Les Contamines, French Alps
The French Alps around Chamonix offer outstanding Alpine walking
in the shadow of Mont Blanc. The surrounding scenery of towering rock spires,
lush green valleys and ice blue lakes make this a walker's paradise. All
around there are views of snow-capped mountains and the mighty glaciers
that once formed this remarkable landscape. Enjoy the choice of walk along the
valleys and balcony paths or challenging high level routes.
The peaceful village of Les Contamines is an important staging point
on the famous Tour du Mont Blanc walk and is an excellent base for our
guided walks.
- Outstanding views of Mont Blanc
- Walk in the mountains
surrounding Chamonix
- Two-centre option with
Adelboden
Detailed information
| Classic Walking programme details |
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On these holidays there is a choice of two walks for varying abilities each day. For maximum choice we offer two weekly itineraries - ideal if you wish to book a 14-night holiday or return for a second visit.
Holidays before 4 July offer walks from both itineraries to suit lifts and snow conditions.
ITINERARY ONE
Weeks of 4, 18 July; 1, 15 August 2009 |
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Day 1: arrival day
Day 2: ascend through the woods and return along an
old Roman road to the beautiful chapel of Notre Dame de
la Gorge.
Day 3: walk along the ridges looking down on Megève,
returning to Les Contamines via high alpine meadows.
Day 4: admire the clear waters of the Lac Vert which lies
below the towering cliffs of the Passy Nature Reserve.
Day 5: free day - maybe travel to the mountain resort of Chamonix and ascend the famous Aiguille du Midi by cable-car.
Day 6: visit the market in St Gervais and walk along
the river, or ascend Mont Joly and admire the
panoramic views across the valley to the glaciers of
Mont Blanc.
Day 7: have lunch beside the spectacular Bionnassay
glacier, perhaps continuing to the Nid d’Aigle using one
of the routes to the summit of Mont Blanc.
Day 8: departure day |
ITINERARY TWO
Weeks of 11 July; 8 August 2009
Day 1: arrival day
Day 2: enjoy walks in the nature reserve above Les
Contamines, maybe heading for the Tré la Tête refuge.
Day 3: ascend the slopes above Megève for outstanding
views to the pinnacles of the Aiguilles Rouges and the
immense massif of Mont Blanc.
Day 4: follow in the footsteps of Paccard and Balmat,
the first men to climb Mont Blanc, on awe-inspiring walks between the Taconnaz and Bossons Glaciers.
Day 5: free day - perhaps explore the valley town of St Gervais and then ride the tramway high onto the slopes of Mont Blanc.
Day 6: walk through the lush meadows of the Val du
Montjoie or ascend to the Col du Bonhomme.
Day 7: discover the hidden Miage Valley and glacier
on two truly memorable alpine walks through this
awe-inspiring landscape.
Day 8: departure day
Please Note: The above programme should give you a good feel for the
walks at this resort but is subject to change. Each year we listen carefully to
the views of our guests and make improvements to our walking programmes. Further
information will be sent to you prior to your holiday; however the final selection
of walks will be made by your walking leaders.
Local transport to and from walks:
Local transport is not included in the cost of your holiday.
Please allow €70 (approx £56) per week for transport
excluding your free day. Payable locally in Euros.
Maps
Your leaders will of course carry all the necessary maps needed
for the walks. However if you would like one for your own
personal enjoyment then the best general purpose maps are
from the French IGN 1:25,000, 'Top 25' series. Sheets 3531
ET 'St-Gervais' and 3531 OT 'Megève' cover all but one of the walks.
Maps can be obtained by mail order from The Map Shop, Tel:
+44 (0)1684 593146. Alternatively all the local maps can be
bought in Les Contamines.
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| Footpath information |
|
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Easier Walks: 5 to 8 miles on good paths and generally well-graded ascents. 600ft to 2,200ft of ascent. |
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Harder Walks: 7 to 14 miles across rougher mountain terrain with some exposed sections. 1,800ft to 4,400ft of ascent. |
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| Dates and prices |
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| Sat 27 June 2009 |
£795 |
£595 |
£1,195 |
£945 |
| Sat 4, 11, 18 July; 8 August 2009 |
£795 |
£595 |
£1,195 |
£945 |
| Sat 4 July 2009 |
£795 |
£595 |
- |
- |
| Sat 18 July 2009 |
£795 |
£595 |
- |
- |
| Sat 15 August 2009 |
£765 |
£565 |
£1,165 |
£935 |
| Sat 15 August 2009 |
£765 |
£565 |
- |
- |
Single room supplement: £9.50 per night
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| Climate Information |
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| June |
17°C |
11°C |
7 |
94mm |
| July |
19°C |
12°C |
8 |
72mm |
| August |
18°C |
12°C |
6 |
90mm |
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| Travel to resort |
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Transfer from airport - If you book this holiday 'with flight' you will arrive at Geneva airport. The onward journey to Les Contamines by coach takes
around 1½hrs.
Latest HF Holidays Flight Information - updated 22/10/2008 (provisional)
British Airways
Heathrow - Geneva
Out 10:15 - 12:55
Return 15:20 - 16:05
easyJet
Liverpool - Geneva
Out 13:10 - 16:10
Return 16:30 - 17:25
Liverpool Flight Supplement: on request
Jet2
Leeds Bradford - Geneva
Out 12:30 - 15:30
Return 16:15 - 17:15
Leeds Bradford Flight Supplement: on request
Airport Parking: To book secure airport parking throughout the UK visit Purple Parking or Holiday Extras to book on-line.
Airport Hotels: To book airport hotels throughout the UK visit Holiday Extras to book on-line.
Airport Lounges: To book airport lounges visit Holiday Extras to book on-line.
Making your own travel arrangements
By Air: Geneva Airport is served by a huge range of 'low-cost' flights. You may want to consider one of the following options:
www.easyjet.com flights from Belfast, Bournemouth, Bristol, Doncaster, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, Luton, Newcastle & Stansted.
www.bmibaby.com flights from Birmingham, Cardiff, East Midlands & Manchester.
www.jet2.com flights from Leeds/Bradford & Manchester
www.flybe.com flights from Birmingham, Exeter, Jersey, Isle of Man, Newquay, Norwich & Southampton.
www.ba.com flights from Heathrow.
www.swiss.com flights from Heathrow & London City.
Transfer from Geneva to Les Contamines:
• Reach the hotel by
joining the HF Holidays' transfer (supplement £25
single). Contact our Reservations Team to book your place and find out the latest times.
By Bus: In the Summer there is a direct bus from Geneva Airport to Le Fayet station (about 8 miles from Les Contamines). This service is operated by SAT and full details and the timetable is available on their website: www.sat-montblanc.com. There are currently 3 buses per day at 08:00, 11:00 and 17:30 - cost €33 single, €53 return. To obtain the most up to date timetable select ' Geneve Aeroport Secteur International' to 'Le Fayet Gare SNCF' on the website.
From Le Fayet station connecting b uses run along the valley to Les Contamines. In the high season there are currently six buses per day on this section of the route, with the journey taking around 45 minutes - cost €5.10 single. The current timetable is available on the SAT website: www.sat-montblanc.com where you should select ' Le Fayet Gare SNCF' to ' Les Contamines Le Lays'. [Back to the top]
| What the holiday includes |
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- Return economy class air travel - 'with flight' option.
- Airport transfers - 'with flight' option.
- 7 or 14 nights' accommodation in en-suite rooms.
- Half Board - Breakfast & evening meals.
- Services of 2 HF Holidays' leaders.
- 5 or 10 guided walks.
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| Other walking holiday ideas |
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For those of you who prefer to take things more gently, our Alpine
Rambles holidays allow you to enjoy the mountain scenery at a more relaxed
pace. Single guests are assured a warm welcome and friendly company on our Classic Walking
for Solos - holidays, and there's NO extra charge for single rooms.Alternatively, if you want something more challenging we offer a High Routes holiday, with excellent high level walking through some of Europe's best mountains.
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