Complete Tour of Mont Blanc – 10 Days Self-Guided
The Complete Tour of Mont Blanc at Your Own Pace
This comprehensive itinerary of the famous TMB takes you to experience the extraordinary diversity of Mont Blanc massif landscapes. Immerse yourself in a true spectacle of nature, inhabited by rich wildlife and flora, all while enjoying a lightweight backpacking experience. When evening falls, your luggage awaits in carefully selected accommodations for your comfort.
A grand loop to savor fully. Explore the unforgettable Tour of Mont Blanc with us.
Your consultant
The Highlights of the Route
The Entire Tour on Foot!
All the most beautiful balconies are gathered in this tour.
The freedom to gaze at the majestic glaciers up close, a spectacle within your reach.
Home-made picnics prepared with local products.
The choice of a digital or paper roadbook and support from our team throughout your trek
An original itinerary that follows the historical route and includes some variations to avoid the most crowded trails.
Duration
10 days
Difficulty
3/5
Departure from
Les Houches
Departure date
Everyday of the week.
Accomodation
Dormitories
Luggage
One night without if night spend in Bonatti
Complete Tour of Mont Blanc – 10 Days Self-Guided : the detailed itinerary
Day 1: Les Houches – Bionnassay
Day 2: Bionnassay – Les Contamines
Day 3: Les Contamines – Les Chapieux
*If no accommodation is available in Les Chapieux, the itinerary will be slightly modified to allow you to find alternative accommodation.
Day 4: Les Chapieux – Col Chécrouit
*If you spent the previous night in accommodation outside the hamlet of Les Chapieux, a supplement of €115 will be charged for the transfer from your accommodation to La Ville des Glaciers, the starting point for the hike. This price is valid for up to 5 people.
Day 5: Col Chécrouit – Refuge Bonatti
*In case of unavailability at the Bonatti Refuge, transfer by local bus to Courmayeur. Overnight stay at a hotel with your luggage.
Day 6: Bonatti – La Fouly
6 hrs 30 walking time – Accommodation: at an inn – 900 m (2,950 ft) ascent / 1,300 m (4,265 ft) descent
At daybreak, our route leads us towards the majestic Mont Dolent, a place where the borders of France, Switzerland, and Italy meet. As we reach the summit of the Grand Col Ferret, standing at 2,537 meters, we enter Switzerland, greeted with warmth! A gentle descent takes us through the Peule alpine pasture, getting us closer to La Fouly, a charming little village nestled at 1,600 meters in the heart of the beautiful Valais.
Day 7: La Fouly – Champex
4 hrs 30 walking time – Accommodation: at an inn – 650 m (2,130 ft) ascent / 650 m (2,130 ft) descent
Day 8: Champex – Trient
Accommodation: at an inn – Choice 1: 715m (2,345 ft) ascent / 925m (3035 ft) descent – 5 hours walking time – Choice 2: 915m (3,002 ft) ascent / (4,135 ft) 1260m – 7 hours walking time
Day 9: Trient – Le Tour
5 hrs walking time – Accommodation: at an inn – 1,000 m (3,280 ft) ascent / 850 m (2,790 ft) descent
Day 10: Le Tour – Chamonix
7 hrs walking time – 1,350 m (4,430 ft) ascent / 850 m (2,790 ft) descent
We then begin our descent towards La Flégère, followed by a stunning balcony traverse to Planpraz. A cable car descent brings us back to the heart of Chamonix. For those who prefer, it’s possible to take a bus to Les Houches.
And so, the loop of our adventure concludes with unforgettable memories.
Useful information
Info
Luggage transport
The transfer of one piece of luggage per person is provided every day between the different accommodation: a soft bag, of the duffle bag type, of a maximum of 12kg per person.
You only carry your day’s belongings, in a backpack of about 30L.
If you spend the night at the Bonatti refuge on day 5, you will not have access to your luggage. You’ll need to pack for 2 days.
Is your Tour du Mont Blanc self-guided only part of your trip? You can leave any extra luggage you don’t need for your trek in Chamonix or the surrounding area. Many hotels and shops offer luggage storage services. In particular, you can use the website Bounce.com, which lists these drop-off points.
Meals
As an option, we can provide picnics for the entire stay (€140 per person). Picnics will either be provided by the accommodation (if departing on a weekday) or prepared by us (if departing at the weekend).
If you do not take the picnic option, you can buy your own meals as you pass through the villages, refuges or grocery shops during the trek.
Level
Between 6 and 8 hours’ walking per day throughout the trek, with some more difficult sections, particularly at the start of the season when the snow is still present. You should be able to climb at least 1,000 m (3 200ft.)a day for several days in a row.
We strongly recommend that you practice an endurance sport regularly and train specifically for this trek.
Additional charge may apply
Due to very high demand for accommodation on the Tour du Mont Blanc, some stages may have to be changed. We try to stick as closely as possible to the stages described, choosing accommodation as close as possible to the original refuges.
However, these changes may involve a private transfer, at an additional cost to the group, as described in the programme.
If Les Chapieux is unavailable at the end of day 3, the end of the itinerary will be slightly modified to finish the stage in another hut. On the morning of day 4, a supplement of €115 for the group (up to 8 people) will be charged for the private transfer to the start of the day’s stage.
On day 5, if the Bonatti hut is not available, a potential supplement of €30 per person may be charged for a night in a hotel in Courmayeur, as indicated in the programme.
Equipment
- A fleece
- A windproof and waterproof jacket
- Walking trousers.
The terrain is varied and we recommend you wear walking boots that protect your ankles.
The accommodations provide blankets and pillows, but you will need a silk sheet, for hygienic reasons.
For more information, voir notre our special TMB equipment page.
Directions and accommodation
Directions to the starting point: Meet at Bellevue cable car station at 9 am on Day 1.
By car : You can leave your vehicle in the Prarion car park a few meters above. It is a free outdoor car park.
By train : Les Houches SNCF station is easily accessible by train or bus and is less than 20 minutes’ walk from the meeting point. With an average journey time of 7 hours from Paris, 4 hours from Lyon and 2 hours from Geneva, the train is the means of transport with the lowest carbon impact. Enjoy a comfortable journey, so that you arrive in top shape for your Tour du Mont Blanc!
> Map to get to the starting point
Return to the starting point: Bus from Place Monte Bianco in Courmayeur to Chamonix, or taxi. Then bus, train or taxi from Chamonix. Return from Courmayeur not included in the price of the trip.
Bus timetables at the Chamonix tourist office (info@chamonix.com +33(0)4 50 53 00 24) or Courmayeur (courmayeur@turismo.vda.it 00 39 01 65 84 20 60).
Accommodation before and after the trek:
- Hotel Saint Antoine – 7 route Napoléon, 74310 Les Houches – 04 50 54 40 10
- Hotel du Bois – 475 Avenue des Alpages, 74310 Les Houches – 04 50 54 50 35
- Gîte Michel Fagot – 2 Allée des Sorbiers, 74310 Les Houches – 04 50 54 42 28
Insurance
These contracts are designed especially for treks like the Tour du Mont Blanc.
The Comfort cancellation contract covers you in the case of cancellation before your departure and/or a missed flight.
The Comfort multi-risk contract includes:
- Cancellation before departure and interruption of your trek
- Missed flight and flight delay
- Luggage and personal belongings option
- Worldwide repatriation and travel assistance
- Search and rescue costs up to €15,000
- Individual travel accident option
- Third-party liability abroad
- Impossible return and early return
The COVID contract includes:
- Cancellation before departure and interruption of your trek
- Missed flight and flight delay
- Luggage and personal belongings option
- Worldwide repatriation and travel assistance
- Search and rescue costs up to €15,000
- Individual travel accident option
- Third-party liability abroad
- Impossible return and early return
- Cancellation due to illness 30 days before departure
- Cancellation due to denied boarding
- Remote consultation before departure
- Medical repatriation
- Hotel costs and medical fees
- Psychological support
- Grocery deliveries and home help
The price varies according to the Tour du Mont Blanc you choose. To take out one of these two contracts, just select the option when you book your trek!
Booking
- Click on one of the “book this trek” links and select the insurance, and date options.
- Select your payment type (cheque, bank transfer, debit card): There are several ways to pay.
- To pay by cheque: please make it out to WATSE and send to: WATSE – 63 avenue de la gare – 74170 Saint Gervais les Bains Le Fayet – France.
- To pay by bank transfer: contact us for our bank details.
- To pay by debit card: your invoice will be in your online account as soon as your payment has been confirmed by the bank. You will then be able to pay the balance directly from your account.
- Pay a 30% deposit or the balance for your trek
- Print out the booking form then fill it in, sign it and send it back to us by email or post. Your reservation will only be effective when 30% of the total cost is credited to WATSE’s bank account.
- The balance must be paid at least one month before departure without a reminder from us.
Before and after the trek
The price of the stay does not include the trips before and after the trek.
Our team can help you find and book your plane and train tickets. We can also advise you about accommodation before and after your Tour du Mont Blanc.
Dates and prices
Included in the price
- Accommodation in dormitories, as described in the trek programme
- Half board, as described in the trek programme (dinners and breakfasts)
- Choice of: a paper roadbook (including IGN maps and map holder) or a digital roadbook with GPS tracking
- Luggage transfer every night (except on day 5 if night in Bonatti)
Not included in the price
- Transport to and from the start of the trek
- Drinks other than water served with meals
- Any private transport or cable car tickets not included in the trek programme
- Assistance and cancellation insurance, to subscribe at the time of booking
- Anything not listed in “Included in the price”
You will also like:
The iconic TMB through France, Switzerland and Italy, circling the highest summit in the Alps.
Walk the paths of the TMB enjoying every evening accommodation selected for their comfort.
Tour du Mont Blanc in 5 days
From Courmayeur to Chamonix, the northern part of the Tour du Mont Blanc will have no secrets for you!
A wild and alpine itinerary over high mountains and across glaciers. Not for the faint-hearted!
For those who want to do the TMB (almost) as fast as Kilian Jornet!
Experience nature at its most authentic as you camp your way round the best-known trek in the Alps.
From Chamonix to Courmayeur, get away from it all with this trek through varied landscapes offering breathtaking views.
Experience nature at its most authentic as you camp your way round the best-known trek in the Alps.