Tour du Mont Blanc Circuit

Overview

This is the traditional 12 day, anti-clockwise Tour du Mont Blanc circuit, starting and ending at the village of Les Houches in the Chamonix Valley. Walk 11-18km per day, with some strenuous stretches but all sublimely beautiful ones, with a few options to transfer by cable car for a cool shortcut. Highlights along the way include crossing Col de la Seigne from France into Italy, reaching the tour’s highest point at Fenêtre d’Arpette (2,750m) followed by a descent alongside the Trient Glacier. Accommodation is in a mix of mountain huts in mixed gender dorms, as well as some 2-3-star hotels.

Col de la Croix du Bonhomme
Col de la Seigne
Alpine towns of Chamonix and Courmayeur
Grand Col Ferret
Fenêtre d’Arpette
Balcon des Aiguilles Rouges

Please note: Accommodation is mostly in mixed-gender dormitories in mountain huts. If you would prefer to stay in private rooms in hotels, with en-suite facilities, these are available on our Tour du Mont Blanc Circuit in Comfort itinerary.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Les Houches

Welcome to Les Houches, a village on the banks of the river l’Arve just 6km from Chamonix and the official start point for the Tour du Mont Blanc. If arriving early, take the time to wander around this Alpine town, taking in the scenery.

Accommodation: Hôtel Saint-Antoine, (or similar)
Meals included: dinner

Day 2: Les Houches – Les Contamines-Montjoie | 4-5h

Take the cable car to Bellevue. The path meanders through the forest high above Bionnassay Valley while passing through hamlets with views of Mont Blanc and the foothills of the Alps. Dôme du Goûter and Aiguille de Bionnassay dominate the view with Glacier de Bionnassay between them. Climb up Col de Tricot and descend along a series of switchbacks to Chalet de Miage. Following a riverside path into Les Contamines at the end of the day.

Walking for the day: 4-5h, approx. 12.9km, ↑380m ↓1,010m
Accommodation: La Gélinotte, private room (or similar)
Meals included: breakfast and dinner

Day 3: Les Contamines – Les Chapieux/Refuge des Mottets | 7-8h

Begin with a short transfer to Notre Dame de la Gorge, before traversing Col du Bonhomme and Col de la Croix du Bonhomme and descending into Chapieux Valley. Today offers remarkable panoramas of Aiguille des Glaciers. Depending on availability, you will either be booked into a hut in Les Chapieux or Refuge des Mottets. There is a shuttle service between Les Chapieux and Refuge des Mottets, which you can use if staying in the latter.

Walking for the day: 7-8h, approx. 15.3km ↑1,380m ↓980m (with transfer) / 8-9h without transfer
Accommodation: mountain hut Auberge de La Nova or Refuge des Mottets, dormitory rooms (or similar)
Meals included: breakfast and dinner

Day 4: Les Chapieux/Refuge des Mottets – Rifugio Elisabetta/Chercroit | 5-6h

If beginning the day in Les Chapeiux, this morning’s route can be shortened by taking the public shuttle to Refuge des Mottets before climbing up to Col de la Seigne, crossing the border from France into Italy. The route continues through fields, crossing Vallon de la Lee Blanche to reach Rifugio Elisabetta. If continuing onto Chercroit, follow the wide track downhill before heading along the Val Veny balcony, offering wide-reaching views, to reach Chercroit.

Walking for the day: 5-6h, approx. 14km, ↑1,030m ↓390m / 10km with transfer
Accommodation: Rifugio Elisabettaor Rifugio Maison Vieille, dormitory rooms (or similar), no luggage transfers available if staying at Rifugio Elisabetta
Meals included: breakfast and dinner

Day 5: Rifugio Elisabetta/Chercriot – Courmayeur – Val Ferret | 6-7h

Hike along one of the most magnificent balconies of the Tour du Mont Blanc, until you reach Chécrouit Pass, where you’ll have the choice to descend to Courmayeur either by walking or by using a convenient cable car shortcut. Upon reaching Courmayeur, take the bus to Val Ferret. If staying in Rigfugio Elena there is a short, pleasant walk from the Arp Nouvaz bus stop to here.

Walking for the day: 6-7h, approx. 18km, ↑810m ↓1,500m
Accommodation: Rifugio Elena, dormitory rooms (or similar)
Meal included: breakfast and dinner

Day 6: Val Ferret – La Fouly | 4-5h

Depending on where last nights accommodation was, you can begin the day by taking a short transfer up to the end of Val Ferret before crossing Grand Col Ferret, 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: 4-5h, approx. 11km, ↑485m ↓945m
Accommodation: L’Edelweiss, dormitory rooms (or similar)
Meals included: breakfast and dinner

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: 5-6h, approx. 15km, ↑600m ↓500m
Accommodation: Relais d’Arpette, dormitory rooms (or similar)
Meals included: breakfast and dinner

Day 8: Champex-Lac – Trient | 8-9h

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).

Walking for the day: 8-9h, approx. 13km, ↑1,100m ↓1,350m, or 5-6h ↑770m ↓945m (shorter option via Col de Bovine, especially during bad weather).
Accommodation: Auberge du Mont Blanc, dormitory rooms (or similar)
Meals included: breakfast and dinner

Day 9: Trient – Le Tour | 6-7h

A morning trek over Col de la Balme means that you are rewarded with tremendous views back over to France as well as a panoramic vista of Mont Blanc and Aiguille Verte. There are two options for your descent to Le Tour, a higher route along the crest of Aiguillette des Possets, or a more direct route from Col de Balme following the Charamillon gondola line down to le Tour.

Walking for the day: 6-7h, approx. 10.5km, ↑975m ↓810m
Accommodation: Chalet Alpin du Tour, dormitory rooms (or similar)
Meals included: breakfast and dinner

Day 10: Le Tour – Chamonix | 7-8h

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: 7-8h, approx. 16km, ↑1,450m, ↓917m
Accommodation: Hotel Vallée Blanche (or similar)
Meals included: breakfast

Day 11: Chamonix – Les Houches – Chamonix | 6-7h

In good weather conditions outside the early season when snow risks are higher, there is an option to take the cable car from Chamonix to Planpraz and embark on the walk to Les Houches via Col du Brevent. Alternatively, opt for a cable car journey from Planpraz to Le Brevent, then descend to Les Houches. Take a train or bus from Les Houches back to Chamonix. The final option is to take this day as a rest day and explore Chamonix at your leisure.

Walking for the day: 6-7h, approx. 12km, ↑520m ↓1,545m
Accommodation: Hotel Vallée Blanche (or similar)
Meal included: breakfast

Day 12: Departure or extra nights

Chamonix is a great base to spend a couple of days, and we would recommend that you add some extra nights here. There is superb walking in Aiguilles Rouges National Nature Reserve, take the cable car to the Aiguille du Midi (3,842m) or the train to Mer de Glace.

Meal included: breakfast

What to expect

Accommodation

Accommodation is in a mix of traditional mountain lodges (refuges) and hotels. In the mountain lodges you will sleep in mixed-gender dormitories with shared bathroom facilities. 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.

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Tour du Mont Blanc from Les Houches The Natural Adventure Company 32

Tour du Mont Blanc from Les Houches The Natural Adventure Company 31

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.

Meals

Half-board with breakfast and dinner is included in every accommodation except Chamonix, Bourg-Saint-Maurice and Martigny (breakfast only). Lunch packs for next day can be pre-ordered at each accommodation.

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 blog post Everything you need to know about the Tour du Mont Blanc hike.

Getting there

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

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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 train stations in Les Houches and Chamonix. For more details, see the national rail operator SNCF Connect or use the Omio planner above
Car: Free but unguarded parking is available in Les Houches. At the end of the tour, you will need to take either the bus or train from Chamonix back to Les Houches
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

4 nights in 2-3-star hotels, (private en-suite rooms) and 7 nights in mountain huts (mixed-gender dormitory rooms with shared facilities)
11 breakfasts
7-9 dinners (depending on location of accommodation)
Luggage transfers from hotel to hotel on all walking days (one piece of luggage per person, max 15kg and 90cm on the longest side) except on day four. Your main luggage will be transferred directly from accommodation on day three to accommodation for day five
Private transfer on day three to 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
Lunches, dinners drinks and snacks not listed as included
Luggage transfer on day four
Fares for bus transfers or cable cars listed in the itinerary
Any transfers required during low season
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

If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own – only possible for hotel accommodation
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
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

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Tour du Mont Blanc Circuit

Overview