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Guided Classic Tour du Mont Blanc

Trekking from France into Italy and Switzerland, the Tour du Mont Blanc is one of the great hiking tours of the world…

Guided Classic Tour du Mont Blanc

Trekking from France into Italy and Switzerland, the Tour du Mont Blanc is one of the great hiking tours of the world…

    Support
  • Guided Group,
    Style
  • Inn-To-Inn,
    Activity Level
  • Moderate to Challenging,

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, and we’ll have 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 love of the mountains. 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.

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.

 

See our Self-guided version

    Length
  • 11 days, 10 nights
    Departures
  • Jun 24 – Jul 4, 2024Sold Out!
  • Jul 1 – Jul 11, 2024Sold Out!
  • Jul 22 – Aug 1, 2024, 1 db left
  • Jul 29 – Aug 8, 2024, 1 db left
  • Aug 5 – Aug 15, 2024
  • Sep 2 – Sep 12, 2024, 1 room left
  • Sep 9 – Sep 19, 2024, 1 room left
    Cost
  • $5995 Per Person
  • $1450 Single Room

Itinerary At a Glance

Days 1-4

France, Chamonix to les Chapieux

First stop, Chamonix, the lively resort village right at the base of Mont Blanc. We begin with two glorious days here, enjoying the trails, views and maybe a cafe of two. Then our TMB route leads over a couple passes through les Contamines and les Chapieux.

Days 5-6

Italy, Courmayeur

Crossing the Seigne pass into Italy, we’ll hike past the stunning Italian side of Monte Bianco and stay two nights in Courmayeur, a beautiful medieval village. Hike, relax, and enjoy the delightful atmosphere of Courmayeur before moving on.

Days 7-9

Switzerland, la Fouly to Trient

Now we cross the Ferret pass and into Switzerland. On our three days hiking through Switzerland, we’ll see glaciers, small alpine lakes and tidy Swiss villages.

Days 10-11

France, Chamonix

Hiking over the Balme pass, we’ll complete the circuit into France with stunning views of Mont Blanc, Aiguille Verte and the entire Mont Blanc range. Enjoy a final night in Chamonix.

Included

Your tour will be led by an experienced Alpinehikers guide, with guided hikes daily. All transfers to and from trailheads are included. You’ll stay 8 nights in village hotels and 2 nights in hiker’s inns, with all breakfasts, picnic lunches, and 9 dinners included. Luggage transfers to all stops are also part of your tour.

This tour does not include arrival and departure transfers.

Full Itinerary

Day 1

Chamonix

Arrive in Geneva, and transfer to Chamonix, the world-famous resort and mountaineering center in France. There are convenient airport shuttles that you can book once you have your flights secured.

Enjoy your first impressive views of Mont Blanc, with time to relax at our comfortable Chamonix hotel before meeting the group for dinner.

Arrival: Geneva.  Plan to arrive by the day your tour starts.  You can book a private or shared shuttle from GVA to Chamonix.  The trip takes 1½ hrs.  We recommend booking early with Mountain Dropoffs or Chamonix Valley Transfers.

Hotel les Aiglons
  • 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.  They also have fantastic fruit tortes!

We’ll like to start from the Voza pass for a quieter approach to the lake, with jaw-dropping views along the way.  Descend by cable car and return to Chamonix for a 2nd night.

HIKE: 5-7 hours, 7 miles; Elevation: 3000 ft up, 1590 ft down

Hotel les Aiglons
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Day 3

les Contamines

Start with a cable car to the Voza pass, where an undulating trail leads through alpine pastures and pine forests, over the Tricot pass and through the quiet Miage Valley… one of the prettier 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.

HIKE: 6-8 hours, 8 miles; Elevation: 2180 ft up, 4260 ft down

Hotel Gai Soleil or les Chemenaz
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Day 4

les Chapieux/Landry

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.  Depending on availability, we’ll either stay in a hiker’s inn here in les Chapieux, or take a short taxi ride to a nearby village, where we have a friendly 3-star hotel for the night.

HIKE: 7-9 hours, 12 miles; Elevation: 4430 ft up, 3150 ft down

hiker's inn or 3-star hotel
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

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 transfer 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.

HIKE: 6-8 hours, 10 miles; Elevation: 2570 ft up, 2950 ft down

Hotel Bouton d'Or
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

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.  Dinner is on your own in one of Courmayeur’s many fine restaurants.

HIKE: 5-7 hours, 9 miles; Elevation: 3920 ft. up, 3150 ft. down

Hotel Bouton d'Or
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch

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.  Some departures stay in nearby Ferret, 20 minutes away by foot.  Our luggage will be transferred here from Courmayeur.

HIKE: 6-8 hours, 9 miles; Elevation: 2840 ft up, 3390 ft down

Hotel Edelweiss or Col de Fenetre
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

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.  It’s a beautiful valley with plenty to catch your eye.

After a break for lunch, we hike up through forest to the pretty lakeside village of Champex, an inspiring place to spend an afternoon on a terrace overlooking the lake. Our luggage be waiting at our 3-star village hotel.

HIKE: 6-8 hours, 9.5 miles; Elevation: 1560 ft up, 2000 ft down

Hotel du Glacier or Splendide
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

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.  It’s a delightful walk.

Weather and energy permitting, a more rigorous hike 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 Grande Ourse, a hiker’s inn in the tiny Swiss village of Trient. Private room with shared bathroom down the hall.

HIKE: 6-8 hours, 10 miles; Elevation: 2500 ft. up, 3050 ft. down (Bovine) or 7-9 hours, 10 miles; Elevation: 3940 ft. up, 4480 ft. down (Fenetre d’Arpette)

Hotel la Grande Ourse
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

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.

HIKE: 5-7 hours, 8 miles; Elevation: 3160 ft up, 2580 ft down

Hotel les Aiglons
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Day 11

depart

Today we say au revoir, and depart for our post-Mont Blanc destinations.

Departure: Geneva.  Plan departure for the day your tour finishes.  You’ll need to book a private or shared shuttle from Chamonix to GVA, and the trip takes 1½ hrs.

  • Breakfast

Tour Options

Guided Classic Tour du Mont Blanc

Inn-To-Inn

  • Big passes almost every day. Not too hard, but not easy either
  • A fairly strenuous inn-to-inn with 8 stops in 10 nights
  • Luggage transfers included every night on the tour.
  • All departures guaranteed. No minimum group size.
  • Hike through France, Italy and Switzerland
  • A great tour for meeting other hikers from around the world
  • $5995Per Person
  • $1450Single Room

Guided Best of the Tour du Mont Blanc

Inn-To-Inn

  • All departures guaranteed. No minimum group size.
  • A moderate inn-to-inn with 5 stops in 6 nights
  • Luggage transfers included every night
  • The highest peaks in the Alps – Mont Blanc, Grandes Jorasses and more
  • Hike through 3 countries – Italy, Switzerland, France
  • The northern half of the classic Tour du Mont Blanc circuit
  • $4795Per Person
  • $1150Single Room

Guided Deluxe Tour du Mont Blanc

Inn-To-Inn

  • All departures guaranteed. No minimum group size.
  • A fairly strenuous inn-to-inn with 7 stops in 10 nights
  • 6 nights in deluxe hotels, private transfers, luggage every night
  • The most luxurious version of the Alps’ most renowned tour
  • The highest peaks in the Alps, Mont Blanc, Grandes Jorasses and more
  • Extra days in Chamonix and Courmayeur to relax and unwind
  • $7995Per Person
  • $1550Single Room

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