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Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach, riding about 75 miles to Villar sur Ollon, transfer time approx. 1.5 hours. Hotel check-in is at 3:00 p.m.
Dinner: Welcome dinner at the hotel. Water is included in the program cost at all meals. Unless otherwise noted, dinners on this program are typically a three course set menu.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off public bus and train, riding approx. 25 minutes, over 8 miles for return journey. Up to 6 miles of walking for 4 hours on natural forest trails and on cobblestones. There are some passages which are quite steep and slippery. Trails could be muddy and some small streams could have a extra water. In the morning, there is an elevation gain of approx. 330 feet, and a loss of approx. 1165 feet. In the afternoon, there is first a loss of 315 feet, followed by a gain of 65 feet
Breakfast: At the hotel. On this program, breakfasts will offer a typical European style breakfast buffet with breads, cheeses, cold-cuts, yogurt, fruit, cereals, juice, milk, coffee, tea and water.
Morning: Starting from the hotel, we will take a short walk to the bus station to transfer by public bus to Solalex (4820 feet), a beautiful mountain pasture under the breathtaking cliff, Miroir d’Argentine. We will discover local geology and then walk through pine forests and alpine meadows to Barboleuse (3973 feet).
Lunch: At a local restaurant in Barboleuse.
Afternoon: After lunch, we will gently walk to Gryon (3655 feet) and enjoy a visit of this picturesque village full of history. We will return to Villars via train.
Dinner: On your own to explore the local fare of your choice. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off public bus and train, riding approx. 30 minutes, over 10 miles for return journey. Up to 5 miles of walking for 3.5 hours on natural and mountain trails. The morning trail begins with a gradual 200-foot ascent, with a total gain of approx. 490 feet, and an elevation loss of approx. 330 feet. In the afternoon, there is an elevation gain of approx.130 feet, and a loss of 985 feet.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We will begin the morning with a walk to the bus stop and travel by local transportation to Col de la Croix, the starting point of today's walking field trip. We'll walk across alpine meadows with the stunning Swiss and French Alps at every turn. During our hike, we will enjoy a field lecture about life as a Swiss Alpine Farmer. Taste some different Swiss Cheeses prepared by your local guide.
Lunch: Fondue at a local restaurant.
Afternoon: From the restaurant, we will walk in the direction of Villars through forest and meadow scenery, with various explanations about the places we see. We will take the cog train back down to Villars.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfers in the morning.
Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach, riding about 83 miles, approx. 2.5 hours driving time. Up to 0.5 miles of walking on the St. Bernard Pass, with a gradual 65-foot descent. Up to 1 mile of walking for 2 hours on natural trails and cobblestones in Cogne with minimal change in elevation.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: Following check-out, we will transfer by private coach down to the Rhone Valley and up to the incredible St. Bernard Pass (8114 feet), an ancient Roman transalpine route and more recently the path of Napoleon's army into Italy in 1800. En-route there is an excursion to the St. Bernard Museum, the first hospice founded as early as 1049 and appropriately named after Saint Bernard. This name later became famous for the St. Bernard dogs, loyal companions to the monks and mainly used as rescue and watchdogs. Learn about the "History of the Great St. Bernard Pass and the St. Bernard Dogs" during a field lecture.
Lunch: At a local restaurant.
Afternoon: We will continue on the winding road down to the French and Italian speaking Valle d’Aosta in Italy, and on to Cogne (5032 feet), the main gateway to the Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso, founded in 1922. Upon arrival, we will attend an orientation stroll through the town, including a visit of the Maison Gérard Dayné, which is one of the best examples of Aosta Valley traditional architecture.
Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off public bus, riding approx. 25 minutes, over 9 miles total. Up to 7 miles of easy walking for 4.5 hours on forest trails and on cobblestones. At first the trail has a gradual elevation loss of 655 feet, followed by a gentle ascent of 165 feet.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: After a short walk to the bus stop, there will be a short transfer by local bus to the hamlet of Valnontey, where our walking field trip begins. We will start on a gentle one-way trail along the Valnontey River, passing through forests of coniferous and larch trees to the Alpe Vermiana (5800 feet). Experience fabulous views as we walk closer to the permanently snow-covered Gran Paradiso Mountains. Today's field lectures include "Alpine Garden in Valnontey". We will return by public bus to Cogne and walk back to the hotel.
Lunch: At the hotel.
Afternoon: Following lunch, we will walk to the public bus stop, where we will transfer by local bus to the village of Lillaz (5304 feet) and the Lillaz waterfall. Our walking field trip begins here, continues along the Urtier River, and ends in Cogne. Enjoy the beautiful views of the mountain peaks and glaciers.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off public bus, riding approx. 1 hour and 40 minutes, over 34 miles for return journey. Up to 2 miles of walking for 2 hours on cobblestones with minimal change in elevation.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: After a short walk to the bus stop, we will then transfer by public bus to the attractive mountain town of Aosta (1912 feet), founded by the Romans in 25 BC - primarily a military camp, and called the “Rome of the Alps.” The setting of this town is pure enchantment, surrounded by mountains. The Roman layout of the streets of Aosta, with its narrow cobbled streets and overhanging upper stories, give the town a very alpine flair. We will hear a lecture called "Aosta and Cogne – Past and Present."
Lunch: Explore local fare on your own in Aosta.
Afternoon: Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most, before returning by public bus to Cogne. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities, which can be found in the first Information Packet.The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions.
Dinner: At a local restaurant.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off public bus, riding approx. 10 minutes, over 4 miles for return journey. Up to 6 miles of walking for 4.5 hours on mountain and natural trails. There are some passages on rough terrain with narrow paths or tree roots. This is a circular trail with a gradual elevation gain and loss of 1315 feet.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: Departing the hotel on foot, we will then transfer by local transportation to the old village of Gimillan (5900 feet), built on a natural terrace. From there, we will walk across alpine meadows and take in the panoramic views of the majestic mountains of the Gran Paradiso National Park. We will learn about Gimillan and the national park during a field lecture
Lunch: Picnic on the trail.
Afternoon: We will return to Cogne by public bus. In the late afternoon, we will have a demonstration of how to cook the traditional polenta, learning about the story of this dish while tasting local wine.
Dinner: At a local restaurant.
Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfers in the morning.
Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach, driving about 1.25 hours, over 45 miles. Up to 1 mile of walking for 2 hours on cobblestones in town with minimal change in elevation.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: After checking out of the hotel, we will transfer by private coach to Chamonix, with an stop and walk en-route in Courmayeur, a striking and fashionable resort located at the foot of Mont Blanc. We will then continue through the Mont Blanc tunnel to Chamonix (3395 feet).
Lunch: At the hotel.
Afternoon: After check-in, rejoin the group for a walking field trip of Chamonix. Today's field lecture covers the past and present of Chamonix, and Michel Paccard, the first climber of Mont Blanc (15,780 feet) in 1786.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off cable car, riding approx. 40 minutes for return journey. Up to 1 mile of walking for 1 hour on a flat rocky dirt path. At some passages there are large rocks and loose scree. We recommend poles. Visiting Aiguille du Midi involves standing for 2 hours at 12,604 feet and a short walk.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: Following breakfast, we will take a short walk to the valley station. Here, we will ride the cable car up Mont Blanc, enjoying the marvelous views as it first climbs to Plan de l’Aiguille (7600 feet) and then to Aiguille du Midi (12,604 feet). The panorama on a clear day is simply one of the best in the Alps, with views of mountains as far as the eye can see. If the sky is clear, you may even get a glimpse of the Matterhorn! This is a wonder that attracts people from all over the world. We'll hear a field lecture on the Aiguille du Midi and Mont Blanc. We will then walk from the middle station Plan de l'Aiguille (7600 feet) to the Lac Bleu Lake. We will return to the valley by cable car and walk back to the hotel.
Lunch: Explore the local fare on your own.
Afternoon: Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do more of what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities, which can be found in the first Information Packet. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off public bus and cable car, riding approx. 1 hour, over 14 miles for return journey. Up to 5 miles of walking for 3.5 hours on natural and mountain trails. At first the trail has minor elevation changes, and at the end there is an elevation loss of approx. 985 feet.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We will walk to the local bus stop, take a short bus ride to the village of Le Tours, and then continue by cable car to "Les Autannes" (7200 feet). From there, we will start a circular hike with only minor elevation changes to "Refuge de Col de Balme" (at the Swiss border). From this point, we can enjoy wonderful views over the whole valley and the Mont Blanc range. We will learn about the Chamonix Valley and Mont Blanc during a field lecture.
Lunch: Picnic on the trail.
Afternoon: We will walk down to "Charmillon," the intermediate station of the cable car (elevation loss of 1130 feet) and continue back by cable car and local bus to Chamonix.
Dinner: Enjoy a farewell drink at the hotel, followed by dinner at a local restaurant. Share your favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfers in the morning.
Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach, driving about 1 hour, over approx. 51 miles; getting on/off rack railway and cable car, riding approx. 25 minutes for return journey. To reach La Mer de Glace from the cable car there are over 500 steps down and 500 up on an iron grid stair.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We will take a short walk to the valley station of La Mer de Glace. The Montenvers rack railway starts from Chamonix and in 20 minutes reaches the bottom of the Mer de Glace (6279 feet), France's largest glacier (approx. 4 miles long, 656 feet thick). Then a cable car will take us to the ice cave. This historic site marked the start of Alpine tourism in the 19th century and offers a panoramic view of famous peaks such as Les Drus and Les Grandes Jorasses. We will travel back to the valley by the railway.
Lunch: Explore local fare on your own in Chamonix.
Afternoon: We will transfer by private coach to the hotel in Geneva, Switzerland. Spend the remainder of the day exploring Geneva. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. You may want to see the large fountain Jet d'eau, the European headquarters of the United Nations, Palais des Nations, or Saint Peter's Cathedral. There are also many museums and gardens to see in Geneva. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities, which can be found in the first Information Packet. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions or give directions.
Dinner: Explore local fare on your own.
Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity note: Hotel check-out by 12:00 Noon. See your program’s “Transportation Information” regarding transfers.
Breakfast: At the hotel. This concludes our program.
Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!