French Alps Holidays

Name: French Alps
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4.7 (623 reviews)

Four of the Most Beautiful Routes on French Alps Walking Holidays

Lac Blanc

Framed by the Aiguilles Rouges mountains and the Mont Blanc massif, Lac Blanc is one of the most picturesque lakes in the French Alps. Its azure water reflects the shimmering mountain scenery, attracting seasoned walkers from around the globe. Begin the trek from La Flégère and take the circular route that leads to Lac Blanc, stopping along the way to appreciate the mountain views. If you prefer to rest on your return, ride the cable car from La Flégère to Les Praz.

Grand Balcon Sud

Sweeping along the Chamonix Valley and reaching around 2,000 metres, the Grand Balcon Sud is a fantastic hiking trail. It also offers unparalleled views of the Mont Blanc massif, which lies on the valley’s opposite side. The route follows a relatively flat trail before climbing more steeply up to Lac Blanc. From here, you can take in the dramatic views of Aiguilles Rouges and Mont Blanc before heading back down to the hamlet of Les Frasserands.

Aiguillette des Posettes

A classic Tour du Mont Blanc route, Aiguillette des Posettes combines views of the Chamonix Valley, Aiguilles Rouges National Nature Reserve, and even across to Switzerland on a clear day. You can access the route either from Tré-le-Champ or Trient; however, it is easier to start from Tré-le-Champ. On your return, visit the Refuge du Col de Balme for food and drink on the outside terrace as you soak up the views.

Haute Route

A long-distance skiing trail during the winter, the Haute Route transforms into a spectacular walking track in summer. It runs around 140 miles from Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn, following a high alpine trail overlooking beautiful valleys that lie beneath 10 of the tallest peaks in the Alps. The landscapes are punctuated with glacial lakes and flower-strewn meadows − one of the prettiest backdrops seen on our walking holidays in the Swiss and French Alps.

French Alps Trips

Situated in southeast France in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Rhône-Alpes regions, the French Alps boast spectacular views. During our French Alps holidays you’ll discover cascading waterfalls, pristine forests, crystal clear lakes and the highest mountain peak in the Alps mountain range, Mont Blanc.

From gentle trails that climb along the Val Veny beneath the immense glacier de Mirage, to challenging ascents to the Col du Reidmatten, our French Alps walking holidays are designed to present you with the most stunning mountain vistas. Mont Blanc is undoubtedly the piece de resistance in the French Alps, soaring almost 5,000 metres above sea level and offering some of the finest walking trails. The series of tracks connects seven beautiful valleys, each with its own unique charms.

Alternatively, take on the challenge of walking along the famous Haute Route, which takes you along a lofty alpine trail from Chamonix to Zermatt. Stretching for around 100 miles, you can trek from Mont Blanc to the epic Matterhorn. While this is one of the most demanding walks on our French Alps holidays, you’re rewarded with incredible scenery made up of lakes, valleys and mountains.

With spectacular mountain trails, wildflower pastures and remote mountain villages to explore, walking in the French Alps allows you to truly discover the natural beauty this region has to offer. Come wintertime, you can explore snow-covered meadows and rugged peaks before returning to your accommodation to warm up in the Jacuzzi.

Our French Alps Holidays

8 Days from £ 1645

£ 1445

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

Walk the best of Mont Blanc Circuit in France and Italy

Walking & Trekking

15 Days from £ 3749

£ 3599

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

Walk the classic circuit through France, Switzerland and Italy

Walking & Trekking

8 Days from £ 2299

£ 2149

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

A fast and light way to complete the Mont Blanc Circuit.

Walking & Trekking

15 Days from £ 2349

£ 2249

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

Walk the iconic alpine trail through France, Switzerland and Italy

Walking & Trekking

15 Days from £ 3099

£ 2899

Guided Group (Excl. Flights)

Trek the classic 'Haute Route' from France to Switzerland

Walking & Trekking

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I recently returned from an unforgettable hiking trip with Exodus, exploring the breathtaking Mont Blanc highlights, and I can’t recommend it enough! From the moment we arrived in Chamonix, we were enveloped by the stunning beauty of the Alps. Our chalet was a true gem, offering incredible views of Mont Blanc that made every morning feel magical.

Chamonix itself is a vibrant hub, bursting with life, charming shops, and delicious eateries. Even though we experienced a couple of cloudy and rainy days, the weather didn’t dampen our spirits or our hikes. In fact, the dramatic skies only added to the allure of the landscape, enhancing the beauty of each trail we traversed.

Michelle MacEachern Mont Blanc Highlights

Hiking on Mont Blanc, even late in the season was an experience not to be missed. The weather, though mixed, never stopped our itineraries and we had glorious sunshine on several days. Chamonix and the mountain range are awesome, naturally, but it was the combination of the area with the most welcoming and caring chalet team and the warm artistic vibe of the Art Deco Chalet Bediere that gave this trip such a special place in my heart. Jeffry Oonk, an erudite biologist as well as an experienced and patient mountain guide gave expert guidance and confidence on every section (some quite challenging) of the trails; his instruction, patience and good humour, coupled with a quiet “Well Done” at the end of each trek, was so up-lifting. Clare and Liz made Chalet Bediere a warm and welcoming place; they both went to huge efforts to provide a happy atmosphere, excellent and varied meals and some of the most delicious cakes for afternoon tea, you could imagine. I’m so happy that I was assigned to this particular chalet, with such a brilliant team. We had a small but fabulous group of five; conversations on the hikes and in the chalet were stimulating and full of banter and laughter. I honestly was gutted to leave and end the experience. Thank you to both our chalet team and my group for the most memorable week 💖

Ilona Jamieson Mont Blanc Highlights

A great week’s walking in the mountains around Mont Blanc. First off, a big thank you to the team – Jeffry, Liz and Clare – who were excellent. We had pretty good weather given that it was the end of the season. In fact the first day was spectacular – blue skies and sunshine – making for some memorable photos. Jeff is an exemplary guide, showing amazing dedication to his job. He gave us all the information we wanted and more – he’s quite fond of plants me thinks, and knows a lot about them. Our walks always started with a through warm up session, and then the ascent could begin. Quite steep sometimes, but Jeff was always on hand to help anybody of a more nervous disposition on the more challenging sections. And if all that wasn’t enough – he has a good sense of humour too. Liz and Clare were expert chalet hosts – the breakfast was just right, and there was even porridge offered on some days. The lunch items were varied and tasty, and the cake waiting for us at the end of each walk was very welcome. Really nice food for dinner too. Plenty of variety throughout the week. The chalet La Bedière is based in Chamonix and for me is the best of the three on offer unless you really like hot tubs. Nicely furnished, amazingly warm and good sized bedrooms and bathrooms. Centrally located – just ideal.

John Cartwright Mont Blanc Highlights

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When is the best time to hike the Tour du Mont Blanc?

When planning your trip, you’ll need to take into consideration the weather as well as the length of daylight hours. Ideally, the best time to hike the Tour du Mont Blanc is between June and September. During these months the temperatures are at their warmest and there are more hours of daylight. Although there is generally less rainfall in the summer, this can change as the weather in the mountains is unpredictable. It can get extremely cold on the high peaks and there’s always a chance of snow. September tends to be less busy than in the summer, but the shorter daylight hours does mean you’ll need to begin your walks earlier in the morning.

How hard is the Tour du Mont Blanc?

Although it’s not essential that you’re a seasoned hiker to attempt the Tour du Mont Blanc, you’ll certainly need a good level of fitness to manage the daily long-distance walks and ascents. If you haven’t had much experience hiking long distances, we would recommend that you get some practice in before your trip. As well as being fit, you’ll also need a good amount of determination and stamina to cope with 8-9 hours of walking for several days in a row. Some days you will climb to heights of 3,000 – 4,000ft, following rough mountain paths.

FAQs on French Alps Holidays

Can you hike from Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn?

Covering approximately 160km, the famous Haute Route is a long-distance trail that runs from Chamonix in France to Zermatt in Switzerland. Punctuated by alpine huts, glacial lakes and lush valleys, this is the most scenic and exhilarating way to hike from Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn. In winter, the Haute Route is popular for skiers on French Alps holidays but in the summer months, most of the snow has melted and the lush meadows are strewn with wildflowers. Accompanied by an expert mountain leader, our guided tour takes you below 10 of the Alp’s highest peaks.

Where is the best starting point for the Tour du Mont Blanc?

Beginning and ending in the town of Chamonix, the Tour du Mont Blanc has several starting points. One of the most popular is Les Houche, just several miles from Chamonix where it sits at the foot of the mountain. Other starting points include Les Contamines in France, Champex in Switzerland or Courmayeur in Italy. The trail runs all the way round Mont Blanc and crosses through each of the three countries.

Where is the best place to hike in the French Alps?

World-renowned for their outstanding natural beauty, the French Alps are blessed with incredible scenery and wildlife and offer some of the finest walking routes in the world. Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps, has several routes that guide you along its majestic peaks. Chamonix to Zermatt takes you from Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn and even though it’s a demanding route, it showcases the best of the alpine landscapes. The Tour du Mont Blanc is another spectacular route which circumnavigates the massif. Alternatively, if you prefer to enjoy views of Mont Blanc, then Aguilles Rouges takes you among nature reserves and alpine lakes where you can soak up the mountain vistas.

What are the prettiest towns in the French Alps?

Made up of stunning mountain scenery, the French Alps are home to many villages and towns, all of which are exceptionally beautiful, and each has its own unique charms. Annecy lies in Haute-Savoie and is famous for its beautiful lake and colourful old town. Champex Lac, Orsières and Les Contamines are all equally as pretty and can be found on the Tour du Mont Blancs. Chamonix is arguably the most well-known town on French Alps holidays and is popular with the skiing crowd in winter.

Can you camp on the Tour du Mont Blanc?

If you prefer to get closer to nature on your hikes, camping on the Tour du Mont Blanc is a great way to immerse yourself in the wild landscapes and see the local wildlife. We offer the Tour du Mont Blanc with camping which provides stays at comfortable campsites where you can enjoy phenomenal views and star gaze below the dark skies – the kind of experiences you wouldn’t get when staying in a hotel. The tents are spacious and can sleep two people and if you would like extra comfort, you can hire mattresses and sleeping bags. You can even enjoy three-course meals in camp!

Meet the Expert

Danny Bell – Product Manager

“For the quintessential French Alps experience, join our best-selling Mont Blanc Highlights trip. You’ll sample some of the most iconic walks of the Tour du Mont Blanc and return to your unique chalet in Chamonix, providing a memorable summer hiking adventure.”