Tour du Mont Blanc Day 6: Balcony Trails and Gelato in Courmayeur

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Tour du Mont Blanc Day 6: Balcony Trails and Gelato in Courmayeur

On Thursday, July 17th, our sixth day on the TMB, we explored the incredible balcony trails high above the Aosta Valley before descending into the classic Italian alpine town of Courmayeur. [3 minute recap video]

A Snail's Pace and a Sunny Climb

We started our morning in the lovely little town of Lavachey, feeling a bit sluggish after the previous day's monster hike. After some playful shadow dancing to get our energy up, we set off along a gorgeous stream, admiring the milky, glacial-blue water. The trail soon began to climb out of the shady woods and into the warm morning sun.

As we gained elevation, the trail turned into a spectacular balcony path. The views of the Aosta Valley really started to open up, and looking back, we could even spot our lunch spot from the day before! It's always a wild perspective to see how far you've come in just 24 hours. The trail continued to climb to a ridgeline with fantastic views of the Mont Blanc tunnel system far below—an amazing feat of engineering.

Lunch with a View and a Long Descent

We continued along the balcony trail to the Rifugio Giorgio Bertone. We found a perfect spot just below the refuge to enjoy our lunch while soaking in the incredible scenery. After our break, it was time to head down. It was a long, steep descent, and we were definitely glad to be going down rather than up!

Cabin next to Rifugio Giorgio Bertone

The path eventually led us into the charming, bustling town of Courmayeur. We navigated the cute, narrow alleys to the center of town for a well-deserved Italian reward: gelato followed by pizza. And yes, in that order!

A Lift to the Heavens

After enjoying the town, we walked to the other side to catch a series of lifts up to our accommodation for the night. It took a gondola and a chairlift to reach our destination, a testament to how high up it was. The view from our room at the Gite le Randonneur was absolutely breathtaking and surrounded by bell-wearing cows. It was a fantastic place to spend the night, perched high above the valley.

Day 6 by the Numbers

A day of incredible balcony views and a fun descent into a classic Italian town.