Getting to the group hotel in Bourg St Pierre from Geneva airport involves a few different trains and buses (but being in Switzerland everything literally runs like clockwork), which begins to show how 'not on the beaten track' this holiday really is.  Only the first and last nights are in hotels, the five nights in between are in stunning and remote mountain huts.  The huts themselves are each very different and most certainly unique, my group could not decide if the Cabane de Panossiere on day 3 or the much more remote and traditional Cabane de Chanrion on day 4 was their favourite.  
 
The Panossiere most certainly wins on views, from the sun terrace you look straight up the incredible Corbassiere Glacier to the most perfect view of 'our mountain'; Gran Combin. However personally the Cabane de Chanrion was a real stand out for me, a true remote and traditional mountain hut (which also means very basic facilities) - there was something about this hut, something special, a real feeling of being out in the mountains and coming together with other trekkers and climbers at dinner time to talk about everyone's adventures.  A special mention however must go out to the St Bernard Monastery on day 7, a lovely surprise and well worth a look around the treasury.
 

The first day is a simple yet gorgeous walk traversing alpine pastures up to the first mountain hut, from here the days feel a little more 'wild' with impressive glaciers, vast alpine views and of course quiet trails. My favourite among these was day 4, a genuinely fantastic days walking in the alps; starting with a the Col des Otaines giving wonderful views back to the Gran Combin followed by traditional meadows, a quick stop for coffee and cake before walking up through a 250m dam continuing through meadows, crossing the Col de Tsofeuret which again offers views of the Gran Combin but from a very different location and onwards to the Cabane de Chanrion. Finishing the day by hearing about other peoples adventures over dinner.
 
If you have already done or are looking for a quieter alternative to the Tour du Mont Blanc this could just be the gem you are looking for.

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