Rick Steves Tour Du Mont Blanc
Rick Steves Tour du Mont Blanc is one of the most popular tours of the Alps. It is a guided tour of the French Alps that is suitable for anyone from beginners to experts. This trip covers the top three ski resorts in the French Alps, Courmayeur, Chamonix, and Les Contamines-Montjoie. In addition to skiing, you can take in breathtaking views and visit quaint villages. The guide is also very knowledgeable about the history and culture of the region. You will definitely have a great time on this tour!
Les Contamines-Montjoie
The Tour du Mont Blanc is one of Europe’s most popular long distance hiking trails. Not only is it the best way to see the Alps, but it’s also a great chance to learn about the history of the region.
The TMB features six mountain passes. One of the most famous is the Col de la Croix du Bonhomme. At 2483 meters, this is the highest pass on the route.
You may have noticed that the TMB has a massive hut system. These can be found in every 6 to 10 miles. There are also a number of smaller villages and towns to stop by.
One of the more memorable TMB towns is Chamonix. Chamonix is a world-class mountaineering mecca. It’s a great destination for both winter and summer outdoor activities. Plus, it’s home to the best skis in the Alps.
Another TMB standout is the Aiguille du Midi, which boasts breathtaking views of the Alps. This is not to be confused with the Aiguille d’Aiguille, which is the tallest peak in the Mont Blanc range.
Other notable TMB sights include the Vallee des Glaciers, the Grand Balcon Sud, and the Fenêtre d’Arpette. Also worth a mention is the Skyway Monte Bianco, which is the longest rotating cable car in the world.
The Tour du Mont Blanc isn’t for the faint of heart, but if you’re a fan of long-distance hiking, you’ll love the 105 mile-long trail. If you’re in a hurry, you can even finish it in just three days. However, you’ll probably want to spend at least a week to fully appreciate the experience. To make the most of your time in the area, be sure to pack plenty of water and food.
Courmayeur
The Tour du Mont Blanc is one of the most popular long-distance treks in Europe. It is a 170 km (99 mile) route that passes through Italy, Switzerland and France. You can hike the Tour du Mont Blanc over several days or you can take it as a single day tour.
The best time to go is late June, when the snow isn’t quite as thick and the weather isn’t as icy. If you want to avoid the crowds, you can try September. However, this is less reliable a month.
A few of the highlights include the panoramic telecabine, which takes you over the famous Aiguille du Midi, the largest of the mountain peaks in this region. In addition, the gondola ride to the Pt. de Aiguille starts from Chamonix.
Those who are interested in ice climbing, cross-country skiing, horseback riding and archery can check out the 100-acre Patrice Dominguez Park, the largest leisure park in the Mont-Blanc region. For those who don’t have a passion for mountaineering, there’s also the Monte Bianco cable car, which travels 6,500 feet in a little over a half hour.
There’s also the Grand Balcon Sud, the shortest section of the TMB, which gives you unrivaled views of Mont Blanc. On a clear day, you can see as far south as the Swiss Alps.
You can find many family-owned restaurants and boutiques, so be sure to explore the local shops. Courmayeur is the halfway point on the Tour of Mont Blanc and a great place to rest after a day’s hiking. The center of town is pedestrian-friendly and paved with cobblestones.
Chamonix
Tour du Mont Blanc is a hiking route that takes hikers through three countries and around Europe’s tallest mountain. It offers scenic views of the Alps and mountains as well as wildlife. A tour of the trail can take as little as three days or as long as thirteen.
In Chamonix, France, the tour starts. Chamonix is home to the highest gondola in Europe and is considered a world-renowned resort for extreme sports. There are several ski resorts in the area, and Chamonix is also a popular starting and ending point for TMB hikers.
As you travel on the trail, you’ll pass multiple hotels, restaurants, and mountain passes. You can choose to stay in a hotel or in a mountain hut. The huts are all privately owned, so you don’t need to be a member of a specific organization to stay in them.
Along the way, you’ll see waterfalls, lakes, and alpine vistas. One of the best parts of the tour is the sound of cowbells. These are used to ring out the hiker’s return from the mountain.
The tour can be completed counter-clockwise or clockwise, depending on how fast you want to go. If you’re going fast, you can complete the tour in as little as three days.
Hiking the TMB is like traveling through a giant park. Depending on the number of days you have, you can stay in a hotel or a mountain hut. You’ll also pass numerous smaller villages and lakes.
At the end of the hike, you’ll have a chance to relax at a resort, a restaurant, or a bar. You can also explore the surrounding area by taking a cable car or a private gondola ride.
Europe’s longest vertical gondola ride
The Aigulle du Midi is one of Europe’s longest vertical gondola rides. It reaches 12,600 feet, allowing tourists to see a panoramic view of the Alps.
This ride starts at Europe’s highest mountain station. It takes passengers to the top of Europe’s largest glacier. In less than five minutes, passengers can enjoy a panoramic view of the glacier, Mount Titlis, and the surrounding countryside.
This scenic gondola ride also provides travelers with an experience that is unique to Switzerland. After a three-minute ride, the floor of the cabin turns transparent, revealing a panoramic view of the Alps.
The StanserhornCabrio has been in operation since 1893. It’s open from April through mid-November and offers two cable supports on either side. These gondola cars can accommodate up to sixty people. There’s also a roof deck that offers a 360-degree panorama of the Alps.
The Peak 2 Peak Gondola is another example of a gondola that allows for a record-setting stretch. The gondola spans a distance of 2.73 miles, and its newest section is the longest free-span between towers.
Zermatt Bergbahnen AG’s gondola has a price tag of $60 million. Though the cost isn’t solely due to the Swarovski crystals that decorate the interior of the cabins, it is impressive.
The Zlatibor Gold Gondola Lift is an important part of a larger tourist project. It links Zlatibor, a town known for its snowy slopes, with Tornik, a ski resort in Serbia.
In addition to the gondola, the municipality of Cajetina is working to raise its ecological standards. By 2020, it hopes to be able to reach European standards.
Another project is the Alpine Crossing, which will link Switzerland and Italy. It will include a 13,000-foot vertical drop. Experts are analyzing the feasibility of this project.
Cassandra Overby
The best of the best, if you can find one, which isn’t the norm. While you aren’t tumbling around the floor on a Saturday night, you may as well get out and enjoy the great outdoors. Regardless of your level of fitness, a jolly jaunt around Europe’s green is the perfect way to spend the holiday season. Whether you are taking a road trip or staying put in one of the many European hotels, you are guaranteed to be in good company. A tad of schmoozing is the name of the game and who knows, your mates might be your next best friends.