Being one of the world’s most popular treks, Tour du Mont Blanc has been increasingly igniting the imagination of seasoned mountain bikers. See what the hype is all about as you catch reflections of glaciated peaks while shredding trails along crystal-clear lakes and sample culinary specialties while visiting three different countries. Find out what you’re made of and climb toward +2,500 ft mountain passes, earning your way down—through flower-strewn meadows, until you feel the cobblestones beneath your tires. Soak the first rays of sunshine above wooded valleys with a cup of espresso and—once you’ve become weary from ups and downs through the Alps—sip some French wine to unimpeded views of Mont Blanc. Join your expert guide and circumnavigate the highest peak of Western Europe on two wheels!
3 countries, 5 major mountain passes, 7 valleys, 105 miles
Experience the best of riding in the Alps among jaw-dropping vistas
Combine exciting trails with gastronomical and cultural delights
Arrive in Verbier in the afternoon and settle in the nearby chalet, your accommodation for the night. You can later meet fellow riders and your guide and do a quick ride in the area. Return for dinner, enjoy the beautiful scenery around the chalet on the terrace and get some good night’s sleep for tomorrow’s riding.
Meals: Dinner
Enjoy your hearty breakfast at 8 am and depart for the first stage of Tour du Mont Blanc, starting at 10 am. Riding down the valley, you will pass through some authentic Swiss mountain villages. Your journey continues into the Grand St. Bernard Valley and up to Lake Champex, by the shores of which you will have a laid-back lunch. Afterwards, ride down into Val Ferret and continue your traverse on a mix of gravel paths and singletrack until your group reaches the accommodation at the base of the Mont Dolent, offering sprawling views of the La Neuve Glacier, as well as the rugged peaks of the Aiguilles Rouges.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Riding / Elevation gain: 47 km (30 miles) / 1550 m (5,085 ft)
Your riding on day 3 begins by crossing a river and turning onto a gravel track that will eventually turn into singletrack. A beautiful but demanding climb will bring your group to the mountain pass Grand Col Ferret, standing at 2537 m (8323 ft). Take in the spectacular views over both the Swiss and Italian side of the mountain range. What follows is a technical descent until you reach a mountain hut called Refugio Elena, where you’ll stop to get a well-deserved espresso and cake. Continuing down the valley, brace yourself for a challenging climb and get rewarded with views of the Mont Blanc and gelato in the Italian town of Courmayeur. Your lodging is a short drive away and offers unimpeded views of the famous massif.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Elevation gain: 900 m (2,953 ft)
Start with a short downhill and continue climbing up to the Col de la Seigne, found at 2516 m (8,255 ft) and marking the border with France. Once again, your effort will have paid off—take some time to enjoy some of the most beautiful views of this trip. A flowing and long downhill will later bring your group down to the remote village of Les Chapieux. From here, start another climb to your accommodation above Lake Roseland, where you will stay for the night.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Riding / Elevation gain: 49 km (30 miles) / 1550 m (5,085 ft)
Follow a farm track leading you above the Roseland Lake and continue with another climb, winding up the mountain in numerous hairpin turns. This long climb will take your group to the top of Col de Gittaz, which will be reached by carrying the bikes for the last 20 minutes. A later technical descent and another climb (this time shorter) gets you to Col de Joly, after which it’s a thrill ride all the way down to Les Contamines. Follow a river before starting the final climb to a mountain hut, where you will stay for the night.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Riding / Elevation gain: 48 km (30 miles) / 1650 m (5,413 ft)
Start your day with a traverse along a challenging trail that will include a few walking sections for safety reasons. After this fun trail, you will start a steep climb up to the Col de Voza. From there your group will make an extra loop with fantastic views and finally ride down to Les Houches and follow the river all the way to Chamonix. Spend a relaxing afternoon doing some sightseeing, including a visit to the famed Aiguille du Midi, which stands at 3,800 meters (12,467 feet).
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Riding / Elevation gain: 31 km (19 miles) / 920 m (3,018 ft)
Your riding today starts with a traverse across a valley, up towards Argentiere and La Tour. In La Tour, you’ll have an option to take the lift or climb up to Col de Balme, the border with Switzerland. From there, a spectacular singletrack will lead your group into the Trient Valley. The last climb will be to the Col de Forclaz. What follows is a ride down through the vineyards until you reach the old Roman city of Martigny in the Rhone Valley. Celebrate the end of the Tour du Mont Blanc MTB trip and your achievements with a drink on one of the terraces and wait for the van to drive your group to the MTB Verbier Chalet. Spend the last evening with your guide and fellow riders, as your tour ends tomorrow.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Riding / Elevation gain: 40 km (25 miles) / 1450 m (4,757 ft)
After breakfast, it is time to leave your chalet. Say goodbye to your guide, fellow MTB enthusiasts, and the Alps—or continue touring on your own.
Meals: Breakfast
57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.
We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in the Mont Blanc areas in France, Switzerland, and Italy please refer to France Diplomacy’s advice for travelers and foreign nationals, Switzerland’s official COVID-19 travel guidelines, and Official Italian Tourism Website.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
What you get on this adventure:
Mountain bike rentals are available for an added fee of $240.
Accommodation in quality hotels, chalets, and mountain huts will mostly be based on double occupancy. Occasionally, the rooms will be shared with more people.
What’s not included:
For this Tour du Mont Blanc MTB guided adventure, you need to be in excellent physical shape. This is a challenging journey for adventurous mountain bikers, capable of handling a mountain bike on steep technical climbs and descents on singletrack. Riding on the roads will be reduced to a minimum so, you will mostly ride in the dirt.
You should be able to ride for hours without stopping and handle 6-hour days, 6 days in a row. You will be riding for up to 50 km (30 miles) a day with total elevation gains of up to 1,600 m (5,250 ft), while carrying a backpack weighing between 6 and 10 kg (13-22 lbs).
Keep in mind that there will always be a guide by your side monitoring your technique and making sure everybody can handle the rides while having a great time. There will also be plenty of opportunities to take breaks in beautiful locations.
You should have previous mountain biking experience to participate in the Tour du Mont Blanc MTB trip. Experience of riding through mid-level mountains is necessary, but you needn’t necessarily have experience of riding in alpine terrain.
Some of the skills needed for the tour include riding with exposure, controlling your bike on moderate steep singletracks, and descents and climbs with some loose rocks and roots, handling small unexpected steps, rock gardens, and occasional little jumps. You should be able to determine when to walk, due to the terrain being too difficult or dangerous. Your guide will monitor your technique, take care of the logistics and help you overcome any obstacles.
Here’s what you’ll need:
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
Group sizes and prices:
Mountain biking along Tour du Mont Blanc can be arranged for bigger groups. Contact us prior to booking.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has riders under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
A 30% deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. The remaining amount is paid 6 weeks (42 days) prior to departure. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies.
To get to Verbier, most people fly into Geneva Airport, which is 2 hours away. From there, you can take a train ride to Verbier.
You will meet your guide at the Verbier train station. They have transportation to your accommodation (Verbier MTB Chalet) covered!
