Tour du Mont Blanc – Classic Route

At 8:30 AM, you’ll meet your guide and the rest of your group. We’ll take a short bus ride to Les Houches, the official starting point of the Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB).

Riding the Bellevue cable car up, we’ll enjoy panoramic views of the massif. Above us, we’ll see Dôme du Goûter, and the glistening top of Mont Blanc. But don’t forget to look down! Through the glass, we’ll get a full view of the Chamonix valley as it stretches towards Col de Balme. Remember this, and think back to it in 8 day’s time as you descend into Le Tour!

Stepping out, we’ll follow an undulating ridge towards an open meadow, with staggering views of the Bionnassay glacier. We’ll reach a wooded moraine, where we’ll descend towards the glacial torrent. Here is the first TMB highlight : the infamous suspension bridge! Bouncy and exhilarating, this bridge crosses the turbulent end of the glacier. Take a moment to absorb this wild place!

A gradual climb now leads to our first “col”, before a steep descent to the Miage Chalets. These chalets serve delicious cakes and tarts, so what better place to stop for lunch? 

With new energy, we’ll climb up to Col du Truc, before taking an easy trail down to Les Contamines. Les Contamines is a sleepy, picturesque village, where we’ll spend the night.

Today you have hiked 14 kilometres, with 750 metres of climbing. 

After breakfast, we’ll start our second day of the TMB by strolling along a shady river path. We’ll reach a pilgrimage chapel, the Notre-Dame de la Gorge, which is well-worth a visit. From here, we’ll take the old Roman road up a steep, wooded ravine, stopping to admire the humpback Roman bridge. 

Popping out of the trees, we’ll reach a bright, open meadow. You’ll glimpse a huge waterfall to your left, which pours down from a hanging valley. The trail up to Col du Bonhomme becomes technical, so we’ll hike this section slowly. At the col, we’ll rest in a shepherd’s hut before continuing over more rocky trails. Here and there, small patches of snow might linger, and the landscape is rugged. Only the most specialised plants survive up here, hidden in rocky crevices. At 2665 metres, we’ll reach the Col des Fours, which is one of the highest points of the TMB.

A steep, shaley descent will lead us back onto easy trails, and eventually we’ll join a farm track down to Refuge des Mottes. 

Today you have hiked 20 kilometres, with 1400 metres of climbing. 

The third stage of the TMB, and already it’s time for Italy! A gradual climb out of the valley will bring us to Col de la Seigne. It is here that we’ll cross in the border, with fantastic views in every direction. We’ll see the west face of Mont Blanc, and if the skies are clear, we’ll see down into Switzerland, and over to the Grand Col Ferret. 

Descending from the col, we’ll pass beneath a series of imposing limestone pyramids. The valley sweeps steeply down, and is criss-crossed by many streams. Cows graze the pastures, and there are always lots of marmots. 

Strangely, there’s a mountain museum partway down this path. If it’s open, this is well-worth a visit. Further down, we’ll pass by Rifugio Elisabetta and the Cabane du Combal, both of which serve delicious Italian dishes. Beside the Cabane du Combal lies a milky-blue glacial lake. Dip your toes into the waters, or if you’re feeling brave, why not have a swim?

Continuing down, we’ll reach the forest and descend down and easy trail to Rifugio Monte Bianco. 

Today you have hiked 17 kilometres, with 720 metres of climbing.

With three long days behind you, it’s time for an easier day. We’ll start with a steep climb through spruce forests, following a narrow, winding trail, before popping out of the tree-line. These slopes are scarred with ski pistes, and here and there we’ll see the cable-lines from lifts. It will feel strange to arrive here, after hiking through such wild landscapes! 

Arriving at Maison Vieille, we’ll stop for a hot drink and a snack. From here, if your legs are tired, you can take the cable car down to Courmayeur. If you’re feeling energised, you’ll join your guide down a steep and dusty trail, which eventually drops back into the forest. A highlight of this descent is passing through Dolonne, a charming village made of local granite stone. This village, with its quiet, modest streets, feels more authentically Italian than its neighbouring sister, Courmayeur, which is a little more touristic. 

As we walk along the road from Dolonne, we’ll see the Dent du Géant – the “giant’s tooth” – a distinctive tower of granite that straddles France and Italy. Arriving into Courmayeur can feel like entering a new world. The streets are vibrant, lively and stylish. The architecture feels both grand and grounded, and the locals are proud of their rich mountain history. We’ll enjoy a hearty lunch in a typical restaurant, before checking into our hotel. This evening you can explore the town, or simply kick back and enjoy the luxuries of a private hotel room! 

Today you have hike 8 kilometres, with 300 metres of climbing.

In good conditions, this fifth day of the Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) is an absolute treat. Leaving Courmayeur, we’ll take a steep trail up through dense spruce forests, zigzagging sharply at an easy pace. Here and there, natural tree clearings will allow us to glimpse the Aiguille Noire and the summit of Mont Blanc. As the trees thin, we’ll see a series of stone buildings, and then finally the Rifugio Bertone. We’ll rest our legs here and, if you want, you can enjoy an Italian coffee.

The next section is a popular TMB favourite. We’ll join a gentle, undulating balcony trail, which contours the valley hillside. This trail is so smooth, you can look up from your feet and really take in your surroundings. Thickets of alpenrose, juniper and bilberry colour the slopes, sending up thick, fragrant scent. Looking back along the length of the valley, you’ll make out the Col de la Seigne (day three of our TMB). But dominating all of this is the view from across the valley. Just there, across the other side, are the big mountains of the Mont Blanc massif. Great, tumbling glaciers hang down, and you can make out the ripples of their crevasses. Huge granite towers, that until now were far off in the distance, now seem alarmingly close. We get to feel the sheer scale of these mountains from the safety of our beautiful balcony trail. 

The trail will take a few twists and turns, dropping briefly into a larch forest, and then back out and up again. A another short climb will eventually lead us to our next stop, Rifugio Bonatti, where we’ll stay the night.

For those who are still energised, there are some beautiful extra loops behind the hut and your guide will be happy to show you these secret spots! If not, kick back and enjoy the unreal views from the Bonatti terrace. 

Today is a long day, so we will maintain an easy pace. We’ll start by continuing along the balcony trail, still enjoying intimate views of the Mont Blanc massif, before dropping down into Val Ferret. An easy walk up-valley will take us to Chalet Val Ferret, where we can have our last Italian coffee.  

Now we’ll begin a steep climb to the Grand Col Ferret. Part way up, look out for a natural dip in the ground, where we can often see Martagon Lillies. A little past this, we’ll take a break at Rifugio Elena. In the 1950’s, the Elena was completely destroyed by a winter avalanche. This new building is sensibly built into the hillside.

From Elena, the trail zigzags up, but it is not technical. Reaching the col, we’ll look back at the lengths of Val Ferret and Val Veni. In the far distance, we’ll make out the Col de la Seigne (day three of our TMB). Crossing the col, we’ll now be in Switzerland. We can climb up to an extra peak here, or else we’ll start our descent into Swiss Val Ferret.

This is a gentle second half of the day, through meadows and pastures. Half-way down, we’ll stop at the Alpage de la Peule, a dairy farm which serves cold drinks and a selection of their own cheeses.

Having stopped for lunch, we’ll enter a larch forest and take an easy path down to La Fouly. In La Fouly, you can buy some well deserved Swiss chocolate!

Today you have hiked 20 metres, with 850 metres of climbing.

This is the easiest day of the TMB. We’ll stay in the valley, hiking at a comfortable, leisurely pace. We’ll pass through low forests and pastures full of blooming subalpine flowers. We’ll stroll through hamlets and farming communities. Incongruous to this idyllic, peaceful setting, we’ll also pass by a World War Two bunker, disguised as a chalet. 

By late lunch, we’ll have reached Champex-Lac, a small town on the edge of a natural lake. You’ll have plenty of free-time this afternoon, so why not enjoy an ice cream, or take a swim? You could even rent a pedalo or a paddle-board! When you’re ready, we will hike up our last hill to Relais d’Arpette. 

Today you have hiked 16 kilometres, with 520 metres of climbing.  

This eighth day of the TMB starts easily. We’ll stroll through the lower part of Champex-Lac, which has an excellent bakery for those who want a pastry. We’ll continue through open meadows, and past barns full of fresh, fragrant hay. We’ll pass old chalets with brimming window-boxes.

Finally, we’ll enter the forest and will start a steep climb up to the Bovine. This is a challenge, especially with seven long days behind you, but we’ll take our time. We’ll stop for many breaks, and to look at the forest flowers. Eventually the trees will start to thin, and we will gradually come out into the open pastures. A short trail contours around the hillside. We’ll see the sprawling town of Martigny below, and sunny vineyards on the south side of Valais. 

Soon, you’ll arrive at the Bovine refuge. This is a great place to try the famous Swiss Rösti, and they also serve fantastic omelettes and cakes. Having stopped here, we’ll continue to contour round the hillside, before dropping back into the forest. An easy descent will take us to Col de la Forclaz, and then down to Trient.

Fenêtre d’Arpette variant:

In good weather, you could challenge yourself to this more technical TMB variant. Instead of climbing up to Bovine, you’ll hike up the remote and rugged Arpette valley. Shortly before the top, the trail gets very rocky and requires a bit of scrambling.

From the top, you’ll see the tumbling Trient Glacier, and the Matterhorn in the far distance. You’ll then tackle the long and arduous descent, following the rocky glacial moraine. Here and there, patches of snow might linger. Finally, you’ll reach the Buvette du Glacier, where you can enjoy a well deserved cake or tart. From here, the final stretch to Trient is short and easy.

*Note : whether you do this variant will depend on weather conditions, and the fitness level of the whole group.  

Today you have hiked 16 kilometres, with 850 metres of climbing.  

Your second-to-last day of the TMB will bring you back into France. We’ll start early, climbing the north-facing forests of Trient. These forests are cool and dark, but we’ll slowly zigzag our way out of the trees, and back into open pastures. A huge flock of sheep often graze up here, and sometimes you’ll see the shepherd with his dog, whistling commands. We’ll traverse this hillside gently, before arriving at the Col de Balme. 

From the Col de Balme, we’ll take the trail down to Tré-Le-Champ through the now south-facing Le Tour forests. If the group is keen, we could descend via the Aiguillette des Possettes, a beautiful little peak covered in Alpenrose and Blueberries. This variant involves an airy but not technical ridge hike, followed by a short, steep climb.  

Tré-Le-Champ is a tiny hamlet just to the side of the TMB trail. Nestled between Le Tour and Argentiere, it is quiet and picturesque, with fantastic views of the Mont Blanc massif. We’ll stay at La Boerne, which is a historic refuge full of character. 

The last day of the TMB is not one to miss! If your legs are feeling good, we’ll climb up the south-facing forests to the crystal-clear Lac Blanc. Because of its beauty, this lake is always busy, but its still an incredible place. From here, we’ll take an undulating trail with a slight incline to Flégère, and we’ll start our last descent into Chamonix. 

If you’d prefer a shorter day, we can take the shady balcony trail from Tré-Le-Champ all the way to Chamonix.