TOUR DU MONT-BLANC
8 dayS - guidED
The Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) is a hiking trail (GR), i.e. a long-distance hike, which takes place on medium-mountain terrain. The TMB route circles the Mont Blanc massif, describing a 170-kilometer loop and a total difference in altitude of 20,000 meters.
The Mont Blanc massif is a major mountain range that marks the border of three countries, France 🇫🇷, Italy 🇮🇹 and Switzerland 🇨🇭.
This natural obstacle has always highlighted regions that share a strong and authentic mountain identity. The cultural heritage is rich and the history of these territories is fascinating. The towns of Chamonix Mont-Blanc, Courmayeur or Martigny are among the must-see destinations of the Alpine arc.
The TMB is one of the most beautiful GR, and is therefore internationally renowned. This fame is well deserved and with each new season, it always brings as much emotion and pleasure to all its participants. The mountain offers an exceptional setting, the medium altitude and the high-mountain territories complement each other perfectly. The beauty of the landscapes is renewed at each stage, and offers the curious and contemplative hikers, the flavor of a sporting trip and the promise of a beautiful adventure.
By choosing our “Tour du Mont-Blanc Guided ” program, you can leave with complete peace of mind! Our guides are true mountain lovers, passionate about the mountain environment. They will tell you the history of this territory, allowing you to understand the prodigious dynamics that organize the life of a complex ecosystem, rich and in perpetual evolution. Leave reassured on the guided Tour du Mont-Blanc, you are safe! Taste the happiness of letting go to fully enjoy this unique environment.
Enjoy! 🥾
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Day 1: Hike from Les Houches to Les Contamines-Montjoie (France)
The hike starts in the village of Les Houches which is the official starting point of the Tour du Mont Blanc.
From the top of the Bellevue cable car (one way cable car included), you will hike under the Bionnassay glacier to the Tricot pass to discover a wonderful view of the Contamines-Montjoie valley.
From the Tricot pass, you will start your descent towards the village of Les Contamines-Montjoie where you will spend the night.
Approximate distance : 11km – Elevation gain & loss : +640m / -1280m
Day 2: Hike from Les Contamines-Montjoie to Les Chassieux (France)
From the village of Les Contamines-Montjoie, you will head towards the hamlet of Notre-Dame-de-la-Gorge (where the tarmac road ends).
From the Chapel, hike to the Nant Borrant hut and to the Balme hut then continue to the Bonhomme pass (this pass is a great place to have a picnic).
The Bonhomme pass (2329m) promises a great stage. Distance, elevation gain and altitude are on the program of this day that you have to start early. The nature reserve of Les Contamines-Montjoie is full of surprises, and the Bonhomme pass reserves its secrets for the brave hikers.
You will then descend to the hamlet of Les Chapieux, where you will spend the night.
Approximate distance : 19km – Elevation gain & loss: +1360m / -970m
Day 3: Hike from Les Chapieux (France) to Courmayeur (Italy)
In these remote valleys of the Beaufortin, there are more tarines (local breed of cows) than hikers. The vast mountain pastures of the Ville des Glaciers lead us to the Seigne pass (2516m) which marks the border with Italy. The TMB settles on the Valdotaines lands. 
From La Visaille (Val Veny) to the end of the Miage glacier, you will take a local bus to the village of Courmayeur. You will have time to enjoy this alpine village with a free dinner.
Approximate distance: 15 km – Elevation gain & loss: +750m / -860m
Day 4: Hike from Courmayeur to the Italian Val Ferret
On this morning, you will leave Courmayeur for a spectacular hike towards the Saxe mountain, which offers superb views of the entire southern side of the Mont Blanc chain. Mythical summits and impressive glaciers will be visible until the arrival at the hut of the famous Italian mountaineer Walter Bonatti (2022m).
Approximate distance: 12 km – Elevation gain & loss: +1080m / -300m
Day 5: Hike from the Italian Val Ferret to Champex (Switzerland)
The day begins with a climb towards the Grand Col Ferret (2537m). This pass marks the Italian-Swiss border, separating the Aosta Valley from the Valais and the Italian Val Ferret from the Swiss Val Ferret. 
The imposing mass of the Mont-Blanc which dominates the paths of the Aosta Valley, gives way to the more bucolic landscapes and the traditional architecture of the Valais.
Approximate distance : 18,5 km – Elevation gain & loss : +950m / -950m
Day 6: Hike from Champex to Trient (Switzerland)
Starting in Champex, you will continue to enjoy this picturesque area beginning with an easy hour and a half hike along the “cattle road” that ranchers once used to guide their cattle through the mountains.
Continuing through the hilly terrain, you will admire the view of the Dents du Midi and climb through the forest to lookouts over the beautiful Rhone Valley and the town of Martigny.
From there you will descend to the Col de la Forclaz and then to your accommodation in Trient.
Approximate distance : 15 km – Elevation gain & loss: +830m / -1020m
Day 7: Hike from Trient (Switzerland) to Argentière (France)
The 7th day hike takes you back to France! 
From Trient, you will hike to the Balme pass, the border between Switzerland and France. You will enjoy the phenomenal views of the Mont Blanc before starting an easy descent to Montroc and Argentiere.
Approximate distance: 15.5 km – Elevation gain & loss: +1150 m / -1150 m
Day 8: Hike from Argentière to Chamonix (France)
This last day in the Aiguilles Rouges massif faces the Mont-Blanc. It offers a spectacular view on the summits and glaciers of the valley. The starting point of the hike, the Col des Montets, joins the Lacs des Chéserys and reaches the famous Lac Blanc (2352m). The trail then descends to reach the Flégère cable car which you can decide to take or not depending on how tired you are of your day. This Tour du Mont-Blanc ends in the village of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc.
Approximate distance : 15,5 km – Elevation gain & loss: +990 m / -1405 m
Note: the itinerary, distances and altitudes may vary slightly for many reasons beyond our control, including weather and terrain conditions.
Included / Not included
Included :
- Accommodation in a private shared room with 2 separate beds
- Meals : 7 breakfasts, 8 picnics and 4 dinners
- Lifts: Bellevue cable car ride (Day 1) + La Flégère cable car ride (Day 8)
- Transfers by public transport during the stay
- One IGN map per person
- Assistance from our team on site
- Supervision by a Mountain Guide from Day 1 to Day 8
- Luggage transfers from Day 1 to Day 8 (1 soft bag of 15 kg maximum per person)
Not included :
- Repatriation assistance (mandatory) and cancellation insurances (highly recommended)
- Accommodation for one night before the trip (Day 0) and one night after the trip (Day 8)
- Transfers to/from Chamonix.
- Dinners on Days 3 and 4
- Snacks and personal expenses
- Everything not indicated in the “included” section
Options on request: Contact us
- Transfers to/from Chamonix
- Accommodation in Chamonix
Duration : 8 days | Level : Moderate | Group Size : from 4 to 10 persons | Guided trip | Destination : France / Italy / Switzerland
Dates : from June 12 to June 19 of 2023 | from July 10 to July 17 of 2023 | from July 31 to August 7 of 2023 | from Sept. 1 to Sept. 8 of 2023
F.A.Q.
Supporting Subheading
We wish to help you discover the mountain environment, by exploring its specificities in order to better understand the prodigious dynamics that organize the bubbling life of a complex, ingenious, sensitive, pioneering and unique ecosystem. Because we are confident that the knowledge of this particular environment will allow everyone to become a privileged and responsible actor, by becoming a walker or a hiker, capable of keeping behaviors in phase with the mountain environment.
It is this wonderful mixture of life, emotions and knowledge that drives our passion that we wish to transmit and share with you. Conviviality, humor, mutual aid, sharing and dialogue are our strong values. We will be your natural mediators during our mountain excursions, we will take full advantage of this space rich in timeless values and discoveries.
By passion and with a certain form of engagement, our guided hikes are the promise of a true exchange, of an meeting with an extraordinary natural environment.
By definition, and as a reminder, the Mountain guide is a naturalist. His knowledge allows him to approach all the themes and interests of discovery of the mountain environment. He holds a state certificate in mountaineering and is a sports educator and teacher. He knows how to teach different types of people and supervises mountain outings with a permanent concern for the comfort and safety of the participants.
A GR is a long distance hiking trail. It is marked by two horizontal bands of the same size, one white above and one red below. These GR are hiking routes, lasting several days, which use trails (in mountain areas), if not roads, routes. The first trail was inaugurated in 1947 (the GR3 which connects Orléans and Beaugency). They are managed by the French Federation of Hiking (FFRandonnée). Today, no less than 369 GR trails cover the French territory.
Here are some of them:
- GR 1: Tour of the Ile de France
- GR 11 : Tour of Paris
- GR 20 : through the Corsican mountains
- GR 34 : Breton coastline (the customs officers’ path)
- GR 54 : Tour of the Oisan and the Ecrins
- GR 65 : The road to Compostela via Le Puy
- GR TMB : Tour du Mont-Blanc
The Gr5, the most famous of them, is a long-distance trail, which crosses part of Europe, from Rotterdam to Nice, passing through Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland. About 2 600km. Created in 1951.
The Grande Traversée des Alpes (GTA) is a segment of the GR5, which starts in the North at Saint-Gingolph and ends in the South, at Nice. It is a route of several weeks, which covers a distance of about 600km, 36 stages, 30,000 meters of positive elevation gain. Marking and naming in the 1970s.
The Via Alpina is a network of trails that covers all eight Alpine countries and aims to take up and continue the GTA spirit across the entire Alpine arc. Since 1999, the European Union has been developing and working on the project.
Hiking is a sport activity known for its virtues and benefits, both for the body and the mind. The mountain creates by definition a break in the horizon, and much more than a simple topographic accident, it becomes this so particular practice ground which gives to the hike a unique relief. This sometimes extreme environment will exalt passions, the taste for action and conquests for some, or the need for naturalness and authenticity for others. And because the mountain is a source of truth, ideal and knowledge, it will bring about unique and unforgettable emotions, exceptional moments of life and privileged moments.
Very often, the first experience brings its share of discoveries and surprises, contemplation and first learning are on the agenda. In a more insidious way, like a “Kiss Cool” effect, this first time has also nourished a need in itself, it has awakened a desire that must be satisfied and reactivated with each new season. And this is how the multitude of itineraries that are proposed through the Alps will animate your projects, your vacations with friends or family.
“Try it, adopt it!”