Overview
This Tour du Mont Blanc highlights walking tour is an eight day adventure along the world-famous trail that circumnavigates Europe’s iconic mountain (4,807m). As well as through France, Italy and Switzerland, all home to the massif. By trekking the Tour du Mont Blanc highlights in comfort, you skip some of the tougher treks and stay in a a mixture of hotels and traditional lodges. Walk in an anti-clockwise direction, starting in Les Contamines and finishing in Chamonix, experiencing all the main highs en route, with the help of some cable car transfers. Luggage transfers are included.
For a more traditional experience, staying in mountain huts, take a look at our Tour du Mont Blanc Highlights holiday.
- Chamonix, Champex-Lac and Courmayeur
- Trient Glacier
- Grand Col Ferret
- Lac Blanc
- Fenêtre d’Arpette (2,750m)
Click to view map
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival to Les Contamines-Montjoie
Welcome to the traditional alpine village of Les Contamines-Montjoie, which has been a tourist destination as far back as 1850. Depending on arrival time, a short warm-up walk today is a good way to prepare for the next few days.
- Accommodation: Hôtel La Gélinotte or similar in Les Contamines-Montjoie
- Meals included: Dinner and breakfast
Day 2: Les Contamines-Montjoie – Les Chapieux | 7-8h
Start the day with a transfer to Notre-Dame de la Gorge, before climbing over Col du Bonhomme and Col de la Croix du Bonhomme, providing views over Aiguille des Glaciers, before descending into Les Chapieux.
- Walking for the day: 7-8h, 15.3km, ↑1,295m, ↓950m
- Accommodation: Mountain lodge Auberge La Nova (mountain lodge with private room) or similar in Les Chapieux
- Meals included: Dinner and breakfast
If accommodation in Les Chapieux isn’t available, we will book you into a hotel in Bourg-Saint-Maurice (supplemental cost). Depending on availability, the hotel is 2-3-star with breakfast included. Take the bus between Les Chapieux and Bourg-Saint-Maurice and return via the same route the next morning. In low season a private transfer may be required.
Day 3: Les Chapieux – Courmayeur | 6h
Begin today with an optional shuttle journey to shorten the morning walk, then cross over Col de la Seigne into Italy, enjoying views of Mont Blanc and Aiguille Noire de Peuterey. Descend into Val Veny and take the bus from La Visaille to Courmayeur, or take the low walking route (approximately 2h 30mins) along Val Veny.
- Walking for the day: 6h, 15.8km, ↑795m, ↓905m
- Accommodation: Hotel Bouton d’Or or similar in Courmayeur
- Meals included: Breakfast
In low season a private transfer may be required from La Visaille to Courmayeur.
Day 4: Courmayeur – Champex-Lac | 6-7h
Take a bus along Val Ferret to Arp Nouvaz and cross Grand Col Ferret, admiring the view over to Grand Combine in the east, before entering Switzerland and the village of La Fouly. From here, take a transfer by local bus to arrive in Champex-Lac.
- Walking for the day: 6-7h, 16.8km, ↑810m, ↓975m
- Accommodation: Hôtel du Glacier or similar in Champex-Lac
- Meals included: Dinner and breakfast
In low season a private transfer may be required from Courmayeur to Val Ferret.
Day 5: Champex-Lac – Vallée du Trient | 8-9h
Today’s route ascends to the highest point of the trip, Fenêtre d’Arpette (2,665m), before continuing along the Trient glacier. There is an alternative, shorter route via the Col de Bovine Pass, in the event of inclement weather.
- Walking for the day: 8-9h, 15km, ↑1,195m, ↓1,350m, (full route) or 5-6h, 15.4km, ↑770m, ↓945m (shorter option)
- Accommodation: La Grande Ourse or similar in Vallée du Trient
- Meals included: Dinner and breakfast
Day 6: Vallée du Trient – Argentière | 5-6h
Return to France via Col de la Balme and enjoy views of Mont Blanc and Aiguille Verte. Pick from two different route options for the descent to the village of Argentière.
- Walking for the day: 5-6h, 15km, ↑1,170m, ↓1,230m
- Accommodation: Hotel Le Dahu or similar in Argentière
- Meals included: Breakfast
Day 7: Argentière – Chamonix | 6-7h
Enjoy views of Balcon des Aiguilles Rouges, before ascending to Lac Blanc. The landscapes that await today include Aiguille Verte, Aiguilles du Dru, Mer de Glace, Aiguilles de Chamonix, Mont Blanc du Tacul, Aiguille du Goûter and of course, Mont Blanc itself. Descend to Chamonix via Le Praz. There is also the option of taking the cable car at La Flégère and catching a bus (transfers not included in the price).
- Walking for the day: 6-7h, 15.4km, ↑1,435m, ↓685m
- Accommodation: Hôtel Vallée Blanche or similar in Chamonix
- Meals included: Breakfast
Day 8: Departure or onward travel
Chamonix is a great base to spend a couple of days, and we recommend adding some extra nights here. There are multiple walks in Aiguilles Rouges Nature Reserve or you can take the cable car to the Aiguille du Midi (3,795m) or the train to Mer de Glace.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation is lodges (three nights) and 2 and 3-star hotels (four nights) in private rooms, with en-suite facilities when possible. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism.
Click to view default hotels
- Hôtel La Gélinotte Les Contamines-Montjoie
- Auberge La Nova Les Chapieux
- Hotel Bouton d’Or Courmayeur
- Hôtel du Glacier Champex-Lac
- La Grande Ourse Vallée du Trient
- Hotel Le Dahu Argentière
- Hôtel Vallée Blanche Chamonix

























Hotels are subject to availability. In the event of a particular accommodation 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 on seven days and dinner is included on four days. When no restaurant location is available en 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 for experienced walkers and requires a very good level of fitness. No high mountain experience is required (read more about difficulty grades).
We strongly advise you to only follow marked trails and never shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed route notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed information on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available from mid-June to 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 availability may be limited during 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.
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 (GVA).
By train or bus
- Shuttle bus: Take the Mountain Drop-offs shuttle service from Geneva Airport. This can be arranged with your booking for an additional cost.
- Car: Free but unguarded parking is available in Les Contamines-Montjoie. At the end of the tour, you will need to take either the SAT Mont Blanc bus or Taxi Besson from Chamonix back to Les Contamines-Montjoie.
- Train: Take a train to Saint-Gervais-les-Bains railway station followed by a taxi or bus to Les Contamines-Montjoie.
- Taxi: From Geneva airport, a taxi for one to eight people is approximately €300.
Inclusions
Included
- 4 nights in 2/3-star hotels in private en-suite rooms
- 3 nights in lodges, with en-suite facilities where possible (please note that this cannot always be guaranteed for the overnights in the mountain lodges)
- 7 breakfasts
- 5 dinners
- Luggage transfers from hotel to hotel on all walking days (one piece of luggage per person, max 15kg)
- Private transfer on day two
- Detailed digital holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions and maps
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, drinks and snacks
- Dinners not mentioned as included
- Bus transfer on day three Les Chapieux – Ville des Glaciers (Seloge)
- Bus and cable cars to shorten the walks (Courmayeur, Champex, Chamonix)
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
- Private transfer to and from Bourg-Saint-Maurice (required outside of peak season)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
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. Please note that individual rooms are not available on day 2
- We regret that this holiday is not available for solo travellers
- Upgrade to 3* hotel in Les Contamines-Montjoie and 4* hotel in Chamonix
- Extra nights in Les Contamines-Montjoie or Chamonix
- Luggage transfers opt-out: if you prefer to carry your luggage rather than have it transferred by us, this will reduce your price. Please note this option has to be selected for all travellers in the booking
Gallery
![Tour du Mont Blanc Highlights in Comfort [2024 Programme] The Natural Adventure 11](https://www.thenaturaladventure.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/mont-blanc-1527998_1920-400x225.jpg)
![Tour du Mont Blanc Highlights in Comfort [2024 Programme] The Natural Adventure 10](https://www.thenaturaladventure.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/lodge-5739061_1920-400x225.jpg)
![Tour du Mont Blanc Highlights in Comfort [2024 Programme] The Natural Adventure 9](https://www.thenaturaladventure.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/chamonix-1956334_1920-400x225.jpg)
![Tour du Mont Blanc Highlights in Comfort [2024 Programme] The Natural Adventure 8](https://www.thenaturaladventure.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/tom-podmore-XK4vlSgo6IM-unsplash-400x225.jpg)
![Tour du Mont Blanc Highlights in Comfort [2024 Programme] The Natural Adventure 7](https://www.thenaturaladventure.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/chamonix-3688845_1280-400x225.jpg)
![Tour du Mont Blanc Highlights in Comfort [2024 Programme] The Natural Adventure 6](https://www.thenaturaladventure.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/lake-6752018_1920-400x225.jpg)
![Tour du Mont Blanc Highlights in Comfort [2024 Programme] The Natural Adventure 5](https://www.thenaturaladventure.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/nature-6830148_1280-400x225.jpg)
![Tour du Mont Blanc Highlights in Comfort [2024 Programme] The Natural Adventure 4](https://www.thenaturaladventure.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/mont-blanc-1527996_1280-400x225.jpg)
![Tour du Mont Blanc Highlights in Comfort [2024 Programme] The Natural Adventure 3](https://www.thenaturaladventure.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Argentiere-400x225.jpg)
![Tour du Mont Blanc Highlights in Comfort [2024 Programme] The Natural Adventure 2](https://www.thenaturaladventure.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Val-Veny-400x225.jpg)
![Tour du Mont Blanc Highlights in Comfort [2024 Programme] The Natural Adventure 1](https://www.thenaturaladventure.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Cabane-du-Combal-400x225.jpg)
![Tour du Mont Blanc Highlights in Comfort [2024 Programme] The Natural Adventure](https://www.thenaturaladventure.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Chamonix_-400x225.jpg)
Reviews
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