Details

Frequently Asked Questions

Please click here to go to our general FAQ, which has essential information that applies to all of our programs.

Resources to Learn & Teach about Mont Blanc

Visit our recommended reading page to see the list of books GEEO recommends reading before your program (this is not required reading). We also have lesson plans and Pinterest boards that may be useful for you as you learn about your destination and prepare to bring lessons back to your classroom.

Terms and Conditions

It is very important for you to visit our Terms and Conditions page before signing up for this program.

Cancellation policy

All cancellations must be submitted to GEEO in written form by emailing your request for cancellation to travel@geeo.org. If you do not receive a confirmation that we have received your written cancellation request, please call us at 1-877-600-0105. Verbal cancellation requests will not be honored.

• If you cancel 60 days or more prior to departure, all your program fee payments will be refunded besides your $350 deposit which is kept on file for future use
• If you cancel between 30 and 59 days prior to departure, you will receive a 50% refund and your deposit is kept on file for future use
• If you cancel within 30 days of departure, you will receive no refund, but your deposit is kept on file for future use

Trip Notes

1. BEING PREPARED: While the hikes on this trip are all-day hikes and you need to carry no more than a small daypack, this is still an alpine environment. The walks involve ascents and descents of up to 900m (3000ft) sometimes over rough and steep ground. Good fitness and a familiarity with mountain hiking will help you get the most out of this trip. You will require good well-broken-in walking boots and waterproofs.
2. WEATHER: The route outlined in this itinerary is weather dependent, and you will need to be prepared for unpredictable mountain weather. In the case of poor weather conditions, your tour leader will re-route your path while maintaining an effort to keep as close to the planned itinerary as possible.
3. HOTEL IN CHAMONIX: Please note that Hotel Chamonix is affiliated with the nearby Hotel Crete Blanche and that in some cases the group could be divided between the two hotels.

Group Leader Description

All GEEO/G Adventures group trips are accompanied by one of G Adventure’s group leaders, which they refer to as Chief Experience Officers (CEO). The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are traveling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues, lead your hikes, and introduce you to our local friends. The tour leader for this trip is a Qualified IML (International Mountain Leader).

Fitness Level

Some high-altitude hikes or more strenuous activities, but accessible to most healthy travelers.

Single Travelers

Half of the people that travel with GEEO are traveling by themselves, so please don’t worry if you have no one who can join you on your trip. Our pricing is based on double occupancy or, in other words, two people to a room. You never have to pay for a single room unless you want one. GEEO can find you a roommate of the same gender. Most of our trips have a “My Own Room” option, also known as a “Single Supplement,” which is an extra fee that will allow you to have a room to yourself. If you want to room alone, please email travel@geeo.org. To see the price for the “My Own Room” option, please click here where you can look up your trip in the extra services spreadsheet. Please be aware that single-room accommodations in European hotels are often smaller, and may not be to the same service level as double-occupancy rooms.

Joining Instructions

Please note that day 1 is an arrival day and no activities have been planned on this day. Upon arrival to the city on day 1 (or earlier if you have booked pre-accommodation), please make your way to the joining hotel (note that check-in time will be in the afternoon). Once you arrive at the hotel, look for a note or bulletin board in the reception with a note from your tour leader. This note will give the details of your Welcome Meeting on day 1 (usually between 5 pm and 7 pm), where you will get a chance to meet your tour leader and other travelers, as well as learn more about how the tour will run. If you don’t see a note, please ask reception for details! If you are arriving later and will miss the Welcome Meeting, your tour leader will leave a note at reception for you with any information you may need, and with instructions for the next morning. Getting to Pointe Isabelle Hotel (please check your vouchers to ensure this is your start hotel): To arrange arrival and departure transfers between the Geneva Airport and the hotel in Chamonix, please use the following link: http://gadventures.cvt.ski/transfers/ We advise that you book both your arrival and departure transfers in advance. Please make sure you have the following TRAVEL DETAILS before booking: - Flight number - Flight Arrival Time and Date - Flight Departure Time and Date - Passenger's Name - Number of Passengers - Email - Valid Mobile Telephone Number - Drop off and/or Pick Up Address Alternate to transfer company: A public bus runs 4 times per day between GVA airport & Chamonix. Cost is 19 EUR each way. See www.ouibus.com for more information.

Emergency Contacts

Should you need to contact G Adventures during a situation of dire need, it is best to first call their local G Adventures office. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information, so they may return your call and assist you as soon as possible. EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS G Adventures UK office (Weekdays 9:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. GST) G Adventures London office: +447817262559 If you are unable for any reason to contact the local office, please call the numbers listed below, which will connect you directly with the 24-hour Sales team, who will happily assist you. Toll-free, from calls within North America only: 1 888 800 4100 Calls from within UK: 0844 272 0000 Outside North America and the UK: +1 416 260 0999 If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information, and your call will be returned as soon as possible.

Packing List

Please read this article on GEEO’s blog for our staff’s suggestions on the best gear to pack for your upcoming travels. Please note that this trip is rated Physical Grade 4. Passenger luggage will be stored at the base hotel in Chamonix, but smaller day packs can be carried during the hiking excursions. Please see the equipment list for essential information on what to take. Please refer to the "Essentials" list for general packing items and the "Mont Blanc Trekking" list for items specific to the trek. When choosing your gear please bear in mind that the best clothing for trekking is either wool or synthetic materials, as these are quick-drying and can keep heat in better. The optimum clothing system for trekking is layering, as it allows for easy temperature regulation as you ascend or descend. We suggest a base-layer, then a mid-layer such as a sweater, followed by a fleece jacket or similar, then a windproof and waterproof jacket. For your bottom half, thermal underwear, hiking pants then windproof and waterproof layers are recommended. Hiking poles are strongly recommended, especially for departures in June and early in the season. Hiking gear is not available for rent in Chamonix. If you require additional items (poles, rain gear, etc.), they may be purchased. Health & Safety (Required!)

• N95/KN95 Face masks (At least three per week)
• Hand sanitizer
• Pen (Please bring your own pen for filling out documents.)
• Quick Covid Test/Antigen Tests (At least 5, and for longer trips, 3 per week of travel)

Mont Blanc Trekking

• Day pack (required) (Max 40 liters capacity - it is essential to pack light as you will be carrying your own gear.)
• Hiking boots (required) (We recommend hiking boots instead of hiking shoes, as boots provide better ankle support on rough terrain.)
• Quick-dry socks (required) (Trekking socks (woolen or synthetic, not cotton). We recommend packing 2-3 pairs.)
• Rain gear (required) (Jacket and pants, must be windproof and waterproof. We recommend using a jacket with a hood made of Gortex or similar fabric, and advise against bringing pac-a-macs or ponchos.)
• Clothing (We recommend bringing 1 outfit to wear during the evenings and days off, preferably lightweight top and bottoms.)
• Fleece jacket or warm layer
• Gloves (We recommend packing warm gloves in case of cold and wet weather.)
• Hat (For cool weather, a warm beanie is most appropriate. For sunny weather, a wide-brimmed hat or cap. We recommend preparing for both weather conditions.)
• Hiking pants (Convertible/Zip-off and quick dry recommended. We recommend 2 pairs of trousers, and 1 pair of shorts.)
• Lightweight wicking shirts
• Long-sleeved shirt for hiking
• Pack liners to waterproof bags (A rucksack liner or large Ziploc bags/dry bag(s) to keep clothes and equipment dry inside your backpack in case of rain.)
• Snacks (Protein bars, chocolate, dried fruits, candies, energy sweets. You will be able to purchase these along the way.)
• Thermal base layer (Woolen or synthetic, not cotton.)

Essentials Checklist

• Water-proof, wind-proof rain jacket
• Personal clothing for hot to cool weather – we recommend packing 5-6 days of outfits so you don’t have to do laundry
• Sturdy walking shoes for non hiking days
• Sunblock
• Sunglasses
• Water bottle or bladder (like a Camelback)
• Watch or alarm clock
• Toiletries
• Camera
• First-aid kit, including lip salve, aspirin, bandaids, anti-histamine, Dramamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, electrolyte powder, insect repellent, extra prescription drugs you may be taking

Optional Checklist

• Hiking poles
• Travel pillow
• Money belt
• Phone/Tablet for internet – most hotels have WiFi
• Chargers for electronics as well converters/adapters, if needed
• AirTags or Tile trackers
• Packing cubes
• Earplugs
• Snacks – packing a few granola bars is a good idea; you can also buy snacks when you get there too, so don’t go crazy here
• Ziplock bags
• Reading/writing material
• Hand sanitizer/Baby wipes
• Light fleece top

Document Checklist

• Passport (with photocopies)
• Travel insurance (with photocopies)
• Airline tickets (with photocopies)
• EUR/USD cash
• Credit or debit card
• G Adventures vouchers, pre-departure information, and dossier
• Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required
• GEEO Classroom action plans for your group – this is sent 10-30 days before departure

Laundry

Laundry facilities are sometimes offered by the hotels. You can also use a local laundromat, if need be. We recommend packing enough clothes so you don't have to do laundry.

Passports and Visas

All GEEO trips require that the participant have a valid passport. Please see our general FAQ for information on obtaining a passport. As with all of our trips, we try to provide the most accurate information we can, but governments sometimes change visa rules. It is your responsibility to double-check the information we provide below by searching here. Americans do not need a visa to travel to any of these countries. Non-American participants should check with their government to find out if they need a visa.

Money Exchange

As currency exchange rates fluctuate, we ask that you refer to the following website for daily exchange rates: www.xe.com. ATMs are also widely available that distribute the local currency and this is what we recommend as your primary source of cash while traveling. Please make sure you bring at least $200 USD in cash as emergency money just in case you have trouble with the ATMs or lose your bank card. Major credit cards are accepted in most shops but they may charge a 2-4% transaction fee. Visa and MasterCard are useful for cash advances in an emergency situation. Please note that, if you are carrying U.S. Dollars, they should be in good condition (i.e., not torn, wrinkled, or marked on in any way) and printed recently.

Tipping

It is customary in Europe to leave a small tip for service providers such as waiters if you are pleased with the service (€1-2 EUR for snacks or 10% of a meal bill). Tipping is an expected – though not compulsory – component of your tour program and an expression of satisfaction with the persons who have assisted you on your tour. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels. Also at the end of each trip, if you felt your G Adventures Tour Leader did an outstanding job, tipping is appreciated. The amount is entirely a personal preference. As a budgeting guideline, €30-€40 per person per week can be used.

Vaccinations

Check with your doctor. You must be vaccinated against COVID to travel on this trip.

Flights

We find the best prices for flights are often available 60 days before departure, but of course this varies greatly from route to route and year to year. We advise that you wait until this trip is confirmed before booking non-refundable and non-changeable flights. GEEO and G Adventures bear no responsibility for any flights purchased before the trip is confirmed. Your trip begins and ends in Chamonix. The closest international airport is Geneva, which is a little over an hour away by car. You can arrive at any time of the day you choose, however, we strongly urge you to arrive by 6:00 p.m. on Day 1 for our group meeting. You can depart any time on the final day of the trip.

Plugs and Converters

There are two components to provide external power to your device: adapters and transformers. The adapter is the plug, adapting the prongs on a standard U.S. two to three-pronged power cord to match the prongs required by the local outlets. The transformer changes the local voltage to that required by your device. France uses a type E two circular prong plug. This socket also works with type C and type F plugs. Italy uses type F and L, but both work with type C. Both countries use a voltage of 230 Volts. U.S. outlets are 120V. Most new devices (phones and laptops) can handle the different voltage rates, but some devices only work on the U.S. standard of 120V. Check your device to see what voltage range it handles. Most transformer blocks will have an “Input” line that defines its voltage capacity. For example, “Input: 100-240V” means that it will work on voltages from 100V to 240V. If your transformer can’t handle the different voltage, you’ll need to purchase a voltage converter. You can find world regional voltage converters power packs at various vendors.

Expectations

Before you decide on traveling with GEEO, it is important that you read all of the information about the program you are considering. Remember, our programs are quite adventurous.

• The purpose of the accommodation is to provide a safe, well-located place for you to sleep. Sometimes you will be pleasantly surprised, but do not expect luxury as we are trying to keep these trips as inexpensive as possible.
• You must be able to handle the physical aspects of the hiking on this trip and bring the appropriate gear.
• Please make sure you understand the role of your tour leader on this trip as they are not the traditional “guide” you may be expecting. While our trips are educational, they aren’t study/lecture trips. We want you to learn through exploring, and much of your experience will be based on how active you choose to be in acquiring knowledge and interacting with locals.

Hopefully this is the kind of adventure you are interested in!

Itinerary Disclaimer

While it is our intention to adhere to the routes described on our website, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable, to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The information on our website is a general guide to the tour and region, and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.

Weather

If you like to travel at the hottest time of year, then July is the month for you. Average temperatures are between 13 - 26C (55 - 79F), and the average rainfall is only around 60mm (2.4ins). July is one of the peak months for hikers on the Tour du Mont Blanc, and seeing as it's also school holidays for all three countries on the route (France, Italy, Switzerland), you can expect the trail to be buzzing with people enjoying the high temperatures on the famous route.