The iconic Tour du Mont Blanc hike is heavenly, heavy going in some parts and a happy place for so many natural adventurers. Although it is one of the most famous long-distance walking trails in the world, its magnificence comes with layers of mystery. Indeed, many people aren’t even aware of the fact that you can walk a 170km circuit around the highest peak in Europe (4,810m). Because that’s the first thing you need to know about the Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) – you don’t climb to the top of it on this trek, you circumnavigate it. Think of it as a dance around La Dame Blanche, the nickname given to the white, snow-covered peak by the French, just one of three countries where she lays her pretty feet. Making this a multinational massif and one of the world’s most unique trekking trilogies.
Here follows a big post with all the big questions. It’s a big mountain after all.
How difficult is the Tour du Mont Blanc hike?
Unlike the climbs to the summit of Mont Blanc, which we don’t offer at The Natural Adventure, the Tour du Mont Blanc is not a technical climb. While crampons may be required in the late season, ice picks are not required, but you may still want to pick your pace carefully. The highest you climb on the TMB is 2,665m and if you are opting for a more budget version, staying in huts rather than hotels, then your sleep may be compromised a little, so you need plenty of stamina. In general, you walk anything from five to nine hours a day and, if you take on the whole circuit, you are trekking every day for ten days. There are ascents every day too varying from 500m and 1,200m, depending on the day. So, it’s all about endurance really, but with so much enjoyment along the way.
Should you do the Tour du Mont Blanc self-guided or guided?
This is a personal choice and we have both self-guided and one guided tour along the TMB. To take on the self-guided ones, we recommend that you have some experience of multi-day trekking and enjoy walking independently. As we started out as a self-guided walking holidays company, we have always catered for people who like their own pace and space. However, we also provide a guided tour, which is perfect for solo travellers, as we don’t organise self-guided TMB tours for those who want to take it on alone. The guided tour doesn’t cover the complete TMB, but they do explore some of its best bits, while staying in local hotels. In addition, we now have an upgrade option to have a private guide on all of our Tour du Mont Blanc tours, for a minimum of two people travelling.
We do also cater for groups who want to travel self-guided of course. Many of our customers choose to book the TMB for their walking groups, family reunions, student adventures or retirement celebrations. It’s wonderful to share the joy and push each other up the cols. You can add to the camaraderie by travelling there by train, if you are travelling from the UK or Europe that is, as all tours are reachable by rail.
How to choose the best Tour du Mont Blanc route
We offer Tour du Mont Blanc routes that not only take you along the whole TMB, but also shorter versions of its highlights. As with all our self-guided walking holidays, we provide luggage transfers and accommodation along the way. The traditional route is anti-clockwise, starting in the Chamonix Valley, and we currently have seven different Tour du Mont Blanc holidays, with a range of accommodation styles, routes, starting points and trek durations.
The most important criteria for most people, when it comes to choosing, is their fitness level, budget and the amount of time they can spend. Our holiday style is about taking your time and enjoying the views, not pushing yourself to extremes, and our itineraries are carefully crafted with that in mind. Whether you stay in mountain huts or hotels, camp it or chalet it, the TMB is always a natural adventure extraordinaire.
Here are our current Tour du Mont Blanc routes:
Tour du Mont Blanc circuit in 12 days
This is the traditional 12 day, anti-clockwise route starting in the villages of either Chamonix or Les Houches. The alpine arcadia that lies ahead hits you as soon as you arrive, and your walking holiday gets off to a gentle start, taking a cable car up to higher elevations to join the TMB path. For the next 10 days, you walk between 11 and 18km per day, with some strenuous stretches but all sublimely beautiful ones, with a few options to transfer by bus or by cable car if you want an exciting short cut.
You can do this route from either Chamonix or nearby Les Houches, both bookable between June and September:
Tour du Mont Blanc from Les Houches on a budget
On this holiday you stay in a mix of mountain huts (refuges or refugi), and small mountain hotels. In the mountain huts, you sleep in mixed-gender dormitories with shared bathroom facilities, joining the camaraderie of the TMB in traditional style. Luggage is transferred for you on all days except one, when you are required to carry your overnight luggage from hut to hut and you need a sleeping bag and liner for the huts.
Highlights along the way include crossing Col de la Seigne from France into Italy, reaching the tour’s highest point at Fenêtre d’Arpette (2,665m) followed by a descent alongside the Trient Glacier. The day you climb to Lac Blanc at 2,352m with reflections of Mont Blanc waiting to greet you is a special one, as is crossing Grand Col Ferret at 2,537m, another of the highest points on the TMB, into the highs of Switzerland’s Valais.
Tour du Mont Blanc from Chamonix in comfort
This Tour du Mont Blanc hike is very similar to the one above, with a little more luxury between the hiking sections as you stay in small mountain hotels rather than refuges. Starting and finishing in one of the oldest resorts in France, Chamonix, this is a way to hike the classic with a bit more fluffiness around the edges.
Tour du Mont Blanc from Martigny in 12 days
This version of the Tour du Mont Blanc starts and ends in Martigny in Switzerland, and so if you want to top and tail your TMB with visits to Geneva, Zermatt or Lucerne, to name but a few sublime Swiss spots, this is a good way to tackle the Tour. It is also a quieter starting point, with most walkers starting their odyssey at Les Houches or Chamonix. However, you still complete the circuit and experience the same natural nirvanas en route, as mentioned above. However, there is no budget alternative on the more swish Swiss route on our holidays. Accommodation is in 3-star hotels and guesthouses, in double or twin private en-suite rooms.
It’s worth noting that Martigny is also the terminus station for one of Europe’s most spectacular train rides, known as the Mont Blanc Express. Not fast at all in fact, it’s a sublimely slow journey on a metre-gauge railway which clings to the north side of Mont Blanc, ascending from Martigny with views over the Trient Valley, cliffs, gorges and the Argentière glacier. It only takes 90mins and runs every hour, so you could treat yourself to a more restful view of the places you have walked at the end of your holiday.
Tour du Mont Blanc highlights in eight or nine days
Similar to the whole circuit, this route takes you in an anti-clockwise direction through all three countries, but skips some of the more tedious less scenic sections. It also only takes eight or nine days, depending on the itinerary, so it’s perfect if you don’t have much time to spare. This is no walk in the park, however, as you are still walking for six consecutive days, between five to nine hours a day, depending on the trekking terrain. Think of it as getting all the best chocolates in the selection box, leaving the slightly less flavoursome ones for someone else.
Starting in Les Contamines or Saint-Gervais and finishing in Chamonix, you still experience all the main highs, including crossing Col de la Seigne from France into Italy, ascending to the tour’s highest point at Fenêtre d’Arpette (2,665m) followed by a descent alongside the Trient Glacier. The day you cross Grand Col Ferret at 2,537m, another one of the highest points on the TMB is a special one with magnificent views of Pré-de-Bar glacier, Ferret valley, Col de la Seigne, and the border between Italy and Switzerland.
You can do the Tour du Mont Blanc Highlights in three ways, choosing between self-guided or guided:
Tour du Mont Blanc highlights on a budget
Walking over eight days, this tour starts in Les Houches and finishes in Chamonix, and although it’s on a budget, you will never be short changed on scenery on the Tour du Mont Blanc highlights itinerary. But you can make some savings by staying in a mixture of budget mountain accommodation, from local lodges to mountain huts, both with mixed-gender dorms and shared bathroom facilities. The exceptions are when staying in hotels in Les Houches, Les Contamines and Chamonix.
It’s worth noting that, subject to availability, one of the nights in Rifugio Elena in Italy, is one of our favourite mountain huts. It’s located on the lower section of the Grand Col Ferret at 2,061m, with views of Glacier de Pré de Bar. That’s one exquisite espresso the morning you wake up to. It has also been recently renovated and is big and buzzy, with beds for 127 people, and they do great food, specialising in Valle D’Aosta goodies such as pizza with fontina cheese and various venison dishes. As well as an excellent selection of local wines.
Tour du Mont Blanc Highlights in comfort
This tour follows a similar itinerary as the Tour du Mont Blanc highlights on a budget tour, but because you stay in more hotels, it has a few diversions to lovely beds. For example, it starts in Les Contamines or Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, (depending on accommodation availability) but it still finishes in Chamonix. It’s also eight days long and, although you don’t get Elena on this tour, you do get a night in Italy’s Courmayeur instead, one of the finest towns to kiss the feet of Mont Blanc. Because, as well as Monte Bianco, as it’s called in Italy, Courmayeur looks out at 14 other peaks, making it look like it just fell straight out of a National Geographic photo shoot. You also have quality time in Bourg-Saint-Maurice and Martigny on this route.
Small group, guided Tour du Mont Blanc highlights tour
We have one guided version of the Tour du Mont Blanc, which starts in Saint-Gervais-les-Bains and finishes in Chamonix, over nine days. This is perfect for solo travellers who can join a group, and expert mountain leader, to trek between the top spots on the TMB, including the Aiguille du Midi, Grand Col Ferret, Mer de Glace and so much more. They don’t cover the complete circuit, and use transfers to take short cuts, but you won’t be short of hiking highlights. Nor a good bed for the night, as this itinerary takes you to hotels at the end of each day. With the exception of one night in a mountain hut. But there is also a rest day built into the itinerary, in Courmayeur. This is a small group tour, with maximum eight people, with only one set that you can sign up for, so you need to get in quickly. Read more in our blog, Ten reasons to go on a Tour du Mont Blanc group tour.
Classic Tour du Mont Blanc (Centre-based)
This eight day walking tour takes on sections of the TMB circuit in and around two of its gorgeous gateway towns, Chamonix in France and Courmayeur in Italy. It’s a two centre-based holiday, dividing your time between three-star hotels in both towns, with plenty of time to take on hiking highlights such as Grand Balcon Sud, Val Veny and Val Ferret. A perfect way to have quality time on some of the Tour du Mont Blanc’s trails but also enjoy some town downtime in Chamonix and Courmayeur. This is the only version of the TMB that’s categorised as moderate, rather than moderate to strenuous and it is open to solo travellers. Unlike other self-guided TMB tours, this one runs from mid-June until late August, not September.
Why you need to book early for the TMB
The Tour du Mont Blanc is far out, but it’s in no way a well kept secret. It’s one of those long-distance walking trails that serious hikers all over the world want to do, especially as there is no technical climbing required. Also, compared with other iconic walking trails such as the Camino de Santiago which are accessible all year round, most Tour du Mont Blanc tours are only available during the summer months. So they do book out.
Most of our self-guided tours run between June and September, with a couple of exceptions, and they start booking up a year in advance sometimes. In addition, availability may be limited before, during and after big events such as the Marathon du Mont-Blanc at the end of June and the UTMB trail running event at the end of August. Your best bet is to get a booking in before Christmas, if you want to guarantee accommodation. We do open bookings almost a year in advance, but for trips that have mountain hut stays, we won’t be able to confirm these accommodations until December or January, as the huts wait until the depths of winter to do their admin! But we do encourage you to get your booking in as soon as possible, and then we will keep you in the loop.
There’s, thankfully, only a limited number of beds on the Tour du Mont Blanc, because we wouldn’t want it to get too overcrowded after all. In the event of our TMBs being booked out, check out our blog on Our top Tour du Mont Blanc alternatives.
Preparing for Tour du Mont Blanc
By booking early, it also gives you plenty of time to prepare, and a happy hiker is a trip fit one. The TMB is exquisite but epic and it shouldn’t be taken lightly, even if you are only taking on the highlights. The great news is that people of all ages take it on, from teens to octogenarians. In general, we advise starting a training programme at least two months before you go (ideally three), building up slowly but committing to some long multi-day strenuous treks before you go. You also need to have a head for heights, as there are some exposed sections and parts where you have to use fixed ladders.
Most importantly, never use the TMB as a way to get fit, as you risk injury or simply not enjoying it. It’s also worth remembering that the pace we set in our holiday itineraries is based on walking at a leisurely, gentle speed. We want you to revel in it all, not race it and training will help that. Here are some top tips, but for more details see our blog, Expert guidance on preparing for the TMB.
Start with the basics
You are probably a keen walker already, and keeping up a basic 10,000 steps a day is always a good starting point, and then take on a hike at weekends to build up to and then match your TMB distances.
Power walks
We also recommend pushing yourself in the gym a little too. So press your inner power button some days, not just the snooze button, aiming for an hour’s workout in the gym, three times a week with, for example, 20mins on the treadmill, 20mins on the cross trainer, followed by 20mins of core and leg strength exercises. Then, at weekends, you also need to fit in a good length of an outdoor walk, hilly if possible.
Hitting the heights
For hitting those high passes comfortably, you should double your efforts in the last few weeks, but always taking rest days to ensure you don’t injure yourself. You can, for example, increase your gym workout to include 60mins of cardiovascular exercise, including a good circuit of strength exercises such as squats and lunges, four times a week, plus a five hour hillwalk at weekends.
Is the Tour du Mont Blanc possible for solo travellers?
Only one of our self-guided Tour du Mont Blanc walking holidays is open to solo travellers at this time, and that is the Classic Tour du Mont Blanc, based in two central points of Chamonix in France and Courmayeur in Italy. Otherwise, the minimum group size on our self-guided tours is two people, for safety and logistical reasons. However, as mentioned above, we do run a guided tour which solo travellers can join. The guided tour doesn’t cover the complete TMB, but they do explore some of its best bits, staying at hotels and one mountain hut along the way. The maximum group size is eight people.
Do I have to have my luggage transferred?
On most of our tours, this is included in the price of the trip. However, you can opt out of having your luggage transferred on our Mont Blanc Highlights tours. So, if you prefer to carry all your luggage rather than have it transferred by us, we can reduce the cost a little. Please note this option has to be selected for all travellers in the booking and we will advise on savings to be made at time of booking.
Tips for staying in Tour du Mont Blanc refuges
First and foremost, park all notions of privacy as Tour du Mont Blanc refuges, rifugi or mountain huts are all about sharing and caring. And sometimes snoring – so always bring earplugs. As well as all the items we recommend in our What to pack for a hiking trip blog, there are a few other top tips for these mountain hut adventures.
Power up
Because the mountain huts are so remote, resources are often limited, so bring your own charged power bank if you have a device, if you get a signal to use it, that is.
Sleeping gear
Bring a sleeping bag and a liner as some mountain huts insist on the latter and will ask you to hire one if you don’t bring one. Slipper socks are handy too, as they are easy to pack and keep your tootsies cosy while wandering around communal areas. Bring an eye mask if you don’t want to wake up with the early birds, and a travel pillow is always a dreamy addition.
Avert your gaze
Dorms are mixed-gender, so it goes without saying that modesty prevails, and respecting others privacy as they change for bed and so on is a must.
Don’t be a fish out of water
Drinking water is nearly always available in mountain huts and, on the rare occasions that it’s not, we will always advise you in advance of water points. Always pack one or two reusable bottles, or a water bladder and, as you are walking in remote areas, a filtered water bottle is perfect if you want to top up from streams, ensuring that the water is free of any toxins.
Cash in
Always carry some cash (euros and Swiss francs) in your bag because some mountain huts don’t accept cards and you won’t find an ATM for days sometimes.
Bathroom basics
Be prepared for basic, and then you can only be pleasantly surprised if you find an indoor toilet, running water and a hot shower. Bring a head torch if the loo is outside, and toilet paper just in case. And please don’t bring wipes, they are eco disasters, but anti-bacterial gel is a must. A flannel is very handy if you just want to do a quick wash and dry in the morning. In terms of bathroom etiquette, there are often lots of people waiting to wash, so this isn’t the time or place for pampering.
Silence is golden
Most people want to hit the sack and the hills early, so it’s important to let them bask in their well earned peace and not be chatting. And don’t do anything that might cause someone to shout ‘get a room’ – because, apart from anything, there usually isn’t a room. Save the cuddles for the city.
