Mont Blanc massif

Tour of Mont Blanc Camp

A backpacking summer camp for teens

  • Ages 13–17
  • 7 days
  • Comfort: Rustic
  • July to August 2027 · 8 start dates
From CHF 1'300 / week · Swiss resident
From CHF 1'900 / week · International participant

01 / 09 · About the trip

A backpacking summer camp for teens

The summer hiking camp: Tour du Mont Blanc for teens is a mythical, breathtaking hike around the Mont Blanc massif in the Alps.

Kid-friendly, meaning short days and less steep climbs, the trek offers a chance to immerse yourself in the area’s rich natural heritage. We’ll hike every day for around 4 hours, sleep in tents and mountain huts, build camps, take part in afternoon activities and learn unique facts about geology, biology and astronomy.

For parents Watch the parents' webinar
  • Ages 13–17
  • 7 days
  • Comfort: Rustic
  • July to August 2027 · 8 start dates

Activities Hiking

From CHF 1'300 / week · Swiss resident
From CHF 1'900 / week · International participant

02 / 09 · Day by day

Day by day

7 days, the same every week.

Download the programme

Day 1

Chamonix to Trient

We embark on an enchanting adventure starting from the picturesque village of Le Tour, starting an ascent through the green mountain pastures to reach the Col de Balme (2191m), located on the French-Swiss border. From here we enjoy one last look at the beautiful Chamonix valley and the imposing Aiguilles Rouges massif before descending through green pastures and dense forests, finally arriving at the charming village of Trient (1326m). We settle in for the night at the picturesque campsite of Col de la Forclaz.

  • Elevation gain: 600 m
  • Descent: 600 m

Hiking

Day 2

Trient to La Fouly

We climb into a lush forest overlooking the Rhone Valley and Martigny, reaching the peaceful mountain pastures of La Bovine (1987m), an idyllic place for our picnic in the middle of the Hérens cows. Then we descend to the Plan de l’Au, finish the route in Champex (1482m) and take a bus to reach the campsite of La Fouly, passing through charming traditional Swiss villages.

  • Elevation gain: 460 m
  • Descent: 500 m

Hiking

Day 3

La Fouly to Val Ferret (Italian side)

After a short transfer to the bottom of the valley (1802m), we climb through the Swiss mountain pastures, to meet the shepherds and their flocks of sheep, as well as the famous grey cows with “bear’s ears”. We finally reach the Grand Col Ferret (2490m) on the Italian-Swiss border, with a breathtaking view of the south faces of the Mont Blanc massif and the emblematic Mont Dolent. The descent takes place in front of the magnificent glaciers of Pré de Bar and Miage, leading to the bottom of the Italian Val Ferret at Arnuva (1769m). We spend the night at the campsite in Planpincieux.

  • Elevation gain: 500 m
  • Descent: 600 m

Hiking

Day 4

Val Ferret to Courmayeur

We embark on a delightful crossing of the Montagne de Saxe, starting from the hamlet of Lavachey (1650m) and reaching the mythical Walter Bonatti refuge. Through the charming valley of Malatra, we reach the passes “Entre deux sauts” (2521m) and “Col des Sapins” (2435m) before following the path of Val Sapin to reach the hamlet of Villair Superiore. We then enjoy the delights of Courmayeur and a well-deserved ice cream, before heading to the Val Veny campsite.

  • Elevation gain: 650 m
  • Descent: 700 m

Hiking

Day 5

Val Veny to Les Chapieux

Starting from the hamlet of La Visaille (1659m), we follow the sparkling waters of Lake Combal, gradually reaching the Italian-French border and the Col de la Seigne (2516m), bidding farewell to the Italian side of Mont Blanc. We descend through the picturesque Beaufortin mountain pastures, with their herds of goats and velvet-eyed Tarines cows, to finally reach Les Chapieux where we spend the night at the campsite.

  • Elevation gain: 500 m
  • Descent: 600 m

Hiking

Day 6

Les Chapieux to Les Contamines

Today we embark on a hike to the Col du Bonhomme (2433m), crossing breathtaking mountain pastures with the potential for surprising encounters.

Hiking

Day 7

Chamonix

Transport to Chamonix and multi-activities.

Multisports

02 / 09 · The club in action

The club in action

Short videos from our YouTube channel: days out with the club.

03 / 09 · What we do

What we do

  • Activities included: Climbing, Water Sports, Camping, Mountain Refuge, Survival Workshop … and much more!
  • Hiking Mornings: Conquer the emblematic trails, supervised by our experienced guides.
  • Every day offers a new discovery, from sunrise over snow-capped peaks to crossing flower-filled valleys.
  • Multisport Evenings: After a day in the mountains, the evenings are devoted to a variety of sports activities!
  • Afternoons are reserved for team games: imagine raft-building competitions, where cooperation and ingenuity will be your best allies for navigating the calm waters of a mountain lake. The evenings are enlivened by nightly orientation challenges, building trust and collaboration under a starry sky.

Reserve your week

Panoramic view of the Swiss Alps – setting for the best summer camp in Europe

04 / 09 · Where we stay

Where we stay

This is a travel camp, where we sleep in several locations in the Alpine region of the Mont Blanc, in tents and mountain huts.

  • Col de la Forclaz (Trient)
  • La Fouly
  • Planpincieux (Val Ferret, Italian side)
  • Val Veny
  • Les Chapieux

Learn about the club

0% wifi · 100% funPhones go in the box on Sunday and come out on Saturday. Parents get the news from us, every evening.

05 / 09 · Safety & philosophy

How we do it

At Young Explorers Club, safety comes first in everything we do outdoors. We keep strict measures in place so that every child, whatever their age, feels safe throughout their stay:

  • SafetyOur leaders and instructors are trained and experienced in the outdoors
  • SafetySomeone responsible for first aid and crisis management is always present
  • SafetyA participant to staff ratio of 5:1
  • PhilosophySmall groups One leader for every five children, so every child is known by name.
  • PhilosophyChildren choose Every day offers real options, and nobody is pushed into what they are not ready for.
  • PhilosophyOutside, all day Phones stay away for the week: the mountain is more interesting.
  • PhilosophyMany languages, one table Children from different countries share the same games, meals and campfire.
  • PhilosophyLeaders, not babysitters Chosen for how they are with children as much as for what they can climb.

06 / 09 · Bilingual and International: English and French

Bilingual and International: English and French

The Young Explorers Club summer camp welcomes international and Swiss participants in a bilingual, multicultural environment. Our activities take place mainly in English, but French is also integrated, enabling all children to feel included.

Our team speaks multiple languages (English, French, German and others), creating a supportive environment, whether your child is fluent in English or is just starting to learn it.

The Club: Its history

06 / 09 · A varied and action-packed programme

A varied and action-packed programme

At camp, we believe in experiential learning and the importance of understanding and preserving our natural environment. That’s why we offer a variety of educational workshops that enrich your outdoor experience:

  • Workshops on Fauna and Flora.
  • Outdoor Survival Techniques.
  • Preservation of the Environment.

Our Philosophy

07 / 09 · What families say

What families say

07 / 09 · Instagram & YouTube

Follow the adventure

08 / 09 · Questions

Trip information and FAQs

What's included
  • The price includes all costs of the participant during the camp period, i.e. all public or private transport during the camp, food, accommodation costs, and any common group equipment (tents and any other equipment related to the activities, harness and climbing equipment).
  • All inclusive: activities, accommodation, food, tours, etc.
  • Airport shuttle: transport from / to Geneva Airport included, for international participants.

Not included: round-trip transportation to the meeting point and any personal equipment: sleeping bag (contact us if you need it), clothing and other personal expenses.

Packing list

Everything to bring is on our material list.

Meeting point & travel

For Swiss participants, the meeting point for all the different sessions of the camps is at Lausanne Train Station. From Lausanne, transport is organized to the departure of the camp. Another meeting point will be organized from Geneva airport for international participants (included in the price).

Languages

We believe in bringing together an international community, which is why the languages spoken at the camp are French and English, which is what we have seen from our past experience and the huge benefit of mixing Francophones and Anglophones and learning from both groups.

Why should I attend this camp?

Participating in the “Tour du Mont Blanc” summer camp is an incomparable experience that combines adventure, learning and personal discovery in one of the most spectacular mountain environments in the world.

It’s a chance to immerse yourself in the stunning natural beauty, challenge yourself physically while hiking around the Mont Blanc massif, and develop leadership and teamwork skills through various activities.

You will also have the opportunity to meet young people from diverse backgrounds, enriching your experience through cultural sharing.

This camp offers much more than just an adventure: it’s a quest for personal growth, independence, and memories that will last a lifetime.

Itinerary and activities

Our Program of Activities evolves every year to stay fresh, exciting, and meaningful. We continuously improve the schedule, introduce new experiences, and refine our workshops based on feedback from campers and families.

To see the most up-to-date and detailed program, please refer to the brochure, which outlines the full schedule, activity options, and special highlights for the upcoming summer.

Do you have any other questions?

We believe in human-to-human interaction: write to us via our contact methods and schedule a call or meeting with one of our employees.

We will be happy to answer any doubts or questions you may have. Or find the list of all frequently asked questions on FAQs.

Trip brochure

Everything in one PDF: the programme, what to pack, travel and practical details.

For parents Watch the parents' webinar

09 / 09 · Availability

Availability & booking

Every week is the same programme, and each has its own price. Stay one week, or several in a row.

Your bookings

  • No week chosen yetTick the weeks below — one, or several in a row.

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From CHF 1'300 Swiss resident

From CHF 1'900 International participant

Reserve

Nothing is charged here — the form comes next.

July 2027

Ages 13–17 7 places left CHF 1'300 Swiss resident CHF 1'900 International participant Reserve this week
Ages 13–17 7 places left CHF 1'300 Swiss resident CHF 1'900 International participant Reserve this week
Ages 13–17 7 places left CHF 1'300 Swiss resident CHF 1'900 International participant Reserve this week
Ages 13–17 7 places left CHF 1'300 Swiss resident CHF 1'900 International participant Reserve this week

August 2027

Ages 13–17 7 places left CHF 1'300 Swiss resident CHF 1'900 International participant Reserve this week
Ages 13–17 7 places left CHF 1'300 Swiss resident CHF 1'900 International participant Reserve this week
Ages 13–17 7 places left CHF 1'300 Swiss resident CHF 1'900 International participant Reserve this week
Ages 13–17 7 places left CHF 1'300 Swiss resident CHF 1'900 International participant Reserve this week