Learn about the Mount Blanc Brigade, SOE, OSS, the French Resistance and the battle of valley Blanche.
Join us as we follow in the footsteps of WW2 legends.
Includes breakfast, dinner, all transfers in country, expedition ski hire, lift passes, equipment, and guides for 7 days.
Does not include flights to Geneva.
£2750 can be paid in 3 easy instalments.
JOIN US FOR AN EPIC 7-DAY EXPEDITION SKI-TOURING ADVENTURE.
Follow in the footsteps of the elite Mont Blanc Brigade, the legendary OSS Mission Union, and the fearless Maquis across the high-altitude battlefields of the French Alps. Visiting rugged mountain ridges, secret drop zones, and the historic hub of Chamonix, this 7-day expedition is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Come and learn their story.
The Mont Blanc Brigade: Elite Alpine Warriors
The 1er Bataillon de Haute Montagne, known as the Mont Blanc Brigade, was France’s elite alpine unit. Comprising world-class skiers, mountain guides, and woodsmen, they underwent specific training to endure the harsh conditions of high-altitude warfare. Their campaign in the winter of 1944-45 provided the specialised skills needed to finally break the stalemate in the German alpine defences.
Mission Union: OSS in the Shadows
One of the most unique aspects of the Savoyard campaign was the inclusion of the OSS team Mission Union. Led by the legendary Marine Captain Peter Ortiz, these soldiers proved their mettle alongside the local Maquis. Together, they launched daring raids on key objectives and sabotage missions, cementing a bond of brotherhood between the Free French and the Americans that remains today.
The Battle of the High Ice: Vallée Blanche
In April 1945, the Mont Blanc Brigade achieved what the Germans thought was impossible. Under the cover of total darkness, they hauled a 75mm mountain gun onto the frozen expanse of the Vallée Blanche. By capturing this "unscalable" glacier position at over 3,500m, they neutralised German observation posts and cleared the way for the final push, shattering the enemy's mountain line.
The Maquis of Savoy: Breaking the Occupation
Across the rugged ridges of the Beaufortain, the resistance fighters of the Savoyard Maquis battled through the marble-like ice and deep snow. Despite facing immense pressure and isolation, they became one of the most effective unconventional units in military history. Their lightning-fast breakthrough of the German Alpine flanks remains one of the most stunning feats of the war.
Join us as we visit these historic peaks and follow in the footsteps of legends.
COME AND LEARN THEIR STORY
By the winter of 1944, the Alpine Front in the High Savoy stood as a final, formidable German stronghold.
The terrain was a natural fortress of jagged, vertical peaks and deep, ice-choked glaciers that made it nearly impossible for traditional forces to penetrate the high passes, stalling the Allied liberation of the mountains for months.
To break this stalemate, the Allies turned to specialised units. The Mont Blanc Brigade, France’s elite alpine troops, was called in to tackle the peaks, while the OSS Mission Union and the local Maquis brought relentless determination to the valleys.
Relying on their specialised mountain training and sheer grit, these units bypassed the entrenched valley floors and took the fight to the skies, earning them a reputation as the most lethal mountain force in the world.
Come follow in the footsteps of the Mont Blanc Brigade, the OSS, and the Skier-Resistants as we visit their historical sites and battlefields across the French Alps.
Nestled at the foot of the towering Mont Blanc massif in Courmayeur, Villa Novecento feels less like a hotel and more like a portal to the elegant, rugged world of the 1940s.
Stepping through its heavy doors, you are immediately enveloped in the "Novecento" style, the classic Italian aesthetic of the early 20th century that favoured warmth, order, and timeless grace. With its crackling stone fireplaces, polished wood panelling, and soft, ambient lighting, the villa captures the quiet sophistication of an era when this region was a high-stakes frontier for Alpine partisans and SOE agents.
One can easily imagine secret briefings being whispered over coffee in the parlour or weary members of the Mont Blanc Brigade finding a rare moment of respite within these sturdy walls after a crossing of the Vallée Blanche.
Today, Villa Novecento serves as a refined sanctuary. It offers a perfect balance: the authentic soul of a historic private residence, combined with the restorative comfort of a boutique mountain villa.
The dining room at Villa Novecento is the villa’s beating heart, a space where the atmosphere thickens with the camaraderie of the trail. Gathered around heavy, candlelit tables, the evening meal feels like a traditional mountain meal shared between allies.
Here, the clink of silver and the pour of a full-bodied Aosta wine echo the spirit of the 1940s, a time when a shared meal was a hard-won luxury and a chance to toast to a successful mission. The air is filled with the scent of alpine herbs and slow-cooked polenta, served with an authentic simplicity that honours the region’s rugged heritage.
In the rest areas, the passage of time seems to suspend entirely. Relaxing armchairs and secluded alcoves invite you to sink in with a map or a well-worn book, much like the SOE operatives who once used these quiet corners to study the terrain of the Savoie.
Whether you’re reflecting by the fire or sharing stories of the day’s descent in the soft glow of the lounge, these spaces offer a rare, unhurried intimacy. It is in these moments surrounded by the timeless patina of wood and stone that the history of the Mont Blanc Brigade feels less like a story and more like a shared experience.
Upstairs, the bedrooms are quiet retreats designed for the deep, restorative rest that follows a day on the glacier.
Each room is modern and feels less like a standard guest suite but more like a personal study from a bygone era, where handcrafted wooden furniture and heavy, textured linens create a sense of absolute security against the Alpine cold.
The decor remains faithful; there is a profound stillness here. It's the kind of silence that once allowed a mountain scout to listen for the wind while checking their kit by the glow of a bedside lamp.
Waking up to the first light hitting the Brenva face, you’re reminded that while the comforts are modern, the view and the spirit of the place remain exactly as they were when these mountains were roaming with WW2 legends.
Fly into Geneva 19th March – Depart from Geneva 26th March
From Geneva to Courmayeur, visit some of the most iconic and hard-fought battlefields of the Alpine Front. This journey takes you from the rugged glacial peaks of the High Savoy to the secret drop zones of the Beaufortain, uncovering the incredible stories of the elite units that finally shattered the Axis hold on the French Alps.
Visit breathtaking alpine villages along the historic Savoie Front.
Traverse the most legendary and hard-fought battlefields of the high-altitude Alpine Campaign. This expedition leads you from secret Beaufortain drop zones to the towering glaciers of the Mont Blanc massif, revealing the heroic stories of the elite Mont Blanc Brigade and Mission Union that liberated the heart of the French Alps.
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