France, Italy, and Switzerland Inn-to-inn
Trekking from France into Italy and Switzerland, the Tour du Mont Blanc is one of the great hiking tours of the world...
Self-guided Classic Tour du Mont BlancEverything but the guide...custom tour design, hikes, and all the details. |
Private Guided Classic Tour du Mont BlancMake it private! Your companions, your dates, your tour - we do the rest. |
The Tour du Mont Blanc is undoubtedly the classic hiking tour in the Alps. This is our best version of the TMB, and it’s fabulous. Start in stylish, sunny Chamonix and spend the next 9 days hiking around the biggest mountains in the Alps. What can be better than that? We’ll hike through three countries, crossing high passes, and gaining incredible views. Stop at a cheese barn, hike some more, and reach a cozy inn each night. There’s our luggage, a hearty dinner, good company, great memories. Perfection.
The TMB is a sort of pilgrimage. There’s something awe-inspiring about hiking all the way around a mountain that draws people from around the world. People with similar hobbies and desires and a shared sense of awe. People like you. The three countries all bring their own cultural flair, the air is clear and the water clean and the trails invigorating. It’s great fun. It’s perfect.
Our guided tours are all guaranteed… if you sign up, the trip is going. Our guides know the trails, they know the inns, and they have their favorite lunch spots to show you. Turn off your busy mind, relax, and don’t worry about a thing. We’ve got it covered on the guided Tour of Mont Blanc.
Day 1
Chamonix – Arrive in Geneva, and transfer to Chamonix, the world-famous resort and mountaineering center in France.
An airport pickup is included, making this an easy and relaxing hour and half journey. Enjoy your first impressive views of Mont Blanc, with perhaps time to relax at our charming Chamonix hotel before meeting the group for dinner.
Day 2
Chamonix – One of the classic hikes in the region takes us to Lac Blanc, high above the village.
This high-mountain lake sits in the Aiguilles Rouges, across the valley from Mont Blanc, and commands one of the greatest mountain views anywhere. We’ll make good use of local cable cars so we can enjoy more time hiking near the lake. Return to Chamonix for a 2nd night.
Day 3
les Contamines – An undulating trail leads through alpine pastures and pine forests, over the Tricot pass and through the quiet and quaint Miage Valley on one of the prettiest corners of the TMB.
Passing through a tiny hamlet of stone houses where cows and horses graze peacefully surrounded by hanging glaciers, we’ll stop in the small village of les Contamines for a night at a friendly local hotel. Our luggage will meet us here.
Day 4
Bourg St. Maurice/les Chapieux – A quick bus ride or an easy valley walk brings us to our trailhead at Notre Dame de la Gorge, a small chapel at the very end of the valley rebuilt in 1699.
Hiking up along an old Roman road, we continue the TMB tour with a long, steady ascent across two lofty passes, Col de la Croix du Bonhomme and Col du Bonhomme. After lunch near the pass, we’ll descend to les Chapieux, and take a short taxi ride to our hotel in nearby Bourg St Maurice, where we have a lovely 3-star hotel for the night.
Day 5
Courmayeur – A quick transfer brings us to the trailhead in the Valle des Glaciers. Leaving France, a gradual ascent through quiet alp pastures leads to the Col de la Seigne and into Italy.
Here you’re greeted by an amazing view into the Veny Valley and the Mont Blanc range. The Aiguille Noire de Peuterey is particularly impressive from this vantage point, and Mont Blanc itself dominates the view ahead of you. Continue down valley and into the medieval village of Courmayeur, with narrow, cobblestoned alleyways and a lively, pedestrian-only core. Our luggage will be waiting for us at our 3-star village hotel.
Day 6
Courmayeur – After one of our favorite breakfasts at our hotel, a second day in Courmayeur gives you a chance to either rest up or take an optional dayhike high above town.
Courmayeur is an extremely atmospheric village, with cafes, bakeries, gelaterias, and stylish shops. It’s great for people-watching and relaxing. Or take the cable car high above the valley to the upper reaches of Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco in Italian) for close-up views of the highest peaks in the Alps. Or spend the day hiking along an unbeatable balcony walk to rifugio Bonatti. The options are plentiful!
Day 7
la Fouly – The second half of the Tour du Mont Blanc is slightly less rugged, with easier passes, but just as beautiful. The Italian side of Mont Blanc is steep and rocky, and the Grand Jorasses rivals Mont Blanc as the focal point of our views.
On this stage of the TMB, we’ll cross the Grand Col Ferret and into Switzerland, with rolling green meadows filled with happy cows. We’ll descend to la Fouly, and tiny village at the end of a quiet valley in Switzerland. Our luggage will be transferred here from Courmayeur.
Day 8
Champex – An easier day today takes us through the Swiss Ferret Valley, on a pleasant path long the river with waterfalls cascading down mountains as we hike down-valley.
After a break for lunch, we hike up through forest to the pretty lakeside village of Champex, a beautiful place to spend an afternoon on a terrace overlooking the lake. Our luggage be waiting at our 3-star village hotel.
Day 9
Trient – The next stage on the TMB takes us through woods along the Bovine route to Trient. Along the way, stop at a rustic farm restaurant with sweeping views of the Rhone Valley.
Weather permitting, a more rigorous possibility leads up and over the Fenetre d’Arpette pass with dazzling views to the Trient Glacier, a popular variant on the traditional TMB route. We’ll stay at the Grand Ourse, a hiker’s inn in the tiny Swiss village of Trient.
Day 10
Chamonix – The final hike on our Mont Blanc tour is another great one. A steady uphill hike leads us up to the Balme Pass on the border with France. We like to take an alternate route with gorgeous glacier views and abundant blueberries.
Once at the pass, we’ll be greeted to jaw-dropping views of Mont Blanc and the entire Chamonix Valley as we cross the pass and descend to la Tour. After a quick transfer back to Chamonix, make sure to check out the pool at our hotel, before we meet for a special celebratory dinner at a favorite local restaurant.
Day 11
depart – Today we say au revoir, and depart for our post-Mont Blanc destinations.
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