Tour du Mont Blanc Highlights Trek

Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival

  Make your way to Chamonix, a charming mountain town which is the starting point for your adventure. Spend the day as you wish—wandering its cobblestone streets or tasting French fondue. You’ll meet your guide and your group at around 6pm for a briefing about the trip, followed by your first dinner together. Make sure to ask the reception to give you the Guest Card, since it entitles you to free trains and buses in the Chamonix Valley.

  Meals: Dinner
  Accommodation: Hotel or chalet

  
• Day 2: Les Houches to les Contamines

  We start the day with a cable car journey on the Bellevue (the cable car usually runs from mid-June until mid-September—if you’re here earlier or later than that, then we walk up!). We then cross the spectacular suspension bridge at the foot of the Bionnassay glacier, and we have several route choices to take us to Les Contamines.

  We usually cross the Col de Tricot, with a coffee stop at the spectacularly-located Chalet de Miage (at the foot of the Dômes de Miage), but if the weather is bad then we may take a lower level route through the scenic villages of Bionnassay, Champex and La Gruvaz.

  Meals: Breakfast and dinner
  Accommodation: 3-star hotel
  Distance: 9.3 miles / 15 km, 6-7 hours
  Ascent: +2,746 ft (+837 m)
  Descent: -4,985 ft (-1,520 m)
  Luggage access: Yes

  
• Day 3: Les Contamines to Les Chapieux

  Today we have around 40 mins on the flat to reach the chapel at Notre Dame de la Gorge. Here we join the Roman road: it’s a bit of a rude awakening with a steep uphill, but we soon get into our stride! We continue past the Chalet de Balme (if we’re doing well, it’s a perfect coffee stop!) and up to the Col de Bonhomme (2,329 m) for a well-earned lunch break. We then have a climbing traverse, often with snowy patches until mid-July, to the Col de la Croix de Bonhomme (2479m), from where we have a great view towards the Vanoise National Park. Next we have a 2 hour walk down to Les Chapieux, and stay either in an auberge or a chambre d’hôte, depending on availability.

  This is one of the longest days on the TMB—it does feel quite hard because there’s a long ascent, and it’s only the second day so we haven’t had time to acclimatize…….however, the day shouldn’t pose any real problems and we take the climb slow and steady, splitting it into stages to make it perfectly manageable.

  Meals: Breakfast and dinner
  Accommodation: Auberge
  Distance: 11.9 miles / 19 km, 8 hours
  Ascent: +4,450 ft (+1,348 m)
  Descent: -3,150 ft (-960 m)
  Luggage access: Yes

  
• Day 4: Les Chapieux to Courmayeur

  We take a newly-cut path up to Ville des Glaciers (in previous years, the TMB took the tarmac road). There is usually the option to have a minibus transfer from Les Chapieux if you prefer (included). The leader will let you know about this. At Ville des Glaciers, if the farmer is on hand, you might have the opportunity to see how the Beaufort cheese is made. After passing Refuge des Mottets, we start to climb more steeply up to our goal, the Col de La Seigne, at 2516m the 2nd highest pass on the Tour du Mont Blanc. We’ve reached the border with Italy!

  From here, we descend past the Elisabetta hut (we may divert here for lunch or coffee, depending on how we’re doing for time) and the Lac de Combal to La Visaille, where we take a bus to the vibrant mountain town of Courmayeur.

  Meals: Breakfast and dinner
  Accommodation: Hotel
  Distance: 13 miles / 21 km, 6 hours
  Ascent: +3,295 ft (+1,004 m)
  Descent: -2,790 ft (-850 m)
  Luggage access: Yes

  
• Day 5: Courmayeur to Arnouva

  The day begins with a steep walk up from Courmayeur to the Bertone hut, which is a great little coffee stop. From here, we will either take the beautiful balcony route high above the Val Ferret, or the Mont de la Saxe ridge, a longer, variant. The leader will make the decision about this.

  • • If the weather is good and we’re feeling energetic, then the Mont de la Saxe ridge offers incredible views of Mont Blanc, but is considerably longer! We climb up to the summit of the Tête de la Tronche, and then down steeply to the Col Sapin. From here we descend into the Armina valley before climbing again to the Col Entre Deux Sauts. It’s a fairly long, but really stunning day. There are not usually many people, and the scenery is breathtaking.
      Distance: 13.7 miles / 22 km, 8-9 hours
      Ascent: +5,200 ft / +1,584 m
      Descent: -3,740 ft / -1,140 m
    • If we prefer an easier route, and a relaxed lunch at the Bertone, then we take the official TMB route, along a spectacular balcony path. The views just don’t stop: along the whole route between Bertone and Bonatti, we’re directly opposite Mont Blanc and the Grand Jorasses, high above the Val Ferret. This is one of my favourite days of the TMB – whichever route we decide to take.
      Distance: 10.5 miles / 17 km, 5-6 hours
      Ascent: +2,820 ft / +860 m
      Descent: -2,950 ft / -900 m

  After Bonatti there is around 1.5 hours to walk to the Chalet Val Ferret in Arnouva – a small hotel in a tranquil setting at the head of the Val Ferret, surrounded by mountains and truly a beautiful spot.

  Meals: Breakfast and dinner
  Accommodation: Hotel
  Luggage access: Yes

  
• Day 6: Arnouva to Champex

  Today we trek over the Grand Col Ferret (one of the highest cols on the trip at 2,537 m). We are rewarded with stunning views of the Grandes Jorasses, the Grand Combin and Mont Dolent (the summit of which is on the border of France, Switzerland and Italy).

  At the top of the col, we cross over into Switzerland, where the scenery changes yet again. If we’re doing well for time, we might stop for a coffee at La Peule. Here we leave the signposted TMB and head to La Fouly via a higher balcony path. La Fouly is an alpine village with traditional Swiss chocolate-box chalets. At 4pm, we’ll take a short transfer to the pretty lakeside resort of Champex (20 minutes).

  Meals: Breakfast and dinner
  Accommodation: Simple hotel / auberge
  Distance: 9.3 miles / 15 km, 6 hours
  Ascent: +2,985 ft (+910 m)
  Descent: -3,444 ft (-1,050 m)
  Luggage access: Yes

  
• Day 7: Champex — Trient (or Col de la Forclaz)

  There are two options today. If we’re feeling energetic and the weather serves is, we’re taking the Fenêtre d’Arpette, which would be the highest col of the trip at 2,665m (8,745 ft). It’s a fantastic route with views of the Trient Glacier.

  Alternatively, we could take the normal route—via Bovine, to the Col de la Forclaz. Continue down to the valley of Trient, our Swiss base for the night. We should have time for a celebratory ice cream at the Col de la Forclaz before we take our 20 minute transfer back to Argentiere.

   

  Meals: Breakfast and dinner
  Accommodation: Simple hotel / auberge
  Distance: 9.3 miles / 15.4 km, 6 hours
  Ascent: via Fenêtre d’Arpette: +4,870 ft (+1,484 m) | via Bovine: +2,625 ft (+800 m)
  Descent: via Fenêtre d’Arpette: -5,775 ft (-1,760m) | via Bovine: -2,460 ft (-750 m)
  Luggage access: Yes

  
• Day 8: Lac Blanc Trek

  We finish our trip with a wonderful hike up to the famous Lac Blanc via the Lacs des Chéserys, with the best views of Mont Blanc. This is one of the best walks in the Chamonix valley, and we use a series of ladders and chains to skirt the cliffs—this is nothing to worry about and is not difficult! We then traverse to the Flégère and descend by cable car to Les Praz, and transfer back to our hotel in the Chamonix valley.

  We are in the heart of the Aiguilles Rouges nature reserve, and are often lucky enough to see ibex, chamois and marmots. After a hard-earned refreshment at the Lac Blanc refuge, we descend to the Flégère and take the cable car to Les Praz, then either walk back to our hotel along the river, or we can take the bus or train.

  Meals: Breakfast and dinner
  Accommodation: Hotel or chalet
  Distance: 5.6 miles / 9 km, 6 hours
  Ascent: +3,280 ft (+1,000 m)
  Descent: -1,800 ft (-550 m)
  Luggage access: Yes

  
• Day 9: Depart Chamonix

  Your adventure in the Alps has come to an end. Say goodbye to your guide and your team. Leave Chamonix or stay a bit longer to explore the area.

  Meals: Breakfast