Cloud Walking the Mont Blanc Circuit

AFS Swiss Alps Winter Magic 2025

Prepare to be thrilled by our hiking adventure through 3 countries halfway to heaven!  Our past groups loved it and this one sold out fast, so you are the fortunate ones as many are waitlisted. We have a wonderful small group who love to hike. We also use the best local supplier there. Nothing tops the expertise of Alpine Treks. 

Important Reminders

• Trip Tips are designed to answer trip-related questions. It’s your responsibility to read this information.
• Updates and addendums will be posted here. Some travelers have lost their entire trip for not reading what we send on visas, air details, inoculations, etc. Check back from time to time.
• Print these pages out now to start a trip file. Also, bookmark this page as we will post updates here. We can no longer email questions which are in these tips. I will only direct here.

Payment Details

• PAYMENT DUE FEB 15, 50% due and Final payment March 15.
• Wetravel is our data management company, it allows you to pay by check electronically without a fee. Simply follow the instructions.
• Credit cards will be assessed a processing fee at time of purchase. As a small business, this helps mitigate costs and allows us to give you the very best price.
• You can also pay by check without mailing it by making it out to AFS, taking a photo of it and texting it to 770-432-8225 and we will enter the information for you at no extra credit card fee.

Your Trip Leader

• GTL – Your fearless GTL (gracious trip leader, not a guide but liaison between our guides and group to ensure things run smoothly.)
• Joey – He led many AFS groups including Mount Kilimanjaro, the Inca Trail and more. “My guiding/leading adventures began in 2013 with helping or leading events in which athletes with disabilities were involved. Before that, I had already competed in many endurance events. Since that time I’ve taken part in many more adventures. I am a certified rehabilitation fitness therapist and personal trainer with over thirty years in the health and fitness industry.”
• 3-Worlds Toughest Mudder (24 hr nonstop endurance race), 5-Spartan World Championships, 7- Spartan Beast Races up Mt Killington, 6-100 mile trail and road races, 27- Full Marathons, 48- Half Marathons, 18- 10 mile road races, 64- 10k road races, 1-60 hour nonstop endurance event and more.

Trip Preparation

• Read the revised Heading Abroad with AFS, especially if you are new to AFS.
• Ensure your passport is valid 6 months after return date with two blank pages – these are Visa pages, not addendum pages. Take a photo of your passport to store in the cloud or bring a copy. If you lose your passport, US embassies now except a digital copy from your email.
• To speed through US Customs download Mobile Passport. Look in your App Store for details.
• Notify bank and cc company of travel dates so they don’t block charges.
• All airline rules differ. It is imperative to read your airline rules on their website to ensure a smooth departure! Always check your flight before departure.
• Ensure your passport is valid 6 months after return date with two blank pages. We recommend renewing your passport well ahead of any planned international travel. Take a photo of your passport to store in cloud or bring a copy.
• Second deposit due March 1 and final balance due April 1 by check to Adventures For Solo Travelers, 1907 Daniel Green Ct., Smyrna GA 30080. An email reminder will be sent. (Credit card final payments incur a $65 processing fee.) You may check your balance due at any time on your profile after login. Reminder emails will always be sent.
• Fitness level – Must be Fit! Start walking on undulating terrain for extended periods of time. Begin with 4 hours per week. By March increase to 10 hours per week. By May, walk at least 2-3 hours per day. Days 1-3 are moderate. Day 4 is challenging with no chance to turn back – oh boy! We use cable cars on 3 days for major ascents.
• AMS – Altitude Mountain Sickness we are not high enough for it to be a problem. 9000’ is the max height, so Diamox not needed. Just stay hydrated. We’ll have opportunities to stop for water throughout, but you may want to bring a “bladder bag” (water pouch with tube) to drink from and walk.

Air Travel

• Important Air Dates: June 16 depart USA arrive June 17, the first day the land begins.
• Group Air: None. Sometimes we offer group air but find few people book sometimes find better rates on own direct from hometown. This provides you better flexibility to go early or extend at trip end. I know we will not meet the minimum required to make a group booking since this is a small group.
• It’s very easy to arrange on your own air roundtrip USA to Geneva. June 16-23, Depart Jun 16 to land Geneva by Jun 17 before 12 noon! (All USA flights arrive in morning.) Depart Geneva June 23 any time after 12 noon.
• Most major carriers fly there: DL, KL, AF, Swiss, BA, UA, etc. Search for best route and price. We love Google Flights. If you need help getting your own air, call our friend Atik (a-teek) at Downtown Travel, an air expert at (212) 481-1800 Email: atikm@downtowntravel.com Give him your exact air dates, destinations, passport name, birth-date.
• Our past groups added other places to this trip on their own for a few days at end or came in early. Stay in Switzerland to explore Interlaken or Lucerne regions. Swiss train system is the best on the planet! Here’s some suggestions…Consider roundtrip to Zurich. Train in airport goes direct to train station inside Geneva airport! Or add stopover in Paris, London, Amsterdam, Brussels, Madrid or anywhere. Connect with your group on Facebook page to see what they have found.
• Meet Up with Group / Transfer– You’ll meet in the Geneva Airport on June 17 at NOON. Gather at Swiss Chalet Café outside baggage claim. It’s a tiny airport, so no worries. You’ll be met and transferred 2 hours each way Geneva/Chamonix.
• Doing Own Air– We like Google Flights. 3rd-party booking engines like Expedia, make it easy to book, but it is nearly impossible to handle air problems. Buy direct from airline or pay a travel agent to ticket you. If you need help air with the economy seat, our guy Delhi can help; email flights@diversedestination.com with your exact air dates, destination, passport name, and details with birthdate. Amending tour pre-or post-trip: We honor your independent spirit, but encourage you to extend more days at the trip’s end when you’re acclimated well to the destination. If you add another country, we often see many AFSers on Facebook urging others to join them what do you consider the cost of tours, transport, hotels, etc. Stopovers are great to add, but understand AFS has no responsibility for the quality of your trip. (Please understand that as a group tour operator it’s important to note that our specialty lies in organizing group tours, and as such, our resources are tailored specifically for this purpose. Consequently, we are not equipped with the appropriate tools to assist with individual travel plans. For personalized vacation arrangements, we recommend exploring services like Viator, which is designed for individual travelers.)

Baggage and Packing

• Baggage- Think light to ease your burden, not like you’re fleeing your homeland. The luggage vans have a limited capacity. Keep bag to 20kg or 40lbs total! It’s easy. 1 carry-on & 1 medium suitcase not to exceed 40lbs, weigh on bath scale. The new hard cases are hard to fit in van. Be sure to attach ID to both bags. Leave space for souvenirs.
• Packing- Don’t overthink this. Read all below in notes. Don’t invest in expensive hiking gear as you have everything you need. (On my hike day 3 there, I needed a nylon rain pants and found them for $12.). Chamonix has been the best sports stores in Europe. You’ll find anything there at a great price.
• Base layers, mid layers and wind/waterproof jacket, hiking pants and shorts, hiking boots broken in, good socks, wide brim hat/cap, gloves, sunglasses, day pack, sunscreen. Good to bring water bladder, collapsible polls. See more below.

Electronics and Power

• Electric – Don’t forget a portable backup charger, cords, gadgets, etc. Cell phones and tablets do not need a converter; you only need an adapter plug. AFSers often leave charger cords in the room, so be sure to double-check your room before checking out. All properties have hairdryers. See https://www.power-plugs-sockets.com

Accommodations

• Hotels in Alps are basic, but cozy and clean. Open links on itinerary for details on properties. There’s fierce competition for these remote inns! Although we deposited 10k a year ahead, properties can change. More details later.
• Each day includes hotel breakfast and picnic lunch during the hoke. 1 farewell dinner at end. Each night we’ll be free to explore the beautiful little towns.

Communication

• Internet available. Cell/smartphone be sure to check with your provider for rates and coverage before departure. Roaming rates (used by Facebook and other apps) are expensive. To reach home – Texting, iMessage, What’sApp and Facebook messaging when using WIFI is best! I don’t know anyone who makes calls home nowadays.
• Want affordable data in many countries abroad? We’ve been using Skyroam. All the data you want Bluetoothed to your devices for just $10 a day. See https://www.skyroam.com for details.

Photography

• Before taking pictures of locals, know it is polite to ask. Your AFS Private Facebook Group Page is a great way to share your best shots with each other. AFS loves photos with group participants (not typical churches, monuments, or any shot that looks like you pulled it off of the net, etc.) for our website. The best photos are ones that include a group member with a local, children, animals, or at iconic sites in the same frame! Note, there may be some restrictions with photos in Buddhist places and religious sites. Guide will advise.Before taking pictures of locals know it is polite to ask.

Useful Websites

• Chamonix.com, visit-mont-blanc.com (has it all!)
• Google destinations – Chamonix, Lac Blanc,

Food and Drink

• Chewing- Delicious and fresh. The food reflects its alpine location, offering hearty, traditional dishes. You’ll find plenty of Savoyard cuisine, including fondue (melted cheese with bread), raclette (melted cheese served with potatoes, pickles, and cured meats), and tartiflette (a potato dish with reblochon cheese, onions, and lardons). Local charcuterie, like saucisson (dry-cured sausage), and diots(Savoyard sausages), are popular. For dessert, you might enjoy tarte aux myrtilles (blueberry tart) made with local mountain berries.

Accommodations

• Hotels in Alps are basic, but cozy and clean. Open links on itinerary for details on properties. There’s fierce competition for these remote inns! Although we deposited 10k a year ahead, properties can change. More details later.
• Each day includes hotel breakfast and picnic lunch during the hoke. 1 farewell dinner at end. Each night we’ll be free to explore the beautiful little towns.

Roommates

• Single supplements have significantly increased in price– if available at all. Save money and buy yourself an awesome local gift. We all live alone, but save money when traveling by rooming together. Also, on this particular trip many of the mountain lodging has a limited number of rooms. Suzy spends a lot of time on roommate matching. 99% of our clients are wonderful and you’re only in your room to sleep at night. The best option is to invite a friend. Note, kindness begets kindness. Many of our seasoned travelers bring headsets to drown out any excess noise. We share rooms only to sleep at night.
• Please understand if the AFS room list ends up with unbalanced gender, and forces a single room, we will offer it to all in group. If all decline, we split the added forced cost single room. If you were the last to book we may have to remove you from the trip unless you share in the supplement cost

Extending Your Trip

• Amending tour pre-or post-trip. We honor your independent spirit, but encourage you to extend more days at the trip’s end when you’re acclimated well to the destination. If you add another country, we often see many AFSers on Facebook urging others to join them what do you consider the cost of tours, transport, hotels, etc. Stopovers are great to add, but understand AFS has no responsibility for the quality of your trip. Please understand that we are a group tour organizer and do not have the time or resources sources to arrange private vacations for individuals.

Private Facebook Group Page

• The benefit of the Private FB Group Page is that you have an opportunity to introduce yourself to your fellow travelers before departure and share trip photos during and after the tour. The link can be found in your Wetravel welcome letter after your initial deposit. (We found that some never read the Trip Tips jumping right to the Private FB Group Page assuming they will get all trip info needed. Often, they only receive rumors or misinformation. All important information is ALWAYS emailed to each participant and posted in Trip Tips under UPDATES. Nobody misses a thing.)

Emergency Contact

• AFS phone or text 770-432-8225, or email us at https://afstravelers.com/contact-us/ email us at info@afstravelers.com or Mark from Alpine

Cancellation Policy

• At Adventures For Solo Travelers (AFS), we understand that sometimes unforeseen circumstances may require you to cancel your tour. We have established the following cancellation policy to provide clarity and fairness to all our travelers; thus keeping in line with other tour operators and global suppliers today. A deposit secures your place on an AFS tour. The deposit amount varies by tour and will be clearly stated for each trip. (Cruiseline deposit structure in terms may differ.)
• Deposits Paid- Cancel and You Find a Replacement – $100 Penalty
• • If you cancel your tour and YOU find a replacement, you will be refunded your deposit minus a $100 processing fee. Please note that finding a replacement does not fully alleviate the administrative burden on AFS, as we must still spend time familiarizing the new traveler with the tour details, answering questions, and sending all previous communications. The $100 fee helps offset these costs. You are responsible for finding a suitable replacement and ensuring they meet all AFS eligibility criteria and agree to the terms and conditions of the tour.

Travel Insurance

• While travel insurance is optional, in today’s world we highly encourage you to get standard coverage to cover trip interruption and cancellation. Best source for all is www.insuremytrip.com. CFAR or cancel for any reason covers Covid but is expensive. Note that no company covers for fear.
• Preexisting conditions – If you would like the security of travel insurance and have a pre-existing condition (elderly parent, medical, etc.), you must purchase insurance within 15 days from your initial trip deposit in order to assure full coverage. The trip cost can be amended or adjusted as needed after your initial purchase (eg. like adding an air ticket cost later). You can buy travel insurance at any time, just know that there may be some possible limitations if purchased outside the 15 day period. We like TravelSafe, Allianz or Seven Corners.
• Click here to Purchase Travel Insurance online

AFS Group Etiquette

• Prepare for your departure joyfully with no contempt before investigation upon arrival. Please understand that with travel, things are not like at home and changes may occur. Great trips work best for those with an open mind, flexible attitude and adventuresome spirit. If changes occur, embrace them with serendipity. Who knows?… The unexpected may prove to be a better experience. Adapt and go with the flow with a laid-back attitude. Be spontaneous. Be tolerant of foreign cultures in respecting their centuries of traditions. Embrace the differences. Be curious, not shy. Smile – locals will sense your energy of kindness and kindness always begets kindness. Our common goal is to experience different cultures, make new friends, get great photos, have large fun, and return home safely with memories worthy of recollection.

How to Pack for a Hiking Trip

The art of filling a pack, according to the hiking professionals.

Regardless of the hike you’re planning—a mile-long walk along the oceanfront paths of Acadia National Park or a strenuous multi-day swath of the Appalachian Trail—experts urge bringing many of the same items: extra water and food, the right shoes, a First Aid kit (and more). In the hiking world, such necessities are known as the 10 essentials.

But there’s skill in strategically placing such essentials into a pack. Here, how to pack a bag that was made for the Great Outdoors—straight from those who spend most of their days on the trails.

1. Break in those new shoes before throwing them in your bag.
   Sneakers, trail running shoes, and hiking boots are all acceptable footwear on a day hike; brand new shoes are not, says Carol Christensen, REI Outdoor Programs coordinator. Just-out-of-the-box boots can mean blisters which can quickly evolve into hiking hell. While every pair of shoes takes a different amount of time to break in (leather boots may even call for a few weeks of wear), your best bet is to slowly work them into everyday activities. For a few days, take your shoes for a tour around the house or the neighborhood, then consider hitting a trail for a few miles.
2. Travel with a buff.
   This hiking must is a neck gaiter/bandana/sun guard/scarf that can be worn 16 ways, says Will Elliott ofParagon Guidesin Vail, Colorado. Its versatility, utility, and light weight make it clutch, giving hikers protection from the sun and warmth in a rainstorm, Elliott says.
3. Pack with ‘stuff packs.’
   Christensen consolidates like-minded objects (First Aid items, food, sunscreen) into different bags for organization-sake. “Ziploc bags work great.” Have bulkier items in tow?Compression stuff packs can shrink even the bulkiest of items like sleeping bags, she says.
4. Take your socks seriously.
   “Socks are in a lot of respects more important than shoes,” says Christensen. Cotton ones retain moisture (translation: rubbing and blisters), so pack wool and synthetic blends which wick away perspiration, keeping your feet dry and blister-free.
5. Bring empty grocery bags.
   “They’re plentiful and they do a good job of containing the mess of dirty and grubby stuff,” says Christensen. She also keeps a towel in the car. Drying and cleaning gear is crucial to helping it last longer.
6. Prepare for nature’s call.
   The worst things to forget on a hiking trip could very well be hand sanitizer and a trowel, incase you need to use the facilities, says Christensen.

Plus, for a multi-day hike…

7. Choose calorie-dense foods.
   On longer treks, weight matters. When it comes to food: “A general rule of thumb is to have foods with 150 calories per ounce of weight,” says Wesley Trimble, the program outreach and communications manager for theAmerican Hiking Society. Nuts and granola bars super efficient options.
8. Be resourceful with your hydration.
   How much water you need depends on a myriad of factors including your own physiology and the outside temp. (For reference, Trimble—an expert hiker—carries one liter for every four miles of strenuous hiking.) But what proves more important for longer hikes is bringing a small purifier or filter to safely clean water. “Some weigh inwards of only 3 ounces,” Trimble says.

Around-the-waist hydration bladders also help keep extra water accessible on the trail.

9. Pack for the sequence of your day.
   You’ll find Trimble’s sleeping bag, food to cook, and tent (items he won’t use till nightfall) at the bottom of his pack. Bonus? Placing heavier items at the bottom of your bag also helps keep your center of gravity balanced. Also, consider sticking something softer like a fleece low in your pack for comfort, too, says Elliott. Then, pack daytime necessities like water, sunglasses, and sunscreen last so that they’re easily accessible throughout the day.
10. Invest in the right pack.
    “People have a tendency to pull out a large pack and fill that pack,” says Trimble. A better suggestion: Lay out all of your gear, then choose your bag.

For day trips, a backpack in the 16 to 24 liter-range will cut it, says Trimble. But for multi-day hikes, being fitted for a pack at an outdoor retailer is a must. “Pack fit is incredibly important,” says Trimble. Multi-day packs tend to range anywhere from 50 and 70 liters; and you’ll usually want to avoid packing more than 30 percent of your body weight, Trimble says. (That’s no more than 42 pounds for a 140-pound person). Different packs are built to fit different bodies, so consider looking into one that’s made specifically for women or men that take into account factors like torso length and width.

To avoid discomfort, look for a pack with a supportive hip belt. “You can have 10 or 15 pounds in a pack, but if it’s dragging on your shoulders for three or four hours it can feel like 30 or 40 pounds by the end of the day,” says Christensen. And never buy a bag without testing it. Says Elliott: “All packs will feel good empty.” Don’t want to lug your gear? Ask for weights to put in the pack in the store; many outdoor retailers have them.

11. Do a postmortem after the hike.
    “A lot of beginner hikers often pack for their fears,” says Trimble. (Afraid of going hungry? You’ll overpack food. Dread being smelly? You’ll carry extra deodorant.) Reviewing what went untouched post-hike can help you become a better packer. “After about six trips you can see tendencies; over time, you can adjust,” says Trimble.

Because while the idea of using them seemed cool, binoculars are … heavy.