Tour du Mont Blanc 7 Days - Adventure Base
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trekking-icon Self Guided Treks: Tour du Mont Blanc

Tour du Mont Blanc 7 Days

The Tour du Mont Blanc is a 170 km trekking trail through France, Italy and Switzerland. Circumnavigating Western Europe’s highest mountain, Mont Blanc, it is one of the world’s most famous classic multi day treks and is on every serious hiker’s bucket list. This 7 day self-guided version specifically tailors to those looking to do the route within a week of holiday.

    Adventure Snapshot

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    Duration

    6 Nights, 7 Days

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    Start Location

    Les Houches, Chamonix

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    Date(s)

    June - September

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    Price

    From €1065

Book Now €1065

ITALY, SWITZERLAND & FRANCE / 6 NIGHTS / 7 DAYS

This 6 night / 7 day version of the Tour du Mont Blanc trek is an incredible opportunity to completely immerse yourself in the mountains and enjoy the natural beauty of the valleys that surround western Europe’s highest mountain. The trek offers an unusual variety of spectacular scenery and varied walks and you are sure to come away from this trek refreshed and invigorated, if a little creaky at the joints.

The route crosses three borders (France, Italy and Switzerland) over 7 days, traversing beneath huge glaciers, and meandering through beautiful alpine meadows and picture-book villages. That's right, this is a truly memorable journey and one of worlds classic long-distance hiking routes.

This 7 day self-guided version specifically tailors to those looking to do the route within a weeks holiday.

Not sure whether you're ready? No problem. Take our Tour du Mont Blanc Trek 'Readiness' test or join us on our Tour du Mont Blanc guided trips:

Take our Tour du Mont Blanc Trek 'Readiness' test

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YOUR ADVENTURE STARTS HERE

WHO IS THIS FOR?

The Tour du Mont Blanc Trek is well suited to fit hillwalkers, capable of trekking for multiple days carrying a reasonably heavy rucksack. You follow footpaths each day and the terrain is very hilly. You can expect to do up to and over 1000m ascent and descent per day.  You stay in a mixture of mountain refuges, gites and auberges during the trek, which all provide basic but comfortable lodging and good food. This helps keep your packs fairly light carrying only snacks, clothing and essentials.

It might seem like a lot to take in so if you're not sure if you're ready.. No problem. Take our Tour du Mont Blanc Trek 'Readiness' test or join us on one of our Tour du Mont Blanc guided trips: Take our Tour du Mont Blanc Trek 'Readiness' test

    Adventure Overview

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    Duration

    6 Nights, 7 Days

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    Start Location

    Les Houches, Chamonix

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    Date(s)

    June - September

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    Guide Ratio

    Self Guided

  • Ability

    Level B

    Level B

    You have some previous experience in the outdoors, whether that’s hiking, skiing or climbing. You will either be starting to venture into more technical terrain or slightly more 'aggressive' environments. Let's dial it up!

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    Price

    From €1065

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ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

Great news! Your place on this adventure is carbon offset along with our footprint in creating it. To learn more about what we're doing head to our 'Better Business' page.

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See real footage of previous expeditions

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The Tour du Mont Blanc Trek

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Stunning views and great memories. This is the Tour du Mont Blanc Trek.

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What is Self Guided Trekking?

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Olly and Charlie discuss what a self guided trip looks like.

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Beginner Hikes Tour Du Mont Blanc

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Check out Dave’s experience on the Tour du Mont Blanc with us.

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Omar's Trip

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A snapshot at Omar’s experience on the trails with us.

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Meet The Team

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Introducing our crack squad of mountain lovers and adventure junkies. We spend most of our days plotting, planning and building some of the very best trips out there for you all to enjoy.

EQUIPMENT REQUIRED FOR THIS TRIP

Please note this is a guide and you may be required to rent or purchase last minute equipment on arrival dependent on the weather and changes in itinerary.

For the full downloadable Tour Du Mont Blanc Trek kit list please click here.

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FINER DETAILS

YOUR ADVENTURE PACKAGE 

The trek begins in Les Houches at the Bellevue cable car in the Chamonix valley. Typically people will arrive the night before and overnight either in Les Houches or overnight in Chamonix and take the train from Chamonix to Les Houches in the morning to start the hike. If you would like us to book your accommodation for the first night please ask.

What's Included?

  • Group 16 Created with Sketch. 6 Nights accommodation
  • Group 16 Created with Sketch. 6 Breakfasts
  • Group 16 Created with Sketch. 6 Dinners
  • Group 16 Created with Sketch. Planning and reservations
  • Group 16 Created with Sketch. Virtual briefing with an Adventure Base representative
  • Group 16 Created with Sketch. Welcome pack
  • Group 16 Created with Sketch. First aid kit
  • Group 16 Created with Sketch. A detailed itinerary
  • Group 16 Created with Sketch. 24/7 Support communication with our team in Chamonix

What's not Included?

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  • Group 20 Created with Sketch. Lunches, snacks and drinks on the trek
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WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE ACCOMMODATION

We know the importance of having comfortable accommodation on this trip. After a long day of trekking it's vital to have a comfortable bed and good food to enjoy in a scenic location. We've handpicked refuges and other mountain accommodation along the way that we're sure you're going to love. (A single room supplement is available where possible, please request this far in advance)

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ON THE TREK

The majority of the accommodation on the trip will be in dormitories and / or small shared rooms. You can upgrade in some of the accommodation options if requested in advance and based on availability.

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    Duration

    6 Nights

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    Internet

    Not included

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    Beds

    Shared arrangements

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    Food

    6 Breakfasts + 6 Dinners

Mountains

Immerse yourself in Nature

Adventure Itinerary

Here you'll find the full itinerary including distances (KM) ascents and descents each day and a rough estimate of how long it will take.
Start point: Les Houches
End point: Les Houches
Length: 7 days
Whilst we aim to stick to the itinerary below, accommodation in some of the locations may not always be available. In this instance you will be booked into a suitable alternative accommodation.

  • Day 1:
    Les Houches - Val Montjoie

    Start by taking a short train ride to Les Houches, followed by a cable car ride on the Bellevue lift. You then cross the spectacular suspension bridge at the foot of the Bionnassay glacier, and we have several route choices to get to Les Contamines – we usually recommend to go over the Col de Tricot to stop at the Chalet de Miages for a coffee, looking up at the Dome de Miages, but if the weather is bad you can take the lower, easier route. Once down in Les Contamines you continue towards Notre Dam de la Gorge and up past Refuge Nant Borrant to Refuge de la Balme for the night.

    24.1km / 2004m up / 1320m down / 6-7 hours trekking

  • Day 2:
    Val Montjoie - Rifugio Elisabetta / Cabane Combal

    Today starts with a climb up to the Col de la Croix de Bonhomme (2478m). There are magnificent views of the Vanoise mountains and Mont Pourri from here. You then have a fairly steep walk down to the remote commune of Les Chapieux where you will briefly lose phone signal. Continue up the valley to Ville des Glaciers and up and over the Col de la Seigne to Rifugio Elisabetta or Cabane Combal for the night.

    24.4km / 1350m up / 1820m down / 7-8 hours trekking

  • Day 3:
    Rifugio Elisabetta / Cabane Combal - Rifugio Bertone

    Today if you're feeling like a shorter day you can follow the road to La Visaille, where you take a bus down to the traditional Italian town of Courmayeur. If not, follow the TMB up and over the Courmayeur ski area and down through Plan Checkout into Courmayeur. Stop for a bite to eat and a stroll around the beautiful old town before making the final climb up to Rifugio Bertone for the night.

    20.6km / 1350m up / 1552m down / 6-7 hours trekking

  • Day 4:
    Rifugio Bertone - Gite Alpage de la Peule

    The trek starts with a beautiful panoramic trail facing the south side of the Mont Blanc Massif along the Val Ferret down to Rifugio Bonatti for a late morning coffee. From here it's down to the valley briefly before heading up and over the Grand Col Ferret (one of the highest cols on the trip at 2530m). You are rewarded with stunning views of the Grandes Jorasses, the Grand Combin and the Mont Dolent (whose summit is the border of France, Switzerland and Italy). At the top of the col you cross over into Switzerland, where the scenery changes yet again. Descent a short while to get to Gite Alpage de la Peule for the night.

    20.9km / 1193m up / 1095m down / 6-7 hours trekking

  • Day 5:
    Gite Alpage de la Peule - Champex

    Start the day by continuing down the valley to La Fouly, an alpine village with traditional Swiss “chocolate box” chalets. Here you meander through villages and farm fields until you make the final climb up to Champex-le-lac. It's well worth leaving early today in order to spend some time at the lake, known as 'Little Canada' because of its sheer beauty and sereneness. If you're feeling like a break today there is a bus service from La Fouly to Champex.

    22.7km / 743m up / 1187m down / 5-6 hours trekking

  • Day 6:
    Champex - Tre le Champ

    Today is a long day linking Champex and the Trient valley via the Bovine route followed by a final climb up to the Refuge Col de Balme and down into France to the small hamlet of Tre le Champ. The Fenetre d'Arpette route is nothing short of astounding but most only be undertaken in good weather and with no snow on the trails. If not suitable, we will provide you with details of how to make your way along the beautiful trail via the Alpage Bovine instead. You'll then continue onwards down to Trient. Then it is time for the last climb up the Col de Balme with no doubt tired legs, but you’ll soon see the Refuge Col du Balme with it’s iconic red shutters – a tiny dot on the Col du Balme saddle – another frontière marking the boundary between Switzerland and France. Pop in for a an afternoon slice of cake before making your final descent to Tre le Champ. During high season the chair lift Autannes and cable car Charamillon can save tired legs and bring you down to Le Tour.

    22km / 1981m up / 2228m down / 7 - 8 hours trekking

  • Day 7:
    Tre le Champ - Les Houches

    Hiking through the Aiguille Rouge National Park, you’ll have a good chance of seeing marmots, chamois or bouquetin. If you want to complete the entire Les Houches to Les Houches circuit though you’ll need to set off super early today – it’s a challenging day ending with a knee crunching descent into Les Houches. It may be too much for some and if this is the case there’s the option to take the Plan Praz cable car down to Chamonix centre rather than pressing onto Les Houches. It’s a steady 2 hours climb up to Lac Blanc from Tre le Champ for trekkers of good speed. The route climbs steadily until you reach the infamous TMB ladders – a series of 13 ladders and metal ware built into the rock. It’s the most exciting physical aspect of the entire Tour du Mont Blanc. At the Tête aux Vents, a large cairn (2132m) which borders the national park you can choose to detour up to Lac Blanc or traverse along the trail to La Flégère. Lac Blanc (2,352m) has an almost mythical stature. Continue along the Grand Balcon Nord to Plan Praz taking in beautiful views of the Aiguilles de Chamonix and Mont Blanc. Head up to Brevent either by cable car or on foot and then decide whether you have enough time and energy to do the long descent down to Les Houches.

    25km / 1801m up / 2187m down / 8 - 9 hours trekking

Mountains

Are you ready?

Our adventures are attributed a difficulty level from A to E. This Tour du Mont Blanc 7 Days trip is rated Level B, for those with some prior experience We recommend you only book a trip that reflects your ability.

Level A

For beginners and newcomers

  • You’re not quite sure where to start but you’re hungry for an adventure
  • Little / no prior experience
  • Shorter time duration
  • No technical skills required but keen to learn
  • Basic level of fitness

Level B

For those with some prior experience

  • You have some previous experience in the outdoors, whether that’s hiking, skiing or climbing, and are keen to build on that
  • You will either be starting to venture into more technical terrain or slightly more challenging environments
  • Some basic skills
  • Moderate fitness
Think you've got this?

This trip is at this level

Level C

For accomplished adventurers

  • You enjoy challenging yourself physically and mentally
  • You’re comfortable on multi-day adventures and you call yourself an avid adventurer
  • You're not quite George Mallory but you subscribe to his 'because it is there' attitude
  • Strong level of fitness

Level D

For the pros

  • You're ready to test your skills on the next challenge
  • You're comfortable in most types of alpine environments
  • Some level of technical skills
  • Strong level of fitness

Level E

For the experts

  • You’ve been on multiple adventures and have built up a solid skillset to tackle most challenges out there
  • Good technical skills and knowledge
  • Experienced in alpine/mountains environments
  • Very high level of fitness

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READY TO TREK THE TMB?

We hope you've found all the information you need above, but if not don't hesitate to get in touch. If you're ready to book, follow the link below.

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