Get to know the heart of the Alps and hit the high-altitude hiking trails around Mont Blanc. Starting and ending in Chamonix, you will learn why finishing the iconic Tour du Mont Blanc is more than 10 days of top-notch hiking with a backdrop of magnificent Alpine scenery. Enjoy the cultural, historical, and gastronomical aspects of the area located at the juncture of 3 countries and avoid the crowds (your guide knows the paths walked by few). Find out for yourself what makes this one of the world’s best treks!
Your trip begins in the mountain town of Chamonix, famous for being the adventure capital of the Alps. Located at the foot of Mont Blanc, its cobblestone streets breathe adventure while also exhibiting Alpine small-town charm combined with French sophistication. You will meet the rest of the group at 6pm at your hotel for a short trip briefing and gear check, followed by dinner.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Chamonix
After a hearty breakfast you will take a cable car connecting Les Houches with the Bellevue Plateau, during which you get to enjoy the panoramic views of the Mont Blanc Massif. After crossing the suspension bridge at the foot of the Bionnassay glacier, your guide will choose the best route taking your group to Les Contamines. This usually includes passing the Col de Tricot (6,955 ft / 2,120m), with a coffee stop at the Chalet de Miages at the foot of the mighty peak Dome de Miages (3,675m / 12,055 ft), but a lower level route may be utilized. Spend the night in a charming local 3* hotel in the French village of Les Contamines.
Distance: 15km / 9.3 miles
Ascent: 837m / 2,746 ft
Descent: 1,520m / 4,985 ft
Walking time: 6-7 hours
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: 3* hotel in Les Contamines
Day 3 begins with trekking up the old Roman road to the picture-perfect 17th-century church of Notre Dame de la Gorge. From here your path goes uphill, past the Chalet de Barme (a perfect coffee stop!) and all the way to the Col de Bonhomme (2328m / 7,635 ft), where you will take a lunch break. Another climb—this time gentler—will take you to Col de la Croix de Bonhomme (2478m / 8,130ft), offering a great view towards the Vanoise National Park. After an additional 2 hours, you will have reached Les Chapieux, the location of your lovely chambre d’hôte (bed and breakfast).
Distance: 19km / 11.9 miles
Ascent: 1,348m / 4,450 ft
Descent: 960m / 3,150 ft
Walking time: 8 hours
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Bed and breakfast in Les Chapieux
A minibus ride will take you to the Ville des Glaciers. After crossing a river, head to the Refuge des Mottets, followed by a climb to the Col de la Seigne (2516m / 8,255ft). You are now stepping into Italy! Relish in the great views of Val Veny and Val Ferret, and see the Italian side of Mont Blanc and the other Chamonix giants. A descent past the Elisabetta hut takes you to La Visaille, where your group will take a transfer down to the traditional Italian town of Courmayeur, where you will stay in a family-run hotel.
Distance: 21km / 13 miles
Ascent: 1,004m / 3,300 ft
Descent: 850m / 2,800 ft
Walking time: 6 hours
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Courmayeur
Start the day of hiking with a steep walk up to the Bertone hut and the Mont de la Saxe ridge. If weather permits, your guide can opt for the lesser-traveled variant to the Mont de la Saxe ridge (2,555m / 8,380 ft), up the Tête de la Tronche (2,584m / 8,475 ft), followed by a steep descent to the Col Sapin (2,435m / 8,000 ft). After another descent, you will also climb to the Col Entre Deux Sauts (2,055m / 6,740 ft). It’s a long day of hiking, but you will be rewarded with stunning scenery, crowdless hiking paths, and great Italian-style dinner at the Rifugio Bonatti. You can also watch the sunset behind Mont Blanc before a good night’s sleep.
Distance: 10km / 6.5 miles
Ascent: 1,584m / 5,200 ft + 860m / 2,820 ft
Descent: 940m / 3,08 0ft + 700m / 2,296 ft
Walking time: 10-12 hours
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Rifugio Bonatti*
*There is a chance that you will not be staying at Rifugio Bonatti and in this case, you will have an extra night at a 4* hotel in Courmayeur. Shuttles back and forth will be provided and no hiking will be missed. Starting from 2025, overnights in the Refugio Bonatti will no longer be possible during this adventure.
Trekking over the Grand Col Ferret (2537m / 8,320 ft), you will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the Grandes Jorasses, the Grand Combin and Mont Dolent (the summit which stands at the juncture of France, Switzerland, and Italy). At the top of the col, your group will enter Switzerland. After a coffee stop at La Peule (time permitting) you will head to La Fouly, an Alpine village distinguished by traditional Swiss “chocolate box” chalets where you will stay overnight in a simple hotel.
Distance 20km / 12.5 miles
Ascent: 1,128m / 3,700ft
Descent: 1,580m / 5,180 ft
Walking time: 6-7 hours
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Simple hotel or bed and breakfast in La Fouly
A shorter day of hiking awaits. Winding through picturesque Swiss Alpine meadows and tiny villages, you will finally reach the resort of Champex, nestled alongside the eponymous glacial lake. Lodging in a traditional hotel offering great local delicacies.
Distance: 16 km / 10 miles
Ascent: 711m / 2,330 ft
Descent: 855m / 2,805 ft
Walking time: 5 hours
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: 3* hotel in Champex
If the group feels fit on Day 8, the path will take you to Fenêtre d’Arpette, the highest col on the Tour du Mont Blanc standing at 2665m (8,710 ft)—a fantastic route famous for stunning views of the Trient glacier. Alternatively, your guide will decide to take you along the more laidback route via Bovine to the Col de la Forclaz (1,527m / 5,010 ft)—depending on the weather conditions and fitness of the group. You will stay overnight either at Col de la Forclaz or at Trient, depending on availability.
Distance: 15 km / 9.3 miles
Ascent: 1,480m / 4,790 ft (or 570m / 1,870 ft via Bovine)
Descent: 1,760m / 5,775 ft (or 600m / 1,980 ft via Bovine)
Walking time: 8 hours (or 6 hours via Bovine)
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Simple hotel, usually with shared bathrooms
Today’s plan is to take another lesser-traveled variant which diverges from the official Tour du Mont Blanc—either via Les Grands or Les Tseppes, depending on where you stayed the night before. The alternative routes are worth the extra time and effort not only because few other hikers take them but also because of the truly spectacular views of the surrounding landscapes. Either route takes your group to the Col de Balme (2,195m / 7,200 ft) at the head of the Chamonix valley (welcome back to France!). Going either via the Aiguillette de Posettes down to Tré-le-Champ, or straight down to Le Tour, followed by the Petit Balcon Nord, you will have reached Argentière—the location of your accommodation—in the afternoon.
Distance: 18km / 11 miles
Ascent: 1200m / 3940 ft
Descent: 1450m / 4760 ft
Walking time: 7-8 hours
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: 3* hotel in Argentière
Taking a short stroll back to Tré-le-Champ, you will hike up to the Lac Blanc passing the beautiful Lacs des Chéserys (2,130m / 6,990 ft), providing the best views of Mont Blanc found anywhere. While enjoying one of the best walks in the Chamonix valley, you will make use of a series of ladders and chains to skirt the cliffs—this is nothing to worry about and is not difficult at all! From the Lac Blanc, you will take the Flégère cable car down to Les Praz, followed by a walk along the river or a train ride to Chamonix.
Distance: 9km / 5.6 miles
Ascent: 1,000m / 3,280 ft
Descent: 550m / 1,800 ft
Walking time: 6 hours
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Chamonix
Taking the cable car back to the Flégère, your hiking resumes at the same point your group finished at the day before. Start the famous Grand Balcon Sud linking the Flégère with Planpraz. From here, you will climb up to the Col du Brévent and then up to the Brévent summit (2,525m/ 8,285 ft), where you get to enjoy excellent views of Mont Blanc one more time. To complete the Tour du Mont Blanc, descend via Bel Lachat and Merlet in ogre to reach Les Houches, followed by a transfer back to your hotel in Chamonix. After 10 days of hiking, you can finally call yourself a TMB hiker! You can celebrate your great achievements with your guide and the rest of the group over dinner or by going for drinks somewhere in town.
Distance: 17km / 10.5 miles
Ascent: 772m / 2,530 ft
Descent: 1,546m / 5,070 ft
Walking time: 8 hours
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Chamonix
Your alpine adventure finishes after breakfast. Take a last chance to say goodbye to your guide and fellow trekkers. Leave Chamonix or continue touring on your own.
Meals: Breakfast
