Tour du Mont Blanc ,TMB, Guided

Bespoke Guided Walk Overview

Everything you need to know in order to plan your bespoke Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB), around Western Europe’s highest mountain, Mont Blanc, 4,810 metres.

The oldest recording of a journey around Mont Blanc, (White Mountain) goes to Horace Benedict de Saussure, a Swiss Geologist. He undertook the journey in 1767 (aged 27). Since then each of the surrounding peaks have attracted thousands of climbers. The journey around the mountain has attracted those seeking adventure, solitude, or both! Alpine Walks tours on the TMB offers you the chance to visit France, Switzerland and Italy. Cultural and physical differences in each of these countries becomes immediately obvious as you enter them. Past physical barriers meant that for much of each year it was impossible to travel from one area to the other. Now, between June and September each year, the snow recedes to around 3,000 metres altitude. Once the passes are open an ‘Alpine Walks’ tour may be completed in warm temperatures and fairly settled weather conditions.

Tour du Mont Blanc Itinerary

The itinerary below is based on 11 day’s of walking, in a clockwise direction starting and finishing in Chamonix. France. You will be covering distances of between 14 – 22km per day and your accommodation will be made up of 6 nights in auberges/huts and 5 hotel nights.

Day 1 – Arrival at Chamonix

Arrive at Chamonix and check into the Hotel Richmonde. Meet your guide, who will run through the itinerary in more detail and answer any questions you may have.

Day 2 – Chamonix to Col des Montets

Leaving Chamonix, we take the cable car up to Plan Praz at 2000 metres We start the grand tour on a fantastic panoramic view of the Mont Blanc Massif as we head north east on the balcony path. You should be able to see many of the glaciers on route, the Mer du Glace, the Argentiere Glacier and the La Tour Glacier. With a clear view you can the summit of Mont Blanc and other peaks such as the Dru, the Aiguille Vert, and Mont Maudit. There are also chances to see Ibex, Marmot and Alpine Clough on route. We will picnic on the way and in late afternoon descend at the Col des Montets to stay in the Auberge La Boerne.

Distance of 14 kilometres, ascent 596m/descent 1146m.

Day 3 – Col Des Montets to Trient, Switzerland

Leaving our Auberge, we will begin a steady morning climb through the Pine forest, which higher up rewards us with a view of Le Tour, and the Le Tour glacier. After a coffee break in one of the ‘Alpage’s’ we continue up to the Col du Balme refuge, the border with Switzerland. After lunch, spent gazing down the length of the Chamonix valley, we continue up for about 30 minutes to the Tete de Balme 2,321m. Beyond, our descent begins through Alpine pastures, inhabited by grazing cattle, giving way to the pine forests before arriving in Trient and an overnight stay in the Auberge Mont Blanc or Grande Ourse.

Distance 14.5 Kilometres and 1094 metres ascent/1207m descent.

Day 4 – Trient to Champex Lac

The Bovine Route climbs steadily through the pine forest, with occasional views of the Swiss town of Martigny, in the Rhone Valley. As we near the summit ridge we clear the tree line and arrive at an ‘Alpage’, a working farm offering lunches and drinks. After lunch we descend the other side of the mountain, crossing several streams on route. There is a slight climb as we follow the floor of the valley into the small mountain ski resort of Champex Lac. Our day finishes at the Hotel Splendide which offers panoramic views towards the St Bernard Pass, a famous crossing point between Switzerland and Italy.

Day 5 – Champex Lac to La Fouly

An easier day with an initial drop through forests to the valley floor from here we take an easy ascent, passing through small mountain villages pausing for a picnic lunch on route. Our afternoon continues over a long extinct terminal moraine and narrow paths above the river, the Dranse de Ferret, to arrive in the small resort of La Fouly. Overnight at the Hotel l’Edelweiss

Distance: 15.2 km Height gain 633 metres Descent: 526 metres

Day 6 – La Fouly to Valle Ferret (Italy)

This morning we climb to the Grand Col Ferret, the border of Switzerland & Italy. We are now crossing into the western flank of the Mont Blanc massif. A chance to see the glaciers close up and some of the impressive rock formations that make up the Grande Jourasse. There is another alpage to stop at on the way up to the Grand Col (the border with Italy). On the summit we can have a leisurly picnic lunch before descending to the Rifugio Elena.

Distance 14 kilometres and 995m up/526m decent, 7 hrs.

Day 7 – Rifugio Elena to Courmayeur

We start the morning with a gentle descent down the Val Ferret where you can observe many large boulders that have enjoyed a speedy descent from on high, or have been left by the retreating glaciers from many thousands of years ago. We climb a short distance up to the Rifugio Bonatti (coffee stop?) before contouring along the mountainside to the Rifugio Bertone (more coffee? ha ha, you are in Italy, after all!). From here we are descending on a mountain trail through the forest to drop directly into Courmayeur and a well earned rest at the Hotel Bouton D’or.

Distance: 19km Height gain 606m ascent/1462m descent Time: 8.5 hrs.

Day 8 – Courmayeur rest day

You can ride on the revolving Skyway Cable Car up to the glacier, visit the spa at Pre st Didier. Then are smaller cable cars in Dolonne village which will wisk you up to an outdoor swimming pool for a sun bathe and swim or you can just walk along the old pedestrianised high street of Courmayeur for coffee and ‘Gelato’. In the evening you can dine out in the high street or stroll over to Dolonne village and have dinner in one of the restaurants in this quiet mountain village.

Day 9 – Courmayeur to Refuge Mottets (France)

Climbing above the Val Veny offers fantastic close up views of Mont Blanc and the glacier Miage below. We drop into the Val Veny high up and after a stop at the Rifugio Elizabetta Soldini we continue our climb to arrive at the Col du Seine, the border of Italy and France. An hour and a half descent brings us to the Refuge Mottets and our overnight stay.

Distance: 22 kilometres, 1825m climb/1185m decent Time: 8.5 hrs.

Day 10 – Refuge Mottets to Refuge Nant Borrant

We follow the glacial waters along the valley for half an hour before beginning a steady climb to the Col du Fours. You should be lucky and see Ibex on this relatively quiet section. From the Col, our joint highest point on the circuit, we are only 25 minutes from the Refuge du Col de la Croix du Bonhomme and lunch! After lunch we contour around the mountain for an hour before starting our descent into the valley below to arrive at the Refuge Nant Borant (home of ‘Oggy’ – Please note you’ll have to book a trek if you want to know more!

Distance: 17km 909m ascent/1332m descent Time: 8 hrs

Day 11 – Refuge Nant Borrant to Refuge du Fioux

This morning we start with a walk down an ancient Roman road to arrive at the the Notre Dame de la Gorge church. We continue along the valley to the village of Contamines and a coffee stop. After refreshments we begin to climb up onto the mountains at the south west corner of the TMB circuit and spend the night at the Refuge du Fioux, in ‘alpine meadow’ country.

Distance 17km height gain 987m/ descent 934m Time: 7.5 hours

Day 12 – Refuge Fioux to Chamonix

On our final day we drop once again into the Chamonix valley, these time in the village of Les Houches. From here we climb back up onto the opposing side of the valley, regaining a fantastic panoramic view of the Mont Blanc massif. The Bosson glacier is directly opposite us as we keep climbing to the summit of the Brevent. You can stop for coffee at this top cable car station. After we have only a further 90 minute walk around the balcony path and a descent to arrive back at Plan Praz and the short cable car descent back into Chamonix. A final night in the Hotel Richemond. Congratulations, You have completed the TMB!

Distance 19.5 km, 1730m ascent/1135m descent Time: 8.5 hrs.

Day 13 – Departure after breakfast

What’s Included:

Guiding services each day
Half board accommodation in a mixture of hotels and refuges on the tour
Bed & breakfast during your stay in a hotels in Chamonix/Courmayeur
Assistance with arranging in-country transfers to/from airports or rail terminals

Excluded:

Transfer to start point, from airport. (currently 24 euro single from Geneva)
Cable car (17 euro return)
Evening meals on the arrival day and on return to Chamonix and the 2 nights in Courmayeur.
Lunches each day – picnics can be purchased at huts, usually costing 10-15 euro
Transfer from end of trip

If you are traveling as a couple or family of 4, 6 or 8 there are limited private rooms available in some huts. Please ask prior to booking if you would prefer this option (subject to availability and additional costs of around 10-15 euro per person per night).

Price per person based shared twin/double room on 6 hotel nights and dormitory style accommodation (bunk beds) on 5 Auberge/hut nights. Single supplements are only possible on the nights in hotels.

Additional Information

Information on how to arrive at Chamonix or Courmayeur from any airport/rail station will be included in your welcome instructions on receipt of booking.

Dates available

TMB 01 – Sunday 18th June – Friday 30th June 2023

TMB 02 – Monday 3rd July – Saturday 15th July 2023

TMB 03 – Sunday 23rd July – Friday 4th August 2023

TMB 04 – Sunday 2nd September – Thursday 14th September 2023

How fit do I need to be?

This trip is suitable for anyone who is a regular walker. You will need to carry a medium sized rucksack (a maximum of 30 Litres in size) and the total weight based on the kit list provided should not exceed 10 kilograms.

How long will we be walking for each day?

Hikers should expect to be trekking for 5-8 hours per day, based on a walking speed of 3 kilometres per hour, known to some as ‘Alpine plod’. It’s not a race and there is plenty of time for taking in the scenery and stopping for picnic lunches on route. The tracks and paths are rocky in places, but of good quality.

Can we customise the experience?

Alpine Walk’s guided walking tours are all about the personal touch. We will plan your journey along a range of different routes that provide different challenges based on what you want from your walking break. Do you want the best views? Do you want the chance to experience some of the local wildlife?

You should also consider the different types of accommodation available on these routes. Spending a night in a hut does not necessarily involve sharing a dormitory with 30 other people! Some huts have smaller private rooms.

Things to consider:

What do i need to carry? Ask us! We can supply a recommended kit list, specifically for this tour.
Can i leave luggage at the hotel where the tour commences/ends? Yes! Please do not leave valuables and make sure your case is lockable. It will be stored in a locked baggage room but remember, other hotel clients can still request access to the room to collect/drop off baggage.
I have additional luggage I would like to bring on the tour. Can i get it transferred from one hotel to another on the trip? Yes, you can. Please ask us, as there is an additional charge for this and the price is dependant on the number of drops you require.

So, if you are considering this journey and need to discuss your requirements, please feel free to contact us. We’ll arrange a chat on Skype to discuss your personal tour.