grand combin traverse

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1 A UTracks holiday is all about exploring Europe your way. It s about U + the walking tracks and cycling trails you want to discover, be it hiking with the family in the European Alps, a leisurely cycle with friends along the quieter backroads of Holland or France, trekking the famous pilgrimage trails of Spain, Italy or England or even discovering the islands of Croatia and Greece by bike and boat. Together with our sister company Sherpa English Channel Expeditions, we offer over 300 active tours across the continent and it s many exotic islands, with active holiday ideas for families, culinary enthusiasts, history buffs, experienced alpine walkers or those that just want to see Europe differently. Since we began in 2006, UTracks has quickly become known as the leaders in active European holidays. Our itineraries are creative and very affordable making them popular with travellers both young and young at heart. Set your own pace on a flexible self guided trip or enjoy the benefits of an experienced local guide on a guided tour. The physical demands range from introductory to challenging with all offering unique opportunities to discover the untrodden Europe, spanning postcard landscapes, centuries old cultures, rural lifestyles and tempting culinary delights. Best of all, our trips start on virtually any day of the week, so you can combine any tour to create exactly the holiday you want. Compare the price and you will see that we offer exceptional value active programs that are virtually all inclusive, giving you more time to enjoy the natural and cultural wonders you ve come to experience. explore europe your way TRIP COST Joining Fionnay : $1090 All prices are per person Bay OPTIONS & SUPPLEMENTS of TRIP NAME: TRIP CODE: TRIP DURATION: GRAND COMBIN TRAVERSE GPT 7 DAYS GRADE: MODERATE TO CHALLENGING 4 ACTIVITY: Biscay GUIDED WALK ACCOMMODATION: 6 NIGHTS IN MOUNTAIN REFUGES & MONASTERIES IN DORMITORY STYLE Geneva Grand Combin Chamonix Mont Blanc France Switzerland Fionnay Aosta Italy DATE DETAILS: AUG - 08 AUG, 09 AUG - 15 AUG, 16 AUG - 22 AUG, 23 AUG - 29 AUG, 30 AUG - 05 SEP, 06 SEP - 12 SEP, 13 SEP - 19 SEP highlights Trek through stunning alpine scenery amongst impressive peaks and lush valleys Follow the historic route across the Great St Bernard Pass (2469m) Stay in a centuries old travellers hospice Enjoy the culinary specialties such as Raclette Share your walking day with a group of like minded travellers the trip In the heart of the western Pennine Alps is one of the most beautiful alpine border regions between Switzerland and Italy. Spanning the valleys of Bagnes and Aosta, the Grand Combin mountain rises to an altitude of 4314m at its peak. The surrounding valleys and high passes represent ideal hiking conditions and are an excellent alternative to the busier trails around Mont Blanc. The area is rich with wildlife and the outstanding views of snowy peaks, tumbling glaciers and verdant lowlands will not fail to impress. A further highlight of the week long walk is crossing the historic Great St Bernard Pass (2469m), and to be greeted by our accommodation at a centuries old travellers hospice. Ty M e d i t e r r a n e a n S e a 2011 World Expeditions Travel Group - Kate Baker 2/6/2014 4:22:25 PM Page 1

2 itinerary at a glance Day 1 Meet at Fionnay and walk to Chanrion (6hrs, +871m) Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Walk via the Fenetre Durand trail to the Aosta Valley in Italy (6hrs, +600m) Walk through the Aosta Valley with views to Mont Blanc (7hrs, +569m) Cross the Great St Bernard Pass (2469m), overnight hospice (7hrs, +1087m) Return to Switzerland and walk through the Entremont Valley (6hrs, +692m) Traverse the eastern slopes of the Grand Combins (6hrs, +647m) Return to Fionnay with views enroute of the Corbassière Glacier, trip concludes (6hrs) detailed itinerary Note: The heading for each days description below shows the approximate time it will take to complete the walk for someone of average to good fitness and the altitude gain. The planned itinerary can be affected by mountain weather and trail conditions. DAY 1 Meet at Fionnay and walk to Chanrion (6hrs, +871m) We start our amazing trek in the village of Fionnay in Switzerland mid morning. The trail heads towards the dam of Mauvoisin and its large lake that is situated between Mont Blanc and the Grand Combins. The scenery is at its best as we are immediately surrounded by glaciers and snowy peaks. Overnight refuge meals: L,D DAY 2 DAY 3 DAY 4 DAY 5 Walk via the Fenetre Durand trail to the Aosta Valley in Italy (6hrs, +600m) After breakfast, we take the Fenetre Durand trail at 2797m that will lead us between the Gelé and April peaks, until we reach Italy in the d Aoste Valley. Our descent into the fields of Balme will take us to the tiny village of Vaud. Overnight hotel with shower Walk through the Aosta Valley with views to Mont Blanc (7hrs, +569m) A great day trekking in the verdant d Aoste Valley with Mont-Blanc in the backdrop. At the foot of the Vélan peak, we walk over the Champillon pass to descend slowly towards the beautiful old alpine village of Etroubles. Overnight 10th Century monastery with shower Cross the Great St Bernard Pass (2469m), overnight hospice (7hrs, +1087m) This is our last day walking in Italy. We make our way along quiet trails towards a very famous pass, which has been known for over 2,000 yrs world wide; The Great St- Bernard Pass. We will spend the night in the atmospheric Great St Bernard Hospice. Return to Switzerland and walk through the Entremont Valley (6hrs, +692m) Today is set as our longest day, but one of the most beautiful. As we return to Switzerland we make our way down to the Entremont Valley passing by Bourg St-Pierre. Then up again until we reach the Col des mille. Our refuge tonight has a breathtaking view over the valley World Expeditions Travel Group - Kate Baker 2/6/2014 4:22:25 PM Page 2

3 DAY 6 DAY 7 Traverse the eastern slopes of the Grand Combins (6hrs, +647m) This morning we start walking along the Eastern slopes of the Grand Combin mountain for an exceptional day ahead of us. Green pastures and blue glaciers greet us up until the Avouillion pass. In the afternoon, we make our way down the Corbassière glacier, which cascades from the Grand Combin massif. Overnight refuge Return to Fionnay with views enroute of the Corbassière Glacier, trip concludes (6hrs) On the last day of our trek, we will continue to admire and explore the Corbassiere glacier with it imposing seracs. The afternoon is spent descending back to our starting point; the village of Fionnay. The trip concludes after a farewell glass of Fendant. A transfer to the railway station at Martigny is available on request. meals: B,L inclusions 6 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 6 dinners (does not include drinks) continental breakfasts are served and usually consist of breads, jams, coffee, tea and juices. Lunch is picnic style. Dinner will consist of 2 or 3 courses which include regional specialties 6 nights accommodation in mountain refuges & monasteries in dormitory style accommodation Luggage transfer by mule 7kg limit Experienced mountain guide items not included Travel to and from the trail head Drinks Items of a personal nature and storage of luggage Transfers Travel Insurance getting there BY CAR BY TRAIN Driving routes can be accessed via the following websites: com We are happy to assist with your train or flight bookings including rail passes. FROM GENEVA You can catch the train to Le Chable then connect with a bus to Fionnay. Obtain timetable information at the Swiss Federal Railway website There are hourly services from Geneva Airport to Le Chable via the main line stop at Martigny in the valley below. The train takes 1.5 hours from Geneva airport and a further hour to Le Chable, and the local train is timed for the arrival of the mainline trains between Geneva and Milan Airports. Buses are a 1 minute walk from the train and connect to Fionnay. FROM PARIS If you are flying into Paris you can take a train from Paris to Saint Gervais les Bains le Fayet where we offer a transfer service to the town of Fionnay (takes around 1.5hrs). The journey time from Paris Gare de Lyon is around 8 hours whilst the night train from Paris Austerlitz takes around 11 hours. For any information & reservations you can contact France Rail, sncf.com Alternatively, from Chamonix it is a local train to Martigny in Switzerland, then see above for the train to Fionnay. FROM MILAN: Take the train from Milano Centrale which requires 2 changes (including Martigny) and takes around 4.5 hours. For further details see the website BY AIR Your closest airport is Geneva Airport which is around 1.5 hours from Martigny. There are hourly trains from the airport to Martigny. See above for details World Expeditions Travel Group - Kate Baker 2/6/2014 4:22:25 PM Page 3

4 trip grading - moderate to challenging This trip is graded moderate to challenging and includes daily walks of up to 7 hours and ascents of up to 1200m. There are some stages during the walk with steep uphill, descents, and at times sections of the trail will require care. The accent is on keeping a steady pace to with time to stop and take photos (subject to weather conditions). You will need a good level of fitness to participate fully in this adventure. It is considered suitable for experienced walkers only. Early in the season (June) you may encounter snow on the passes which may be quite deep and make the trip more challenging. At any time during summer, weather conditions may be variable and you should be prepared for all conditions including snow, ice, strong sun and extreme winds. As with all our moderate programs, we expect participants to be regular outdoors people, enjoying aerobic sport around three or four times a week over some period of time. Preferably this has been a long term interest but if not, you have set a program of fitness preparation with at least three months lead in time to your trip. The fitter you are for your trip, the more of a holiday it will be. Activities as close to the actual activity on your trip are the best training; in this instance walking with and without a pack. This builds leg strength, aerobic capacity and confidence in your ability to travel comfortably with a pack for extended periods. At the same time, you are also comfortable with the layers you like to wear and footwear. dietary requirements Provided we are advised in advance of your departure we are able to cater for vegetarian diets and can assist with medically recommended diets (allergies and intolerances). Please ensure you discuss your requirements with us well in advance (at least 1 month prior to your trip) to determine whether we can cater to such dietary requirements on your chosen adventure. Please note that options are likely to be limited in very remote locations or alternatives may be more expensive or unavailable. There may be times when those with special requirements may need to provide their own food. We are unable to guarantee a peanut free or allergen free trip, and therefore, we strongly encourage that travellers with life threatening or severe allergies take all necessary medical precautions to prepare for the possibility of exposure. Passengers must travel with all necessary medications for food allergies and be capable of self administering these medications. about your group You will be joining a group with a mix of participants from different countries, speaking different languages including English, German, French, Spanish and Italian. Your tour leader is likely to be a native French speaker who will guide in French and English. This is not an English only speaking tour. We recommend that you take a French English phrase book. accommodation DURING TOUR Accommodation is on a full board basis starting from lunch on day 1 and finishing at lunch on day 7. The mountain huts that you stay in are dormitory style mixed sex rooms with shared bathrooms and usually without showers. The hospice and hotels will also be dormitory with shared facilities but with showers. There is a possibility to upgrade to a double room on some nights, subject to availability and payment of a fee of between 15 and 25 per person directly to your host. the region This trek passes through the Valais Region of Switzerland. The Valais is Switzerland s third largest canton (state). The area is quite diverse as it occupies the valley of the River Rhone. 20% of the canton is covered by glaciers however surprisingly the area has the driest climate and the lowest rainfall within Switzerland. For the Swiss, the Valais represents a piece of heritage all but lost elsewhere in the country: in the most unlikely corners of Geneva or Zurich, you can find restaurants done up as traditional Valaisian style darkwood chalets, complete with windowboxes full of geraniums and farm tools as decoration on the walls, serving up the local speciality Raclette. The climate of the valley is perfect for wine growing and the vineyards are famous for producing some of the finest wine in the country. Page 4

5 Julius Caesar in a push to conquer the Celtic peoples in the first century BC crossed the Grand St Bernard Pass from Italy and spread out through the valley. They got as far as modern day Sierre and left a legacy of Latin still used today. Christianity arrived before the fourth century, with the travelling clerics and merchants over the same pass but the Reformation did not make it any further into the valley then Aigle, in neighbouring Canton Vaud. The mighty Bernese army was stopped by the mountains and the wildness of the terrain. During the Middle Ages many of the community left the mountains to seek a better life elsewhere due to the harshness of living in the valley. The Valais remained independent until 1815 when, following a brief period of French governorship, it joined the Swiss Confederation as a new canton. The trek also passes through the Aosta Valley, the smallest region of Italy. This alpine valley is ringed by the flanks of Mont Blanc, Monte Rosa and the Matterhorn. The regions main languages are Italian and French. fast facts COUNTRIES VISITED VISAS Switzerland & Italy Visas not required for citizens of Australia, Canada, USA and New Zealand for up to 90 days in a period of 180 days for all Schengen countries (see www. schengenvisainfo.com/schengen visa countries list/ for countries part of the Schengen). Please ensure your passport is stamped on arrival in the Schengen area. For all other nationalities and for longer stays in countries covered by the Schengen Agreement (Australian New Zealand, Canadian and US passport holders), please contact the relevant embassy. Stays of longer than 90 days in the Schengen area require a long stay visa for the country you are spending most time in. However long stay visas are unlikely to be issued unless there is a valid reason (eg. studying in country). Unfortunately we cannot assist in obtaining visas for long stays due to individual country visa requirements. CLIMATE The walking season in the European Alps is short from mid June to mid September and many of the mountain refuges are closed outside this time. In winter parts of the trail are transformed into world class ski runs, evidenced by the comprehensive network of cablecars or téléfériques. Bearing in mind that much of the route is at altitudes of over 1000m, the temperatures can vary significantly. Please note at the beginning of the season you may experience snow and therefore the walking can be harder and slippery underfoot. Temperatures in summer range from around 6 degrees Celsius to 20 degrees Celsius during the day. Afternoon thunderstorms are quite common. At the higher elevations it is important to dress with layers as cold winds and possible snow falls can happen even in summer. MIN GROUP SIZE 8 MAX GROUP SIZE 15 SPECIALIST GEAR REQUIRED Wet weather gear, sunscreen, walking boots, warm clothes, day pack and sun hat walking sticks are recommended. special notes TRIP ORGANISATION Our groups consist of a maximum of 15 people. Our trusted mules spare you the worry of carrying your own belongings. There is a 7 kg maximum for the bags and any excess will be refused unless, so make sure you weigh it beforehand. Lunches are picnic style and the guide will split the lunch supplies between the group members to carry during the day. The trip begins in Fionnay and we will confirm the meeting place and time with you on booking or at least 2 months before the departure date. We have suggestions for pre and post accommodation. Excess luggage needs to be stored at your pre accommodation hotel for collection. CONFIRMATION OF DEPARTURE Page 5

6 The operation of this trip requires a minimum number of participants. Departures can be cancelled up to 3 weeks prior to the trip start date. While the vast majority of departures operate during the season, if there are too few people the trip will be cancelled and we will do all possible to offer you an alternative trip or an alternative departure date. Should the alternatives offered not be suitable we will provide a refund of the trip price only. No further compensation shall be payable. For further details please review our conditions of contract in our brochure. how to book To book a UTRACKS trip, complete our booking form which is found at the back of our brochure or can be downloaded from our website On completion, fax or post the form to your nearest UTRACKS or World Expeditions office along with full payment by cheque or credit card (note: surcharges apply for credit card payments). World Expeditions/UTRACKS has access to competitive airfares to Europe. Call your nearest UTRACKS/World Expeditions office or travel agent for assistance with your travel arrangements including flights, travel insurance & additional accommodation. follow us Stay up to date with all our latest information, view traveller pics and connect with others on your trip at: slide shows UTracks invites you to attend our inspiring adventure travel slide shows. These special evenings are designed to inform and entertain and are hosted by our most experienced and passionate adventure travellers. Ask our staff for a slide show schedule or register on our website Shows can fill early so it is important to register your attendance so we know to save a seat, or two! e-newsletter To keep up to date with our new and exciting adventure opportunities, special promotions and adventure news, subscribe to our monthly e newsletter! You can do this on line through our website, com or contact our office. IMPORTANT NOTE THESE TRIP NOTES REPRESENT THE MOST CURRENT INFORMATION AVAILABLE FOR THIS ITINERARY, AND SUPERSEDE ANY INFORMATION DETAILED IN THE CURRENT BROCHURE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE ITINERARY AND PRICE. talk to us If you require any further assistance regarding this trip or any other adventure, please contact your nearest UTRACKS or World Expeditions office. Page 6

7 AUSTRALIA UTracks / World Expeditions Level 5, 71 York St Sydney NSW 2000 T: (02) F: (02) Toll free: Feel free to visit our World Expeditions offices in:- Melbourne Perth Brisbane Adelaide (Thor Travel) Our staff will be happy to assist with your enquiries. For address and office phone numbers see our website at NEW ZEALAND World Expeditions Level 1, High St Auckland CBD PO Box Auckland City 1143 T: (09) F: (09) Toll Free: CANADA - OTTAWA World Expeditions 47 William St Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1N 6Z9 T: F: Toll Free: UNITED KINGDOM World Expeditions 1B Osiers Road Wandsworth London SW18 1NL T: F: T: (Ireland) Page 7