Hotel-Based Tour du Mont Blanc: Classic 10-Day Hike

Things to know

• What’s included?

  Included:

  • • An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
    • 10-day classic guided Tour du Mont Blanc (8 days of hiking)
    • Accommodation for 9 nights (double occupancy)
      • 7 nights in 3 and 4-star hotels
      • 2 nights at mountain lodge hotels (note that double rooms may not be available at mountain lodges and that you will stay at shared rooms)
    • All meals, as in the itinerary (9 breakfasts, 9 dinners, 8 picnic lunches)
    • Luggage transport (1 bag per person with weight limit of 15 kg / 33 lbs)
    • Transfers according to the itinerary

  Add-ons (pricing shown at checkout):

  • • Single occupancy room

  Not included:

  • • Travel to/from Geneva, Les Houches, and Chamonix
    • Airport transfers
    • Transfers not mentioned in the itinerary
    • Meals not indicated in the itinerary
    • Drinks
    • Personal expenses
    • Anything not mentioned in the “Included” section above
    • Insurance — recommended, available to add at checkout
    • Guide gratuities — optional

  Should you need to make any changes to your booking after confirmation, please be aware that a €50 administrative fee applies to each modification.

• How fit do I need to be?

  This classic guided hiking Tour du Mont Blanc is rated moderate, though 8 consecutive days of hiking can get quite challenging! A great level of fitness is required for this TMB adventure. Previous multi-day hiking experience is very welcome. Expect 4 to 7 hours (or even up to 9 hours) of walking a day, and from 300 m (984 ft) to 1,200 m (3,937 ft) of elevation gain each day.

  Check out the itinerary for day-by-day distances and elevation changes.

  For more hiking adventures in the Alps and Mont Blanc, click here!

• What do I need to bring?

  The following items are required for this Tour du Mont Blanc tour unless otherwise noted. When packing, think layered clothing systems that work together and can be easily added or removed. 

  Luggage transfers are included in the price of the tour, limit is 33lbs/15kg—please stick to this as extra items are not easily stored by the team.

  Avoid cotton or cycling-specific clothing. Synthetic fabrics dry quickly and perform well in active conditions. Merino wool is also an excellent option — it dries fast, is comfortable to wear, and naturally resists odors even after extended use.

  Note that the beginning and end of the season (June and September) have a strong risk of snow and snowy conditions on the trail.

  Clothing:

  • • Hiking boots/shoes — waterproof, sturdy molded sole, deep tread and ideally well broken in
    • Hiking socks — one pair for every day or two days of the trip (hiking/sport specific padded socks, no cotton please)
    • Sun hat — wide brimmed hat or baseball cap/bandana combo
    • Warm hat & gloves — lightweight beanie and light-to-mid weight fleece or wool gloves
    • Hiking shirts — non-cotton, breathable short sleeve and/or long sleeve shirts
    • Warm top — mid-weight sweater or pullover of wicking material such as merino wool, fleece or polypropylene
    • Insulating jacket — down-fill or synthetic-fill insulated “puffy” jacket or warm, heavy weight fleece jacket
    • Hiking pants & shorts — nylon pants and shorts, zip-offs or leggings
    • Base layer/long underwear — 1 pair of wicking tops and bottoms that are lightweight to midweight, synthetic wicking materials such as polyester, polypropylene, merino wool, etc.
    • Rain gear — waterproof jacket and pants or high-quality poncho, breathable fabric such as Gore-Tex® or coated nylon (for the pants look for side zippers that will easily allow pulling them over footwear)
    • Casual clothing & footwear – comfortable clothes and shoes to wear in the evening after activities.

  Gear:

  • • Backpack — a 30–45 liter sized comfortable pack with a waterproof cover for use day-to-day while hiking
    • Personal luggage — small duffel bag, rolling suitcase or backpack
    • Hydration system — 2+ liters capacity, either water bottles or bladder/hose system and an additional water bottle
    • Trekking poles — telescopic/adjustable poles to help reduce the impact on joints and support hikers in steep and/or rocky terrain (strongly recommended)
    • Headlamp — preferably with an L.E.D. bulb that works with AA or AAA batteries
    • Picnic/lunch kit — knife, plate or bowl, box with closeable lid, utensils, etc.
    • Phone, charger, power bank
    • Waterproof travel case or pouch — used to keep important documents (i.e. passport, health/travel insurance, etc.) & phone safe from weather/water
    • Sunglasses, sunscreen, & lip balm
    • First aid kit
    • Personal toilet paper kit — toilet paper, wet wipes, sanitizer & sealable plastic bag(s) for carrying out used paper/wipes
    • Toiletries
    • Contact lenses & glasses
    • Prescription medication — with emergency back-up supply
    • Cash in local currency

  First aid kit suggestions:

  Carrying a basic personal first aid kit is strongly advised, as unforeseen situations may arise during travel. Access to medications and first aid supplies can be limited in certain destinations, making it essential to bring necessary prescription and over-the-counter items. Travel plans, vaccinations, and medication use should be reviewed with a healthcare provider in advance to ensure a safe and smooth journey.

  Here’s a basic list of what’s generally a good personal travel first aid kit:

  • • Medications — brands of choice; all medications should be prescribed or approved by a doctor prior to use
    • Prescription drugs — any required prescriptions with backup doses (kept in carry-on luggage)
    • Epinephrine — multiple doses recommended if severe allergies are present, with doctor prescription
    • Pain relief — ibuprofen, aspirin, non-aspirin (e.g., Tylenol)
    • Antihistamine — diphenhydramine (e.g., Benadryl)
    • Non-drowsy allergy relief — loratadine (e.g., Claritin)
    • Antacid/heartburn relief — bismuth (e.g., Pepto-Bismol), antacid tablets
    • Anti-diarrheal — loperamide hydrochloride (e.g., Imodium)
    • Cold/flu medicine
    • Electrolyte replacement/drink mix
    • Creams — antibiotic ointment, anti-itch (hydrocortisone), arnica
    • Eye problems: dry/itchy — eye drops
    • Feminine hygiene — tampons, pads
    • Wound care — assorted bandages, antiseptic swabs
    • Blister kit
    • Sun protection — sunscreen, SPF lip balm
    • Various items — athletic tape/“KT tape,” nail clippers, tweezers, small bottle of hand sanitizer, sewing kit (for clothing/button repairs), disposable surgical gloves (1–2 pairs)

  Optional items:

  • • Face masks — 2–3 recommended
    • Travel power adapter — electric power voltage in Italy, France, Switzerland is 230 V / 50 Hz and the plugs are F & L type
    • Support braces — joint braces if currently needed or from past injuries (e.g., knee, ankle, elbow)
    • Sleep mask & ear plugs
    • Bug repellent
    • Quick drying towel or bandana(s)
    • Swimsuit

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• Group sizes and age requirements

  Group sizes and pricing

  • • For this Tour du Mont Blanc classic guided trip, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 10:1.
    • It takes a minimum of 4 people for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 14 participants.
    • The price of the tour is based on double occupancy. However, please note that 2 nights will be spent at mountain lodge hotels, where you will maybe have to stay at shared rooms.
    • You can choose between a standard and a women-only departure.

  Hiking in The Alps can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

  Min. age requirements

  • • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
    • Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the hike on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

  If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

• Is a single occupancy room available?

  The price for this hotel-based Tour du Mont Blanc hiking tour is based on twin-share rooms, but a single occupancy room can be arranged at an additional fee. You can add it to your booking at checkout.

  Single rooms are not available in mountain lodges-hotels, where we’ll stay on Day 3 and Day 7.

• Getting there and meeting location

  The starting point of your classic guided Tour du Mont Blanc is Les Houches. To get there, most people fly into Geneva Airport (GVA). From there, you can take a private taxi, use public transport, or rent a car to reach Les Houches.

  Once you arrive, there are several ways to reach your destination, including public transport. Looking to make airport transfers hassle-free? Check out Mountain Drop Offs—they provide door-to-door service in their comfy and spacious shuttles. Use the code 57HCHX to get a 5% discount!

  You’ll meet your guide at 6pm in Les Houches.

• Safety measures and insurance

  We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.
  
  Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.

• Deposits and cancellation policy

  Deposits

  Secure your spot with a 30% deposit upon booking! The remaining 70% of the trip price must be paid 90 days prior to departure at the latest. If booking within 90 days of departure, the full amount is required at the time of booking.

  Cancellations

  Booking fees are non-refundable after a 48-hour grace period. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options—Basic, Flexible, or Super Flexible. Depending on which one you choose, a different cancellation policy will apply to your booking.

  Basic

  • • If cancelled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
    • If cancelled 60 or more days before departure, a 70% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If cancelled within 59 days of departure, no refund will be issued.

  Flexible

  • • If cancelled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
    • If cancelled 60 or more days before departure, a full refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If cancelled 30-59 days before departure, a 50% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If cancelled within 29 days of departure, no refund will be issued.

  Super Flexible

  • • If cancelled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
    • If cancelled 30 or more days before departure, a full refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If cancelled within 29 days of departure, a 50% refund of the total trip price will be issued.