Tour du Mont Blanc Hike: All You Need To Know

This hike is one of the most famous in Europe and it crosses 3 countries: France, Italy, and Switzerland. The famous Tour du Mont Blanc is a 170-kilometer long circuit, which encircles the Mont Blanc massif and has 10 kilometers of elevation change. The trek can be completed in 7 to 11 days, depending on the route and physical condition. A part of the Tour du Mont Blanc shapes the Walker's Haute Route as well.

The accommodation options on the Tour du Mont Blanc are quite varied. On the route, you will find, in all countries, cosy mountain huts or refuges where to spend the night. Most of these huts offer a more affordable option, which involves sleeping with other trekkers in shared dormitories, and more expensive alternatives, where you can choose to have a private room. If you want a more luxurious option, you can choose to sleep in hotels in the towns close to the route.

Most huts offer a half-board pension, which includes breakfast and dinner. We highly recommend choosing this option. Having a warm meal waiting for you at the hut is not only a great way to end a long day of hiking, but it will also make your luggage lighter. Carrying your own food during the trek will mean extra weight on your back.

The best time to complete the Tour du Mont Blanc is during the summer months, July and August, when the route has little snow and the weather is usually good. Outside these months, the logistics get more complicated because many of the hostels and mountain huts on the route are closed. If we had to recommend a more specific time, it would be the second half of August. During these 2 weeks, the number of trekkers and mountaineers is lower and the weather is usually quite pleasant.

Are you short on time or don't have the legs to hike the Alps for more than a week? No problem. Because the towns of Chamonix and Courmayeur are connected by the majestic Mont Blanc Tunnel, it's easy to just do half of the route. It is possible to start in any town along the route, but most people start in Chamonix. From Chamonix, you can hike in 5 days to Courmayeur, following the trails on the Western side of the Mont Blanc with highlights like the Bionassay glacier, Croix du Bonhomme, and Mottets.

Find our 5-day Western Tour du Mont Blanc option here.

One can also start in Courmayeur. This will take you East across the infamous Col Ferret to Switzerland. From here you can do Fenetre d'Arpette to get back to Chamonix. This will take you 6 days. Both shorter options are not necessarily easier, but definitely shorter. When availability becomes an issue on the Western side, the Eastern route can also be a great outcome.

Find our 6-day Eastern Tour du Mont Blanc option here.

Since the Tour du Mont Blanc is a circular route, there are many starting points on the route. The most common, by far, is Chamonix or the nearby town of Les Houches on the French side. However, you can also choose to start at any of the other main towns en-route, like Les Contamines in France, Courmayeur in Italy, or Champex in Switzerland.

To get to Chamonix, you can fly to Geneva and hire a transfer in advance to take you to this Alpine city. Transfers leave directly from the airport and are located as you leave the arrivals gate. You can travel within the valley between Chamonix and Les Houches on a local bus.

Fortunately, getting to Chamonix is quite easy. Chamonix is located only 103 kilometres away from Geneva international airport, the second-largest airport in Switzerland. There are several transport options for you to get to this beautiful city depending on where you are departing from.

By Plane

Flying is the most convenient and fastest way to get to Chamonix. Although the Geneva international airport is indeed the closest one, you can also fly to Chambery Airport, Turin Airpot, or Lyon Airport. Being Geneva's biggest airport in the area, it has more flight options available from more destinations than the other airports do. Also, from Geneva, you can take a direct shuttle from the airport to Chamonix.

By Car

If you are in France already or in any country near Chamonix, you can drive there. The extensive network of European motorways makes it easy to reach Chamonix by car.

By Train

There is a train station right in the centre of the city. Travelling to Chamonix by train isn't necessarily the easiest or fastest option, but it is definitely the one with the least impact on the environment. On your way to Chamonix, you will have to change trains a few times along the way. The silver lining is that you are allowed to carry more luggage without additional charges.

By Bus

Coach or long-distance buses are another option to get to Chamonix. The good thing about these buses is that they tend to be quite cheap and are more environmentally friendly than flying. If you choose this option, however, you must know that the seats can be quite uncomfortable and the ride takes the longest of all the options.

You can do the Tour do Mont Blanc guided or self-guided, it is up to you. If you decide to go with a guide, you will have the accommodation and meals arranged for you and you won't have to worry about planning every stage of the route. Most importantly, there is no chance of you getting lost. That being said, the truth is that the trails on the Tour du Mont Blanc are very well marked and signposted. If the weather is clear and you follow the road, the chances of getting lost are very limited. As regards the weather, it can get quite foggy in the afternoons, so make sure to have a map, a compass (and know how to use it), and a whistle just in case. The Swiss Alps offer some of the most scenic trekking routes – discover them on one of our expertly planned walking holidays in Switzerland.

It is possible to do the Tour du Mont Blanc without a guide and most trekkers choose this option. If you want to go on a self-guided trek, make sure you get all the accommodation booked in advance and you plan your steps wisely, making sure that every stage of the trek makes sense and is achievable. If you want to go on a self-guided trek but you want some assistance with the planning, we can help you out. On Bookatrekking.com we offer self-guided Tour du Mont Blanc treks where we take care of arranging the itinerary and accommodation for you. That way, your only concern will be enjoying the views along the way. Find out all our options here.

A situation is defined as an emergency whenever human life (yours or someone else's) is endangered and there is nothing you can do to resolve the matter. You should call for help if there has been an accident, if there is somebody trapped, if you got lost or in trouble and are unable to continue because of the time of day or weather conditions, or if you are trapped because of technical climbing challenges that exceed your capabilities.

The most important thing to do in an emergency is to stay calm and survey the situation. Do not panic or take useless risks if the people in trouble are difficult to reach. In an emergency, first and foremost, call for assistance. When calling for help, make sure to provide your location and the number of victims and type of injuries. Then, protect the victim from cold and other environmental threats and administer first aid, if you can.

Useful emergency phone numbers

• Italy: 118 / 112 / 800 319 319 (Civil Protection)
• France: 112 / +33 0 4 50 53 16 89 (PGHM Chamonix)
• Switzerland: 144

The prices for the Tour du Mont Blanc are quite varied. The full circuit usually ranges between EUR 900 / USD 1020 and EUR 2800 / 3175 USD. There are several variables to take into account when it comes to how much this trek costs: the type of accommodation, which can be in a shared dormitory or a private room in a hut, or also at a hotel in a town; How many days you will be spending on the mountain and whether you will be doing the full circuit or only a section; whether you will be doing it self-guided or with a guided group. The price of the trek will depend on your expectations for the tour.