Night 1
Chamonix
Enjoy a night in stunning Chamonix, in a 3-star hotel.
Stay in hotels on this self-guided trek around the Tour du Mont Blanc
The Tour du Mont Blanc is the most famous multi-day trek in the Alps, and with good reason. This classic circuit route takes you as close to Western Europe’s tallest peak, Mont Blanc, as you can get without climbing it.
This self-guided tour allows guests to stay in hotels the entire trip. This means private rooms, showers and the luxuries associated with a stay in the Alps.
The stunning and picturesque alpine scenery introduces you to the heart of the Alps and the nature of the area. Notice the native plant life, the wild ibex running free, and the grazing cattle whose milk will be used to produce some of the world’s best cheeses.
Let your feet take you through lush, green valleys, and up to stunning mountain passes and overlooks. Stay in hotels and experience the hospitality and culture of three alpine countries: France, Italy, and Switzerland. This self-guided trek along the Tour du Mont Blanc is an unforgettable adventure!
Welcome to Chamonix! Try and get to Chamonix early, as this is one of the greatest mountain towns on earth. Two highlights in Chamonix are to take the stunning Aiguille de Midi cable car or else hop on the train to Mer de Glace, you can arrange these trips on your own if you’re interested. When you check in to your hotel, you will receive a travel pack that provides all necessary information for your Tour du Mont Blanc trek.
Overnight Location: 3-Star Hotel in Chamonix
Transfer to the base of the Bellevue Cable Car and ride to the top of the lift. Pause to appreciate your surroundings here at the beginning of the Tour du Mont Blanc. Begin hiking past the Bionnassay Glacier trail and cross the “Nepali hanging bridge” for a beautiful view of the Bionnassay glacier. Follow the trail through alpine pastures up to the Col de Tricot Pass (2,120 m / 6,955 ft). Stop to rest here with a spectacular view of the Contamines-Montjoie Valley. Continue hiking steeply down to the Chalets de Miage (1,559 m / 5,115 ft), then back up to the Chalets du Truc (1,750 m / 5,741 ft). Come around Mt. Truc (1,811 m / 5,942 ft) before hiking down to spend the night in the village of Les Contamines Montjoie.
Note that this hike can be shorted by avoiding the climb to the Col du Tricot Pass.
Transfer this morning from Les Contamines-Montjoie to Notre Dame de la Gorge (1,210 m / 3,970 ft), where you can visit a beautifully decorated baroque chapel. The Roman Road, historically a trade route between mountain valleys, begins here.
Hike steadily upward on the trail to the Col du Bonhomme Pass (2,329 m / 7,641 ft). This beautiful trail at the southern edge of the Mont Blanc Range forms a boundary line between the Mont Blanc and Beaufortain mountain ranges. Continue climbing to the Col de la Croix-du-Bonhomme Pass (2,433 m / 7,982 ft) and stop to enjoy the spectacular view of Mont Pourri (3,779 m / 12,398 ft). Descend through a charming alpine pasture to the lovely village of Les Chapieux (1,549 m / 5,082 ft). A private transfer takes you to your hotel in the town of Bourg-Saint-Maurice.
Start the morning with a transfer to begin today’s hike from the Ville des Glaciers (1,800 m / 5,905 ft), where they make the well-known Beaufort cheese. The Tour du Mont Blanc leads through peaceful alpine pastures up to the Col de la Seigne Pass (2,516 m / 8,255 ft) where you will cross the border into Italy. This spectacular overlook brings you impressively close to famous peaks such as Mont Blanc de Courmayeur, Noire de Peuterey Spire, and Grandes Jorasses.
Descend through the Val Veny which is at the end of the Miage glacier. Notice the serene lake and the unique alpine plant life in this area. A short transfer takes you to the town of Courmayeur (1,226 m / 4,022 ft), where you get to spend the night in the heart of the Italian Alps.
Note that you can add an additional rest day in Courmayeur – just let us know during the booking process.
Today is another great day on the Tour du Mont Blanc, and is the day you will hike into Switzerland. Begin the morning with a short transfer from Courmayeur to Val Ferret, which is at the end of the Pré-de-Bar glacier. Trek up to the Grand Col Ferret Pass (2,537 m / 8,323 ft) and cross the border into Switzerland. With a final glance at Italy, descend through tranquil Swiss alpine meadows to the village of Ferret (1,740 m / 5,709 ft).
Your hotel will either be in nearby La Fouly or in pretty village of Champex, which requires a short transfer by bus.
Today’s hike begins in Champex, so if you spent the night in La Fouly, take the bus to this charming lakeside village. As you walk from Champex, explore scenic Swiss alpine pastures full of grazing cows. This area is famous for its cheese. The Bovine area offers amazing views of the Rhône River valley and the Swiss region of Valais.
Today offers an exciting variant, and strong hikers can go over the beautiful Fenêtre d'Arpette Pass (2,665 m / 8,743 ft), but be advised this trek is nearly 3 hours longer and much more difficult. Finish today’s trek in the village of Trient (1,280 m/ 4,200 ft), where a private transfer takes you to the French village of Argentière, near the top of the Chamonix Valley.
Your Tour du Mont Blanc self-guided trek concludes today with one of the best days for scenery. Today you will have some amazing glacier and summit views as you hike through the Aiguilles-Rouges mountains just across the valley from the Mont Blanc massif.
From the Col des Montets pass (1,461 m / 4,793 ft), follow the trail to Lake Chéserys where you will see Mont Blanc and other majestic peaks reflected in the still water. The hike continues back to the lovely Lake Blanc (2,352 m / 7,717 ft). Pause here to appreciate the beauty of this place, and be sure to watch for some of the many ibex that call this area home. When you are ready to finish your tour, walk to La Flégère and ride the gondola takes you all the way down to the bottom of the valley, in the Chamonix hamlet of Les Praz.
Most guests arrange an evening flight out of Geneva back home or else stay on for a couple more days in Chamonix. You can arrange additional hotel nights while booking your tour.
Enjoy a private, self-guided tour for just your group! Prices below are per person sharing a double or a triple room. Please note that you can also book this tour without luggage transfers to reduce the price by up to $175USD per person, depending on your group size.
The prices below are per person.
Single room supplements will apply to single rooms required
Guided tours can be arranged too. Please contact us with dates and group information and we’ll create the itinerary just for you!
Accommodation is based on private double occupancy in hotels and shared comfort rooms in hiker’s inns. Due to the challenge of finding accommodation, no specific hotels are listed. All effort is made to secure 3-star hotels for this tour, however due to the popularity of the Tour du Mont Blanc, that may not be possible.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
You can pay a supplement to have a private room as a solo travelers (please enquire for the prices). In some cases, there may be other solo travelers, and if desired we can try to match you with participants of the same sex.
Enjoy a night in stunning Chamonix, in a 3-star hotel.
Rest comfortably in a 3-star hotel in Les Contamines-Montjoie.
Take a transfer off the trail to a 3-star hotel in Bourg-Saint-Maurice.
Enjoy the capital of the Italian Alps in a 3-star hotel in Courmayeur.
Enjoy a night in a 3-star hotel in either La Fouly or Champex.
Tonight you’ll spend the night in either the pretty little village of Trient or back in the Chamonix Valley in Argentière.
6 breakfasts and 4 dinners are included. Lunches are at your own expense and can be purchased from local stores or refuges to be eaten along the trail.
Accommodation in 3-star hotels for 6 nights as described on the self-guided tour.
How hard is the Tour du Mont Blanc?
This tour is rated as 3/5. Hikers should be able to spend about 5-6 hours per day on well-established trails and expect to climb 900 m in elevation and/or cover 15 km in distance.
Do I need a Visa?
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government
Are meals included?
6 breakfasts, 4 dinners are included. Other meals are at your own expense.
Do I need insurance?
Yes, it is mandatory to have Health and Medical insurance to join this trip. You can get travel insurance here.
Where does the tour end?
The tour ends in Chamonix, where it begins.
Do I need vaccines?
Check with your family doctor.
When should I book the Tour du Mont Blanc?
The Tour du Mont Blanc is extremely popular, and early booking provides a much higher chance of finding a suitable accommodation on the Tour du Mont Blanc. During booking, the itinerary may need to be changed to find accommodation.
What's the earliest I can hike the Tour du Mont Blanc?
Most hikers on the Tour du Mont Blanc don't start until the second half of June. The reason is that there is the possibility of snow remaining on the trail, making this trip more challenging, and in some cases dangerous. In addition, many refuge's don't open until the middle or end of June.
Can I upgrade my hotels on the Tour du Mont Blanc?
You can also pay a supplement to upgrade certain hotels to more luxurious options. Please let us know if you are interested and we can provide a quote during the booking process.
All tours on 10Adventures are operated by highly vetted local tour operators and guides.
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Details of the local tour operator will be listed on your booking invoice. If you have questions about the local operator prior to booking, please click the “Ask a Question” button below.
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This tour is rated as 3/5. Hikers should be able to spend about 5-6 hours per day on well-established trails and expect to climb 900 m in elevation and/or cover 15 km in distance.
Read about our scale for Tour Difficulty Ratings.
Chamonix, France
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