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 74 reviews.

Ronald Powell

MONT BLANC HIGHLIGHTS

Written June 2011
The chance to see the scenery was what inspired us, and we weren't disappointed. It was stunning.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
On our first walk, out of a cloudy Switzerland onto the Col de Balme, when the cloud lifted and we had our first views of the Mont Blanc Massif and the Chamonix Valley. Thereafter, apart from one cloudy day, the chance to see the mountains, glaciers and valleys on all the walks was inspirational. The flower meadows were pretty spectacular as well.
What did you think of your group leader?
Oliver was an excellent guide and companion. He is very knowledgable and a fund of absolutely awful, but very funny, puns and jokes.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
As Exodus warn, be prepared for all weathers in the hills. We had everything from 5 degrees in sleet to 28 degrees in bright sunshine, and used all our various layers on several occasions. If you are used to hotel accommodation, the chalet rooms are a little smaller - clean and comfortable, but smaller. We had previously done the walks on Classic Dolomites and White Villages of the Sierra Nevada, and this provided a similar degree of challenge, perhaps a little more challenging on the one day when the temperature was 28 degrees - enough for us.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
We thoroughly enjoyed the trip to Annecy on our rest day and would recommend it.
Lisa Jenkins

MONT BLANC HIGHLIGHTS

Written June 2011
Great trip, hospitality by Oliver and Elaine was fantastic. Walks were brilliant with great views (when it stopped raining) and would like to go back and do the whole tour of mont blanc. We went in early June, I would recommend going a bit later in the season for better weather and for the lifts to be open. However overall a fab trip.
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What did you think of your group leader?
the best, great jokes throughout our stay!
David Hopper

MONT BLANC HIGHLIGHTS

Written October 2010
Great place, met some great people and had a fab time!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The views of Mont Blanc from the Italian side - truely wonderful
What did you think of your group leader?
Great, what humour, a classic!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Enjoy!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
A well planned holiday with loads of fun, I truely enjoyed it
Frankie McAllister

MONT BLANC HIGHLIGHTS

Written July 2010
Great walks, fabulous scenery and a really comfortable enjoyable place to stay with our charming hosts and guide.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Probably just the general experience of having absolutely fantastic views from every angle - ooh, and paragliding over Chamonix was prett special too!
What did you think of your group leader?
Oliver was brilliant - relaxed, funny but always in control and very knowledgeable. Very good walks and scheduling and very entertaining all round.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
No - just go prepared with all the proper gear (waterproofs, sunhats, etc.etc. - Oliver is very hot on making sure you're properly prepared!), and enjoy.
Melanie Wynne-Jones

MONT BLANC HIGHLIGHTS

Written June 2010
Our 1st trip with Exodus - surpassed our expectations and planning our next trip!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
the views, the views, the views - felt we really did see all the Highlights. Different terrain/scenery every day, really well-organised and as a bonus we saw an ice-fall (heard it before we saw it!)
the other members of the group
Elaine's packed lunches
What did you think of your group leader?
Oliver is already a legend! The most appalling jokes, but very knowledgeable about all aspects of the mountains - history, geography, flowers etc. He paced the group well and kept an eye on everyone without fussing over us.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
agree with those who say one of the walks is more like a C. we were glad we'd taken all the recommended kit. There's a useful drying room (although we only needed it once)
Chamonix is pretty and lots of shops and restaurants. Oliver and Elaine run the minibus to Annecy on the day off walking; well worth going. L'aiguille du midi is breathtaking in both senses of the word.
the chalet and food are fairly basic but comfortable (although we were so tired every night we just fell into bed after dinner!)
Is there anything else you would like to add?
ask Oliver if the nuns turned up
David Hunt

MONT BLANC HIGHLIGHTS

Written September 2009
A fantastic holiday with an extremely well thought out itinery. Each day was very different; always very enjoyable and with great views of the Mont Blanc Massif.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Breathtaking views combined with Oliver's knowledge and Mont Blanc climbing stories.
What did you think of your group leader?
Oliver and Elaine make a wonderful team. We were extremely well looked after: great hearty food, clear guiding, positive leading etc. They are both possibly insane, but in a good way: lots of laughter and encouragement.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
We were there when it was very warm so having enough water was important; we found camel-backs (or similar) far better than bottles to help us keep continually well hydrated. Also, it is a walking holiday, so do be prepared for some long days.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This was an unforgettable holiday: great accommodation, great food, great walking. We'd love to go back at some point, perhaps even in the winter to see it in a different light (or lack thereof). Boom, boom.
John Michael Cowling

MONT BLANC HIGHLIGHTS

Written August 2009
I have done a lot of walking holidays before, but this was certainly one of the best. Superb organistion, excellent walks with stunning scenery plus we had amazing weather which made a big difference of course. The Chalet Savoy is very comfortable and homely, quite different from an impersonal hotel.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
A young ibex appeared by the path and seemed completely unconcerned by our presence as it "posed" for photos. The views of Mont Blanc, especially on the last day, were also pretty remarkable.
What did you think of your group leader?
Oliver was the best walking leader I have experienced. He set an excellent steady pace which everyone was able to keep up with. He was a fund of information especially about the alpine flowers and the mountains. He also kept us entertained with a stream of appalling jokes! The organisation of each days walking was brilliant, ending at a suitable stopping place where we could enjoy refreshments while he went to retrieve the van. Elaine looked after us superbly and cooked up tasty and generous meals each evening.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
It would probably be best to avoid the first two weeks in August if possible as this is the main French holiday time and Chamonix was very busy. This didn't spoil the walks, apart from Lac Blanc which was rather disappointing as it was so crowded.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Don't be put off by some previous comments that this is more a Grade C than a B. Although there is a lot of quite steep ascent and descent, the nice steady pace set by Oliver meant that all our group found they were able to cope quite easily. So long as you are reasonably fit go for it, you won't regret it.