A Ramble Around Mont Blanc: Walking Alpine Trails in France, Italy, and Switzerland
July 12–21, 2023
Hosted by Joshua Lee, Associate Director of Regional and Student Programming, Alumni and Parent Relations
Join us in three distinct countries surrounding one majestic mountain. We’ll walk around Mont Blanc in France, Italy, and Switzerland, experiencing alpine culture at three miles per hour. See the Overview to learn more about what you’ll see, do, and learn.
We invite you to join us for a classic European vacation at a pace that allows you to savor the details.
Experience incredible views of glaciers, mountains, rivers, and lakes. Laugh with new friends while savoring an Italian meal. Stroll along the streets of the famed mountaineering town of Chamonix. Reach the top of an alpine peak. And share stories of the day while relaxing in our chalet-style mountain hotel.
Our itinerary takes us through three different countries – France, Italy and Switzerland – each with amazing cultures and cuisines, and providing superb mountain views of the Mont Blanc Massif and surrounding valleys. We’ll travel through gorgeous wildflower-strewn Alpine backcountry by day, and relax in charming mountain towns by evening. We’ll traverse high Alpine passes offering a stunning scenery of lush pastures dotted with cows, wild mountain streams, rugged peaks, and impressive glaciers.
Use the Register Now button to join us or expand the sections below for more details.
The Scenery
It’s spectacular. Walks around Mont Blanc offer some of the most amazing scenery in the world: towering mountains, forested slopes, glaciers, alpine valleys, pastures, streams, waterfalls — all of it. And we don’t have to go off the trail to regularly view it.
Encounter Three Different Countries
Just by walking, we’ll cross from one country to another and experience mountain culture, the fusion of these countries’ cultures, but also the uniqueness of each culture, reflected in the cuisine and wines.
Interacting with Locals
As we walk we’ll encounter locals who are also partaking of the moderate hiking trails we’ll be using. Mont Blanc is not just for expert climbers.
This tour starts in Geneva and ends in Chamonix, though we’ll fly in and out of Geneva. You can view — and download or print, if you wish — the most up-to-date itinerary here.
Our Tour du Mont Blanc doesn’t wander much above 8,000 feet, but still accesses the best of Mont Blanc’s impressive and legendary scenery. Each day’s leg covers between 4 – 10 miles, and our expert mountain guides will set a comfortable pace that gives you plenty of time to relax and take pictures.
You will sleep in beautiful accommodations (three and four-star hotels), and will dine on delectable food and wine served in quaint restaurants and mountain refuges.
On certain days you will begin and end with a private transfer from the hotel to the start/end of the walk, and also use cable cars to take you up and down the mountain. We will be led by a professional hiking guide.
You should be capable of walking up to ten miles per day over possibly uneven terrain, of climbing stairs that may not have handrails, of climbing in and out of various types of transportation, of keeping pace with an active group of travelers on long days of traveling, of dealing with the emotional highs and lows that can occur when experiencing different cultures, and of traveling with a group for several hours each day.
We recommend you be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including any recommended boosters for your age or health group, before departure. You should plan on seeing your family physician or a travel doctor at least four to six weeks prior to departure, preferably earlier, to talk about recommended vaccinations for this destination. For more information on travel health, visit cdc.gov or who.int.
The travel insurance included with your program fee covers illness overseas, including covid. You can read more, including the full FAQ and a Summary document, on our Travel Insurance page.
Inclusions and exclusions vary from program to program. Please read the following information carefully.
The program fee is $5,816 per person. Based on double occupancy, it includes a St. Olaf host, full-time hiking guides, accommodations, breakfast daily and group meals as listed on the itinerary, admissions for group activities, ground transportation during the program, including a group departure transfer at the end of the program to Geneva airport, gratuities to group guides, drivers, and meal servers, and some limited medical coverage while overseas. For single occupancy, add $795.
Airfare to and from Geneva is not included. Participants are solely responsible for all expenses not specifically included in the program fee. Examples of excluded expenses are: Airfare between your home town and Israel • Transfers to/from your hometown airport • Any passport fees • Any recommended immunizations or vaccinations • Baggage insurance • Trip cancellation insurance above $2,000 lifetime coverage • Beverages at most group meals • Tips to housekeeping staff • Laundry • Dry cleaning • Phone charges • Room service or other items of a personal nature • Expenses incurred during free time or non-group activities • Lunch and dinner, unless specifically included on program itinerary.
A $500 deposit is required to guarantee your space. View the Payment and Refund Schedule below for more information.
Because of ongoing uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, it is possible that a program could be postponed. In such a case, while we will strive to make full refunds when we can, there are certain expenses that may not be refunded to either St. Olaf or the participant.
This schedule is based on payments St. Olaf College must make to program vendors to guarantee group rates. We highly recommend that you purchase additional trip cancellation insurance at the time of registration to recover your payments should you need to withdraw from the program.
Deposit due: $500 upon registration
Refund if you cancel: Full refund ($500) until September 30, 2022. If the deposit is made after September 30, 2022, there is no refund.
Interim payment due: $2,000 by October 1, 2022
Refund if you cancel: $1,000 until May 12, 2023
Final payment due: May 13, 2023
Refund if you cancel: None, unless the program is full and your place can be resold
Cancellations must be in writing.
See the Resource List, Trip Information Sheet, and Travel Planner.
Read the Terms & Conditions and Release & Waiver
Review the latest information on recommended immunizations, visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Check your passport: ensure that it has at least 6 months’ validity past the program return date. Should you need to renew, visit the U.S. Department of State for instructions.
Prepare for your adventure by checking out a variety of resources, including frequently asked questions, general health information, included travel insurance, safety overview, and more.
Book your flights: this program is an official GO. We strongly recommend you consider adding flight cancellation insurance to that purchase, and that you carefully check which situations are covered by that insurance. You can find tips on Booking Your Flights and here are some additional notes:
— The program starts and ends in Geneva.
— You should time your travel to arrive in Geneva by mid-afternoon on Thursday, July 13. We will start the program with an orientation at 5:30 pm, followed by a group dinner.
— You should time your flights to depart from Geneva at 12:00 pm or later on Friday, July 21. A group transfer is scheduled to arrive at the airport around 9:00 am.
This program is an official Go, and also still has space available.
Look Who’s Coming
Ready to go? Registration will close May 13, 2023.
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