A short transfer from Geneva sees you arrive in Bellevaux, and the beautiful Chablais region located south of Lac Leman. A traditional living working valley, in the winter you experience the mountains at their most pure, snowshoeing around beautiful Lac Vallon and below the impressive Roc d’Enfer. We will have the opportunity to undertake dog-sledding with huskies, venture off-piste and spend time with local artisan’s tasting their products.

Transferring from Bellevaux we pass through the small Alpine village of Chatel where we enjoy a chocolate workshop hosted by local artisan Tom. After lunch we journey to the Valais region of Switzerland, embarking on a journey into the remote mountains, snowshoeing to the Grand Saint Bernard monastery at a height of 2473m / 8114ft. The monastery dates back to the 11th Century, where Saint Bernard of Menthon, ‘Archdeacon of Aosta’, regularly saw weary mountain travellers arriving tired and distressed. Deciding to put an end to mountain brigandage in the area, the Archdeacon founded the hospice, a unique and incredible location only a few hundred metres from the Italian border.

Of equal interest are the Grand Saint Bernard dogs – The iconic St Bernard dog breed which was created at the hospice by cross-breeding dogs, probably those offered by families in Valais in the 1660s and 1670s. Originally raised to provide guard dogs for the hospice, they became world renowned as mountain rescue dogs and were specially bred and trained for the role of mountain rescue because they were sufficiently strong to cross deep snow drifts, and had the capacity to track lost travellers by scent.

Chamonix valley is the heart of mountaineering. With the incredible Mont Blanc massif dominating the skyline and four major glaciers cascading to the valley floor this makes for a perfect location for the final part of the trip. 

On day 6 we head up the valley to undertake a beautiful half day snowshoe excursion in the shadow of Aiguille Chardonnay and saving the best until last, we journey up and over the Aiguille du Midi to enjoy spectacular views on Mont Blanc at just under 16000ft, before crossing over the Vallee Blanche on a Gondola and descending down to floor of Val Ferret (Italy) on the revolving skyway.  Hiking up to Lavachey and taking lunch in the famous Italian Grivel family restaurant concludes the adventure, before returning through the Mont Blanc tunnel and back to Chamonix where you enjoy a wonderful farewell meal in a Michelin accredited restaurant.