Mont Blanc Highlights: France, Italy, Switzerland

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

Average Review Rating: from 76 reviews.

Heather Alexander

MONT BLANC HIGHLIGHTS

Written June 2008
Probably the best Exodus holiday I have been on - everything was excellent: accommodation, food, leader, group, views. Even the weather co-operated :-)
Read full review
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Getting to the top of a peak for that 360-degree view of fabulous mountains all around. And braving the dizzying heights of the Aiguille de Midi cable car on our day off to get up close & personal to the high peaks.
What did you think of your group leader?
Excellent. For me the best aspect of the holiday, as Oliver picked a steady pace that meant even slowcoaches like me (recovering from a calf injury) achieved every walk we went on, and enjoyed it as well. He tells the most terrible (and funny) jokes & has a pun for every occasion, all of which makes you forget that you are climbing 900m :-)
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be prepared for every kind of weather - we had winter, spring and summer all in one day on a couple of days!
Be prepared to do some quite big walks, but at the kind of pace that means everyone can do it.
Memorise all the most terrible jokes you (or your kids, nephews, nieces, friends' kids, christmas crackers etc) can come up with so you can out-joke Oliver!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Highly recommended...
John Furlong

Fantastic scenery

Written September 2007
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Getting to the peak of the climbs and seeing the views - of Seitzerland, France and Italy - was amazing
Read full review
What did you think of your group leader?
Friendly and very keen to ensure we all had a good time and were enjoying the holiday as a group - Cooking by his wife in the Shalet was terrific
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Obey the rules of bringing attire for all weathers - it can rain very heavily in August!
Claire Booth

Around Mont Blanc - the ups and downs

Written September 2007
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

The walk up to Lac Blanc and the views from the top - the whole day was good, including getting up close to ibex.
Also the view of the Aiguille Verte at sunset from the chalet.
Read full review
What did you think of your group leader?
Very good, very knowledgeable. Rather too many awful jokes! Led at a good pace. His logistical planning was great - he found a way of doing linear walks with only one van and having a pub at the end of the walk so that we could relax whilst he retrieved the van.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
This trip is really a B/C, not a B as marked in the brochure. On several days there were some long ascents - 900m doesn't sound too bad until one converts it to imperial, then it's 3,000 ft and equivalent to climbing Snowdon (without the train)! So one needs to be fit and used to regular hill walking to do this trip.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This trip gives a good "taste" of the Tour du Mont Blanc and enables one to cover some of the best parts whilst being based in one place with a comfy bed and good food to return to each evening.
The only thing that marred the holiday was the weather but that had been equally bad back in England.
Brian Goodman

Fantastic hike

Written September 2007
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Wonderful crisp air, fantastic views, good companions
Read full review
What did you think of your group leader?
Group leader, very knowledgeable, helpful and pleasant
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Dissapointed that we did not get our confirmation booking voucher to present to the hotel in Chamonix
All other participants received a Exodus wallet, list of participants and discount shopping vouchers. we received NOTHING!!
Most people felt that the work load for the group leaders's wife was exceptionally heavy, yet she was most pleasant and always had a smile.
Jane Bell

Getting to Know the Alps

Written September 2007
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

The realisation that the mountians can be so varied and there can be such contrast in vegetation and scenery (and indeed weather!) within a relatively small geographical area.

Read full review
What did you think of your group leader?
Probably the most patient , practical and organised group leader I have known.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Comfortable accomodation meant no need to take any home luxuries.
Good footwear and waterproofs are obvious essential items
Hannah Marder

A great introduction to tougher walking holidays

Written September 2007
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Finally seeing the top of Mont Blanc on the last day - it having eluded us all week. We had reached a refuge and just sat down to eat our lunch when the clouds cleared obliging us with a fantastic view. It was the most perfect timing - our tour leader claimed credit but we were a bit dubious that even he couldn't control the weather!
Read full review
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leader, Oliver, was brilliant. He has been walking and doing winter sports in the Alps for many years and lives locally. His knowledge of the local area was excellent and I always felt very safe and trusted him completely. He set a good pace, very steady, and always made sure everyone in the group was able to keep up. His terrible jokes cheered us all up (or at least distracted us) when we were struggling up steep bits!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
The tour is quite tough, so don't assume that because it's in Europe it must be easy. Getting in good shape, especially by doing some running, is well worth it as you will be able to enjoy the trip so much more. Early and late departures tend to be harder as the cable cars are closed and there is a lot of snow and the paths are sometimes wet or damaged, meaning they are probably more of an easy 'C' grade than a 'B.' However, it's the best time to go as the mountains are virtually deserted and you get to see lots of wildlife. Bring gaiters and warm clothes. It's possible to opt out of the walks or take shorter options, so if it does prove too hard you don't have to give up entirely! Some of the ascents are very steep so pay attention to the trip dossier which lists how much ascent and descent to expect in a day - the ascent is usually all in one go, often at the start of the walk, so be prepared.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This is a great trip and a good introduction to proper walking holidays. It's worth doing if you're considering a tougher trek like the Inca Trail or something in Nepal, to act as a gentle warm up. By returning to the same base every night (a comfortable chalet) you get the best of both worlds. And the scenary is stunning.