Our Chamonix walks week, explore the classic trails

Chamonix, France is easily reached from other European and worldwide destinations by road, rail, coach or plane.

If travelling by plane, Geneva is the closest international airport, only 1h15 by road which makes shared transfers, buses or trains easy to arrange.

For your trip we will arrange return airport transfers with our partners at Mountain Drop-Offs at one set time yet to be decided.

Please contact us if you need further advice on your specific travel requirements.

It is your responsibility to ensure any insurance taken out is appropriate for your trip and the activity you will be undertaking. Tracks & Trails cannot advise on insurance policies or be held responsible if, in the event of a claim, your insurance is inadequate. 

Activity, Injury and Mountain Rescue It is a condition of booking you are insured for mountain rescue, medical expenses, injury, illness, death, cost of repatriation and personal accident risks. The exception to the mountain rescue insurance requirement is if the trip is taking place in the United Kingdom or Norway where mountain rescue is free of charge. Ensure your insurance covers you to the maximum altitude given on your trip itinerary. The maximum altitude can be checked in the 'At A Glance' box on the trip page. 

Trip Cancellation/Curtailment Insurance Insurance should be booked as soon as we confirm your trip is going ahead. Deposit and balance payments are non-refundable unless it is Tracks and Trails who cancel the trip due to a failure to reach the minimum numbers required. In this case we offer a full refund or the option to transfer to another trip.

Baggage Loss/Equipment Damage We advise insurance which covers baggage loss/equipment damage.

All the above is detailed in our Terms and Conditions. For further information on insurance options click here.

When packing for a hiking trip in the mountains it's important to have appropriate equipment and clothing. This kit list features items we believe are necessary for the weather you might encounter and accommodation you will be staying in. 

Equipment 

• Walking boots - waterproof & comfortable (walking shoes are acceptable, but might not be suitable if wet or snowy weather)
• Walking Poles – optional, but highly recommended
• Rucksack – 20-25 litres, ideally with a chest & waist strap 
• Rucksack liner/cover - to keep contents dry 
• Water container - bottle/hydration system 
• Gaiters - useful, but not essential
• Emergency foil blanket

Clothing

• Waterproof Jacket - essential
• Waterproof Trousers - we reserve the right to ask you to purchase waterproof trousers if necessary, or to ask you to miss a day if you are not properly equipped for the weather
• Trousers - walking trousers that allow free movement
• Shorts/skort
• Sun hat 
• Warm hat 
• Gloves 
• Base layer - such as t-shirt/thermal tops 
• Fleece jacket/top 
• Socks - technical walking socks
• Duvet jacket/warm second layer
• Thermal leggings - optional, and only needed if a cold day

Comfort

• Sunscreen - this is essential and a total ‘bloc’ is useful
• Lip salve 
• Sunglasses – essential as the sun can be extremely strong in the mountains
• Toilet/tissues - plus a few biodegradable bags to dispose of rubbish
• Anti-bacterial hand wash
• Swimwear - if your accommodation has a pool/sauna

Personal First Aid

• Personal medication 
• Blister plasters 
• Painkillers/Anti-inflammatories
• Glucose tablets/Energy gel
• 2 x Re-hydration sachets - eg Dioralyte
• Throat lozenges
• Antiseptic cream/spray

Documentation

• Mountain Rescue Insurance  - compulsory
• Passport
• Credit card
• Cash - Euros
• GHIC - if travelling from UK for medical cover

Additional Items

• Slippers for use at accommodation
• Clothing for use at accommodation
• Camera/ Book/Music
• Toiletries - soap/shower gel
• Ear plugs - if room sharing
• Small thermos for hot drinks
• Head torch - plus spare batteries, useful if room sharing
• 1x Medium size kit bag/holdall/suitcase

**Supplementary snacks if you follow a gluten free or coeliac diet**

Leaders are all first aid trained and carry their own first aid kit 

Adventure Lightly, Leave Only Footprints

• Local guides - led by those who live in the area

• Hop on a train – easy, stress-free travel to our daily hikes

• Feel at home – stay in family run accommodation wherever possible

• Keep it green – our stays are big on recycling!

• Say no to single-use – help us cut down on plastic waste

• Leave no trace – everything, even tissues, comes off the mountain with you

When creating private trips for guests your trip fee does not include the cost of additional expenses such as transport, accommodation or cable cars which may be required to complete your route due to itinerary changes. We aim to complete the agreed itinerary, however, in terms of both safety and enjoyment the route can only be followed when conditions/weather are appropriate. Your guide will make a decision on your route based on those conditions. Any decision by your guide will be final and indisputable. We therefore, if required, ask that you are prepared to cover these unforeseen expenses. It is rare that we need to apply this, but by operating on a case-by-case basis we avoid building these costs into your agreed trip price.

Tracks and Trails go to great lengths to work with first class guides who are passionate about their work. They are fully qualified, insured, and hold the correct documentation. Your guide has our authority to make any route changes they believe are necessary in the interests of safety and enjoyment. Your hiking guide will be a qualified International Mountain Leader. IML's are not only qualified to ensure the safe management of the group, but are also a source of knowledge about the local flora and fauna, culture and traditions. You can learn more about our guides on the About Us page.

Summer mountain weather in the European Alps can vary considerably, and in this respect it is no different to any mountain environment where the terrain influences the weather and it can change from valley to valley. In the summer it is generally good, but it can be everything from glorious sunshine, to rain, fog, high winds and even snow. Temperatures can reach over 30°Celsius (86°F) in July and August, but drop to 5°Celsius (41°F) on the high passes, or 'Cols' as they are known in the Alps. Essentially, as with all mountain journeys, you should be prepared for any eventuality. The average temperatures range from 15-25°Celsius (59-77°F) in the valleys and 5-15°Celsius (41-59°F) on the passes. Even in mid-summer we can be faced with overnight snow.

Plastic credit or debit cards or smartphone pay systems are increasingly accepted throughout the areas where we run trips. Some countries, such as Norway, are moving towards a cashless society. However, in Europe, in the mountain areas where we run trips, a small amount of cash in the local currency is useful. For example, if you stop at a family-run mountain cafe or farm they may not accept cards or smartphone systems, and cash will be necessary. We recommend having enough cash in the local currency to pay for a few snacks and drinks. Whether to bring cash or not is at your own discretion.

A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required. We suggest keeping your passport in your rucksack, and a paper copy of your passport in your luggage. If your trip does not include luggage support carry a paper copy with you, but separate from your passport. You should check passport requirements with the relevant embassy or consulate for the country you are visiting, paying attention to your citizenship. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Visa requirements and charges are subject to change without notice.  

NEW European Travel Regulations 2026 If you are travelling to Europe you may be impacted by a change to travel regulations. In the last quarter of 2026, the European Commission will roll out a U.S. style electronic travel authorisation system for visitors from countries that are currently not part of the EU. It is your responsibility to check for updates with regard to the introduction date.

We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at: Plug, Socket & Voltage by Country

If your trip involves staying in a mountain refuge/rifugio/hut a slimline and lightweight 'battery pack' can be useful for recharging phones etc. This type of accommodation will generally have electricity, but it may be limited in supply, and it is not always possible to charge items.

Tracks and Trails pays guides/instructors a fair and appropriate fee for their professional service. If you feel your guide/instructor has provided an excellent service that went 'above and beyond' then it is at the discretion of each guest whether to tip or not.  Guests will often give a tip of between 2 - 5 per cent of the total value of their trip. It is entirely up to you and any gesture will no doubt be appreciated no matter the size. 

Before booking consider whether you expect to be in the appropriate physical condition on the date of your departure to allow you to fully participate in and enjoy your holiday. If you have any doubts because of an illness or injury it would be advisable to check with your doctor. We advise you always carry your insurance documents with details of the Emergency Medical telephone number for your insurance provider, and your policy number. 

GHIC For UK residents travelling to an EU country you should obtain and bring your Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). The GHIC gives access to state healthcare in Europe either free or at a reduced cost. The GHIC is not a substitute for medical travel insurance.

EHIC If you have a UK European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) it will be valid until the expiry date on the card. Once it expires, you should apply for a GHIC.

We feel strongly about protecting the environment and do not encourage the use of single-use plastic items. We would ask that you arrive with a ‘water bottle’ or ‘hydration system’ that can be used repeatedly. We operate a zero tolerance for rubbish, and would ask you to remove all items from the mountain, this includes toilet tissue, and those items you consider to be bio-degradable.

The waste water in mountain huts, also known as refuges/rifugios, often runs into nearby streams and rivers with a potential impact on the eco-system, though in many places steps are now being taken to avoid this. Whether or not your trip involves staying in a mountain hut we would nevertheless recommend you consider nature friendly sunscreens which only contain mineral UV-blocking ingredients such as oxide, and titanium dioxide.

You can read our Sustainable Travel Policy here.

We do not include lunches in your trip fee for various reasons, the most important of which is food waste. Most people have particular tastes and requirements for 'trail' or 'hill' food and it is better you purchase your own snacks rather than throw away items from the picnic lunch which we would supply. Lunches on our trips are 'picnic' style lunches, in other words you take a packed lunch with sufficient snacks, food and fluid to sustain you throughout the day. Buying snacks and trying local specialities is a great way to inter-act with local people and to practise your language skills.

If there is the possibility of lunch being taken at a restaurant/farm/cafe beside the trail, your guide/instructor will advise you of this. Each evening you can order a picnic/sandwich from your accommodation, or your guide/instructor will advise you of options such as a local shop or market. In all cases we would ask you to settle any 'bill' for lunch or drinks the evening before you depart, and not in the morning when there may be a queue.