Tour du Mont Blanc
Hiking The Alps’ Most Iconic Trek
Overview
This legendary Alpine circuit is one of the world’s most iconic long-distance treks, circling the entire Mont Blanc massif through France, Italy, and Switzerland. Over the course of the journey, you’ll hike beneath towering glaciers, across high mountain passes, and through vibrant alpine meadows dotted with wildflowers and grazing ibex.
The route showcases the very best of the Alps – from the dramatic peaks of the Aiguilles Rouges to the rolling pastures of the Val Ferret, with nights spent in welcoming mountain huts and charming alpine villages. Along the way, you’ll experience three distinct cultures, each with its own food, traditions, and hospitality – from French tartiflette to Italian coffee and Swiss chocolate.
Covering roughly 170 km of trails and 10,000 m of elevation gain, this trek is a true physical and mental challenge – but the reward is an unforgettable adventure through some of Europe’s most awe-inspiring landscapes, and the chance to walk in the shadow of Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Western Europe..
📅 Dates: 9th-21st August 2026
💰 Cost: £1,825 per person
Highlights
Distance: 170 km
Elevation Gain: 10,000m+
Highest Point: 2,665m
Range: Mont Blanc Massif
Included
Guide: UIMLA International Mountain Leader
Accommodation: 12 nights in Mountain Huts and Hotels
Meals: All Breakfasts and Dinners included. Lunches can be purchased daily from huts for around 10 euros
Excluded
Flights: Not included
Transfers to Chamonix: Not included
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival in Les Houches (Chamonix Valley)
We’ll meet you in Les Houches, a charming alpine village at the foot of Mont Blanc and the official starting point of the trek. Just a few minutes from Chamonix town centre via one of the most picture-perfect train rides in the Alps, Les Houches is the ideal place to begin your journey. The afternoon is yours to settle in and enjoy the views before we gather for a welcome dinner and a full safety briefing to prepare for the adventure ahead.
Day 2
Stage 1 - Les Houches to Les Contamines via Bionnassay
Distance: 17.5 km | Ascent: +1,000m | Descent: -850m
After a hearty alpine breakfast in Les Houches, our journey begins. We set out on a steady climb towards the Col de Voza (1653m), where sweeping views open up across the Mont Blanc range. From here, the mighty Dôme du Goûter and Aiguille de Bionnassay dominate the skyline, with the glittering Bionnassay Glacier spilling dramatically down the valley.
Our path continues through alpine meadows and quiet hamlets, giving us a first taste of the rhythm of life in these mountains. The route is straightforward but rewarding — the perfect introduction to the Tour du Mont Blanc. By the time we reach the charming village of Les Contamines, we’ll already have gained a real sense of the scale and beauty of the adventure ahead.
Day 3
Stage 2 - Les Contamines to Les Chapieux via Croix du Bonhomme
Distance: 19km | Ascent: +1,350m | Descent: -960m
We leave the village of Les Contamines and follow the valley deeper into the mountains, climbing steadily towards the Col du Bonhomme and the higher Col de la Croix du Bonhomme at 2,479m. The ascent is long and demanding, but the reward is a dramatic crossing between rugged cols with panoramic views across the Vallée des Glaciers.
From here, the trail descends into wide open pastures and the quiet hamlet of Les Chapieux. This remote alpine settlement offers a simple but welcoming overnight stop, and the chance to enjoy hearty Savoyard dishes before resting up after one of the toughest stages of the trek.
Day 4
Stage 3 - Les Chapieux to Rifugio Elisabetta via Col de la Seigne
Distance: 14.4 km | Ascent: +1,100m | Descent: -460m
Today we leave France behind and cross into Italy via the Col de la Seigne at 2,516m. Despite the elevation, this is one of the easier passes of the circuit — and also one of the most breathtaking. From the col, the views sweep across Mont Blanc and the dramatic Aiguille Noire, a jagged black spire rising starkly against the skyline.
Crossing the border feels like stepping into another world: the rhythm of life changes, the language and food shift, and the trail takes on a distinctly Italian flavour. Our day ends at the welcoming Rifugio Elisabetta, perched high above the Val Veny and famous for its hearty Italian cooking and warm hospitality — the perfect reward after two demanding days on the trail.
Day 5
Stage 4 - Rifugio Elisabetta to Courmayeur
Distance: 16.5 km | Ascent: +530m | Descent: -1,500m
Leaving Rifugio Elisabetta, the trail follows the beautiful Val Veny beneath towering glaciers and sheer cliffs. Although there are no major passes today, the undulating path keeps the legs working, and the views are nothing short of spectacular. Along the way we pass shimmering alpine lakes and enjoy balcony paths that reveal sweeping vistas of jagged peaks and Mont Blanc itself.
After a final descent into the Aosta Valley, we arrive in Courmayeur — a lively Italian mountain town with a distinctly Mediterranean feel. Narrow cobbled streets, bustling cafés, and gelaterias offer a taste of Italy at its finest. Tonight is a chance to rest, refuel, and soak up la dolce vita before the adventure continues.
Day 6
Stage 5 - Courmayeur to Rifugio Bonatti
Distance: 12 km | Ascent: +1,090m | Descent: -290m
From Courmayeur, the trail climbs gently onto the flanks of Mont de la Saxe, one of the most celebrated sections of the entire Tour du Mont Blanc. The path undulates high above the Val Ferret, offering a balcony of uninterrupted views across the immense wall of rock and ice on the southern side of the Mont Blanc range. Glaciers tumble from the heights, and the jagged peaks seem almost within reach.
This stage is a feast for the senses from start to finish, with alpine flowers in summer and fiery larches in autumn painting the slopes in colour. We end the day at the beautifully situated Rifugio Bonatti, a much-loved hut named after the legendary Italian climber Walter Bonatti, where hearty food, warm hospitality, and unforgettable sunsets make for a truly special evening.
Day 7
Stage 6 - Rifugio Bonatti to La Fouly via Grand Col Ferret
Distance: 20.5 km | Ascent: +970m | Descent: -1,380m
Today we say farewell to Italy and cross into Switzerland via the Grand Col Ferret at 2,537m. The day begins with a contouring trail through the upper Val Ferret before a steady climb brings us to Rifugio Elena, perched beneath tumbling glaciers. From here, the ascent steepens towards the col, where breathtaking views stretch back across the Italian valleys to the distant Col de la Seigne.
On the far side, the landscape changes character as we enter the Swiss Val Ferret. Rolling pastures, flower-filled meadows, and wooden chalets with bright geraniums replace the rugged Italian cliffs. The sound of cowbells drifts across the valley, welcoming us into a gentler, pastoral Switzerland. We finish the day in the peaceful village of La Fouly, a picture-book alpine hamlet where the pace of life slows and hospitality takes centre stage.
Day 8
Stage 7 - La Fouly to Champex
Distance: 15 km | Ascent: +530m | Descent: -670m
This stage offers a gentler pace after the challenges of the high passes. The trail follows the peaceful Swiss Val Ferret, where cattle graze in open pastures and meadows burst with wildflowers in early summer. Traditional timber barns dot the landscape, filling the air with the scent of fresh hay and giving the valley a timeless alpine charm.
With only modest elevation change, it’s a chance to relax, soak up the slower rhythm of rural Switzerland, and enjoy the pastoral scenery. Our day ends in Champex, a beautiful lakeside village often called the “Little Canada” of Switzerland. Surrounded by forests and peaks, with its crystal-clear lake at the centre, Champex is one of the true gems of the TMB — the perfect place to pause, stroll the lakeside, and savour Swiss hospitality at its finest.
Day 9
Stage 8 - Champex to Trient via Alp Bovine
Distance: 16 km | Ascent: +890m | Descent: -1,080m
Leaving the lakeside tranquillity of Champex, the trail climbs steadily through woodland and alpine pastures towards the Alp Bovine route. This gentler option curves around the northern slopes of the Pointe d’Orny, passing through rough meadows and high pastures with sweeping views over the Rhône Valley and across to the distant Bernese Alps.
Along the way, we pass the rustic alp buildings of Bovine, where simple refreshments are served to passing trekkers during the summer months — a welcome taste of Swiss mountain life. The descent winds through forest to the Col de la Forclaz and on towards Trient, a small alpine village surrounded by peaks and glaciers, where we spend the night immersed in the quiet charm of rural Switzerland.
Day 10
Stage 9 - Trient to Tre-le-Champ via Col de Balme
Distance: 14 km | Ascent: +1,150m | Descent: -1,010m
Today we cross back from Switzerland into France via the Col de Balme at 2,191m. The climb is steady and rewarding, bringing us to the crest of the border where Mont Blanc comes back into view for the first time since leaving Italy. From here, its shining dome dominates the skyline — a thrilling reminder that we are circling ever closer to the heart of the massif.
The descent takes us along the ridge of the Aiguillette des Posettes, an elevated path with panoramic views that stretch across the Chamonix valley and the surrounding peaks. By the time we reach the hamlet of Tré-le-Champ, we’ve completed another international crossing and are back on French soil, ready for the final stages of the Tour du Mont Blanc.
Day 11
Stage 10 - Tre-le-Champ to Refuge de la Flegere
Distance: 7 km | Ascent: +800m | Descent: -340m
The trail now joins the famous Grand Balcon Sud, one of the most celebrated balcony paths in the Alps. Traversing the slopes of the Aiguilles Rouges, the route offers almost uninterrupted panoramas of the Mont Blanc range opposite — a breathtaking stage that truly lives up to its reputation.
A steady climb brings us to the cairn at Tête aux Vents, the boundary of a protected nature reserve and a lofty vantage point above Argentière. From here, the trail undulates across rocky terrain towards La Flégère, with Mont Blanc’s snowy dome filling the skyline. For those with energy to spare, the nearby Lac Blanc offers one of the most iconic views in the Alps, a mirror-like lake reflecting the peaks beyond. Tonight, we sleep with Mont Blanc firmly in sight, as the circuit edges towards its grand finale.
Day 12
Stage 11 - Refuge de la Flegere to Les Houches via Le Brevant
Distance: 18 km | Ascent: +890m | Descent: -1,760m
The final stage of the Tour du Mont Blanc is as dramatic as any that have come before. From La Flégère, the trail climbs steadily towards Le Brévent, a historic viewpoint celebrated since the 18th century as one of the best places to admire Mont Blanc in all its glory. Standing here, with the highest peak in Western Europe dominating the skyline, is a fitting moment of reflection before the long descent begins.
The path back to Les Houches is steep and demanding, yet every step is rewarded with sweeping views of the massif — a constant reminder of the journey we’ve just completed around it. By the time we return to the village where it all began, the circuit is complete: 170 km, three countries, countless summits, and memories to last a lifetime. The Tour du Mont Blanc is never easy, but the sense of achievement at its end is unforgettable.
Day 13
End of Trek
After breakfast, our adventure together comes to an end. From here, you’re free to make your way back to the airport or take a little extra time to soak up the charm of Chamonix and its valley villages. Whether you choose to wander the lively streets of Chamonix town, enjoy a coffee with Mont Blanc as your backdrop, or explore one of the quieter alpine hamlets nearby, it’s the perfect way to ease back into everyday life after the achievement of completing the Tour du Mont Blanc.
What to expect
This is one of the world’s great hut-to-hut adventures — a journey through three countries, circling the highest peak in Western Europe. It’s rewarding, unforgettable, and at times demanding. To make the most of it, here’s what you can expect:
Fitness & experience – The full Tour du Mont Blanc covers around 170 km with over 10,000 m of ascent and descent. We break it into manageable stages, but it still requires good fitness and stamina. Prior hiking experience is essential, and training beforehand will help you fully enjoy long days on the trail.
Carrying your pack – You’ll need to carry your own backpack each day. With clothing, toiletries, water, and a few extras, most bags weigh around 8–12 kg. A lighter pack makes a huge difference to your comfort.
Varied terrain – Expect a mix of balcony paths, forest tracks, rocky cols, and high alpine meadows. Some sections are gentle and rolling, while others involve steep climbs and long descents. Good footwear and preparation are key.
Mountain huts & villages – Each night brings something different: traditional refuges in spectacular settings, lively Italian huts with hearty meals, and quiet Swiss villages with picture-book charm. Accommodation ranges from small shared rooms to larger dorms, all offering a warm welcome at the end of the day.
Food on the trail – Cuisine reflects the country you’re walking through: French tartiflette, Italian pasta and espresso, Swiss rösti and chocolate. Meals are simple, hearty, and filling. Vegetarians are well catered for, but vegan options cannot always be guaranteed in every hut.
The Tour du Mont Blanc is for people who love the outdoors and are ready for a genuine alpine journey — a mix of comfort and simplicity, challenge and reward. With the right preparation, this trek is an adventure you’ll never forget.
