Tour du Mont Blanc Relaxed Pace 6 Days Self Guided

The Tour du Mont Blanc is a popular long-distance trek that circles the Mont Blanc massif, passing through France, Italy and Switzerland. It’s roughly 170km with 10,000m of ascent, and you can take as long as you like depending on your fitness. Our self-guided trips range from 3 to 11 days, while the record time is an astonishing 19 hours, 37 minutes and 43 seconds!

The Tour du Mont Blanc trek is considered a moderate to challenging trek, with a variety of terrains and altitude changes, and requiring a good level of fitness and experience in long-distance trekking. The main thing people aren’t prepared for is the elevation, it’s worth pre-trip trying to get in as much training with elevation gain and descent before your trek!

You don’t need any previous trekking experience but it is worth having some hill-walking experience behind you. This will help prepare you for the amount of walking you’ll be doing on this trek. You must be able to walk comfortably on mixed ground (plenty of ascent and descent) for long periods of time, wearing a backpack.

Adventure Base will provide you access to your Navigational App – we can also provide .gpx files along side the app if you prefer. It’s important you study the route before you set off, preferably the evening before each day of hiking, so that you have an idea of what your next day will entail. Take into consideration distance, elevation gain and loss, and exposure to elements (will you be up high in terrain exposed to the elements, or lower down in perhaps more sheltered terrain) when studying these.

Phone signal is not always available on the trails and battery life on your mobile device can quickly be drained when using a navigation app (especially in areas of weak phone signal, where your phone has to work harder to find signal), as well as by colder temperatures (such as in cold winds). It is a good idea to carry an external battery charger as a backup so that you can charge on the go if necessary. Putting your phone in airplane mode will help preserve its battery life.

Trails are well sign posted but they often present various options. Often there are variation routes that get you to the same place. For example there might be a high pass or a low pass. Deciding which one to take will depend on weather conditions and/or your preference on the day. Each sign will also provide a rough estimate of the time it takes to get to the next stop.

Our advice is to check the map or your device whenever you get to a junction to ensure that you are taking the correct trail to lead you to your destination. Taking these few minutes to confirm you’re going in the right direction will save you time in the long run, as a wrong turn can be costly time-wise but also energy-wise.

They are fairly basic but comfortable. You will sleep in dormitories on a shared basis, sometimes up to 6-8 per room (private rooms can be requested but availability is limited). The lodges offer breakfast and dinner (half board – included in your package), as well as options for buying snacks and a packed lunch for the following day. You can also stop for lunch at a refuge along your way.

There are two options for handling your luggage on the trek:

• Self-sufficient: Carry everything yourself.
• Luggage transfers: Have your overnight bag delivered to your refuge each night (before 18:00).

Important Notes:

• Not all refuges have vehicle access, so there may be nights when your luggage isn’t delivered until the next accessible location.
• You’re allowed a maximum of 15 kg per bag. A soft duffel-style bag is required (no hard-shell suitcases).
• The cost is €45–€100 per bag, per night, depending on location, where available.
• If you’re staying in an Airbnb, luggage transfers are unavailable.

For more information and if you’d like to add luggage transfers to your booking please click here.

Wondering what to do with your luggage while trekking see here for solutions.

The starting point of the Tour du Mont Blanc trek varies depending on the route you book, but the most common starting points are Les Houches (France), Courmayeur (Italy), or Chamonix (France). The nearest major airport to the starting point is Geneva Airport, from which you can take a transfer, bus, or rental car to reach the starting point.

You can find a full kit list here. Best tip: don’t carry too much! You’ll always need less than you think. FYI – good trail shoes are fine for the TMB, big bulky hiking boots aren’t necessarily needed.

On the whole you are likely to experience temperatures in the mid 20’s (Celsius) during July to September. However, in the mountains the weather can be quite unpredictable and there is always a chance that the temperature can drop very low (to freezing sometimes) or go as high as the early 30’s, so come prepared. By prepared, we mean having lots of layers and plenty of suncream, a hat, sunglasses etc.

This depends on a few factors and how bad the weather is. You can aim to continue the trek even if it’s raining/snowing as long as it’s safe to do so. Please DO NOT take any variants off the classic TMB in bad weather conditions such as the Col des Fours, Col du Tricot, Fenêtre d’Arpette. Take a look at the available shortcuts/transport options for that stage.

All accommodation has been booked in advance and we don’t have the ability to change it unfortunately. Refuges are nearly always fully booked so you will need to stick to your itinerary. In the unlikely event that you’re not able to continue to your next accommodation due to injury or weather then you will need to arrange for alternative transportation. That might include a bus or a taxi to get you to where you need to be. Any changes to your itinerary while out on the trip are at your own expense. See here for how to skip stages of the TMB.

Please ensure you arrive at the accommodation NO later than 18:00. If you anticipate being late, it is essential to inform the refuge in advance. You can find their contact numbers in your itinerary app, or feel free to contact us, and we will notify them on your behalf. Please note, if you do not arrive on time, the refuge may release your beds to other trekkers.

Let’s face it, these types of trips don’t come risk free. We’re putting ourselves in amazing environments but also environments that carry an element of risk with them. In order to protect yourself adequately you will need a specialist travel insurance that caters for the types of activities you will be undertaking. It is a condition of our agreement that you are covered by adequate travel insurance for your arrangements. Click here to understand which one is for you.

Whilst we have done our utmost to ensure that your trip will go according to plan, there are certain elements that are beyond our control. We recommend that you carefully read and understand the following section in case you find yourself in need of assistance.

The mountains, if not treated with complete respect, can be a dangerous place. Weather can change quickly and terrain can quickly become treacherous. Making good safe decisions based on the weather forecast and your energy levels when on a self-guided trip is paramount to making sure you have a successful trip.

We have two numbers you can call if there is an emergency but if the situation is critical and requires immediate support then please call 112. This is a European emergency number and will connect you to someone who can then redirect you to the local service you need.

• In resort phone: +33 7497 767 71 (French)
• Office: +44 20 3813 4779 (UK)

Access to internet and mobile signal during the Tour du Mont Blanc trek may be limited in remote areas. Most areas are pretty good for signal apart from Les Chapieux – which has a 14km radius of no service which is the major ‘dark spot’ of the trek. Refuge Bonhomme is most likely the last service point before the Col de la Seigne.

There are two types of currencies used while on the trip: Euros and the Swiss Franc, though most if not all Swiss refuges on the TMB will accept Euros
(€1=1CHF). You will need to carry some cash on the trip as not all businesses accept credit card. Along the route you will find ATM’s in Les Contamines, Courmayeur, Champex and Chamonix, but we recommend planning ahead. You can expect to spend anywhere from €15-€50 per day, depending on what you order.

Do I need to pay a tourist tax?

We do our best to cover all tourist taxes in advance when booking your accommodation. However, some places—especially more remote mountain refuges—require the tax to be paid in cash on departure. If that’s the case it’s usually just a small amount (a few euros per night). We recommend carrying a bit of extra cash just in case.