Mont Blanc To The Matterhorn

Guide

We provide a qualified International Mountain Leader to escort the group on each walking day. Our walking leaders are true mountain professionals and skilled group leaders. This not only helps to assure mountain safety but also means you can learn from them about the wider mountain environment, such as flora and fauna, geology, weather and local customs. Our support leaders are also vital members of the team and ensure the camp is set up and ready when you walk off the hill (wherever practically possible) and hot, tasty and nutritious food is served.

Meals

All breakfasts, 10 picnic lunches and 12 dinners are included in this trip. On eight nights, we take our evening meal in camp; on four nights, we take our evening meal in a nearby local restaurant or it is prepared for us by the hut or inn. The restaurant and hut/inn meals, which are prepared for us, are usually arranged as a ‘menu’ for the whole group and, as they are based on special negotiations made by us, represent better value than eating independently. On free days 9 and 14, dinner is not included and needs to be bought locally. Please note, should flight times change to arrive earlier, or depart later, additional meals will not be included. Please also note that no refund will be given for meals not taken or taken other than where designated. Typical meals Breakfast: Usually consists of coffee, tea, cereal, yoghurt, fresh fruit, bread and conserves. Lunch: Picnic-style lunches will normally include bread, cold meat, cheese, sometimes boiled eggs or tinned fish, fresh salad and fresh fruit. You may wish to bring (or purchase locally) snack bars for an extra energy boost during the day. Evening meal: Whether in camp or in a nearby restaurant, we endeavour to make dinner something to look forward to. Each day there will be a freshly prepared menu for the whole group consisting of: A soup, salad or similar A main course of meat, fish or vegetarian option served with a selection of vegetables and carbohydrates A dessert Beer, wine, bottled water, coffee, tea or other drinks are not included in the price of evening meals taken in restaurants. Coffee and tea are included with the evening meal when we eat in camp, and beer and wine are also available for purchase at a modest cost. Vegetarians: We happily cater for vegetarians – please inform us at the time of booking. Vegans: If you adhere to a vegan diet, you may find the variety of food offered to be limited, since veganism is relatively uncommon in this region. The feedback we receive for the food we serve is great but please be aware that facilities and practicality forces us, and the restaurants we use, to put our efforts into making one excellent group meal with a vegetarian option. Of course, any allergies will be respected.

Others

All transport and listed activities

Transport

All transport mentioned in the itinerary and cable cars (except where these are marked as optional) are included. Transport and excursions on the three free days are not included. We normally use a private coach for the transfers from Geneva airport and trains back.

Accommodation

There are 11 nights’ camping, two nights in mountain huts and one night in a village inn. The campsites are mainly comfortable and modern with hot showers and electricity. Many have a bar and wifi and a lounge or sitting area. We provide a large communal tent (if we do not use the campsite communal area) where we eat at tables with benches and have an unlimited tea and coffee station, camp bar and some more relaxing seating such as inflatable sofas. The campsites are in stunning settings and sharing an after-trek drink with newly made friends as the sun sets over a glaciated mountain is the perfect way to enjoy the great outdoors. Accompanying you throughout the trek is a dedicated camp support leader who takes care of the logistics and catering. Your tent will be put up for you each night. In the morning, you will be asked to take your own tent down, put your bag in the back of the van and wash your own breakfast dish. On four nights out of 14, you will be asked to join a washing team and help with the dishes that night. A 20-minute job. Otherwise, you are free to relax and your time is your own. You spend 11 nights camping in roomy three-person tents, but with a maximum of two people per tent. We use modern dome tents incorporating an 82in x 82in (210cm x 210cm) inner tent with a sewn-in ground sheet and a supplementary 90in x 27in (230cm x 70cm) covered porch that is an ideal place to leave your walking boots and poles etc. The tents are completely waterproof and packing them away should take no more than three to four minutes each morning. Single tents are available for a small additional cost as are camping mats and sleeping bags with liner and pillow. Our camping mats are the full-length, air and foam-filled variety, which are comfortable to sleep on and provide excellent insulation from the ground. Our sleeping bags have a synthetic filling, as opposed to feathers, with a three-quarter-length zip and are rated for good warmth. All our equipment is bought with both comfort and practicality in mind and we hope represents a higher quality than most individuals would buy for themselves. Two remote campsites are a little more basic than average and do not have showers. Thermal mattress hire: £31 – please request in advance with your sales representative. Sleeping bag hire, pillow and liner: £68 –please request in advance with your sales representative.

Others

— Departure transfer - this can be arranged/paid for locally, the leader will help with this - see 'Extra Expenses' and 'Transfers' sections for further information — Travel insurance — Single accommodation (available on request - tent nights only) — Visas or vaccinations