Mont Blanc Explorer — Self-Launched Alpine Trek (Chamonix & Courmayeur)

Fly into Geneva (GVA), then take the FlixBus or BlaBlaCar Bus from Geneva Airport to Chamonix bus station (roughly 1h45–2h15, ~£15–20 booked in advance; a shared Alpine transfer runs ~£30–40). Walk 10–15 minutes to your guesthouse. Settle in, pick up a local IGN 3630 OT Chamonix map from the tourist office, check the weather forecast at the Office de Haute Montagne, buy hiking snacks, and have an early dinner in town.

🚌Geneva Airport → Chamonix by FlixBus/BlaBlaCar Bus (~£15–20)

🛏Guesthouse or pension in central Chamonix (dorm or simple twin, ~£30–40pp)

• →Arrival and orientation walk in Chamonix
• →Buy IGN hiking map & check trail/weather conditions

Self-navigate the classic L'Aiguillette des Posettes loop: take the regular Chamonix valley bus or the Mont Blanc Express train to Le Tour/Vallorcine (~£3–5), then climb through alpine meadows to the 2,201m summit — around 800m of ascent and 5–6 hours round trip, with huge views across the massif to the Aiguille Verte and Mont Blanc. Swing past the Ferme Pédagogique alpine farm at Les Jeurs (the G for Good project on the original tour) to buy cheese and see the animals — it's open to independent visitors. Return to Chamonix for dinner.

🚌Chamonix valley bus or Mont Blanc Express train to Le Tour (~£3–5)

🛏Guesthouse or pension in central Chamonix (~£30–40pp)

• →L'Aiguillette des Posettes hike (~13km, 800m ascent)
• →Visit Ferme Pédagogique alpine farm & cheese tasting

Free day with big optional add-ons. Book the Aiguille du Midi cable car online in advance (2,877m, ~2 lifts to 3,842m — approx. £75/€75) and step onto the glass 'Step into the Void' box with Mont Blanc at eye level. Cheaper alternative: the Montenvers rack railway (~£35 return) to the Mer de Glace glacier and the ice cave, plus a short walk down to the glacier viewpoint. Or rest sore legs at the Chamonix thermal pools/spa (~£20–25). Evening: pasta and a beer in a local bar.

🚌Local bus/walk within Chamonix (~£3)

🛏Guesthouse or pension in central Chamonix (~£30–40pp)

• →Aiguille du Midi cable car (optional, ~£75)
• →Montenvers train & Mer de Glace ice cave (optional, ~£35)
• →Chamonix spa/thermal pools (optional, ~£20–25)

Take the FlixBus or the local Chamonix–Courmayeur bus through the Mont Blanc Tunnel (approx. 45 minutes, ~£8–12 one way; pre-book as seats fill in summer). Store big luggage in Chamonix if you want to travel light. From La Visaille at the head of Val Veny (local bus from Courmayeur, ~£2), hike the balcony trail towards Courmayeur with constant views of the Italian face of Mont Blanc and the Miage glacier — roughly 12–14km, 4–5 hours. Check into your Courmayeur guesthouse and eat in the old town.

🚌Bus Chamonix → Courmayeur via Mont Blanc Tunnel (~£8–12); local bus to Val Veny (~£2)

🛏Family-run guesthouse or pension in Courmayeur (~£32–42pp)

• →Bus transfer to Italy
• →Val Veny balcony hike to Courmayeur (~13km, 500m ascent)

Choose your own adventure: the Skyway Monte Bianco rotating cable car from Entrèves up to Punta Helbronner at 3,466m offers the best close-up of the Italian side of Mont Blanc and the Géant glacier (approx. £50/€55 — book a slot online; the cable car stops at Pavillon du Mont Fréty for lunch). Alternatively, take the local bus to Pré-Saint-Didier for the famous open-air thermal spa (QC Terme, ~£45–50 for 3 hours) with mountain views from the pools. Wander Courmayeur's Via Roma for gelato and shops in the evening.

🚌Local bus to Entrèves / Pré-Saint-Didier (~£2–3)

🛏Family-run guesthouse or pension in Courmayeur (~£32–42pp)

• →Skyway Monte Bianco cable car to Punta Helbronner (optional, ~£50)
• →QC Terme Pré-Saint-Didier thermal spa (optional, ~£45–50)
• →Courmayeur old town wander

Take the local shuttle from Courmayeur to Lavachey or Arnouvaz (~£2), then walk the spectacular Val Ferret balcony trail beneath the Grandes Jorasses and the Italian face of Mont Blanc — around 12km, 4–5 hours, with rifugio stops (Rifugio Bonatti is a great lunch halt). Descend through the hamlet of Planpincieux back to the valley and catch the shuttle to Courmayeur. Carry cash for rifugio lunches.

🚌Courmayeur–Val Ferret local shuttle (~£2 each way)

🛏Family-run guesthouse or pension in Courmayeur (~£32–42pp)

• →Val Ferret balcony hike (~12km)
• →Lunch stop at Rifugio Bonatti (optional)
• →Descend via Planpincieux

Bus back through the tunnel to Chamonix (~£8–12) and drop bags at your guesthouse. Then take the valley bus to Le Tour or Argentière (~£3) and walk the Grand Balcon Nord / Lacs des Chéserys-style balcony trail for classic views of the Glacier d'Argentière, the Aiguille du Midi and Mont Blanc (3–4 hours, moderate). Return to Chamonix in the evening for a celebratory dinner — tartiflette and a local Savoyard beer.

🚌Bus Courmayeur → Chamonix (~£8–12); valley bus to Argentière (~£3)

🛏Guesthouse or pension in central Chamonix (~£30–40pp)

• →Balcony hike with views of Glacier d'Argentière & Aiguille du Midi
• →Celebration dinner in Chamonix

Morning coffee and a last look at the massif, then take the FlixBus or shared transfer back to Geneva Airport (~£15–20) for your flight home. If you have a late flight, the Chamonix swimming pool and riverside walks are a gentle way to fill the morning.

🚌Chamonix → Geneva Airport by FlixBus/shared transfer (~£15–20)

🛏—

• →Departure transfer to Geneva Airport