Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) 10-day hiking tour
Join Ella, a UIMLA mountain leader, on the mythical Tour du Mont Blanc hiking tour. A challenging 11-day trip through France, Italy and Switzerland.
Private
Alps
11 Days
Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Fit
Intermediate
Highlights
- Hike close to impressive glaciers, like Trient, in a real alpine environment.
- Walk around the highest peak of the Alps and see its different faces.
- Discover 3 countries, different cultures and languages in only a few days.
Description
Join me on the ultimate mountain hike: the classic Tour du Mont Blanc in 10 days. Technically, it will be an 11-day trip, as we will have a welcoming and meeting day. We will hike the complete circuit through some of the most stunning scenery in the Alps.
The Tour de Mont Blanc (TMB) is a 168km route that traverses three countries: France, Italy, and Switzerland. It’s a fantastic way of discovering picture book Alpine villages, cultural delight, and the beautiful cities of Chamonix and Courmayeur.
During these 10 days, we will stay in a different location every night. We will sleep either in small family-run village hotels or in lodges. You can find the day-by-day itinerary at the bottom of this page.
Please note you will need a good physical shape to enjoy this hike. It’s a challenging route. Along the way, there is an accumulated height gain and loss of about 9000 m. Also, we will cross from valley to valley through mountain passes, with some steep and long ascents and descents.
This hiking traverse is suitable for regular walkers in good physical shape. On this trail, the terrain is diverse, with forest trails, country lanes, high mountain meadows and rocky mountain paths. Besides, we may have to hike over some snowfields, as this is an early summer tour.
The charming city of Chamonix, in France, will be our starting point. We will meet there, have dinner all together and then, the next day, the adventure begins!
Please get in touch with me if you want to join me on this mythical hike. We can start planning your Tour du Mont Blanc adventure right away. You can also check the 11-day hiking tour that I also guide in the Swiss Alps.
Itinerary
Day 0: Arrival in Chamonix
Meeting in Chamonix.
Dinner and night at the hotel in Chamonix.
Day 1: Les Houches (1007 m)-Les Contamines (1167 m)
We start with a cable car ride up to Bellevue and ascent to Col de Tricot. A great lunch waits for us after a steep descent to the alpine village Chalets du Miage. We pass Refuge de Truc and finish the day in Les Contamines.
• Total ascent: 400m
• Distance: 14km
Day 2: Les Contamines (1167 m)-Les Chapieux (1554 m)
On a Roman road we make the long ascent to the Col de la Bonhomme (2329m). We then traverse the hillside to another slightly higher Col before a descent to the hamlet of Les Chapieux.
Night at Bourg St.Maurice (we get there by Taxi)
• Total ascent: 1320 m
• Total distance: 20 km
Day 3: Village du Glacier (1554 m)-Courmayeur
We follow the route through Vallee des Glaciers and up to Col de la Seigne (2516m) where we cross the border into Italy. From the Col we descend slightly down to Val Veny for a night in Courmayeur.
• Total ascent: 1000 m
• Distance: 15 km
Day 4: Courmayeur (1226 m)-Rest day
Today we have a rest day in Courmayeur. There are great shops cafes and bars. I suggest also a trip up the cable car to point Helbronner. We will enjoy fantastic views of Mont Blanc and the glaciers of the Valle Blanche. Night in Hotel in Courmayeur
Day 5: Courmayeur-Refugio Ferret (1226 m)
We head up the Mont de la Saxe Ridge to the Bertone Refuge for a coffee. Then along the ridge with some of the finest views of the Mont Blanc range, to the Refugio Ferret(2025m).
Night at Refugio Ferret
• Ascent: 860m
• Distance: 12 km
Day 6: Rifugio Ferret (2015 m)-La Fouly (1610 m)
A gentle traverse of the mountainside to the Rifugio Elena for morning coffee. A climb to the Grand Col Ferret (2537m) where we cross the border into Switzerland. Down through the flower meadows to the small village of La Fouly.
Night in a Hotel in La Fouly.
• Total ascent: 900 m
• Distance: 20km
Day 7: La Fouly (1610 m)-Champex (1466 m)
Day 7: La Fouly (1610m) to Champex (1466m).
An easier day as we follow a Swiss mountain valley before a short ascent to Champex, a picture book Alpine village.
Night in a Pension in Champex.
• Total ascent: 420m
• Distance: 15km
Day 8: Champex (1466 m)-Trient (1279 m)
We climb along the Bovine trail, there are stunning views down to the Roman town of Martigny and the Rhone valley as we walk to Trient for the night.
Night in Pension in Trient
• Total ascent: 750m
•Distance: 16 km
Day 9: Trient (1279 m)-Argentière (1252m)
We hike over the Col de Balme, along the Posettes ridge and down through the forests to Argentière.
• Total ascent: 1100m
• Distance: 13km
Day 10: Argentière (1252m)- Chamonix (1000m)
From the Col des Montets we head up through the Nature Reserve to the famous Lac Blanc which provides a magnificent view of the Mont Blanc Massif. We walk down to La Flégere (1875m) and take the cable car down back to Chamonix.
Last night in Hotel in Chamonix
• Ascent: 1100m
• Distance: 8km
Details
Accommodation Hotels. Please let me know if you wish to sleep in a single room. This is possible in many places. |
More info We can arrange a luggage transfer between accommodation on most days. Exceptions for the three mountain huts, when you will need to carry your overnight/next day gear in your rucksack. |
About the guide
Mountain leader from the UIMLA organization
The Swiss Alps where my playground where I grew up in. I love the mountains! After my career as a ski racer for the Swiss National Ski Team I traveled to Patagonia and fell in love with an other great mountain range, the Patagonian Andes. My passion to work with people and to be able to enjoy the great outdoors where the reasons, why I became an UIMLA- mountain leader and a snow-sport instructor with a Federal Certificate of Higher Vocational Education and Training.
Since 2007 I’m guiding my friends and clients in the Swiss and French Alps and show them my second home, the Patagonian Andes. That’s where I spent several months every year.
I’m based in Chamonix and St.Moritz while I’m in Europe and in Bariloche during my Patagonian months.
Please get in touch with me if you are looking to discover one of these two beautiful regions. It will be my pleasure to guide you there.
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Prices per person
Group of 1 | EUR 9629 Each |
Group of 2 | EUR 4815 Each |
Group of 4 | EUR 3227 Each |
Group of 5 | EUR 2908 Each |
Group of 6 | EUR 2908 Each |
Group of 7 | EUR 2908 Each |
Group of 8 | EUR 2908 Each |
Want a different number of travellers?
Price includes
- Guiding fee
- Accommodation included
- Transportation start and back
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Price details
The price does not include the guide´s expenses (accommodation, meals, lift tickets, etc).
The price also includes 3 transports to hiking start and cable car down to Chamonix. // The price does not include: 2 dinners in Courmayeur, luggage transfer (we are happy to organize that for you) and drinks.
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