Hidden Mont Blanc Trail

A big climbing route waits after Oyace, with 18.0 km of walking and a demanding climb of 2,150 m to Rifugio Letey-Champillon. The route does not simply go uphill in one push, as it also includes notable descent and flatter linking sections. That makes it a full mountain stage, both physically and mentally. You gain height steadily out of Oyace, lose it again in the middle, and then finish with another sustained rise towards Champillon.

Leaving Oyace, the route crosses the slopes towards Ollomont and passes named points including Ru du By, Saint Jean Mine, Locanda delle Minere and Col de Brison. Later, the line turns back into more open mountain terrain around Comba di Champillon and Alpe Champillon. These places help break up the route, but the overall character remains a big valley-to-hut mountain crossing with a lot of height gain.

You reach Rifugio Letey-Champillon after the final climb into the Champillon area. After so much ascent, the hut feels like a well-earned finish and a very welcome place to stop.

This varied mountain route covers 18.8 km and includes a demanding climb of 1,110 m, together with a large 1,590 m descent. You start high above Champillon, drop for a long stretch towards the valley, and then rebuild height on the way to Refuge de Chaligne. It helps to think of the route in two parts, a long descent first and a steady second-half climb afterwards. The changing terrain makes it interesting, but it is a strenuous stage.

From Rifugio Letey-Champillon, the route passes close to Col de Champillon and through Comba di Champillon before descending towards Étroubles, Saint-Oyen and the La Thuilettaz area. In the second part, the line climbs again through lower slopes and marked viewpoints, including a viewpoint towards the Matterhorn and the Madonnina di Cignod area. Around the middle, the route has a more settled valley feel before it lifts back into quieter mountain terrain.

You arrive at Refuge de Chaligne after the second main climb of the route. The hut comes at the right moment, giving you a quiet mountain finish after a route with a lot of descending and rebuilding.

The most varied day of the trek: forest, an open grassy ridge and a string of alpine lakes. You climb about 860 metres and descend about 440. Up on the ridge you follow yellow arrows painted on the rocks, and the route takes in a bonus summit: Pointe de Metz, at around 2,550 metres the high point of the day.

From the hut, follow the signs for Côte Tardive through the forest, gently at first and then more steeply. At a clearing with a cross and benches, rhododendrons and junipers take over. Past a farm the trail climbs steeply onto the Côte Tardive ridge. Keep an eye out for edelweiss and marmot burrows, while cowbells ring from both sides of the valley. After the top of Pointe de Metz, descend to Col de Metz at 2,486 metres, where a memorial stone points the way towards Alpe Chezere.

Via the La Neuve pasture and trail 8a you reach Lac Fallère at 2,416 metres. Walk uphill to the west to Lac des Grenouilles, where Rifugio Mont Fallère comes into view at 2,385 metres. About 11.5 kilometres, count on a good 5 hours.

A long and demanding mountain route connects Rifugio Mont Fallère with Rifugio Pier Giorgio Frassati, covering 21.9 km with a demanding climb of 1,590 m and 1,430 m of descent. The route first climbs away from the hut, then loses height for a long middle section before rising again towards the next hut. Because the effort is spread over so much ground, steady pacing matters more than speed. This is a full mountain stage with constant changes of rhythm.

From Rifugio Mont Fallère, you first pass near Mont Fallère Summit and Lago Fallère before descending towards the Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses and La Thuilettaz side of the valley. Along the way, the route highlights views of the Matterhorn and continues towards the hamlets of Merdeux. In the higher second part, the route climbs again through rougher ground, with wide mountain views marking the approach towards the Frassati area.

You arrive at Rifugio Pier Giorgio Frassati after a long final approach through high mountain terrain. It is a strong hut finish, and a satisfying place to end one of the biggest routes of the trek.

The final stretch to Courmayeur covers 19.6 km and gains 600 m, but the route is mainly defined by the very long 1,910 m descent into town. You start high, stay in mountain terrain for a long time, and only gradually work down into the valley. After the earlier routes, this finish still demands care, especially on tired legs. The route links open high ground with a long descent back towards Courmayeur.

From Rifugio Pier Giorgio Frassati, the route crosses high ground near Col de Malatrà and passes the Tsa de Sécheron Stone Cabin and the Entre Deux Sauts Pass area. It then continues into Val Ferret, where marked highlights include a waterfall in Val Ferret and several viewpoints towards Mont Blanc. Lower down, the route passes near the Walter Bonatti Hut area before continuing the descent towards Courmayeur, linking famous mountain landmarks with a clear valley finish.

You finish in Courmayeur after a long descent from the high mountains. The arrival feels very different from the hut stops, with the route ending back in town after several quieter alpine sections.