Highlights of the Tour du Mont Blanc in Comfort Self Guided Hiking

8 Days & 7 Nights

4.7

Highlights of the Tour du Mont Blanc in Comfort

Hike on Europe's famous long-distance trail through France, Italy and Switzerland
Experience a selection of the outstanding hiking days on the TMB
Panoramic mountain landscapes and coffee breaks at idyllic rifugios
Eat traditional Haute-Savoie cuisine in the legendary Chamonix and Courmayeur
Enjoy luggage transfers, comfy accommodations and 24/7 support from our team

Established in 1952, the Tour du Mont Blanc has gained a reputation as one of the world’s greatest long-distance treks. This scenic 6-day tour highlights the best hiking sections through France, Switzerland and Italy as you circumnavigate Mont Blanc (15,774 ft) along the TMB route. You will use the convenient cable cars, gondolas, and public transport to move efficiently to the next best stretch of trail. You’ll stay in both comfy historic alpine hotels, and private rooms in mountain huts, so you get the best of both mountain culture and comradery. Each day, you’ll hike over high passes with glaciated valleys, and through flower filled alpine meadows with dramatic backdrops, all while soaking up this incredible hiking experience. You will relish in the accomplishment of conquering this trail!

From $2,640.00

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Itinerary

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Day 1 Arrive Les Houches Day 2 Les Houches to Les Contamines 10.8 miles / 17.5 km

Your Tour du Mont Blanc starts with either a climb from Les Houches out of the Chamonix Valley to Bellevue (1801m) or a quick 10 minute ride on the Bellevue telepherique (recommended).

At Bellevue you have the option of taking the challenging route via Chalet de Miage, which is dominated by the Dôme du Goûter and Aiguille de Bionnasay as you pass just beneath the snout of the Glacier de Bionnassay. After passing the idyllic Chalet de Miage you descend to Les Contamines.

The easier option winds through beautiful forests and through alpine pastures via Bionnassay to Les Contamines.

Walk 1 - Les Houches to Bellevue gondola top station + Bellevue gondola top station to Les Contamines via Bionnassay, 17.5km, 7 Hours Ascent/Descent: 1198m/1045m

Walk 2 - Les Houches to Bellevue gondola top station + Bellevue gondola top station to Les Contamines via Refuge Miage, 19.3km, 7:50 Hours Ascent/Descent:1480m/1319m

Optional Cable Car from Les Houches to Bellevue gondola top station. Reduces both routes by 2:30 hours and 800m of ascent

Overnight Les Contamines

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel Gai Soleil | 3 Star | Hotel

The charming Hotel Gai Soleil was once the owner’s family’s farm in the mountains. It has been renovated with care and furnished with an aim to preserve all its rustic character and warmth. You can relax among the various flowering trees and wild berries growing in the summer and enjoy the warmth of the full sun on the terrace in winter. From the hotel you’ll find a spectacular view of the Montjoie valley.

La Chemenaz Chalet Hotel Restaurant | 3 Star | Hotel

Enjoying a peaceful location this family run chalet style hotel has 38 bedrooms, an outside swimming pool, sauna and Jacuzzi, large garden, a restaurant and bar.

Le Hameau du Ptou | Chalet

"Le Ptou", a small independent traditional chalet accommodating located in the heart of the village of Les Contamines, just a few steps from the shops and the shuttle bus stop. All rooms are equipped with TV and WiFi access.

Day 3 Les Contamines to Refuge des Mottets/Les Chapieux 11.6 miles / 18.7 km

A gentle start from Les Contamines for the first 5km along the valley floor to the chapel at Notre Dame de la Gorge (shuttle transfer possible). Here the path turns upwards and climbs steadily on the Chemin Roman through the Contamines Montjoie Nature Reserve towards the distant Col du Bonhomme. The climb reveals increasingly rugged views of the high peaks and you quickly reach the rugged landscapes of the Col du Bonhomme (2329 m).

A further hour on rough and rocky ground brings up the Col de la Croix du Bonhomme. Here you can either climb over the Col des Fours (2665m) and descend steeply to Refuge des Mottets or alternatively descend to Les Chapieux.

There is a shuttle running between Les Chapieux and Mottets if you need to make your way between the 2.

Walk 1 - Les Contamines to Les Chapieux via Col de la Croix du Bonhomme (no Col des Fours), 18.7km, 7 Hours Ascent/Descent: 1395m/993m

Walk 2 - Les Contamines to Refuge des Mottets via Col des Fours - Optional High Route Variant, 20.7km, 7 Hours Ascent/Descent: 1615m/911m

Overnight Les Chapieux

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Refuge La Nova | Hut

The Auberge de la Nova is a friendly mountain hotel in a lovely location, serving hearty mountain food and cold beer. The auberge is a simple mountain lodge and has private rooms and dormitory accommodation. Bathrooms are shared. There is a small farm shop next door, which is a good option for a picnic.

Refuge Les Mottets | Hut

Extensively refurbished in 2010 the Refuge Mottets maintains a wonderful atmosphere. The original farm buildings and new sleeping accommodation include dormitory and private rooms, while meals are taken in the atmospheric main building.

Les Chambres du Soleil | Hut

A small family run hotel in the village of Les Chapieux with only 3 rooms, first opened in 1856, and run by Celine and Pierre. The scenery here is spectacular, you will be surrounded by upland pasturelands and have excellent views of the Mont Blanc Massif.

Day 4 Refuge des Mottets to Courmayeur 14.7 miles / 23.6 km Day 5 Courmayeur to Champex 9 miles / 14.6 km Day 6 Champex to Trient 10.8 miles / 17.5 km Day 7 Trient to Chamonix 7.4 miles / 12 km Day 8 Onward Travel

THIS TRIP'S CARBON SCORE

This trip has a carbon score of 7kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our greenest trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 7kg is equivalent to 1 single running shoe (not even a pair!). Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information about how we've carbon counted our trips.

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Other Information

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Is it for me?

Fitting into one-week this version of the Tour du Mont Blanc has 6 days of consecutive hiking and is perfect for you if you want to experience the best sections of the trail. It is ideal for those short of vacation time or combining this with a larger trip in Europe. You will stay in comfortable hotel and chalet accommodations in the valleys and private rooms in the mountain huts where possible. The trip is rated moderate-strenuous with the daily ascent/descent being 1,000m on average. You will use convenient cable cars, gondolas, and public transport to move efficiently to the next best stretch of trail. We provide you with all the transport information including how to buy tickets and links to the timetables. Luggage transfers are included so you can hike with just a day pack. If you overnight in a mountain hut then you will need to carry your pack for that night only. Please note the route can get very busy. All accommodation is subject to availability.

Tour Type:

Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!

Activity:

Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&B’s, inns, and guesthouses.

This trip is suitable for:

Solo Travellers

Ideal if you have an interest in:

Alpine Walking

Activity Level & Terrain

The Tour du Mont Blanc is a tough hike with considerable ascent and descent on each day. We recommend this tour to experienced hikers who are looking for a challenge. The terrain is mountainous, rocky and rough underfoot. If you currently don’t enjoy an active lifestyle we suggest regular walking in hilly terrain supplemented by cardio vascular exercise for at least 6 months prior to your walk. A good gym or personal trainer will be able to draw up a personalised training programme.

Accommodation & Meals

Accommodations

The majority of your nights are in small hotels (generally 3*) and some nights are in auberges/refuges in private twin rooms as hotels are not available in these locations. We carefully select small friendly hotels that offer great value, food and welcome. Full hotel details are listed in the detailed itinerary.

** If you are staying in dorm rooms at Refuge la Nova, Hotel La Grande Ourse, Gite Bon Abri and Refugio Bonatti, you will needto bring your own sleeping bag liner. These are small to pack and lightweight. They ensure hygiene in places receiving a high volume of hikers through the summer months.**

Please note that the Tour du Mont Blanc is an extremely popular route and the accommodation is limited. In some places, we may need to book a hotel or guesthouse in a different location, meaning you will need to use public transport to get to your accommodation and back onto the trail the next day. We will provide all the information needed, should that be the case.

Private Rooms on the Tour du Mont Blanc

As the Tour du Mont Blanc season is short and as our 'Comfort' trips prove very popular every year, please be aware that there is no guarantee that private rooms will be available in the smaller accommodations. We will do all we can to accommodate your preferences.

If you are a solo hiker, you will be booked into a dorm in the mountain hut as single rooms are not available in mountain huts. The solo hiker price has been calculated with this taken into account.

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 Hikers

The Tour du Mont Blanc is available to solo hikers 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 hiking in high-Alpine terrain subject to rain, fog, thunder/lightning storms and snow at any time of year. You must be confident hiking alone on difficult terrain, over snow fields and navigating in poor visibility/weather conditions. Whilst this is a challenging hike, because of its popularity, more often than not, there are other trekkers in close proximity, which is why we can offer this tour to solo hikers. However, if you are a first-time Alpine solo hiker, 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 hiker, you will be booked into a dorm in the mountain hut as single rooms are not available in mountain huts. The solo hiker price has been calculated with this discount already take into account.

Meals

Breakfast in the 3* hotels is a buffet selection with lots of sweet treats like pastries, home made jams fruit and cereals. Savoury tastes are also catered for with bread, cheese, ham and eggs available. 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 with you each day and supplement your breakfast with one of these. Packed lunch items can be bought 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 there is a choice available. Dinner in the mountain huts tend 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 consisting of meat and rice or pasta, a side salad or vegetables, followed by 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 and Courmayeur. dinner is not included so you are free to choose from the available options. Savoyard specialities are mostly based on cheese. Dishes which shouldn't be missed include fondue, tartiflette and raclette.

Navigation What's Included When to go Travel & Transfers

Getting to the Start

By Air: Geneva is the best airport for the Chamonix Valley. There is a train from the airport, however we recommend you take a pre-booked shuttle through a company such as Mountain Dropoffs. Your Destination & Adventure Specialist will be happy to give you more information about this.

By Rail: TGV to Saint-Gervais-Le Fayet. www.voyages-sncf.com 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. More information at www.viamichelin.fr

Parking: In Les Houches you can park for free at the Bellevue Cable Car station. In Chamonix, free parking at the Aiguille du Midi & the parking Planards (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. Timetables and information can be found at sncf.com

Transport during the hike

In order to focus on the best sections of the TMB you will skip some stages of the walk using public transport and lifts. These are very realiable and easy to catch. We include full details, fares and timetables in your information pack so it couldn’t be easier. You will need to pay for these locally.

Day 2: Optional Telepherique from Les Houches to Bellevue (Col de Voza).

Day 3: Optional shuttle from Les Contamines to Notre Dame de la Gorge. Optional shuttle from Les Chapieux to Refuge des Mottets

Day 4: Bus or taxi from Visaille to Courmayeur.

Day 5: Bus or taxi from Courmayeur to Arnuva. Local bus from Ferret or La Fouly to Champex via Orsières.

Day 7: Optional ski lift from Col de Balme to Le Tour. Local bus from Tré le Champ to Chamonix.

Luggage Transfer

At Macs Adventure, we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase. Your booking includes transfer of 1 bag per person.It is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits, there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags or if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees), which we must respect.

Luggage transfer is included, allowing you to enjoy the trek with just a light day bag on your back. We ask that you limit your luggage to one compact bag per person with a maximum weight of 33 lbs per person.

Please note that while staying at Refugio Bonatti, your bags cannot be transferred due to the inaccessibility 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. Just ask your Adventure Sales Specialist for more information.

Info & FAQ

General Information

At Macs Adventure, we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase.Your booking includes transfer of1 bag per person and the weight of your luggage allowed is specific to the destination you will be travelling to. This is why it is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits, there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags and/or if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees), which we must respect.

Travel Insurance

It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity, emergency evacuation and hospital care.

How fit do I need to be? Which is the best airport to fly to? How far in advance do I need to book? What personal equipment do I need? How do the luggage transfers work? When is the best time of year? What happens if I can't walk a stage? What if my accommodation is in a different location to the end of the day’s hiking?

Hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc

Macs Adventure has been running self-guided hiking adventures on the Tour du Mont Blanc since 2010.

Follow Bill and Malin on their TMB journey!