You can see more about this trip here.
Day 1:
Arrival Day
Arrive in Chamonix and settle into your adventure. You do not need to arrive at a set time on arrival day. You can arrive in Chamonix whenever it suits you that day. Check-in is available from 4pm at a centrally located hotel, giving you plenty of time to unwind after your journey. Nestled in the heart of Chamonix, your hotel offers easy access to shops, restaurants, and local sights, ensuring you’re perfectly positioned to explore and pick up any last minute items you may need.
Day 2:
Les Houches - Les Contamines
Taking the Bellevue cable car you’ll reach the Bellevue Plateau in minutes. It’s then just a 5 minute walk (very well signposted) to pick up the variant trail. Cross the railway tracks and follow the path for Col du Tricot. After traversing the alpine meadows with views of the spectacular Bionnassay glacier you’ll cross the iconic Himalayan suspension bridge. After a short climb you’ll come to a clearing with several large boulders – the view of the glacier is a good one from here and it’s great spot to have lunch. If you look carefully here you’ll find wild bilberry bushes everywhere.
You can now see the top of the Col du Tricot before you. It’s a steady climb up to the grassy saddle. Spend some time here to admire the views over the Miage Valley and over to the Col du Bonhomme. You can spot Refuge Miage far down in the valley. If you look carefully to your left, you’ll see a stone archway on the ‘smugglers route’ to Refuge Plan Glacier. The descent down is STEEP and takes around an hour. Take it easy and use your poles. Reaching the valley floor follow the signs to reach Refuge Miage in just 5 minutes. Departing from Refuge Miage you’ll have an initial short climb from the Miage Valley up and over to Auberge du Truc. From Auberge du Truc it’s a long steady descent through the forest into Les Contamines.
Overnight in hotel with breakfast and dinner included.
Approximate time and distances:
11kms / 640m up / 1,283m down / 4-5 hours trekking
6.8miles / 2099ft up / 4208ft down / 4-5 hours trekking
Day 3:
Les Contamines - Les Chapieux
Departing from Les Contamines you head along the river to Notre Dame de la Gorge where the trail heads out into the wild once more. If you’re trekking in July or August you can pick up the free shuttle bus (navette) outside the Les Contamines Tourist Office to Notre Dame de la Gorge.
Take a moment to visit the beautiful Notre Dame de la Gorge chapel next to the gushing water before setting out on the well marked path. Warning – the trail is VERY steep here along an ancient slabbed Roman road to Refuge Nant Borrant but pleasantly flanks the bubbling racing gorge for much of the ascent. Be sure to look out for the pont naturel sign leading to a natural arch on the river, just a few minutes from the trail (navigate down a steep, mud track – I normally leave my backpack at the top!). Cross the roman bridge, take in the rushing gorge below. Expect to hike for around an hour from Notre Dame de la Gorge to Refuge Nant Borrant which makes an excellent coffee/cake stop.
This afternoon you’ll make the climb over two mountain passes Col du Bonhomme (2329m) and Col de la Croix du Bonhomme (2483m). Passing the cavernous Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme, a high mountain refuge with epic views. You will then descend from Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme to the hamlet of Les Chapieux.
From here is is a short taxi ride to Bourg St Maurice where you will stay at the cozy Hotel Base Camp lodge for the night with breakfast and dinner included.
Approximate time and distances:
18.6kms / 1,363m up / 972m down / 5-6 hours trekking
11.5miles / 4470ft up / 3188ft down / 5-6 hours trekking
Day 4:
Ville des Glaciers - Courmayeur
You will start the day by taxi a taxi ride to the trail head at Ville des Glaciers.
Then embark on the steady climb up to the top of the Col de la Seigne – the border between France and Italy! From here, in good weather, you can once again see the gleaming white dome of Mont Blanc with an exceptional view down into this Italian valley.
Dropping down into the Vallée Lee Blanche you’ll marvel at this wide U shaped valley with the fortress of the Mont Blanc Massif dominating to your left. It’s all downhill from here to Refugio Elisabetta – a cavernous refuge perched on a spur just below two glaciers. You’ll pass the wonderful Refugio Elisabetta and then 1 hour further Cabane Combal. Continue down past Cabane Combal until you reach the road.
From here its another 2-3km to La Visaille where you will get a taxi into to Courmayeur. Overnight in a centrally located hotel with breakfast and dinner included.
Approximate time and distances:
15.8kms / 748m up / 972m down / 4-5 hours trekking
9.7miles / 2453ft up / 3188ft down / 4-5 hours trekking
Day 5:
Courmayeur - Val Ferret
Today starts with a push up to the Bertone hut for a late morning Italian coffee. You then traverse the traditional balcony route. You’ll reach the delightful Rifugio Bonatti hut a further 7kms away, where you can joy a delicious Italian lunch and marvel over the Val Ferret valley. This section is considered some of the best views on the TMB.
From Bonatti you continue on the balcony trail all the way down to idyllic Chalet Val Ferret on the valley floor, where you can have a drink or stop and soak your feet in the river while you wait for the taxi service back to Courmayeur.
Overnight in the same centrally located hotel as last night, however tonight you have the opportunity to go into the town of Courmayeur for dinner and choose from the many restaurants they have on offer.
Approximate time and distances:
17.5kms / 1,236m up / 670m down / 5-6 hours trekking
10.8miles / 4054ft up / 2197ft down / 5-6 hours trekking
Day 6:
Val Ferret - La Fouly
Start the day by taking the taxi service back to the end of the Val Ferret valley.
Today you’ll climb over the Grand Col Ferret and cross into Switzerland! The gentle Swiss alpine meadows are in stark comparison to the jagged wild landscapes you’ve trekked through in Italy and France. Take it easy as the gentle trail gradually descends to Ferret and the La Fouly. La Fouly sits at the foot of two mighty mountains, Tour Noir (3, 836m) and Mont Dolent (3,823m) which incredibly is the tri-point where all three of the Tour du Mont Blanc countries, France, Switzerland and Italy’s borders meet!
Overnight in hotel with breakfast and dinner included.
Approximate time and distances:
18.6km / 907m up / 1331m down / 5.5-7 hours trekking
11.5m / 2975 ft up / 4366ft down / 5.5-7 hours trekking
Day 7:
La Fouly - Champex
Today is the most gentle day of all the TMB stages. There is no col to climb and the route meanders easily through the valley past Swiss mountain pastures. Drink in the delightful scenes of rural life in Switzerland as you potter leisurely along this stage.
Many trekkers actually choose to omit this stage opting to take the bus but for trekkers who are intent to complete the entire route this is a lovely day that your tired legs will be grateful for.
Champex-Lac, your home for the night is a beautiful little town next to a pretty lake. Nicknamed ‘Little Canada’ it’s not hard to imagine why – this beautiful lakeside town is surrounded by hills of pine and is genuinely a beautiful spot.
Overnight in hotel with breakfast and dinner included.
Approximate time and distances:
14.8km / 578m up / 709m down / 3-4 hours trekking
9.1m / 1896ft up / 2326ft down / 3-4 hours trekking
Day 8:
Champex - Trient
Today you’ll leave the serenity of beautiful Champex-Lac and take the Bovine route to the Col de la Forclaz and then drop down into the Swiss village of Trient, famous for it’s pink church, to spend the night. The variant route via the Col du Fenêtre can be considered instead of the Bovine route but only in good weather, and only in peak season (not to be attempted in June, possibly in first week of July). Note this route is technically the most difficult on the entire TMB trail – the trail can be hard to follow and crosses a boulder field. It’s a much more difficult route however much more spectacular.
Overnight in an auberge private room with breakfast and dinner included.
Approximate time and distances:
16.7km / 856m up / 1052m down / 4-5 hours trekking
10.3m / 2808ft up / 3444ft down / 4-5 hours trekking
Day 9:
Trient - Argentiere
Today you’ll ascend from Trient up the Col du Balme. It’s a gradual climb and not too taxing.From Refuge Col de Balme perched on the Swiss side, you’ll have a splendid view of the entire Chamonix Valley – well done you’ve almost completed the circuit! You can now see where you set off from down the other end of the valley and Mont Blanc will be ever present with her snowy dome to the left of the valley.
Descend down into France to the saddle of Col des Posettes before ascending the rock spine ridge to L’Aiguillette des Posettes (2201m). L’Aiguillette des Posettes forms the beginning of the impressive northern flank of the Chamonix Valley. In good weather the 360 degree panorama here will take your breath away – the icy dome of Mont Blanc, the iconic spire of the Drus, the Aiguilles Verte as well as Glacier du Tour Lac Blanc and the Lac d’Emosson dam over your shoulder in Switzerland. The descent down to Tré-le-Champ is brutal. Take your time. Then onwards to the village of Argentiere where you will stay the night.
Overnight in hotel with breakfast and dinner included.
Approximate time and distances:
15.6kms / 1,151m up / 1,163m down / 5-6 hours trekking
9.6miles / 3775ft up / 3814ft down / 5-6 hours trekking
Day 10:
Argentiere - La Flegere via Lac Blanc
From here you’ll begin the 3 hours climb up to Lac Blanc. The route climbs steadily for between 1.5-2 hrs 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 – teenagers will love it! This is the Aiguille Rouge National Park so look out for chamois or bouquetin – there’s a good chance of seeing them, often just on the trail.
A further hour up brings you to Tête aux Vents, a large cairn (2132m) which borders the national park. From there you can choose to deviate from the trail and ascend a further 1hr 30 mins to reach stunning Lac Blanc (2,352m) or turn down to follow the trail to Refuge La Flégère, a further 60-90 minutes.
From La Flegere you take the gondola down to overnight in the village of Les Praz for the night at a centrally located hotel. Dinner is not included on this night but there are a selection of local restaurants in Les Praz to choose from.
Approximate time and distances:
10.1kms / 1,186m up / 534m down / 4-5 hours trekking
6.2miles / 3890ft up / 1751ft down / 4-5 hours trekking
Day 11:
Flegere - Les Houches
You start the day by taking the Flegere gondola back up to where you left off yesterday.
You’ll continue along the Balcon Sud with it’s staggering views of Mont Blanc to reach Le Brévent. Choose to take the cable car up to the peak or hike the route that ascends behind that entails a couple of ladder sections. Soak in the magnificent views of Mont Blanc from the top of Le Brévent – undoubtedly the best viewing point of the highest point in Western Europe!
From here you’ll descend on the stony trail along the ridge line to Refuge Bellachat – a great spot for a refreshment with again insane views of Mont Blanc from their lovely sunny terrace. The descent into Les Houches is brutally long – watch those knees! However the pink wild azaleas that line the path are beautiful and there’s a high chance of spotting chamois and bouquetins as you descend.
Overnight in Chamonix with breakfast included, on the final night you can celebrate your completion of the tour by having dinner in one of the tasty savoyard restaurants of Chamonix.
The end of your trip is at check-out from your Chamonix accommodation, which is by 10 am on your departure day.
Approximate time and distances:
17.4km / 811m up / 1682m down / 4-5 hours trekking
10.8m / 2660ft up / 5518ft down / 4-5 hours trekking
