World > Europe > Alps > Tour of Mont Blanc

One of the best hikes in the world is the

TOUR OF MONT BLANC

Also known as:

  • TMB (Tour du Mont Blanc)

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AT A GLANCE

  • one of our top 10 hikes in the world
  • TMB is a hiking classic!
  • Alpine charm: valleys, lakes, glaciers
  • great food, history, culture
  • circumambulate Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Europe (4810m, 15,781ft)
  • 9-14 days
  • 170+kms (106mi)
  • best months June-Sept
  • gains 10,000+m (32,800ft) elevation
  • difficult, medium difficulty, easy hiking

WHY WE LIKE THIS HIKE

  • the most famous long distance hike in Europe is a terrific challenge, but with creature comforts en route
  • by staying in huts (refuge in French, rifugio in Italian) and hostels (gîtes), and eating your meals there, you can hike with a very light pack
  • frequent opportunities to buy food & supplies
  • good trails
  • good signage though you still need a map
  • visit France, Italy and Switzerland in one hike
  • you can carry your own tent, if you prefer, even tenting close to the huts so you can buy meals (almost everyone prefers not to carry the extra weight)
  • chance to see ibex and chamois in the wild
  • fantastic glacier views
  • add on an ascent of Mt. Blanc after hiking!
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CONSIDERATIONS

Rain is inevitable. Be ready for it.

  • it can snow on high passes any day of the year
  • off-season footing can be treacherous. Crampons and ice axe may be necessary.
  • late afternoon thunderstorms are common
  • mid-July through August accommodation may be full
  • mountain huts can be crowded & noisy (we prefer tenting, to be truthful)
  • in 2004 cost was around 40 Euro for bed, bedding, breakfast and an evening meal
  • you need climb iron ladders bolted into the mountain
  • cable-cars and chair-lifts are cheating, but you certainly may want to use them to shorten some hiking days (available June-Sept during daylight hours)
  • French is the main language of the TMB though Italian is useful too. Anglophones may struggle at times.
  • at times there are several different paths all heading the same direction. It can be confusing.
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First decision: do you want to stay in huts and gîtes, or carry your own tent & gear? (off-season many huts are closed so you have no choice.) Hard-core hikers prefer carrying their own gear anyway, to have more choices en route.

The biggest hassle with the TMB is getting reservations for accommodation. There is not yet any one place you can book everything for the entire tour. (This is one good reason to sign-on with a guided tour rather than hiking it independently.)

Many of the huts are privately owned. Membership in any organization is not required to use the huts, but discounts apply to some alpine club members.

Our advice is to book just your first few nights. As you hike, make a reservation at the next hut before you leave your current hut in the morning. The hut guardian will normally call ahead for you to confirm your next demi pension (bed, dinner and breakfast). This is risky as the hut you want next might be full — but it allows you much more freedom in your itinerary.

ROUTES

  • most start and finish at Les Houches, close to Chamonix, one of the great hiking centres of the world
  • most walk anti-clockwise
  • if you cannot hike the entire circuit, recommended are the days either side of the Italian town of Courmayeru, and the days above Chamonix, around La Flégerè. Lac Blanc and Le Brevent ... perhaps unrivalled in the Alps.
  • get one of our recommended hiking guide books to decide how many days you wish to spend hiking the TMB
  • checking trip reports (bottom of this page) is another excellent way to get a feel for how much distance you will want to hike each day
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LOGISTICS

If you sign on with a guided trip logistics will be organized for you. This section is for independent hikers.

  • the closest major airport is Geneva about 100km away
  • the train to Chamonix is cheapest, but there are many other bus & shuttle options to get you to the trailhead at Les Houches
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INDEPENDENT OR GUIDED?

You should be confident and experienced to attempt a hike this long and complex on your own. Many hikers prefer to sign on with a tour.

Check the exact route. Some companies skip good sections. See which companies transfer your luggage hut to hut.

TMB Guided Tours:

LOCAL INFORMATION

BEST HIKING GUIDEBOOKS

Of several good books, we like McCormack's guide. It's light, small, functional — a pleasure to use.

BEST TRAVEL GUIDEBOOKS

Of dozens of good options, we prefer Lonely Planet guides. Start with Europe, then search for the specific countries in which you are most interested.

OTHER RECOMMENDED BOOKS

BEST MAPS

  • Pays du Mont Blanc - 1:50,000, Rando
  • IGN 3530ET, 3531ET, and 3630OT 

Online:

BEST WEB PAGES

After this page, the best links are

BEST PHOTOS & TRIP REPORTS

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This page last modified Sunday, December 2, 2007.