town of Megève about 45 minutes to the northwest of Les Contamines, from where we ascend on one of the cable cars. The walks explore the ridges on the north side of the Arly Valley with magnificent views in all directions. The day finishes in the attractive town of Megève, where refreshments are available before catching the bus back to the hotel.

Easier Walk: 6½ miles with up to 1,080 feet of ascent and descent

Harder Walk: 7¾ miles with up to 2,920 feet of ascent and descent

Day 4: Glaciers on the slopes of Mont Blanc

In ‘Chamonix-Mont-Blanc – A Walking Guide’, Martin Collins describes this as one of the most exciting routes in the area. He notes that “you will experience a transition from a lush, busy valley to some of the wildest alpine terrain accessible without specialist mountaineering equipment and experience”. Both groups travel to Grange Neuve, close to Chamonix, and utilise the chairlift to ascend the first 1,200ft. The walks then continue up the wooded hillside, eventually emerging above the trees to be greeted with spectacular views of the Les Bossons Glacier. Higher up, the Taconnaz Glacier becomes visible.

Easier Walk: 4 mile with up to 1,740 feet ascent and descent

Harder Walk: 7 miles with up to 4,360 feet of ascent and descent

Day 5: Free day

Each week there is a free day when no guided walks are offered. This is an ideal opportunity to relax around the hotel, walk independently, or visit local places of interest.

Options for your free day include:

• Les Contamines: The village has a large leisure area at the Parc de Loisirs (Leisure Park). Activities and attractions here include tennis, archery, golf-driving range, skatepark, boating and pedalos, mini-golf, pétanque (boules), bathing in the outdoor lake, polar dog park, volleyball, Go-Ape course and horse-riding.
• Other activities can be booked through the hotel, and include rock-climbing, via ferrata, river rafting, paragliding (parapente) and mountain-biking.
• St Gervais: Easily reached by local bus is the small town of St Gervais. The main attraction here is the Mont Blanc tramway which will transport you high onto the slopes of the mountain.
• Further down the valley at Le Fayet is the Parc Thermal, reputed to be the second best thermal spa in France. A range of therapies are available, including beauty treatments and massages. See www.thermes-saint-gervais.com for more information.
• Chamonix: The bustling alpine resort of Chamonix attracts climbers, mountaineers and walkers from all over the world and is usually the most popular destination for the free day. If there is sufficient interest then your leaders will organise a hired coach for the day. Alternatively, Chamonix can be reached by first taking a taxi to Le Fayet, and then continuing by narrow gauge railway (an enjoyable activity in its own right) to Chamonix.
• The cable cars surrounding the town make skiing possible even in summer, and take the hard work out of gaining height for a number of walks with spectacular views. Chamonix itself is an interesting town and rewards exploration with the possibility of visits to the alpine museum or crystal museum.

Day 6: St Gervais or the Col du Bonhomme

A local day, visiting the valley to the north and south of Les Contamines. One group will use the local bus to reach St Gervais, 7 miles down the valley. The return is via the Sentier du Val Montjoie, a path which runs the length of the valley passing through meadows, woodlands and quiet hamlets. Often the route is accompanied by the river. The other group will take a cable car and high level route to reach the Col du Bonhomme at the head of the valley. Their return is via the Tour du Mont Blanc all the way back to the hotel.

Easier Walk: 6½ miles with up to 1,800 feet of ascent and 660 feet of descent

Harder Walk: 13 miles 2,750 feet ascent and 4,950 feet of descent 

Day 7: The hidden valley of Miage

Today’s walks explore an area to the northeast of Les Contamines. Taking different routes, both groups visit the Miage valley. This valley is a hidden gem; invisible from outside the valley, it is a peaceful haven only occupied during the summer months when the Refuge is open and does a brisk trade in supplying food and drink to the passers-by. The tarte myrtille (bilberry tart) is a particular favourite of HF Holidays' guests!

Easier Walk: 7½ miles with up to 1,640 feet of ascent and 1,940 feet of descent

Harder Walk: 9½ miles with up to 3,700 feet of ascent and 3,900 feet of descent

Day 8: Departure day or free day for guests staying 14 nights

Please note that the itinerary outlined below is provisional and could be subject to change. A finalised itinerary will be available at the resort and your leader will brief you every evening about the next day’s walks.

High Routes - Sat 18th August 2012 

Our high level walks venture to high summits and cols that are normally 'off-limits' on our Guided Walking holidays. Using Cable cars and rough steep paths, that may be exposed or have fixed ropes, we'll aim for some of the area's best summits. Most holidays have opportunities to bag some 3,000m ( 10,000 feet) peaks: a memorable achievement that you'll want to savour. 8 to 13 miles with up to 4,500 feet of ascent

The Snow-Capped peaks of Mont Blanc dominates the area and we'll either walk high on its slopes or gaze across at the dramtic white glaciers from the Aiguille Rouge Massif or the Mont Joly Ridge.

Local transport

On some days the walks start and finish at the hotel. On other days we’ll use the hired transport to explore the surrounding area. The cost of transport to and from the walk is payable locally.

Walking itineraries

We operate two walking itineraries at Les Contamines on alternate weeks. If you book a 14 night holiday you can enjoy both itineraries and all the best walks.