Tour du Mont Blanc
The Tour du Mont Blanc is 105 miles (170 km long) with approximately 10,000 metres of ascent and descent along the way. This may seem like a daunting amount of trekking, but remember it’s spread over several days. That makes it doable for most keen hikers – and even beginners with strong determination when the going gets tough.
Each day sparks a new challenge that will inspire you to make it to the finish line and before you know it you’ll be back in Cham, necking Genepi and Pastis with the locals.
Along the way, you’ll see wildlife, beautiful mountain views and stay in remote mountain refuges. Watch out for Ibex with their big horns and steer clear if two males begin a fight on the trail. It’s not worth getting involved. Look out for birds of prey circling above your lunch spot, and have no doubt that they will have their eyes on your sandwich.
Trek the Tour du Mont Blanc | Much Better Adventures
Join good people on one of the world’s great hikes. Trek the mighty Alps through Italy, France and Switzerland as you circumnavigate the Mont Blanc massif.
Back on the ground, you might spot anything from red deer to chamois, roe deer, squirrels or marmots, mountain hares, foxes, boars, badgers, stoats or an abundance of the other wildlife that lives in this blossoming area. There is no lack of biodiversity across the 170km Mont Blanc hiking route, that’s for sure.
Traditional chocolate box chalets and small farming villages still exist and it’s worth appreciating the simplicity of the locals’ way of life. Ultimately it’s the views of the mountains that make the hike so spectacular. Watch out: the views will inspire future adventures right then and there.
The trail, for the most part, is not technically difficult. There’s a great variety, too. You can expect everything from forests, barren rocky terrain and vast green valleys on the Tour du Mont Blanc hiking route. You will be greeted by a real mix of wild landscapes, and snowy peaks up above, each day different to the next.
Watch out for Ibex with their big horns, and steer clear if two males begin a fight on the trail, it’s not worth getting involved
Most stages on the trek follow a familiar pattern of hiking up and over a col, or mountain pass, before descending to a mountain hut or hotel for the night. Expect to start the day strong with a rewarding ascent to find a scenic lunch spot, before a final descent down to a warm dinner and a cold beer.
Here is a breakdown of the route in the standard 11 stages-
Stage 1: Les Houches - Les Contamines
- Distance: 10 miles (16km)
- Walking time: 7 hours
- Ascent: 730m up/ 1300m down
You’ll start in Les Houches, a small town at the entrance to the Chamonix Valley. Take the Bellevue cable car up to 1800m and enjoy the panoramic views. You should be able to see Mont Blanc, the Chamonix Aiguilles, the Aiguilles Rouges and the Chaine des Aravis.
Head towards the Col du Tricot, passing over the famous suspension bridge that crosses the Bionnay Glacier and down into Les Contamines for the first nights’ accommodation.
Stage 2: Les Contamines to Les Chapieux
- Distance: 12.4 miles (20km)
- Walking time: 9 hours
- Ascent: 1450m up/1000m down
The next day takes you up and over the Col du Bonhomme (look out for that Roman bridge) with horizon views of the Vanoise National Park. The trail then descends into the small hamlet of Les Chapieux. Be prepared for a very sketchy phone signal in Les Chapieux, but the views more than make up for it. Everyone can get away with one day off the grid, right?
Stage 3: Les Chapieux to Rifugio Monte Bianco
The Col de la Seigne, Valle d’Aosta, on the Tour du Mont Blanc
- Distance: 12.4 miles (20km)
- Walking time: 7-8 hours
- Ascent: 820m up/100m down
After Les Chapieux the trail crosses the Col de la Seigne, at 2516m, straddling the French-Italian border. Yes, you can stand with one foot on each side! You can almost smell the freshly ground Italian coffee as you cross the col.
Head down into the Val Veny, a magnificent green valley with the south face of Mont Blanc dominating the skyline on your left, and spend the night at the Refugio Elisabetta – or continue further along the route to the Refugio Monte Bianco.
Stage 4: Refugio Monte Bianco to Courmayeur
Gorgeous views of the Mont Blanc massif, with hiker walking a trail in the foreground
- Distance: 5.5 miles
- Walking time: 3-4 hours
- Ascent: 350m up/ 850m down
As you trek towards Courmayeur, you’ll be rewarded with some of the best panoramas of the range’s famous 4000m peaks. There are spectacular and unique vantage points of the Grandes Jorasses, Mont Dolent and the Grand Combin.
Stage 5: Courmayeur to Refugio Walter Bonatti
- Distance: 8 miles (13km)
- Walking time: 6-7 hours
- Ascent: 1100m up/300m down
You’ll eventually start to make your way back towards Switzerland via the Italian Val Ferret. Hike through the Val Ferret towards the Italy-Swiss border. See Mont Blanc, the Dent du Géants and the Grandes Jorasses massif towering above you, before arriving at your mountain hut, the famous Refugio Walter Bonatti with epic mountain views.
Stage 6: Refugio Walter Bonatti to La Fouly
- Distance: 13 miles (21km)
- Walking time: 8-9 hours
- Ascent: 950m up/1350m down
Start the day by traversing the High Balcon Val Ferret trail. Next up, you’ll tackle the 500m climb to the Grand Col Ferret, an Alpine pass with an elevation of 2,537 metres (8,323 ft) on the Italian-Swiss border. Make your descent to the small mountain village of La Fouly.
Stage 7: La Fouly to Champex
- Distance: 10.5 miles (17km)
- Walking time: 5-6 hours
- Ascent: 600m up/ 700m down
Next up is a mellow stage through Swiss alpine meadows and small villages, before reaching the Lac de Champex, a pristine alpine lake in a steep valley. Time for a dip maybe?
Stage 8: Champex to Trient
- Distance: 11 miles (18km)
- Walking time: 7-8 hours
- Ascent: 850m up/ 1050m down
There are two options today: take the hard route over the Fenetre d’Arpette (2,665m/ 8743ft) or the slightly easier (official) one over Bovine. Both are beautiful, but the harder route takes you to the highest point so far on the journey, with views to match.
Stage 9: Trient to Tré-le-Champ
- Distance: 9.3 miles (15km)
- Walking time: 5-6 hours
- Ascent: 980m up/850m down
The finish line is now in sight. You will make your way back into France over the Col de Balme which marks to Swiss-French border, traversing the Aiguille du Midi and crossing into the Aiguilette des Possettes.
Stage 10: Tré-le-Champ to La Flegere
- Distance: 10.5 miles/ 17km
- Walking time: 7-8 hours
- Ascent: 1100m up/1400m down
One final push up to the Lac Blanc, over the Grand Balcon Sud, for some more mega impressive views of the Mont Blanc range.
Stage 10: Tré-le-Champ to La Flegere
- Distance: 10.5 miles/ 17km
- Walking time: 6-7 hours
- Ascent: 772m up/1546m down
Start by climbing a rocky path up to the Col du Brevent, where you’ll see the tourist cable care. Then it’s time for a final descent – of over 1500m – back to Chamonix for celebrations and a much-needed demi-peche.
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