Tour du Mont Blanc
Duration: 13 days
Difficulty: Grade 3
Cost: £3,325
Deposit: £332
The Tour du Mont Blanc invites trekkers to explore the rugged beauty of one of Europe’s most iconic mountain ranges and multi-day hikes. Circling the Mont Blanc massif, this trek offers a spectacular journey through France, Italy, and Switzerland, showcasing the breathtaking landscapes and rich culturally diverse heritage of the region.
Embarking on this unforgettable journey, we traverse alpine meadows and picturesque valleys, pass below glaciers and savour locally crafted cheese for lunch and traditional dinners each evening. For ten remarkable days, we follow trails as they meander around the towering peaks of the Alps offering stunning views at every turn.
Descending into the valleys each evening we experience life in the towns, villages, and hamlets along the way staying in cozy hotels, rustic chalets and auberges.
The Tour du Mont Blanc stands as an exceptional choice for hikers of all levels, offering an excellent introduction to multi-day hiking for novices and an enjoyable journey for seasoned trekkers alike. Whether you're embarking on your first long-distance trek or seeking to explore one of the world’s most iconic treks, the Tour du Mont Blanc promises not to disappoint.
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Chamonix sits at the base of Mont Blanc and is seen by many to be the birth place of mountaineering. For us it is the perfect place to begin our Tour du Mont Blanc.
Today is a chance for the group to get to know each other and their guide discus the plan for the coming days, enjoy the cafes spread along the high street and pick up any final bits gear for your trek.
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We start the day by taking a gondola to Planpraz 2,000m before we set out across the Grand Balcon Sud and start our journey around Mont Blanc.
Distance: 13km
Total ascent: 430m
Total descent: 1,200m
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Today we leave France and enter our second country, Switzerland. We head north out of Argentière towards Le Tour where we ascend to Col de Balm, the Switzerland France border. We then descend to the village of Trient, famous four its pink church, where we stay for the night.
There are multiple options for the route today, making it possible to tailor the route to the group.
Distance: 17km
Total ascent: 1,250m
Total descent: 1,200m
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Today we take the Bovine route to the quaint Swiss townn of Champex-Lac. Along the way we have stunning views down into the Rhone valley and enjoy the sound of traditional Swiss cow bells as we pass through the alpages.
Distance: 16km
Total ascent: 740m
Total descent: 730m
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We begin the day descending through the woods to the village of Issert before following the valley up through the beautiful old Swiss village Les Arlches. We then continue up the valley to the isolated village of La Fouly. La Fouly is at the base of Mont Dolont, whose summit sits in Switzerlad Italy and France.
Distance: 14.5km
Total ascent: 640m
Total descent: 510m
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Today we leave Switzerland, heading over the Grand Col Ferret, which at an altitude of 2,537m it is both our highest point on the trek and the boarder between Italy and Switzerland. Before we reach the col we pass Alpage de la Peule where we can stop for a drink and to sample some of the cheese they produce there.
Distance 14.5km
Total ascent: 955m
Total descent: 780m
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As we walk through the Val Ferret today we are treated to panoramic views of the southern side of the Mont Blanc Massif including Grand Jorasss 4,208m, Dome do Rochefort 4,015m, Dent du Géant 4,013m and of course Mont Blanc 4,810m.
On arriving in Courmayeur we can sample the local gelato and coffee before we reach our hotel where we will stay for the next two nights.
Distance: 17km
Total ascent: 600m
Total descent: 1,150m
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We start the day with a short bus ride out of Courmayeur to Val Veny where we follow the river as we ascend towards the Col de la Seigne at 2,515m. The col marks the border between Italy and France so as we descend to Chapieux we are back into France.
Distance: 21km
Total ascent: 1,020m
Total Descent: 1000m
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We leave Les Chapieux with a step ascent to the Refuge Du Col De La Bonhomme where we can stop for a slice of cake and cup of tea before continuing along to Col du Bonhomme. From here we descend to le Bon Nant river, following it through Notre-Dame de la Gorge to Les Contamines.
Distance: 19km
Total ascent: 950m
Total descent: 1,340m
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From Les contamins we ascend through the woods towards Refuge du Miage where we have fabulous views of Dômes du Miage and Aiguille de Bionnassay. From here we take the Col de Tricot and descend towards the Glacier de Bionnassay before our final push to Les Houches.
Distance: 16.5km
Total ascent: 1,320m
Total descent: 1,480m
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Our final day on the trail sees us asscending to the summit of Le Brevent, which at 2,525m offers arguably the best views over the Mont Blanc massif. It’s a long and at times steep ascet but the feeling of completing the Tour du Mont Blanc standing on the summit is worh every step.
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Today is a free day for you to explore Chamonix.
A trip up the Aiguille du Midi cable car to the lofty hight of 3,842 meters is well worth the experience of seeing the Mont Blan massif from a whole new perspective. As is a trip up the Victorian Montenvers railway to France’s largest glacier the Mer de Glace.
In the evening we will head to a local restaurant togeher to celebrate our achievements and reflect on journey around the Mont Blanc massif.
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Today we say good bye to each other and begin our journey home.
*Due to the nature of accommodation on the Tour du Mont Blanc these days may vary slightly
