Tour du Mont Blanc

Take the day to explore the beautiful trails around Chamonix and get warmed up for the hike ahead.

OPTION: Soak up the mountain atmosphere on the Aiguille du Midi cable car for the most amazing panoramic view of Mont Blanc.

Start in Les Houches with a cable car ride on the Bellevue lift.You then cross the spectacular suspension bridge at the foot of the Bionnassay glacier, and you have several route choices to take you to Les Contamines. We usually recommend to cross the Col de Tricot, with a coffee stop at the Chalet de Miages at the foot of the mighty Dome de Miages, but if the weather is bad you can take a lower level route.

Walking: approx 6-7 hrs
Altitude gain / loss: +1,474 m / -1,322 m
Distance: 10.9 miles

Today you trek up the old Roman road to the chapel at Notre Dame de la Gorge.From here it’s uphill, past the Chalet de Barme (if you’re doing well for time, it’s a perfect coffee stop!) and up to the Col de Bonhomme (2,328m) for a well-earned lunch stop. You then we have a gentle climb to the Col de la Croix de Bonhomme (2,478m), from where you have a great view towards the Vanoise National Park. Next you have a 2 hour walk down to Les Chapieux. You then transfer to Bourg St Maurice.

Walking: Approx 5-6 hrs
Altitude gain / loss: + 1,363 m / -1,322 m
Distance: 11.5 miles

Firstly you take a short transfer to avoid walking the tarmac section up to the Ville des Glaciers. From here you cross the river and head to the Refuge des Mottets, from where you start the climb up to the Col de la Seigne (2,516m). From here the scenery changes again – you’ve reached Italy! You have fantastic views down into the Val Veny and over to the Val Ferret, and you start to see the Italian side of Mont Blanc and the other Chamonix giants. A descent past the Elisabetta hut takes you to La Visaille, where you take a transfer down to the traditional Italian town of Courmayeur.

Walking: Approx 5-6 hours
Altitude gain / loss: +748 m / -972 m
Distance: 9.8 miles

Rest and exploration day in Courmayeur. It’s a beautiful Italian town full of culture and delicious food and wine. It would be shame to pass through too quickly. There is also a wonderful spa nearby at Pre St. Didier which might tempt some.We’ll leave you to decide which of the fabulous restaurants you’d like to try for dinner.

Today starts with a transfer to the idyllic Chalet Val Ferret. You will climb over the Grand Col Ferret and cross into Switzerland! The gentle Swiss alpine meadows are in stark comparison to the jagged wild landscapes you’ve trekked through in Italy and France. Take it easy as the gentle trail gradually descends to Ferret and the La Fouly. La Fouly sits at the foot of two mighty mountains, Tour Noir (3, 836 m) and Mont Dolent (3,823 m) which incredibly is the tri-point where all three of the Tour du Mont Blanc countries, France, Switzerland and Italy’s borders meet! From La Fouly, you will take another transfer up to Champex for the night.

Walking: approx 4-5 hrs
Altitude gain / loss: +789 m / -955 m
Distance: 8.3 miles

Today you’ll leave the serenity of beautiful Champex-Lac and take the Bovine route to the Col de la Forclaz and then drop down into the Swiss village of Trient, famous for it’s pink church, to spend the night. The variant route via the Col du Fenêtre can be considered instead of the Bovine route but only in good weather, and only in peak season (not to be attempted in June, possibly in first week of July). Note this route is technically the most difficult on the entire TMB trail – the trail can be hard to follow and crosses a boulder field. It’s a much more difficult route however much more spectacular.

Walking: approx 4-5 hrs
Altitude gain / loss: +856 m / -1,052 m
Distance: 10.3 miles

Today you’ll ascend from Trient up the Col du Balme. It’s a gradual climb and not too taxing. From Refuge Col de Balme perched on the Swiss side, you’ll have a splendid view of the entire Chamonix Valley – well done you’ve almost completed the circuit! You can now see where you set off rom down the other end of the valley and Mont Blanc will be ever present with her snowy dome to the left of the valley. Descend down into France to the saddle of Col des Posettes before ascending the rock spine ridge to L’Aiguillette des Posettes (2,201 m). L’Aiguillette des Posettes forms the beginning of the impressive northern flank of the Chamonix Valley. In good weather the 360 degree panorama here will take your breath away – the icy dome of Mont Blanc, the iconic spire of the Drus, the Aiguilles Verte as well as Glacier du Tour Lac Blanc and the Lac d’Emosson dam over your shoulder in Switzerland. The descent down to Tré-le-Champ is brutal. Take your time. Then onwards to the village of Argentiere where you will get a transfer from here to Chamonix.

Walking: approx 5-6 hrs
Altitude gain / loss: +1,159 m / -1,199 m
Distance: 10.6 miles