Treks
Tour du Mont Blanc Highlights
Experience the best of the Tour du Mont Blanc trails, trekking through France, Italy and Switzerland in just 4 days, for those that are looking for a shorter trip. Jam-packed with some of the best bits of the whole Tour du Mont Blanc, this trip has been designed in order to have an incredible trekking experience.
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Duration
5 Days
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Start Location
Chamonix, France
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Date(s)
July - September
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Price
From €890.00
Adventure Snapshot
VIEW GALLERY
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+ 16
ITALY, SWITZERLAND & FRANCE / 4 NIGHTS / 2 DAYS OFF WORK
This 5 day / 4 night 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) in 5 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 trip is great for those short on time who want as much trekking 'bang for their buck' as they can manage.
Not sure whether you're ready? No problem. Take our Tour du Mont Blanc Trek 'Readiness' test:
Take our Tour du Mont Blanc Trek 'Readiness' test
Tour du Mont Blanc Trek Full Trip
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 midsized rucksack. We follow footpaths each day and the terrain is very hilly so expect big climbs and descents each day. We stay in a mixture of mountain refuges and local hotels during the trek, which all provide basic but comfortable lodging and good food. This helps keep our packs light carrying only snacks, clothing and essentials.
You must be 16 or over to take part on this trip as long as you are accompanied by an adult. If you have a group with children younger than 16 we can put together a bespoke private trip for you. Please get in touch to learn how. Not sure whether you're ready? No problem. Take our Tour du Mont Blanc Trek 'Readiness' test or drop us a note and we'll talk it through with you: Take our Tour du Mont Blanc Trek 'Readiness' test
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Duration
5 Days
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Start Location
Chamonix, France
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Date(s)
July - September
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Guide Ratio
1:10
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Ability
Level ALevel A
You’re not quite sure where to start but you’re hungry for an adventure and can’t wait to get going. Bring it on!
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Price
From €890.00
Adventure Overview
See real footage of previous expeditions
The Tour du Mont Blanc Trek: Highlights
02:21Stunning views and great memories. This is the Tour du Mont Blanc Trek.
Tour du Mont Blanc Trek in 30 Seconds
00:27A snapshot of what to expect when you tackle this awesome trek.
The Tour du Mont Blanc Trek
10:48Olly & Charlie document their trip as they tackle the Tour du Mont Blanc Trek.
Meet The Team
01:48Introducing 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.
Rucksack
Mountaineering-specific 35-40L backpack
Hiking shoes / Trail Shoes
Good grip and ankle support is recommended
Softshell Jacket
Light technical jacket, ideally with a hood.
Lightweight fleece
Something light and thin.
Thermal Tops
Keep them light and thin.
Tech T-Shirts
Highly breathable, lightweight synthetic technical t-shirt.
Thermal Bottoms
Keep them light and thin.
Softshell Trousers
Stretch, durable mountaineering trousers.
Warm Hat
Ideally thin and single layered so it can fit under the helmet.
Sun Hat
Choose your hat of choice as long as it shields you from the sun.
Waterproof jacket
Waterproof pants
Side-leg zippers are helpful
Thermal socks
Good walking socks are required
Shorts
Good to have for approaches to the mountain huts especially in warmer temperatures
Fleece windproof gloves
Sunglasses
Sun cream
Factor 30-50 High Mountain sunscreen
Water bottles
You must be able to carry at least 2L of water in your backpack
Trekking Poles
Foldable or telescopic poles are best
Sleeping bag silk liner
You don’t need a sleeping bag itself, as blankets are provided in the huts
Trekking Towel
Head torch
Don't forget to pack spare batteries. They're essential
ID and documents
Passport / Driver's license, Visa, Insurance
Cash / credit card
For extra costs such as drinks and snacks
First aid kit
Blister kit, paracetamol, etc
Bandana / Buff
Earplugs
Highly recommended for the mountain huts
Insect Repellant
"The route was stunning and the guides were great. Logistics were really seamless which makes a huge difference. All this contributes to a stunning experience for the participants."
We've had a great trip. Thank you for all your help organising.
Just wanted to say we had a fabulous trip and thanks you for organising it! We'll be back for another trek next summer.
FINER DETAILS
YOUR ADVENTURE PACKAGE
There are no plans on the arrival day other than getting to Chamonix and checking in to the accommodation we've provided. You will meet with your guide and Adventure Base representative in the morning over breakfast where you will have an opportunity to ask any last minute questions as well as share your pre trip excitement with your group.
What's Included?
- 4 Nights accommodation
- 4 Days guiding
- Half Board on the trek (3 nights)
- Breakfast in Chamonix on the first night
- Fully qualified local guide
What's not Included?
- Airport transfers
- Luggage transfers
- Equipment rental
- Evening meal in Chamonix on the first night
- Travel insurance
- Drinks, snacks and lunches
This Trip is running on the following dates
june 2023
1 Dateaugust 2023
3 Datesseptember 2023
1 Datejune 2024
1 Datejuly 2024
2 DatesJoin the waiting list
Adventure: Tour du Mont Blanc Highlights
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE ACCOMMODATION
We know the importance of having comfortable accommodation on this trip. After long days trekking it's vital to have a comfortable bed and good food to enjoy. We've handpicked hotels and other mountain accommodation along the way that we're sure you're going to love. (A single room supplement is available where possible)
IN THE VALLEYS
We stay in a mixture of mountain refuges, hotels, and auberges during the trek, which all provide basic but comfortable lodging and great food.
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Duration
3 nights
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Internet
Wifi included
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Beds
Shared room / Small dormitory
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Food
Half Board
Rifugio Bonatti
We have 1 night in a mountain hut which is beautifully off the grid for some much needed switch off time. The Rifugio Bonatti, which is one of the nicest mountain huts in the Alps, serves great Italian food, along with a beautiful view of the sun setting behind Mont Blanc.
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Duration
1 night
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Internet
Not included
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Beds
Dormitory
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Food
Half Board
WHAT TO EXPECT
HERE'S YOUR ITINERARY
While we try and stick to the tried and tested itinerary below, the mountains and the weather sometimes have other ideas. We will always remain as flexible as possible, which is why we only work with experienced and knowledgable guides, to make sure we can change any plans if required. This is a proposed itinerary and where you stay is subject to change based on how far in advance you book your trip. There is limited availability on this trek so we highly recommend booking in advance.
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Day 1:
Arrival in Chamonix
There are no plans on the arrival day other than getting to Chamonix, France and checking in to the accommodation we've provided. If you do arrive early and need more equipment, Chamonix has a huge number of outdoor shops with a large choice of kit, so it’s a great place to top up your supplies. Overnight in a centrally located hotel.
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Day 2:
Courmayeur to Rifugio Bonatti
You will meet your guide in the morning over breakfast where they will provide a briefing as well as check kit. Once we're all set, we head through to Courmayeur in Italy where we will walk through the old Italian town. The trek starts with a steep push up to the Bertone hut for a late morning Italian coffee. Here, if the weather is good, we can take the variant to incorporate an extra peak: it takes a bit longer but it really is a stunning day – not many people, breathtaking scenery, and avoids the crowds down bellow in the Val Ferret. We spend the night at the Rifugio Bonatti or Rifugio Elena, from where you can watch the beautiful sunset behind Mont Blanc.
19km / 1500m up / 750m down / 7 hours trekking -
Day 3:
Rifugio Bonatti / Elena to La Fouly
Today we take on the Grand Col Ferret which provides beautiful views of the Grand Combin over in Switzerland and back towards some of the bigger peaks of the Mont Blanc range including the Grandes Jorasses. Once over the border and into Switzerland, we make our way down barren slopes to Ferret, and we continue to La Fouly, an alpine village with a few nice spots to stop for a late lunch and some refreshments. From here we take a short bus transfer to Champex-le-Lac, where we overnight in a cosy auberge.
17km / 1130m up / 1450m down / 6 - 7 hours trekking -
Day 4:
Champex to Trient
We have two options to cross over to Trient today. One is the Fenêtre d’Arpette route, which is steeper and more challenging and can only be done in fair weather, and the second is the Bovine to the Col de la Forclaz which is less steep and cuts around the mountain with amazing views out over the Valais. Both routes offer spectacular scenery. Either way we will end up in Trient, a cute village of no more than a handful of houses, and a lovely family run Auberge to stay for the night.
14km / 1200m up / 1650m down / 7 hours trekking -
Day 5:
Trient - Chamonix
And here we are already... our final day! We will leave Trient early and hike over the Col de Balme back into France. It's again a fairly steep climb that will be mostly in the shade early on, and it leads us back to the sunny side and we are greeted by the panoramic views of Mont Blanc. From here we descend to Le Tour and then on to Montroc, from where we take the train back to Chamonix to end the trip before 16:00. From here you can either transfer to Geneva for an evening flight, or continue your visit by staying on in Chamonix. Let us know and we can help with planning.
15km / 1100m up / 1300m down / 7 hours trekking
Frequently asked questions about this adventure
MB: What Insurance Do I Need?
Let’s face it, these types of trips don’t come risk free. We’re putting ourselves in amazing environments Read more
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.
What type of boots do I need for the trek?
You will need comfortable, durable trekking boots. Trail running shoes are also suitable but you may be a little cold Read more
You will need comfortable, durable trekking boots. Trail running shoes are also suitable but you may be a little cold on some mornings. Gore-tex will help ensure your feet stay dry and warm.
What kind of fitness level do I need?
You need to be able to hike for 6-8 hours at a moderate pace. Mountaineering is all about having good Read more
You need to be able to hike for 6-8 hours at a moderate pace. Mountaineering is all about having good cardiovascular endurance to be able to continue being active for long periods. As well as this you will need to have a good head for heights and good overall body balance.
Meet your guides for this adventure
Ben
Mountain Leader
Ben is a fully qualified British UIMLA International Mountain Leader with Swiss and French equivalence and he is also a fully-qualified Swiss Brevet Fédéral Ski Instructor and an ISIA card holder and an accomplished outdoor educator and a qualified Outdoor Education and Geography teacher. He has been based in the Alps for a long time and has extensive knowledge on a whole variety of treks and adventures. Ben brings a whole bunch of experience to our guiding team, having worked as an Expedition Leader in challenging environments around the world in countries such as Borneo, Mongolia, Morocco and Costa Rica and at home in the European Alps, responsible for the safety and success of expeditions for many years. His passion for the mountains is infectious and he loves sharing a summit photo or long-distance trek with our community.
Emily
Mountain Leader
Emily is a British UIMLA International Mountain Leader/Guide and works as one of our lead trekking guides. She has a strong teaching background with Geography being her speciality which combined with her passion for adventures in the outdoors makes her a highly enjoyable person to spend time with on our trips. She fills our trips with positive energy alongside her vast experience and super skillset of navigating the alpine trails she knows so well. She's one of our most experienced guides and is based full time in the Chamonix valley and also a fluent French speaker. She is a passionate runner and has taken on some mega challenging races such as the Marathon du Mont Blanc and the CCC ultra marathon du Mont Blanc. We're sure you'll have a great time on one of Emily's trips.
Alistair
Mountain Leader
As well as being a fully qualified UIMLA International Mountain Leader/Guide, Alistair is also a qualified Wilderness Medical First Responder (WEMSI), and spent 15 years working as a ski instructor. His passion for the outdoors has made him realise we all have a personal responsibility to lessen our impact on the planet. He eats a plant-based diet, has not owned a car for over 7 years and has gone from a career of travelling the world incessantly to staying in one place and connecting with nature that can be accessed from his home in the Alps. Alistair brings a well of life experience to our trips and is a joy to share the trails with. He believes it is his duty to share his passion for the mountains and a simple life and to encourage people to reconnect with nature and all that this brings in the way of health benefits both mentally and physically - working as a hiking guide provides a perfect outlet for this.
Becki
Mountain Leader
Becki is a British fully qualified UIMLA International Mountain Leader/Guide and works as one of our lead trekking guides. She is highly experienced and super fun to trek with. Alongside here UIMLA leadership she is also a BASI ski instructor and an experienced international mountain leader having led groups on expeditions China, Bolivia, Morocco, Ecuador, Costa Rica and more. She has a passion for trail running and has also undertaken some incredibly challenging races. She's extremely modest about her achievements so you will have to bug her on one of our trips for all the stories. Her energy is infectious and alongside her attention to detail and well thought out guiding approach she always finds ways of bringing everyone together to create memorable experiences.
Are you ready?
Our adventures are attributed a difficulty level from A to E. This Tour du Mont Blanc Highlights trip is rated Level A, for beginners and newcomers 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
- Usually less then a week in distance
- No technical skills required
- Basic level of fitness
Think you've got this?
This trip is at this level
Level B
For those with some prior experience
- 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
- Moderate fitness
- Some basic skills
More your level?
Level C
For accomplished adventurers
- You have a fair amount of experience climbing, hiking or skiing more technical terrain.
- You’re comfortable on sustained adventures and you call yourself a ‘hardened’ adventurer.
- You're not quite George Mallory but you subscribe to his 'because it there' attitude.
- Fit & Strong
More your level?
Level D
For the pros
- Ready to test those learnt skills on the next challenge
- Comfortable in most types of environments
- Very fit
- Some level of technical skills
More your level?
Level E
For the experts
- You’ve been on more adventures than you've had hot dinners and you've built up a crafty skill set to tackle most challenges out there.
- Good technical skills and knowledge
- Good experience
- Very fit
More your level?
North Wales Trekking Prep Course
Our short Trekking Introduction Course is a fun and friendly course to kickstart your trekking journey. This course is key to learning the skills you need to tackle multi day treks such as the Tour du Mont Blanc or Everest Base Camp. The course will be delivered by a fully qualified ML (Mountain Leader) who will guide you through all the skills and knowledge you need to feel comfortable on some of the world's most challenging treks.
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Spring and Autumn
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Level A
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€
Tour du Mont Blanc Eastern Route 4 Days
Experience the best of the Tour du Mont Blanc trails on this self guided trip. Starting in Italy, you make your way over to Switzerland and finally end up in France over 4 days trekking. The trip has been designed so that you only need to take 2 days off work in order to experience this world famous trek.
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June - September
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Level A
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€493.00
Tour du Mont Blanc Epic Mont Blanc 2.5 Days
Self guided Tour du Mont Blanc Chamonix Highlights over 2.5 days. Based in Chamonix visiting the famous trails of the Tour du Mont Blanc overlooking Mont Blanc.
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June - September
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Level A
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€365.00
Haute Route Trek 2 Days ‘Europa Weg’
This 2 day self-guided version covers the haute route trek from Grachen to Zermatt in Switzerland, via the famous 'Europa Weg'. Starting in Grachen and finishing in Zermatt, you trek via the Europa Weg with a night in the Europahutte. One of the highlights of this trek is crossing the The Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge at 494m long. The suspension bridge hangs at 85m above ground and is considered the longest bridge for pedestrian use in the Alps.
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July - September
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Level B
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€225.00
Haute Route Trek 6 Days
The Haute Route trek is one of the world’s great multi-day treks. The route links two world famous alpine mountains, Mont Blanc in France and the Matterhorn in Switzerland. Enjoy this 6 day version of the trek from Arolla to Zermatt.
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July - September
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Level B
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€1335.00
Haute Route Trek 11 Days
The Haute Route trek is one of the world’s great multi-day treks. The route links two world famous alpine mountains, Mont Blanc in France and the Matterhorn in Switzerland.
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July - September
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Level B
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€1980.00
Tour du Mont Blanc Turbo 4 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 self-guided version of the full route is for expert trekkers only with a high level of fitness.
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June - September
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Level C
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€630.00
Mera Peak: Robert Markwick
Mera Peak at 6476m is the highest trekking peak in Nepal. At this altitude the oxygen content of air is less than half of what it is at sea level. It is located in the Himalayan mountain range in Nepal, a little east of the main Khumbu valley on a much quieter trail.
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4th -19th April 2023
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Level D
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€
Swiss, Bernese Oberland Ski Tour
The Bernese Oberland ski tour is a stunning link up of high altitude mountain huts and peaks in the wild Bernese Oberland region of the Swiss Alps. The ski terrain in this region is suited for those with previous ski touring experience, who are looking to progress to the next level and discover some high altitude peaks and glaciers. You can expect long ski tour days, comfortable huts and big ski descents.
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March - April
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Level D
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€1850.00
Island Peak
Island Peak at 6,189m is considered one of the world's best adventures for any mountain lovers out there. Part trek, part mountaineering, this is a trip for those looking to add a little more adrenalin to the Everest Base Camp Trek. Book this trip and receive a free sleeping bag and duffle bag for your adventure.
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Spring & Autumn
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Level D
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€4150.00
Eiger
The Eiger is one of the most sought after summits in the Alps and a formidable challenge for any keen mountaineer. Located in the Bernese Alps in Switzerland, this is a major Alpine classic steeped in historic tales of heroic climbing. On this trip we climb via the Mittellegi ridge. Got what it takes?
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June - September
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Level E
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€4150.00
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.
Deposit/Book Now