Tour du Mont Blanc in Huts

The Tour du Mont Blanc is a tough trek with considerable ascent and descent on each day. We would suggest that you are an experienced hiker who is looking for a challenge. If you currently don’t enjoy an active lifestyle we suggest regular hiking in hilly terrain supplemented by cardio vascular exercise for at least 6 months prior to your trek. A good gym or personal trainer will be able to draw up a personalised training programme.

The Tour du Mont Blanc is comprehensively way marked at all junctions and by regular paint marks along the trail. We supply you with a guidebook and route notes so you should have absolutely no problem following the route. Navigation is straightforward as you can use the Macs Adventure Smartphone App which has maps, GPS tracks, and daily route information. Simply download the GPS tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone with the assurance that navigation will be simple, and you can’t get lost. You will find more information on downloading the app in your Macs Adventure Account. We strongly recommend using this App, or at least having it on your phone ready to use should you ever be in any doubt about your direction. You should also polish up on your map and compass skills prior to departing, as weather and visibility can change very quickly in the mountains, and these kinds of skills never go out of fashion!

Our walks usually begin and end at a central point in town (such as a church, bus stop, etc.). Access routes to your accommodation are not included in our km daily figures. However, the Macs app will guide you to your accommodation.

Recommended Reading

Although not essential, if you would like more information on the route please see our recommendation below:

• map 3531 ET St Gervais by IGN
• map 3630 OT Chamonix by IGN

By Air: Geneva is the best airport for the Chamonix valley. From here, you can catch a train if you wish, but the best option is to take a pre-booked shuttle or bus

By Bus: The best option is to take a pre-booked shuttle through a company such as Mountain Dropoffs; use the discount code MACSTMB. The FlixBus is the most affordable way to get to and from Geneva Airport. Just make sure you give yourself plenty of time (particularly on your return journey) as it is known for delays.

By Rail: TGV to Saint-Gervais-Le Fayet. For the return, there are regular trains between Chamonix and St Gervais les Bains Le Fayet.

By Road: Highway A40-E25 Mont Blanc-Chamonix, exit Saint-Gervais-Le Fayet.

Parking: In Les Houches you can park for free at the Bellevue Cable Car station. In Chamonix, free parking is available at the Aiguille du Midi & the Planards parking (Montenvers station).

Getting from the End

From Chamonix, take a pre-booked shuttle such as Mountain Dropoffs back to Geneva Airport. Alternatively, if you are travelling elsewhere in France, Chamonix has a train station.

The closest airport is Geneva which is served by flights from throughout Europe and around the world.

We suggest you book as soon as your plans are finalised. This is a very popular hiking area with a short season. You will find up to date availability on our website and we will always try and accommodate your plans.

You will need good waterproof hiking shoes/boots, comfortable hiking clothes, waterproof jacket and pants, sleeping sheet, a day pack and hats/gloves etc. A detailed kit list is included in your information pack.

Baggage transfer is included as standard, allowing you to enjoy the trek with just a light day bag on your back. We ask that you limit your baggage to one bag per person with a maximum weight of 33 lbs per person. If you are staying at Rifugio Bonatti, your bags cannot be transfered here due to the inaccessibilty of the accommodation. You will need to carry your overnight things on these days and you will be reunited with your main bag the following day. If you would prefer not to have bag transfer, and prefer to carry everything on your back as you hike, this can also be arranged. Just ask one of your Destination and Adventure specialists for more information.

The season for the Tour du Mont Blanc runs from the start of July to mid September. Anytime during this season is ideal for hiking. August is by far the most popular month and we recommend avoiding the period around the Ultra Tour du Mont Blanc race which is usually held in the last week of August.

Some sections of the Tour du Mont Blanc are very easy to skip with the use of public transport, while others are very difficult, time consuming and expensive. We provide you with a handy 'Public Transport and Bad Weather Guide' to the TMB before you leave and will help you in any way possible should you be unable to hike a stage.

Some itineraries use public transport to help you cover more ground in a shorter time, or you can make some walks easier/shorter by using ski lifts, buses, etc. The cost for these transfers is not included and is payable locally.

Please note that in the shoulder season on the TMB, June and September, not all public transport services are yet/still in operation. If you have any concerns about this, please contact us for more information.

Breakfast at the 3* hotels is a buffet with lots of sweet treats, like pastries, homemade jams, fruit, and cereals. Savoury breakfasts in the mountain hotels and huts tend to be very basic: bread, butter, jams, coffee, tea and orange juice. If you prefer something more substantial before hiking, we recommend carrying a few energy bars each day and pairing them with breakfast.

You can buy packed lunch items locally from supermarkets or the local boulangerie. If you are staying in a hut or remote accommodation, order a packed lunch with them upon arrival. Allow about €10 per day for lunch. Drinks are not included but available at all overnight accommodation.

Dinner in the hotels will be at least three courses chosen from a fixed menu, and sometimes you can choose. Dinner in the mountain huts tends to be a convivial affair, and you will be seated with the other guests. Meal times are a real highlight in the huts, and you can enjoy the company of people from all over the world while you dine on good, honest, home-cooked food. Dinner is typically soup with bread, a main course of meat and rice or pasta, a side salad or vegetables, and a simple dessert or cheese. If you have any dietary requirements, please tell us upon booking and we can arrange this with the accommodations.

In Chamonix, Bourg Saint Maurice, Martigny and Courmayeur, dinner is not included, so you are free to choose from the available options. Savoyard specialities are mostly cheese-based. Dishes you shouldn’t miss include fondue, tartiflette, and raclette.

Single Rooms

A limited number of single rooms are available. A single supplement price is applicable. Single rooms are not available in mountain huts.

Solo Walkers

The Tour du Mont Blanc is available to solo walkers who are experienced and confident hiking in Alpine terrain. While the TMB has become increasingly popular over the past few years, it should not be underestimated. You will be walking in high-Alpine terrain subject to rain, fog, thunder/lightning storms and snow at any time of year. You must be confident walking alone on difficult terrain, over snow fields and navigating in poor visibility/weather conditions. Whilst this is a challenging walk, because of its popularity, there are more often than not other walkers in close proximity, which is why we can offer this tour to solo walkers. However, if you are a first-time Alpine solo walker, we recommend an alternative tour. We have a range of Alpine tours that would be more suitable for you. Please contact us for more information. If you are a solo walker, you will be booked into a dorm in the mountain hut as single rooms are not available in mountain huts. The solo walker price has been calculated with this discount already take into account.

We highly recommend that you have travel insurance when you book with Macs Adventure. Your policy should cover medical treatment (including repatriation and emergency evacuation by air ambulance or helicopter), injury, death, third-party liability, and trip cancellation.