11-Day Tour du Mont Blanc Itinerary
Striking blue alpine lakes, snow-capped jagged peaks, grazing cattle, ancient glaciers, rugged landscapes, pretty meadows, rustic mountain refuges and jaw-dropping viewpoints. Here is the ultimate 11-day Tour du Mont Blanc itinerary.
The Tour du Mont Blanc is a magnificent multi-day hike encircling the Mont Blanc Massif usually in around 9-11 days and covers between 140 km and 170 km. It takes its name from the tallest mountain in the Alps, Mont Blanc, standing proud at 4,809 metres.
The Tour du Mont Blanc is an incredibly rewarding and challenging trip of a lifetime and a real bucketlist experience for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts as it passes through some of France, Italy and Switzerland’s most stunning mountain scenery!
Landscapes are noticeably different in each country and characterised by rugged ancient glaciers, pretty alpine flowers, jagged snow-capped peaks, quaint towns and villages, rolling green mountains, waterfalls, rivers and many more diverse sceneries.
Planning your Tour du Mont Blanc itinerary can be quite daunting so this guide and this guide on everything you need to know before hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc will tell you everything you need to know.
The Tour du Mont Blanc Hike technically starts and ends in Les Houches although there are different options on where to finish. The entire route is 170 km but this will vary depending on your route, variants and where you finish.
Our Tour du Mont Blanc itinerary finishes in Flégère where we took the cable car to Les Praz and bus back to Chamonix. The last section is a gruelling 1500-metre rocky descent, so, we decided to skip this as none of us have great knees going downhill.
Traditionally, the Tour du Mont Blanc Hike is completed anti-clockwise, but you can hike clockwise if you’d like quieter trails in the mornings and afternoons. The views are spectacular in either direction.
For everything you need to know before hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc including how to book, accommodation types, the best time of year, tips for staying in refuges, what to pack, weather, food and ATM stops and so much more, head to the post below.
Here, we’ll focus on our 11-day Tour du Mont Blanc itinerary. We’ll break each day into sections and share timings, distance and elevation gain and loss between various points so you know what to expect on each day.
We’ve detailed refuges, restaurants and water-fill-up points on our route. We’ve mentioned a couple we know about on the variations, however, there may be other ones we aren’t aware of.
The distances of refuges and restaurants in brackets are the distances from the day’s starting point.
The first section of this post will be the detailed Tour du Mont Blanc itinerary and then we’ll share everything else you need to know that’s relevant to the hike and not shared in the post above. Feel free to use the contents as required.
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11 Day Tour du Mont Blanc Itinerary
Contents
Day 1: Les Houches to Les Contamines-Montjoie
Day 1 of your Tour du Mont Blanc itinerary starts in Les Houches at the starting point of the TMB Hike (950 metres).
The first section takes you to Col de Voza (1657 metres) from the Bellevue Cable Car covering 680 metres of elevation gain over 6.5 kilometres. It’s pretty gruelling. I actually found it one of the toughest parts of the entire TMB Hike.
Sections of the trail are under the shade of the trees; a nice respite from the heat and when the trees open up, you’re treated to beautiful views across the valley.
Our Top Tip: to save your energy, you can also take the Bellevue Cable Car which has incredible views of the Mont Blanc Massif and Aiguille du Midi. The cost is €17.50 one-way.
From Col de Voza, follow signs for Col de Tricot. You’ll traverse picturesque meadows with wonderful views of Bionnassay Glacier; the smallest of the great glaciers on the French side of Mont Blanc with a length of almost 5 km!
Cross the suspension bridge over the Torrent de Bionnassay; a thundering river fed by the Bionnassay Glacier.
From here, the path ascends through the trees then a meadow, before rising sharply to Col de Tricot (2120 metres); the highest point you’ll reach on day 1 of your Tour du Mont Blanc itinerary.
Col de Tricot is the perfect spot for lunch with views into the valley with Refuge de Miage (1550 metres) at the base of Mont Truc.
Although Refuge de Miage doesn’t look far, the steep switchbacks took us just over an hour to get down. Stop at the refuge for a break, some refreshments if needed and a water refill. The outside tables have a breathtaking view of the Dômes de Miage.
The distance from Col de Voza to Refuge de Miage is 7.2 km and will take around 3 hours.
Follow signs to Les Contamines-Montjoie which should take around 2 hours. As you hike up the steep grassy hill through the forest to the Truc Plateau, you’ll be treated to more amazing views of the Dômes de Miage. You may also see grazing cattle.
The last section of today is on dirt roads and forest trails through La Frasse, a neighbourhood above and about 20 minutes away from the pretty town of Les Contamines-Montjoie (1164 metres).
- Distance: 17.9 km
- Elevation gain: 1410 metres
- Elevation loss: 1260 metres
- Approximate time: 7.5 hours
- Variations: Contamines Valley – reduces the ascent and it’s advised as a safe alternative to the Col de Tricot if the weather is bad. This route is 1.2 km shorter, 2 hours faster and passes through picturesque hamlets and farmland.
- Refuges and restaurants:
– Col de Voza (5.9 km) – snack bar, water, toilets and accommodation
– Refuge de Miage (13.1 km) – accommodation, lunch restaurant, refreshments, water and toilets
– Auberge du Truc (14 km) – accommodation, lunch restaurant, refreshments, water and toilets. - Water fill-up: Refuges above
- Where to stay: Les Pierres Blanches – Les Contamines-Montjoie
Day 2: Les Contamines-Montjoie to Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme
Day 2 of your Tour du Mont Blanc itinerary begins on a gentle path along a river until you reach Notre-Dame de la Gorge. Here, the climb starts through the trees and then out into the open just before Refuge de Nant Borrant (1459 metres).
This section from Notre Dame will take about 30 minutes. This is a good spot to fill up on water, have a snack and admire the views sitting on the bean bags at the front of the refuge.
Approaching Refuge de la Balme was one of my favourite sections of our Tour du Mont Blanc itinerary. It’s relatively flat so you can enjoy the striking scenery ahead of the jagged peaks of Aiguille de la Pennaz towering above you.
After half an hour, you’ll reach Refuge de la Balme (1706 metres); a great spot for lunch with impressive views above the forest and into the valley.
From here, the incline really begins but the views are magnificent!
Ahead, lie the imposing spikes of Aiguille de la Pennaz making you feel incredibly small and behind the views keep getting better over the forest and into the valley as you make your way higher.
The steep ascent to Col du Bonhomme (2,329 metres) sees an elevation gain of just over 600 metres from Refuge de la Balme and will take you a couple of hours.
Have a bit of a break at the Col and appreciate the stunning views over Val Montjoie as you see just how far you’ve come today.
Follow signs to Col de la Croix du Bonhomme. The landscape here is wild and rugged and the path is loose rock and dirt. The views are striking, and, looking behind, you’ll see a tranquil alpine lake nestled peacefully amongst mountains.
From the Col du Bonhomme to the Col de la Croix du Bonhomme should take about an hour. The elevation doesn’t change much but it’s a bit of an effort hiking over the rocks and boulders.
At the Col de la Croix du Bonhomme, there’s a sign pointing to the refuge 5 minutes away. Descending slightly and sitting overlooking the valley below is Refuge du Col de la Croix du Bonhomme (2,443 metres).
Our Top Tip: treat yourself to a beer and watch the sunset light up the mountains with a fiery glow.
- Distance: 13.2 kilometres
- Elevation gain: 1300 metres
- Elevation loss: 10 metres
- Approximate time: 6.5 hours
- Variations: None
- Refuges and restaurants:
– Refuge de Nant Borrant (5.4 km) – lunch restaurant, refreshments, accommodation, water and toilet.
– Refuge de la Balme – (7.9 km) – facilities are as above - Water fill-up: Refuges above
- Where to stay: Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme
Our Top Tip: each refuge has a stamp so make sure you ask each one to stamp something for you.
Day 3: Refuge De La Croix Du Bonhomme to Refugio Elisabetta
Your Tour du Mont Blanc itinerary will leave France today and cross into Italy. The main route is via Les Chapieux (detailed below), however, the more scenic and quieter route is over Col des Fours (2,665 metres).
We hiked this section on 11th July and weren’t sure whether we could due to snow. Col des Fours is the highest section of the Tour du Mont Blanc and the last to lose snow.
If we’d been here 2 days before, we wouldn’t have been able to cross without crampons. However, it had melted significantly, and although there was a lot of snow, it was very manageable with hiking poles.
Col des Fours has some of the most scenic and wild landscapes on the TMB Hike. It’s often also one of the quietest routes as people usually descend into Les Chapieux rather than taking this higher route. If the weather’s terrible, don’t attempt Col des Fours.
The climb to the saddle of Col des Fours isn’t too strenuous and should take around half an hour from Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme.
From here, it’s a steep descent on loose scree, crossing over multiple streams.
Our Top Tip: if you suffer from knee pain downhill, now is a good time to put on a brace.
The views as you descend are wonderful! Jagged snow-capped peaks soar high above you with streams weaving their way through the mountains.
Eventually, the path evens out and follows Les Tufs, a narrow stream, through the valley and becomes more compact dirt than loose rocks.
After a while, the path descends to the right where there’s a sign for Ville des Glaciers (1,855 metres). Head towards the steep sloping mountains that look like you’ve stepped into Jurassic Park.
The descent from the summit of Col des Fours to Ville des Glaciers is 810 metres of elevation loss and will take approximately 2.5 hours.
Please note
From Ville des Glaciers, Andy and I got a shuttle to Les Chapieux and a taxi to Courmayeur as Andy was suffering badly from altitude sickness so we had an extra rest day for him to recover.
This part of the TMB Hike is described through a lot of research and speaking to our friends who continued and we met them in Courmayeur the next day as planned.
From Ville des Glaciers, it’s around 30 minutes to Refuge des Mottets (1,864 metres). If you’ve gone down to Les Chapieux and back up, this is where the routes join up. You’re about 3 hours away from Rifugio Elisabetta.
Follow the trail from Ville des Glaciers through Vallée des Glaciers; a very fitting name as you have amazing views of Aiguille des Glaciers standing at 3815 metres.
Follow this until you reach Refuge des Mottets, a former dairy farm and now one of the most popular refuges on the TMB and a great spot for lunch.
Continue on to Col de la Seigne (2,516 metres) which will take around 2 hours to reach. It’s completely in the open with no shade so, make sure you refill your water at Refuge des Mottets.
Col de la Seigne marks the crossing into Italy and from here you’ll start the steep descent to Rifugio Elisabetta (2,195 metres) which will take about an hour.
- Distance: 14.8 kilometres
- Elevation gain: 953 metres
- Elevation loss: 1305 metres
- Approximate time: 8 hours
- Variations: Col des Fours is the variant. The main route descends from Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme to Les Chapieux then to Ville des Glaciers where the routes meet. This is recommended when Col des Fours is impassable due to snow and if the weather’s bad. The elevation loss to Les Chapieux is 920 metres and the gain to Ville des Glaciers is 20 metres. The total route distance is 19.5 km. To save some energy and cut time, there are regular shuttle buses between Les Chapieux and Ville des Glaciers/Refuge des Mottets. The hiking route is along a road that the shuttle drives down so it’s not the most scenic. The bus costs €4 per person for a return journey.
- Refuges and restaurants:
– Refuge des Mottets – (7.1/11.8 km) – lunch restaurant, accommodation, water and toilets.
– Les Chapieux has a couple of options for food, water and toilets. - Water fill-up: as above
- Where to stay: Rifugio Elisabetta
Day 4: Rifugio Elisabetta to Courmayeur
After leaving Rifugio Elisabetta, the trail starts quite a steep descent before flattening to a nice straight path.
After a couple of kilometres, you’ll reach a wetland area and then Lago Combal (1,951 metres); a striking alpine lake nestled beneath magnificent mountain peaks.
Use this flat path to recover as you’ll soon be heading up a steep ascent. Just after Lago Combal, the trail veers to the right and the ascent towards Col Checrouit begins up the grassy Val Veny.
The elevation gain today is only 500 metres, however, it’s done over a short distance so it’s very steep. This section will take around 1 hour before the path evens out for another hour and a half with little up and down bits.
In this flat stretch, you can soak up the stunning views of Val Veny and Mont Blanc as you pass pretty alpine lakes before reaching Rifugio Maison Vielle at Col Checrouit (1,956 metres).
Lago Combal to Rifugio Maison Vielle is 7 km.
From here, follow the signs to Courmayeur (1,224 metres) which should take between 1.5 to 2 hours. Continue on the trail for 15 minutes, past a cluster of houses where you’ll reach Rifugio le Randonneur.
20 minutes on a gravel road will lead you to Dolonne Gondola Mountain Station where you can take a gondola to Courmayeur. Alternatively, descend into the residential streets of Dolonne Village, where you’ll see Courmayeur straight ahead.
This descent is really steep so again, if your knees suffer, brace up!
- Distance: 15.4 km
- Elevation gain: 500m
- Elevation loss: 1430m
- Approximate time: 7 hours
- Variations: None
- Refuges and restaurants:
– Rifugio Maison Vieille (10.4 km) – lunch restaurant, toilets, water and accommodation
– Gite le Randonneur – (11.5 km) – as above and Wifi - Water fill-up: as above
- Where to stay: Chalet Blanc “Coeur Sapin”
Day 5: Rest Day in Courmayeur
Now on your Tour du Mont Blanc itinerary, it’s time for a well-deserved rest day!
We’d recommend staying somewhere you can wash your clothes. The link to the lovely apartment we stayed in is below and this was a great homely base for a couple of nights.
Courmayeur is a picturesque alpine resort town in Italy at the foot of Mont Blanc and surrounded by mountains on all sides. The town has narrow charming streets lined with cosy bars and restaurants and pretty terraces looking out to the surrounding mountains.
A lot of things to do in Courmayeur involve hiking, however, there’s a scenic alpine pool which is perfect for your rest day!
Sitting at 1,704 metres and surrounded by the mountains and ski fields of Courmayeur, the pool is incredibly relaxing and just what your muscles need after the first 4 days of your Tour du Mont Blanc itinerary.
Although the pool is heated, it’s still fairly cold which is lovely and refreshing on a hot day. There’s also a sauna, solarium, changing rooms and a bar. Is there a better location for a recovery beer?!
To reach the alpine pool, take the cable car from Dolonne and it’s a short walk from the station. You can buy tickets for the cable car and pool together for €27 per adult or €20 to arrive after 1:45 pm. These can be booked at the gondola station in Dolonne.
Alternatively, you can walk 1.5 hours from Courmayeur, although, as it’s your rest day, we wouldn’t recommend this.
The pool is open in July and August and comes on a first-come-first-serve basis. During school holidays it can get extremely busy. Swimming caps are mandatory and can be bought at the pool for cheaper than in Courmayeur.
Courmayeur has some fantastic restaurants so treat yourself to a couple of meals out. We’d recommend La Boite which is a homely little pizzeria serving delicious pasta and pizza.
- Where to stay: Chalet Blanc Coeur Sapin
Day 6: Courmayeur to Rifugio Bonatti
Time to continue your Tour du Mont Blanc itinerary and day 6 was my favourite day of the hike!
Today’s route starts from the Church of Saint Pantaleon and through residential streets until you get to a small car park which will take around half an hour.
From here, continue up the path through the forest. Shortly before reaching Rifugio Bertone, there’s an amazing viewpoint over Courmayeur in one direction and Mont Blanc in the other.
The elevation gain between Courmayeur and Rifugio Bertone (1,970 metres) is 746 metres over approximately 5.5 km.
At the junction, head left and follow the sign that says Rifugio Bonatti (2h15). This is the variation route as Andy was still recovering. The main route is a lot tougher as you ascend and follow the crest of Mont de la Saxe (2,246 metres).
This section between Rifugio Bertone and Rifugio Bonatti was my favourite section of our entire Tour du Mont Blanc itinerary! It was fairly gentle so you could actually take in the majesty of the views around you as you hike. This was a first!
For the first section of the trail, you have a great view of Mont Blanc and then Les Grandes Jorasses high above Val Ferret as you weave through the forest and meadows full of colourful alpine flowers.
This leisurely trail continues for just over 6 km until you reach a junction and Rifugio Bonatti (2,026 metres) is up on the right.
Some of the best views of Mont Blanc are from this refuge. The clouds at sunset were particularly spectacular, made even better with a congratulatory beer at the end of the day.
- Distance: 12.1 km
- Elevation gain: 810 metres
- Elevation loss: 0
- Approximate time: 5.5 hours
- Variations: we hiked the variation as it’s quicker and easier than the main route and Andy was still recovering from altitude sickness. This route is also recommended on rainy days when you won’t be able to see the views. The main route follows the wide whaleback ridge crest of Mont de la Saxe with a total distance of 14.6 km, elevation gain 1,580 metres and loss 760 metres. It’ll take approximately 7.5 hours. There’s another variation that turns off the route a while before Rifugio Bertone and ascends Col Sapin. This is a good alternative if the summits are shrouded in clouds as it saves a fair amount of unnecessary ascent. It’s also more sheltered from the wind. The total distance of this variation is 13.1 km, with an elevation gain of 1,350 metres and loss of 630 metres.
- Refuges and restaurants:
– Rifugio Bertone (4.7 kilometres) – accommodation, lunch restaurant, water and toilets (after 10am) - Water fill-up: Rifugio Bertone only
- Where to stay: Rifugio Bonatti
Day 7: Rifugio Bonatti to La Fouly
Hike up behind Rifugio Bonatti then veer off to the left. Continue through meadows, crossing two streams until you reach two stone huts where the trail does a U-turn and descends towards the valley floor of Val Ferret (1,770 metres). This will take around 1.5 hours.
Continue along the valley road a little way until veering off right at the sign. From here it’s around an hour to Rifugio Elena (2,061 metres). The trail starts off quite steep with sections that level off giving you a little break.
Turn back occasionally to appreciate the gorgeous views over Val Ferret as you get higher.
Rifugio Elena sits at the bottom of the thousand-year-old Prè de Bard Glacier and is a good place to stop for water and the toilet before the big ascent up Grand Col Ferret (2,537 metres).
Grand Col Ferret is the highest point on today’s stage of the TMB Hike. It’s quite a gruelling incline but the views over Val Ferret are rewarding if you need a break.
From Rifugio Elena to the summit of Grand Col Ferret, it should take about an hour with an elevation gain of 476 metres.
Grand Col Ferret marks the crossing into your third country on the Tour du Mont Blanc itinerary, Switzerland, and the scenery immediately changes.
The rugged and dramatic landscapes and jagged mountains littered with glaciers make way for gentle grassy slopes and grazing cattle.
The path to Gîte Alpage de la Peule follows an easy slope down from Grand Col Ferret and sits peacefully surrounded by towering mountains. This will take around 1 hour.
It’s 1.5 km to Les Ars down a mixture of roads and hiking paths. The last 4 km from Les Ars to La Fouly (1,600 metres) can either be done on the road which is the quickest, or, cross the river and follow the path along it before crossing back over in town.
- Distance: 19.2 km
- Elevation gain: 910 metres
- Elevation loss: 1310 metres
- Approximate time: 8 hours
- Variations: None
- Refuges and restaurants:
– Chalet Val Ferret (4.9 km) – accommodation, lunch and dinner restaurant, toilet, WiFi and water
– Rifugio Elena (7.3 km) – accommodation, lunch restaurant, all-day refreshments, toilet and water
– Gîte Alpage de la Peule (13.3 km) – accommodation, lunch restaurant water and toilets
– Alpage des Ars (15.7 km) – restaurant and toilets.
– Hotel du Col de Fenêtre (16.8 km) – accommodation, lunch restaurant, all-day snacks and refreshments, water and toilets - Water: as above
- Where to stay: Hotel Edelweiss
Day 8: La Fouly to Champex-Lac
On today’s section of the Tour du Mont Blanc itinerary, you have the option of taking the bus from La Fouly to Issert to give your legs a rest. However, the TMB Hike is rather gentle between these two points.
Head out of La Fouly and cross over Dranse de Ferret; the river flowing through La Fouly. Join the trail that runs with the river on its right and follow the well-maintained flat path for a while.
It’ll start to gradually ascend into the trees and you’ll be able to look down on the river.
The trail through the forest continues for about 7.5 km which is nice on the legs.
Shortly before Praz-de-Fort, there’s a quaint cafe serving snacks and refreshments in a picturesque setting with views out to the Swiss Alps. A great stop to refuel!
You’ll soon reach Praz-de-Fort, a pretty Swiss village and although isn’t the dramatic mountain landscapes from Italy and France, is incredibly scenic.
After Praz-de-Fort, the trail continues on and you reach another pretty little Swiss village, Issert. Cross over the river, follow the road a little way and veer left up through the forest. This is where the incline begins.
Today is the day on your Tour du Mont Blanc itinerary with the least elevation gain at 510 metres, however, it’s all here. Issert to Champex-Lac is about 5.5 km. There isn’t much to see but occasionally the trees open up to reveal the villages below.
At the top of the hill, continue along the road to Champex-Lac (1,500 metres); one of the most scenic towns on your Tour du Mont Blanc itinerary. There are plenty of drinking and dining options and, if you’re feeling brave, take a dip in the lake.
Our Top Tip: walk around the lake at sunset. It’s incredibly beautiful with the mountain backdrop reflecting in the peaceful water.
- Distance: 15.7 km
- Elevation gain: 510 metres
- Elevation loss: 610 metres
- Approximate time: 7 hours
- Variations: None
- Refuges and restaurants: today’s route won’t pass any refuges but passes through a couple of villages with dining options:
– Cafe La Kabana (7.5 km) – all-day snacks and refreshments and toilet
– Cafe Restaurant Le Portalet (8.4 km) – lunch restaurant, refreshments and toilet
– La Linaigrette (9.1 km)
– Café du Châtelet (10.1 km) - Water fill-up: we didn’t fill our water up this day as it was quite chilled and we didn’t need to, however, you can probably fill up at the cafes above if you buy some food or drinks. You’ll also pass a water trough on the side of the road in Issert.
- Where to stay: Hikers’ Rest and Rebalance
Day 9: Champex-Lac to Refuge Le Peuty
Today, you’ll be following signs most of the way to Col de la Forclaz.
The route starts off gently on the road through a little village before ascending into the forest. The path is quite rocky, there are a couple of streams to cross and there are some lovely views over the mountains when the trees open.
After about 8 km, you’ll be treated to beautiful views over Martigny nestled at the foot of imposing mountains before hearing the familiar cowbell just before Alpage de Bovine (1,975 metres) – our favourite place for lunch on our Tour du Mont Blanc itinerary!
This cosy little restaurant specialises in delicious homemade Swiss food, full of nutrients and known for its sweet treats. We had vegetable soup, bread and cheese.
Our Top Tip: try and get one of the tables at the front with the best views.
After lunch, continue the ascent a bit further before descending through meadows and forest towards Col de la Forclaz (1,527 metres) for just under 5 km.
The final descent from Col de la Forclaz will take you straight to Refuge le Peuty (1,328 metres) or, you can walk through the quaint village Trient which we did. Honestly, I wouldn’t bother. You get a lovely view from above and the town is a bit of an eerie ghost town.
From Trient, it’s 1.3 km up the road until you reach Refuge le Peuty in the shadows of the majestic Trient Glacier.
- Distance: 15.9 km
- Elevation gain: 844 metres
- Elevation loss: 901 metres
- Approximate time: 6.5 hours
- Variations: the variant from Champex-Lac to Refuge Le Peuty should only be considered in good weather. It’s one of the most challenging sections on the TMB. It’s a completely different route from Champex-Lac to Fenêtre d’Arpette, is a total of 14.8 km with an elevation gain of 1,199 metres, a loss of 1,139 metres, and an approximate time of 7 hours. It joins back up with the main route just before Trient.
- Refuges and restaurants:
– Auberge Gîte “Bon Abri” (2.3 km) – accommodation, lunch restaurant, water, toilet and free WiFi
– Alpage de Bovine (8.5 km) – restaurant, water and toilet. Open 9am – 5pm every day except Tuesday
– Hôtel du Col de la Forclaz (13 km) – accommodation, lunch restaurant, small groceries, refreshments, toilets, water and WiFi
– Trient has a couple of dining and refreshment options - Water fill-up: Refuges and restaurants above
- Where to stay: Refuge le Peuty
Day 10: Refuge Le Peuty to Tré le Champ
Today was our least favourite day on our Tour du Mont Blanc itinerary! We’d not had a good night’s sleep and the incline right at the start of the day was exhausting!
Begin up a gravel path before a steep ascent through the forest for approximately 6 km. It’s not very scenic as trees block the view for most of the way, but at least it’s shaded.
Above the tree line, you’ll see Trient peaking through the trees immersed by striking mountains.
Continue on the trail, aiming for the saddle and you’ll eventually reach Col de Balme (2,195 metres). This 6 km will see around 867 metres of elevation gain and take about 2 hours.
Col de Balme marks the entry back into France and is a great place to refuel after a tiring ascent. Soak up the views behind the refuge over Vallée de l’Arve at the base of Mont Blanc.
Between here and Tré le Champ, you’ll pass quite a few chairlifts and overhead cables which slightly detract from the incredible view which is a shame.
Descend to Col des Posettes (1,997 metres), which will take about an hour from Col de Balme.
For the rest of the Tour du Mont Blanc itinerary, the trails will be a lot busier. As you’re getting closer to Chamonix and there are chairlifts and cable cars in the region, there are a lot of day hikers also enjoying these trails.
Hike up to the highest part of the day at Aiguillette des Posettes (2,201 metres), again about an hour. Continue and the trail becomes more rugged and wild. Follow signs to Tré le Champ and the trail will soon descend below the treeline and into the forest.
This was probably the worst part of our Tour du Mont Blanc itinerary. It’s a knee-crunching 2-hour descent through the forest over rocks, branches and trees and there aren’t any views to distract you.
When you reach the road, meander through the little town of Tré le Champ. Continue until you reach Gîte du Moulin (1,350 metres). You may need to use a navigation app to find this spot as it’s not obvious.
- Distance: 13.9 km
- Elevation gain: 1,100 metres
- Elevation loss: 1,000 metres
- Approximate time: 7 hours
- Variations: Col de Balme via Les Grands explores a wilder terrain and offers stunning views of glaciers. Only consider if you have a lot of energy as it ascends steeply and quickly. It adds on 1.4 km between Trient and Col de Balme but is around 20 minutes faster. A second variant is from Col de Balme direct to Montroc and is a direct and quicker route down the valley on bad weather days or when tired. It also passes next to chairlifts and cable cars which can be used if you wish. The Posettes Ridge on the main route is prone to lightning so use this variant when it’s stormy. This route is 1.4 km shorter and approximately 1 hour faster.
- Refuges and restaurants:
– Refuge du Col de Balme (6 km) – accommodation, lunch restaurant, refreshments, snacks, toilet and water - Water fill-up: as above
- Where to stay: Gîte du Moulin
Day 11: Tré le Champ to La Flégère/Chamonix
The final day of your Tour du Mont Blanc itinerary and some seriously epic mountain scenery awaits you!
Head back through Tré le Champ and follow signs to Lac Blanc. For about an hour, ascend through the forest up an uneven and rocky path. This isn’t overly strenuous.
There are some amazing views over the surrounding mountains as you hike towards jagged peaks coming off a massive and rather daunting rock face.
After about 2.5 km, which will take about an hour, you’ll reach some ladders that’ll take you over this rock face. If, like me, you suffer from vertigo, this section may be quite scary.
There are quite a few ladders but huge amounts of people climb them every day so you’ll be absolutely fine!
Our Top Tip: if it’s raining, take the variation; do not attempt the ladders in the rain as it’s too dangerous.
There are multiple ladders with sections of trail in between. After approximately half a kilometre, you’ll reach Tête aux Vents (2,140 metres), marked by a large cairn with lots of signs.
You’re about 45 minutes away from Lac Blanc up rocky terrain. You’ll also pass a few beautiful alpine lakes named Lacs des Chéserys before reaching the last ladder which, luckily, isn’t quite as terrifying as the previous ones.
Follow the steps up to Refuge du Lac Blanc (2,352 metres) where you’ll be greeted by out-of-this-world scenery!!
A striking blue alpine lake nestled below jagged snow-capped mountains with magnificent views of Mont Blanc.
The trail will be extremely busy from this point as Lac Blanc is a popular day trip from Chamonix for day hikers and overnight hikers staying in the refuge.
To descend to Flégère, follow the signs. The descent is on uneven rocks but after about 20 minutes, the path is well-maintained and parts of the trail are on boardwalks. From Lac Blanc to the Flégère Gondola is about an hour.
From here, descend to Les Praz on the gondola and take the number 1 or 2 bus back to Rockypop where your adventure began.
Alternatively, if you have longer or you want to physically hike the entire Tour du Mont Blanc itinerary, you can stay in Refuge de la Flégère and hike to Les Houches the next day.
This is about 18.5 km and has an elevation loss of 1,590 metres which isn’t how we fancied ending this incredible experience!
- Distance to La Flégère: 7.4 km
- Elevation gain: 950 metres
- Elevation loss: 510 metres
- Approximate time: 5 hours
- Variations: La Tête aux Vents via Col des Montets avoids the sections of ladders on the main route to Lac Blanc. This route adds on 1.1 km and is 15 minutes slower. A second variant takes you directly to Montage de la Flégère along Grand Balcon Sud which skips Lac Blanc, is 1 km shorter and 1 hour faster.
- Refuges and restaurants:
– Refuge du Lac Blanc (5 km) – accommodation, restaurant, all-day refreshments, toilet and water - Water fill-up: as above
- Where to stay: Rockypop Chamonix-Les Houches
Anything Else You Need to Know Before Hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc
How accurate are these distances and timings?
Distances and timings in this Tour du Mont Blanc itinerary are all approximate. Even TMB guidebooks and maps all differ slightly.
The Cicerone Trekking the Tour du Mont Blanc book and our paper map had different figures, though we found the map to be more in line with our smart watches, although these all also differed between the 3 of us who wore them. This guide is based on the map.
Timings will also vary by individual and group depending on your pace and number and length of breaks. The timings in the Cicerone book also don’t take breaks into account so bear this in mind. The timings in this guide are how long it took us with breaks.
Can I drink water from the streams and rivers?
There are a lot of cattle grazing on the TMB so we wouldn’t recommend drinking from the streams or rivers you’ll pass due to wildlife faeces. A stomach bug while you’re hiking is not what you need!
If you’re desperate as you’ve run out of water, make sure the water source is fast flowing and look upstream to see if there’s any wildlife currently grazing by or in the water and avoid drinking if so.
Can I leave my luggage anywhere while I hike the TMB?
If, like us, you plan on having a few chilled days somewhere after you’ve finished your Tour du Mont Blanc itinerary, you’ll want some clean and fresh clothes and maybe some outfits that aren’t activewear.
At Rockypop, you can leave your luggage for €5 per bag for the entire time which is great! There are a few other luggage storage services in Chamonix but these charge a minimum of €5 per bag a day and some will base it on the weight and size of the luggage.
How do I get to the starting point of the TMB?
The starting point of the Tour du Mont Blanc is in Les Houches and there’s even a sign marking the “official” starting line in front of the Tourism Office on the main street.
If you’re staying in Rockypop, jump on the number 1 bus in front of the hotel that’s going in the opposite direction of Chamonix and you’ll be there in a couple of minutes.
If you stay in Chamonix, the number 1 bus goes from the centre of town and takes approximately 20 minutes.
Where can I relax for a few days after the TMB?
After you’ve completed your Tour du Mont Blanc itinerary, you’ll no doubt be looking for somewhere to spend a few days to relax, let your muscles recover and take in the great achievement you’ve completed.
Annecy is the perfect place to base yourself for a few days. It’s a gorgeous city that looks like it’s been plucked from the pages of a storybook located on France’s third-largest lake and you can be as chilled or active as you like.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this Tour du Mont Blanc itinerary. Remember to head to our post on everything you need to know before hiking the TMB for everything else you’ll need to know.
As ever, if you have any questions, please leave us a comment or get in contact.