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Arrive in Chamonix and check into the luxurious Hotel Hameau Albert 1er, known for its world-class spa and Michelin-star dining.
In the morning, you will take a private transfer from Chamonix to Les Houches, your official start of the trek.
From Les Houches, you can take a cable car to the top of Bellevue or hike up the mountain. From there, you’ll take a short walk to Col du Voza with stunning views of Bionnassay glacier, and soon cross the iconic Himalayan suspension bridge.
From Col de Voza you will go down to Val Montjoie and then straight to the resort village of Les Contamines. Here you will find your accommodation for the night at La Chemenaz Chalet Hotel.
For seasoned trekkers, a different path through the upscale accommodations near Refuge de Miage provides an enhanced visual feast of stunning alpine vistas.
From Les Contamines, you can walk along the river in the valley or take a shuttle bus to Notre Dame de la Gorge, admiring this cute chapel, before starting to head upwards.
The ascent will take you up past the Refuge Nant Borrant (lunch stop), and then towards Col du Bonhomme. After that, descend down into the valley to Les Chapieux, where a steady climb starts. After going through the valley descend towards the beautiful hut, Refuge de Mottets.
Begin your day by leaving the cozy Refuge de Mottets and setting your sights on Courmayeur, a charming Italian town nestled at the foot of Mont Blanc.
The trek to Courmayeur is a delightful blend of alpine meadows and forested trails, offering a different but equally stunning backdrop compared to the French side of the tour. As you cross the border into Italy, you’ll notice the shift in architecture and culture, adding a fresh layer of excitement to your journey.
Upon arrival, you’ll check into Auberge de la Maison, a 5-star hotel that epitomizes Italian luxury. From its panoramic mountain views to its exquisite Italian cuisine, the hotel serves as a sanctuary of comfort and elegance, making it the perfect place to rest and rejuvenate after a day of trekking.
After the morning espresso, leave the town of Courmayeur for the mountains up above. When reaching Rifugio Bertone, we have two options. The classic TMB takes you on the north flank of the mountains with great views of the valley and the massif to the left.
But if you go higher, reaching the mountain ridge, you’ll be hiking one of the most peaceful parts of Tour du Mont Blanc. Over Mont de la Saxe with views all around, it could be the hardest, but also the most beautiful day on the trail.
We have already been to Italy and France, and today, it’s time for Switzerland. We will ascend the Grand Col Ferret, where the landscape will start to look noticeably different. Following the trail on the right flank of La Dotse, you’ll slowly descend into Ferret Valley and towards the village of La Fouly. Here you will stay in the Hotel Edelweiss, an authentic mountain hotel.
Without any cols to traverse, this is the easiest stage on the Tour du Mont Blanc. It will take you slowly through the valley, past green meadows and Alpine villages. It ends at the Champex-Lac, a pretty lake town that looks like something straight out of the Canadian Rockies. Here, find your shelter for the night in the luxurious Hotel Au Club Alpin I, a premier accommodation in the area.
It’s time to get back to the mountains! You’ll leave the relaxing valley and ascend the Col de la Forclaz with great views of the Rhone Valley. There is also an alternative, crossing Fenetre d’Arpette, technically the most difficult part of TMB, but with more scenic and wild views around. Both trails at the end descend down to the Swiss village of Trient. You will check in at your hotel La Grande Ourse.
The first ascent of the day will be to Col du Balme, where the end comes into sight. From the refuge there, you’ll have some awesome views of the whole Chamonix Valley — the circuit is now almost complete. Continue on into France towards the Col des Posettes and the equally-named ridge that follows. Enjoy the great views of some of the most iconic parts of the massif on the left, while the descent takes you steeply down to Tré-le-Champ in the north of the valley. Your accommodation will be in Argentiere at the luxurious Les Grands Montets Hotel & Spa.
There are still some awesome sections left in store for the last two days. This day will lead you toward the iconic ladders, one of the more interesting parts of the Tour du Mont Blanc. You’ll soon enter the Aiguille Rouge National Park, where plenty of wildlife can be seen.
Soon you’ll come to a junction where you can hike further up towards the lake of Lac Blanc, past Lacs des Chéserys and experience some of the most photographed views from this side of the Chamonix Valley.
When you reach La Flagere, you can take the cable car down to Chamonix where you will find your well-known hotel, Hameau Albert 1er.
The last day is here! You will continue on the Balcon Sud until you reach Le Brévent. You have two options to get up to the peak — take it easy with a cable car ride or hike to the peak across some more technical ladder sections.
Either way, amazing views of Mont Blanc await you at the top. Continue along the rocky trail to Refuge du Bellachat, where a long descent to the Chamonix Valley awaits you. You’ll finish in Les Houches, where you started, but a private transfer will take you to Chamonix to celebrate the successfully completed thru-hike.
You will have your last night in Chamonix in the same hotel as the night before to celebrate your completed trek. Congratulations!
Leisure morning and depart from Chamonix.
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Have you ever wondered what it’s like to traverse the iconic Tour du Mont Blanc, covering over 170 kilometers of awe-inspiring trails through France, Italy, and Switzerland, without compromising a shred of comfort?
Your dream is about to manifest into reality as this is one of the few treks in the world that lets you pair stunning vistas with world-class accommodations and dining.
As you navigate through the Mont Blanc massif’s diverse terrains—scaling high-altitude passes, crossing iconic suspension bridges, and meandering through lush alpine meadows—an air of exclusivity envelops you.
The trek leads you through the valleys and mountainsides of each country, offering a unique blend of cultural and natural beauty as you journey around Western Europe’s highest peak. You’ll know that the day’s trek, ranging from moderate 10-kilometer jaunts to challenging 20-kilometer stretches, culminates in unparalleled luxury.
For your culinary delight, we’ve even lined up the option to dine in Michelin-starred restaurants.
What distinguishes us is our unwavering commitment to your comfort and convenience. We meticulously manage every detail, from reserving your spot in the most sumptuous hotels to equipping you with comprehensive handouts filled with essential trekking information.
Your role is simply to immerse yourself in the Alpine splendor, buoyed by a level of comfort and attentive service that transforms an already remarkable trek into an unforgettable luxury experience.
The weather in the mountains is very changeable. Even if it is +25°C in the valley, it much colder on the mountain passes, especially if cloudy and windy. That’s why you should take clothing in layers, along with with a windproof and waterproof jacket (could be two), and waterproof trousers (in case of rain). You should also have a separate set of clothes for chilling in the refuges.
Check out our full packing list here.
Even though the views on the Tour du Mont Blanc are scenic and wild, the trail itself never goes more than a day of hiking away from the nearest road or civilization. In case you decide to stop hiking, you can always get to the nearest village or town, and use public transportation to get to your desired destination. If that happens during the hike, we are also here to help you plan this.
Should there be an emergency situation on the trail, you will always have access to the local rescue services on the number 112. We provide more information on that in our self-guided handouts.
Although it’s not the only one hikers decide to take, it is the best. The main advantage of that is that you’ll always have the view of the Mont Blanc massif in front, and not behind your back. There will also be fewer steep downhills (saving your knees) than otherwise.
Yes, but it is not recommended if they are too young (younger than 10). Either way, they need to have some previous experience with mountain hiking and know what it takes to complete a full day on the trail.
You should do it as early as possible because the spots at the accommodations along the trail usually run out fast. That means the longer you wait, the fewer options there are.
Yes, public transportation is available in most of the valleys, which can shorten some flat sections of the hike. Additionally, there are some cable cars that can take you up the mountains, reducing the amount of ascending you do on some stages.
Yes, but only through the valley. That means that it will be waiting for you at your next accommodation on the valley floor, be it a hotel or a chalet. If you are staying a night in between in a mountain hut, you have to take enough with you in the backpack to make it an extra day.
Some parts of the trail are exposed to thunder, so hiking them in that kind of weather is heavily unadvised. Still, you can make up for that lost time by taking public transportation when possible.
Most of them do not, which is why you should always have enough cash to pay for anything extra than what is included in our tours. Only one hut needs to be paid on the spot, of which we inform you in advance. Do not worry about the hotels and other private accommodations though — they mostly accept them. Still, it is recommended you always have some extra cash with you in case something goes wrong.
You’re going to be traveling through three countries — Italy and France use Euros (EUR) while Switzerland has Swiss Francs (CHF).
Some of them offer showers, but there might not be any hot water. In most, you need to buy a token to get a minute of hot water (if it didn’t run out already).
No. All of the huts have blankets, bedding, and pillows, but it’s nice to bring your own silk or cotton sleeping liner.
We can arrange it in the hotels and other accommodations in villages and towns along the way. As for the mountain huts, a rare few have that option, but it is usually the first one that is sold out, so you need to be really early if you want us to get it.
There isn’t in most of them. Enjoy the opportunity of disconnecting from technology and reconnecting with nature. But if you really need it, you can try to get some signal outside or wait until coming back to the valley. There, you should have no problem getting to the internet.
Vegetarian meals are readily available in most accommodations. On the other hand, vegan options are harder to be found, especially in the huts. But if you tell us enough in advance, we’ll contact the huts for you and try to accommodate you to the best of our abilities.
