Tour du Mont Blanc Circuit in Comfort

Overview

Experience the classic twelve-day, anti-clockwise Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) circuit in comfort, starting and ending in Chamonix. Passing through three countries and visiting numerous peaks and valleys, this route offers spectacular vistas from start to finish whilst skirting around Mont Blanc. Highlights along the way include crossing Col de la Seigne from France into Italy, the tour’s highest point at Fenêtre d’Arpette (2,665m), followed by a descent alongside the Trient Glacier. Accommodation is in small, comfortable mountain hotels.

Col de la Croix du Bonhomme
Col de la Seigne
Glacier de Miage
Chamonix
Courmayeur
Champex-Lac
Grand Col Ferret

Please note: If you prefer to spend most nights in traditional TMB mountain huts, take a look at our other Tour du Mont Blanc Circuit itinerary.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival to Chamonix

Welcome to Chamonix, the alpine town on the banks of L’Arve River and the official start point for the Tour du Mont Blanc. It is world-renowned for its popularity among outdoor enthusiasts. If possible, we highly recommend spending a few extra nights here at the start or end of the tour.

Accommodation: Hôtel Vallée Blanche or similar

Day 2: Chamonix – Les Houches | 6h

Today there is the option of a more relaxed start by taking the cable car up to Planpraz before a short walk to Col du Brévent (2,368m). From here, it’s possible to climb to the peak of Le Brévent (2,525m), considered one of the best lookout posts for viewing Mont Blanc, and the surrounding glaciers and peaks. Continue on the hiking trail to pass Lac du Brévent and descend to Refuge Bellachat, before resuming the steep climb. The final section of the day skirts Parc de Merlet forest before finishing in Les Houches.

Walking for the day: 12km, 6h, ↑500m ↓1,500m
Accommodation: Hôtel Saint-Antoine or similar
Meals included: breakfast and dinner

Day 3: Les Houches – Les Contamines-Montjoie/Saint-Gervais-les-Bains | 7-8h

From Col de Voza there are two options for the route to Les Contamines-Montjoie, a shorter, easier option via Aiguille de Bionnassay, or a more scenic route across a suspension bridge spanning a torrent from Glacier de Bionnassay. The hike continues through mountain meadows to Col de Tricot (2,120m) and descends to Refuge de Miage. After a further ascent, there is a rest stop at Le Truc. The finishing point for today’s hike is Les Contamines in the Montjoie valley.

Walking for the day: 17.5km, 7-8h ↑1,440m ↓1,260m (easier option by cable car: 13km, 5-6h ↑380m ↓1,010m)
Accommodation: La Gélinotte, Les Contamines-Montjiue or similar or La Féline Blanche, Saint Gervais or similar
Meals included: breakfast and dinner (Les Contamines-Montjiue only)

Day 4: Les Contamines – Les Chapieux – Bourg-Saint-Maurice | 7-8h

Today’s trek passes over ravines, past glacial lakes and ascends over two cols, all in the view of the southernmost point of Mont Blanc. After a short transfer from Les Contamines-Montjoie/Saint-Gervais-les-Bains to Notre Dame de la Gorge church, where the long ascent to Col du Bonhomme (2,329m) and Col de la Croix du Bonhomme (2,450m) begins. Take a rest at Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme before the last descent to Les Chapieux. From here, take the public shuttle to Bourg-Saint-Maurice, a lively mountain town with plenty of options for dinner.

Walking for the day: 15.5km, 7-8h ↑1,300m ↓950m
Accommodation: Hôtel Arolla or similar
Meals included: breakfast

Day 5: Bourg-Saint-Maurice – Vallée des Glaciers – Courmayeur | 5-6h

Begin the morning with a short bus transfer to Vallée des Glaciers before beginning the climb up to Col de la Seigne, crossing the border from France into Italy. The route continues through fields towards Rifugio Elisabetta, where there is an opportunity for a break. Continue on to La Visaille to catch the bus to Courmayeur.

Walking for the day: 16km, 5-6h ↑795m ↓900m
Accommodation: Hotel Bouton d’Or or similar
Meals included: breakfast

Day 6: Courmayeur – Val Ferret – Courmayeur (or rest day in Courmayeur) | 7-8h

Option of either a rest day in Courmayeur or hiking up to Val Ferret before returning via public bus. From Courmayeur, follow the mountain path to Rifugio Giorgio Bertone and along the crest of Mont de la Saxe to Tête de la Tronche, offering views along the south side of the Mont Blanc range. The path continues over bridges and brooks, passing Rifugio Walter Bonatti ariving at Chalet Val Ferret, which sits at the foot of Val Ferret. From here, take the bus back to your accommodation in Courmayeur.

Walking for the day: 16.5km, 7-8h ↑1,140m ↓560m
Accommodation: Hotel Bouton d’Or or similar
Meals included: breakfast

Day 7: Val Ferret – La Fouly | 4-5h

Begin the morning with a short bus transfer back up to Val Ferret before setting off over Grand Col Ferret (2,537m), heading out of Italy and into Switzerland’s rolling pastures. Rest in one of the mountain lodges along the route before continuing on to La Fouly.

Walking for the day: 13km, 4-5h ↑770m ↓945m
Accommodation: L’Edelweiss or similar
Meals included: breakfast and dinner

Day 8: La Fouly – Champex-Lac/Orsières | 4-5h

Today marks the easiest day of the TMB route, with much less elevation change than previous walks. Dranse River accompanies the trail on this leisurely hike past high mountains, through forests, meadows and traditional mountain villages towards the valley. At the end of the hike, the Murmeltierweg (Marmot trail) takes you up to Champex-Lac. If staying in Orsières, take a short bus from Champex down to Orsières.

Walking for the day: 15km, 4-5h ↑535m ↓670m
Accommodation: Hôtel du Glacier, Champex-Lac or similar or Hôtel Terminus, Orsières or similar
Meals included: breakfast and dinner

Day 9: Champex-Lac – Trient – Martigny | 5-6h

This day of walking has the option of two routes which vary in difficulty. The Fenêtre d’Arpette should only be considered in fair weather, as this challenging path reaches the highest point of the TMB, and offers views across the Trient Glacier and down into Vallée du Trient. The alternative route via Alp Bovine, a more leisurely route that follows the northern contours of the rocky spur, leading through high alpine pastures and passing a lunch spot at Alp Bovine (1,987m). End the day by taking a public bus from Trient down to Martigny.

Walking for the day: Via Fenêtre d’Arpette 15km, 5-6h ↑1,190m ↓1,350m (via Alp Bovine 15.5km, 6-7h ↑770m ↓945m)
Accommodation: Martigny Boutique-Hôtel or similar
Meals included: breakfast

Day 10: Martigny – Trient – Argentière | 5-6h

Today starts with an early morning bus back to Trient before beginning the climb up to Col de Balme (2,191m), and on to the mountain lodge of Refuge du Col de Balme, for a short rest with views of Mont Blanc and the Chamonix Valley. Descend to the open saddle of Col des Posettes (2,201m) and head along the Kammweg ridge over the summit of L’Aiguillette des Posettes, with a views of surrounding glaciers. The walk ends with a steep descent following a mountain stream to Argentière.

Walking for the day: 16km, 5-6h ↑1,170m ↓1,230m
Accommodation: Le Dahu or similar
Meals included: breakfast

Day 11: Argentière – Chamonix | 7h

This is one of the most challenging sections of the Tour du Mont Blanc. Using a combination of fixed ladders and timber-braced steps over steep rocks to reach Refuge du Lac Blanc. In the afternoon, follow the path across Grand Balcon to Planpraz, which has a cafe at an altitude of 2,000m, for a final break before heading back down the cable car to the mountaineering hub of Chamonix. Please note: The ladder section on this day is very steep and exposed, with some scrambling elements. For those with a fear of heights or who are feeling fatigued from the previous day’s walking, an alternative lower route along the Petit Balcon Sud to Chamonix is available.

Walking for the day: 15.5km, 7h ↑1,440m ↓1,620m (easier option by cable car: ↑1,440m ↓685m)
Accommodation: Hotel Vallée Blanche, or similar
Meals included: breakfast

Day 12: Departure or extra nights

Chamonix is a great place to spend a couple of days, and we recommend adding some extra nights here. There, you can walk in Aiguilles Rouges National Nature Reserve, take the cable car to the Aiguille du Midi (3,795m), or take the Montenvers Railway to Mer de Glace.

Meals included: breakfast

What to expect

Accommodation

Accommodation is in a combination of 2 and 3-star hotels in private rooms. Due to low availability in certain areas, alternate locations may need to be used. Accommodation has been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria, including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. As our Tour du Mont Blanc tours are very popular and accommodation options are limited, we may need to book you into alternative options to those mentioned above and, when necessary, this may incur an additional cost. We, therefore, recommend that you book as early as possible.

Click to view default hotels

Tour du Mont Blanc Circuit in Comfort The Natural Adventure 24

Tour du Mont Blanc Circuit in Comfort The Natural Adventure 23

Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.

As Mont Blanc tours are very popular, and accommodation options are quite limited, we may need to book you into alternative options to those mentioned above and, when necessary, this may incur an additional cost. We, therefore, recommend that you book as early as possible

Meals

Breakfast is included each morning, and dinner is included on four nights where restaurant options are limited, for nights where dinner is not included, you have the option to visit one of the local restaurants in the area. When no restaurant location is available on the route, lunches and snacks should either be bought from local shops, or packed lunches can be pre-ordered from your accommodation the night before.

Difficulty and terrain

This holiday is appropriate for experienced walkers and requires an excellent level of fitness. All participants should be comfortable walking up to nine hours a day across varied terrain with multiple, sustained ascents and descents while carrying a full day pack (average 10-15kg). Experience of other multi-day hikes is essential as the route to demands prolonged physical exertion over several consecutive days. The route often follows trails in remote areas with no road access and no possibility of shortening the route so participants must be extremely confident in their ability to successfully complete each section before setting off.

There are some exposed sections so enduring sure-footedness, and a head for heights are a must as this route also encounters sections featuring fixed ladders. Many sections of the tour are at an altitude over 1,000m peaking at 2,600m over Fenêtre d’Arpette. It’s important to be aware that at these higher elevations, the routes will be far more physically demanding than they would be at lower elevations and while relatively uncommon at these altitudes, participants should be familiar with the signs and symptoms of acute mountain sickness in both themselves and those around them (read more about difficulty grades).

We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never try to shorten the path through the unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed digital road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your digital holiday information pack.

When to go

This trip is available from early June until mid-September.

The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates and you can start your trip on any date in the season. Please indicate your desired start date when booking.

Please note that in low season (September) public transport mentioned in the itinerary will not be running so will need to be replaced with private transfers (not included).

Please be advised that supplemental costs will be applied during the week of the UTMB: 24-30 August.

For more information, see our Everything you need to know about the Tour du Mont Blanc hike blog.

Getting there

FCO up-to-date travel advice on Switzerland, France and Italy.

Click to view travel options

By plane

Our recommended airport for this holiday is Geneva Airport (GVA).

By train or bus

Shuttle bus: Take the Mountain Drop-offs shuttle service from Geneva Airport.
Train: If you are able to travel to France without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail with a train station in Chamonix. For more details, see the national rail operator SNCF Connect or use the Omio planner above
Taxi: From Geneva airport, a taxi for one to eight people is approximately €300. Private transfers can be booked through us upon request.

Inclusions

Included

11 nights in private hotel rooms
11 breakfasts
4 dinners
Luggage transfers from hotel to hotel on all walking days (one piece of luggage per person, max 15kg and 90cm on the longest side)
Private transfer on day four from Les Contamines or Saint-Gervais-les-Bains – Notre Dame de la Gorge
Detailed holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions and road notes; maps with daily routes and optional hikes marked
24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative

Excluded

Airfare and connecting land transfers
All lunches, and dinners not mentioned as included, drinks and snacks
Fares for any listed bus or cable car transfers
Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
Personal expenses
Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
Private transfers are required in September as the public bus does not run during the low season
Any items not explicitly listed as included
eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)

Options, extras and supplements

Supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
We regret that this holiday is not available for solo travellers
We regret that we are not able to accommodate travellers under the age of 16
Extra nights in Les Houches or Chamonix
Luggage transfers opt-out: if you prefer to carry your luggage, rather than have it transferred by us, this will reduce the price. Please note this option has to be selected for all travellers in your group
Listed accommodations and locations above are subject to availability. In the event of limited availability, alternative options will be booked with potential transportation and supplements required
Private transfers
Extra nights in Chamonix, Courmayeur, Bourg-Saint-Maurice or Martigny.

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Tour du Mont Blanc Circuit in Comfort

Overview