Mont Blanc 10-day guided hiking tour

Day 1: Chamonix- Les Contamines

You’ll get picked up in the morning at your accommodation in Chamonix and driven to Les Houches (Bellevue
cable car station) from where you will start your 10-day TMB adventure. Even before hiking, you’ll take the
cable car up to Bellevue the official start point of the TMB, and a great viewpoint with the first amazing views over the Chamonix valley. From Bellevue, an interesting hike through alpine meadows and a nice forest brings you very close to the Bionassay glacier with the first highlight of the TMB the famous suspension bridge. After crossing the suspension bridge a nice trail brings you up to the Col du Tricot. Up there you’ll take a short break and get ready for the short but steep descent to the Chalets du Miage. At the Chalets du Miage there is
definitely some time to take a rest and to enjoy our homemade lunch packs. For those who want there is the opportunity to taste one of the best blueberry cakes on the entire trip. With fresh energy, you’ll be ready for the last climb of the first stage up to the Col du Truc. From there, an easy and nice trail is leading down to the small French mountain village Les Contamines.

• Bus transfer from Chamonix to Les Houches
• Cable Car ride from Les Houches to Bellevue
• Hiking Route: Bellevue – Suspension Bridge – Col du Tricot – Chalets du Miage – Col de Truc – Les
Contamines

Day 2: Les Contamines-Les Chapieux

Our hike starts in Les Contamines village. We walk to the Notre Dame de la Gorge church and climb up to the Col du Bonhomme.  After enjoying our lunch and some drinks in the Refuge Col de la Croix du Bonhomme we will descend to the village of Les Chapieux.

• Distance :  17,8 km

• Height gain : 1339 m

• Height loss : 963 m

Day 3: Les Chapieux to Cabane du Combal

The third stage of the TMB and it is already time for Italy. After the breakfast, you’ll start your trek directly in the Les Chapieux valley and climb up to the Col de la Seigne the border between France and Italy. From the Col de la Seigne you’ll have the first great views on the Mont Blanc and the ongoing TMB trip. With nice weather, you can even see over to Switzerland. On the way down you’ll pass a mountain museum with a huge 3-D relief map of the entire TMB. Further down you’ll pass by the Rifugio Elisabetta a typical Italian mountain hut with great food and Italian coffee. You’ll end the third stage of the TMB at the Cabane du Combal a nice and modern mountain hut in a great location. In the afternoon there is the possibility to go swimming and to see ibex very close.

• Hiking Route: Refuge des Mottets – Col de la Seigne – Casermetta – Rifugio Elisabetta Soldini – Cabane
du Combal

Day 4: Cabane du Combal to Courmayeur

A nice stage is waiting for you with great views over the whole Mont Blanc range. From the Cabane du Combal an easy climb brings you up to the south terrace of the Mont Blanc. From there you’ll walk down to the Maison Vieille a nice place for lunch. If someone is tired there is the option of taking a cable car down to Courmayeur. In Courmayeur, you’ll stay in a hotel close to the center and you’ll have time to explore the village a bit and to try a real Italian gelato. In the evening your guide will take you to a local restaurant for dinner.

• Hiking Route: Cabane du Combal – Maison Vieille – Dolonne – Courmayeur

Day 5: Courmayeur to Val Ferret (Arpnuova)

The last day in Italy is waiting for you. A nice hike up along the Val Ferret takes you from Courmayeur over the Rifugio Bertone and Rifugio Bonatti, two very famous and nice mountain huts to the end of the Italian Val Ferret, where you will stay overnight in a cozy mountain hut.

• Hiking Route: Courmayeur – Villair – Rif. Bertone – Rif. W. Bonatti – Arpnuova (Chalet Val Ferret)

Day 6: Val Ferret to La Fouly

From Arpnuova you’ll climb up the steep but nice slopes to the Swiss border and the Grand Col Ferret. During your ascent, you’ll have magnificent views over the entire south face of the Mont Blanc range. After the first big climb of the morning, you’ll pass by the Rifugio Elena, a welcoming stop for an extra coffee to get enough energy to climb the second part up to the top. Once you reach the top of the hill, you’ll enter Switzerland over the Grand Col Ferret (which will also be the highest point of the entire tour). From the Grand Col Ferret, there is the possibility to add a small extra loop and to climb the Tête de Ferret peak. In the second part of the day, you’ll be descending into the Swiss Val Ferret towards La Fouly. Half-way down there is the Alpage de la Peule, a really nice farm with great food, cold drinks, and locally made cheese to try.

• Hiking Route: Arpnuova – Rifugio Elena – Grand Col Ferret – La Peule – Ferret – La Fouly

Day 7: La Fouly to Champex-Lac

At this stage, you’ll experience many nice alpine meadows, beautiful Swiss
villages and you’ll pass the probably most photographed object along the TMB. You’ll end your day in Champex-Lac (also called „little Canada“), a picturesque Swiss village with a beautiful lake where you can go swimming.

• Hiking Route: La Fouly – Praz de Fort – Issert – Champex-Lac

Day 8: Champex-Lac to Trient

From Champex-Lac a very nice and great hike is leading over to the small and picturesque village of Trient. The hike starts easily through the village and along open meadows. You can admire typical Swiss chalets and listen to some interesting stories about local life. The way up to the Bovine is steep and challenging but definitively worth it, especially when you keep the best cake on the entire TMB which you can get at Bovine in
your mind. After a nice stop at the Bovine mountain hut, you’ll make your way down to the Col de la Forclaz (an important mountain pass and part of the Tour de France 2016). From the Col de la Forclaz you’ll take a nice trail down to Trient where you’ll spend your last night in Switzerland of the TMB.

• Hiking Route: Champex-Lac – Champex-d’en-Bas – Plan de l’Au – Bovine – Porte à l’Ô – Col de la
Forclaz – Trient

Day 9: Trient to Argentière

Your second last day of the Tour du Mont Blanc brings you over the Col de Balme back to France. You’ll start
your day early in the morning and climb up to the Col de Balme. From up there you’ll have the most amazing
views of the Mont Blanc. From the Col de Balme, you’ll take the trail back down to Le Tour. If the group is fit
there is the possibility to include the Col des Possettes and the Aiguillette des Possettes peak. Once you reach
Le Tour you’ll walk along some nice meadows to Argentière.

Hiking Route: Trient – Col de Balme – Charamillion – Le Tour – Argentière

Day 10: Argentière to Chamonix

The last day of the TMB is full of highlights again. If you are up for it you can climb up to the famous Lac Blanc
over some nice and adventurous ladders or take the normal way up there. Best panoramic views and the
ultimate photography spots won’t be missed. If you feel tired there is the option of taking the cable car from
Flégère back down to Chamonix.
Detailed route:
• Hiking Route: Argentière – Aiguillette d’Argentière – Chalets du Chéseries – Lac Blanc – Flégère –
Chamonix