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Holiday itinerary

Nine days around Mont Blanc: Geneva to Chamonix, the tunnel to Courmayeur, Roman Aosta, then the Great St Bernard Pass into Valais. You finish with Sion’s two castles, Chillon on the water, and the lakeshore home to Geneva. One mountain, three countries, short days.

Season: The Great St Bernard summit road is typically June–September; the tunnel runs year-round. The Mont Blanc Tunnel is a toll.

Landmarks

  • Chamonix under Mont Blanc, the needle in the skyChamonix under Mont Blanc, the needle in the skyPhoto: Jef132 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
  • Sion’s two castles above the Rhone vineyardsSion’s two castles above the Rhone vineyardsPhoto: Christian David / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
  • Chillon standing in the lake at MontreuxChillon standing in the lake at MontreuxPhoto: Giles Laurent / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
  • Martigny after the high hospiceMartigny after the high hospicePhoto: Christian David / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
  • Great St Bernard lake at 2469 mGreat St Bernard lake at 2469 mPhoto: Ludovic Péron / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
  • Courmayeur, the Italian balcony on Mont BlancCourmayeur, the Italian balcony on Mont BlancPhoto: X-Weinzar / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
  • Aosta’s Roman theatre in the valley floorAosta’s Roman theatre in the valley floorPhoto: Tinelot Wittermans / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Holiday itinerary

  1. Day 1 · Geneva

    Lakefront start. Tomorrow the road turns toward the needle of Mont Blanc; tonight the Jet d’Eau is enough.

  2. Day 2 · Chamonix

    Aiguille du Midi if the weather holds; next day the Mont Blanc Tunnel to Italy. Sleep under the icefall, not on the motorway.

  3. Day 3 · Courmayeur

    The Italian balcony on Mont Blanc. Same mountain, other light, a slower plate of polenta.

  4. Day 4 · Aosta

    Roman theatre and a rest day in the valley. The pass can wait; the stones have already waited two thousand years.

  5. Day 5 · Martigny

    After the Great St Bernard hospice and the lake at 2469 m the valley is suddenly vines. Martigny is the landing.

  6. Day 7 · Sion

    Two castles above the Rhone vineyards. Climb one in the evening; the other can wait for the light.

  7. Day 8 · Montreux

    Chillon Castle on the water. Walk the ramparts, then the lakeshore promenade until the light goes pink.

  8. Day 9 · Geneva

    Lavaux terraces on the way home. The vines step down to the lake; Geneva is waiting at the end of the last row.

Route