For anyone who enjoys photographing and viewing spectacular landscapes and enjoys shorter walking days and excellent food and drink, the highlight trip ticks all boxes.
The whole trip was extremely well organised with all transport being provided and a free bus pass being available for travelling on public transport. The walks cover a variety of terrains and there are some steep ascents and descents but well worth it for the views. The pace was very comfortable and allowed plenty of photo opportunities and drink stops.
The whole pace of the tour is very relaxed with a 9am set off time and a 4 pm finish. This was unlike any other trek I'd been on and the added bonus was cake and tea waiting for you at the chalet on the return and the choice of finishing the day in the hot tub. This helped the group bond together quickly and the chalet accommodation is perfect with a communal dining area and vegging out area where free tea and coffee was made available.
The location of the chalet was perfect. Chaminox centre is a 10 min walk away and there is plenty of choice should you wish to eat or drink out. Likewise, for the free day, there is plenty to choose from (depending whether or not you go out of season) and we had no problem in filling the free day. Both the tour guide and Sarah and Rich (the chalet hosts) were on hand to provide details of what to do and how to go about arranging this.
Big thanks to Sarah and Rich who really did go out of their way to make everyone feel welcome. Sarah's cooking is excellent and each night there was a 3 course meal waiting for us which had a specific theme. The home made cake at the end of each walk was also welcome and delicious. The daily picnics were a treat as you were able to choose what you wanted to take and the selection was always healthy and freshly made. They really do a fantastic job and are very approachable, helpful and friendly. They were excellent at recommending places to eat and drink whilst in Chamonix and organised the booking of our paragliding sessions for the free day so we knew exactly where we needed to be and when. Much appreciated guys!
So, I would definitely recommend this holiday to anyone who is looking for a more relaxed walking holiday, with a later start time and earlier finish time than the usual trekking holiday. The pace was comfortable, there are some challenging walks due to the terrain and the steepness of some of the climbs but the pace is comfortable and there is plenty of opportunity to stop and take in the sights. Apart from the free day and a few beers there is little else to spend your money on so it is not expensive unless you decide to eat out or shop in Chamonix.
Fab holiday
This was truly a GREAT week and a GREAT walking tour! It starts with the friendly Chalet where you live, to the guide (Oliver) who is simply superb to the actual trekking days which were all very nicely planned out and offered a little bit of a different twist to every day to keep it exciting!
A fantastic combination of a very friendly group, wonderful guide and the culinary delights of Chalet Chamonix. Quite a jackpot! We enjoyed it all and the mountains and breathtaking views lived up to all expectations. We also benefited from a tremendous work out each day for legs more accustomed to the flat lands of The Netherlands! It was a great experience.
The unassuming superstars of Chalet Chamonix are Sarah and Rich whose hospitality and delicious food exceeded our expectations; I think they must set a new culinary standard for Exodus trips! The teatime cakes and international cuisine at dinner created a welcome and unexpected element to the trip which was quite a talking point.
Our group had quite a discussion about the activity grading of this trip, most felt that parts of it felt more strenuous than the indicated 'Moderate 3' might suggest. However, you do feel like you have had a very full and enjoyable week at the end.