Tour of Mont Blanc
![Tour du Mont Blanc / Photo: M.Paley [CC BY 3.0].](https://travesiapirenaica.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Tour-del-Mont-Blanc_by_M.Paley-CC-BY-3.0_1000x750.jpg)
The 'official' Tour du Mont Blanc runs through 3 countries, saving 10,000 metres of accumulated altitude gain, in 170 km of an unforgettable experience. The circuit circumnavigates the main mountain block containing not only Mont Blanc but also its major surrounding peaks such as Verte, Chardonnet, Gouter, Géant, Jorasses, d'Argentière, Dolent and many others. The route crosses numerous cols with breathtaking views of the spectacular snow-capped and rocky peaks.
Essential information for the Tour du Mont Blanc. The 170 km trek normally takes 11 days to cover the Mont Blanc massif. The TMB is recognised as one of the world's classic treks.
Practical guide
When to go?
Early July to mid-September is best for climate and infrastructure. Most mountaineers choose to do the TMB from mid-July to the end of August.
Difficulty and tips
Suitable for mountaineers in good shape. Although experience in this type of long-distance routes in a high mountain environment is necessary, no technical mountaineering knowledge is required. The trail is marked. We will cover 170km and face an accumulated difference in altitude of 10,000m, so fitness is essential.
Before you set off, please note:
- The TMB can be done in two directions (as it is a circular route)
- Its many starting points (Courmayeur, Les Houches, Chamonix, Les Contamines, St Gervais, Chapieux, Orsières (Champex, La Fouly) Trient Trient).
- The possibility of using public transport in order to speed up and shorten the journey.
- And the numerous trails and variants make this route totally personalised.
Books and maps
![Tour of mont blanc (Trekking Guides) [English Language]: Complete Two-Way Trekking Guide](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51sgCmO5YSS.jpg)
Not to be missed
- Views of the Mont Blanc mountain range and its glaciers.
- Mountain refuges.
- View from Le Brévent.
- Mont Blanc tramway.
- Chamonix.
Cities & Services
ChamonixCourmayeur, Champex, Les Contamines, Les Houches, La Fouly.
Accommodation along the route is plentiful.
The stages
There are a couple of directions for the TMB, each of which has its own particularities. On the other hand, there are several alternative routes that are linked later and that allow a more personalised itinerary of the great route.
Tour du Mont Blanc - Counter clockwise
The most famous and what is known as the "classic" route is the counter-clockwise one.
Stage 1 Les Houches - Col de Voza - Bionnassay - Champel - Tresse - Les Contamines-Montjoie / Alternative stage 1 Les Houches - Refuge de Miage - Les Contamines /
This first stage can be varied with the Col de Voza - Col de Tricot - Chalets de Miage - Truc - Les Contamines-Montjoie. From Les Houches you can see the view of Aiguille de Bionnassay, Domes de Miage; from Col de Voza the view of the northern part of Aiguille de Bionnassay, Aiguille du Gouter; and from Trunc the southern view of Val Montjoie, Vallée de l'Armina.
Stage 2 Les Contamines-Montjoie - Notre-Dame-de-la-Gorge - Nant Borrant - La Balme - Col du Bonhomme - Col de la Croix du Bonhomme.
The second stage runs towards Col de la Croix du Bonhomme - Col de Fours - Ville des Glaciers. From La Balme you can see the view of the Aguille de la Pennaz; from Les Chapieux the view of Aiguille des Glaciers, Col de la Seigne.
Stage 3 Les Chapieux - La Ville des Glaciers - Mottets - Col de la Seigne - la Casermetta - Refuge Elisabetta.
From Col de la Seigne the incredible view of the Pyramides Calcaires, pastures of Lex Blanche, Mont Fortin, Aiguille de Tré-la-Tete, Mont Percé, Mont-Blanc, Aiguille du Peuteurey, Dent du Géant, les Grandes Jorasses.
Stage 4 Refuge Elisabetta - Lac Combal - Arp-Vieille supérieure - Lac Chécrouit - Col Chécrouit - Plan Chécrouit - Dolonne - Courmayeur.
This stage has no alternative routes and the Checrouit offers views of the glacier du Miage and de la Brenva, Mont-Blanc, Aiguille Noire, Piliers and seracs of Freney and Brouillard.
Stage 5 Courmayeur - Villair - Rifugio Bertone - Rifugio Bonatti
This fifth stage has the variant Bertone - Tête Bernarda - Col Sapin - Pas d'Entre-Deux-Sauts - Malatra - Bonatti. From Bertone you can see Mont-Blanc, Aiguille Noire, and a view from above Courmayeur. Also, from Balconata you can enjoy Col de la Seigne, Aiguille Noire, Grandes Jorasses.
Stage 6 Refuge Bonatti - Arnouva - Refuge Elena - Grand Col Ferret - Chalet de la Peule - Ferret - La Léchère - La Fouly
This stage runs through Refuge Elena - Petit Col Ferret - La Léchère. From Refuge Elena you can see the Pré de Bar glacier, Mont Dolent, and the east face of the Grandes Jorasses. In addition, from Col Grand Ferret you can see the Grand Combin, Mont Dolent, Aiguille de Triolet.
Stage 7 La Fouly - Praz-de-Fort - Issert - Champex-Lac - Champex-d'en-haut
From La Lechere you can see the Mont Dolent, Tuor Noir. Also, from the Fenetre d'Arpette you can see the Vallée of Trient and the glacier of Trient.
Stage 8 Champex-d'en-haut - Plan-de-l'Au - Bovine - Col de la Forclaz / Alternate Stage 8 Champex - Fenêtre d'Arpette - Col de la Forclaz /
The variant of this penultimate stage would be Lac d'Arpette - Fenêtre d'Arpette - Chalet of Glacier - Col de la Forclaz.
Stage 9 Col de la Forclaz - Trient - Peuty - Col de la Balme - Col des Posettes - Tré-le-Champ / Alternate Stage 9 Col de la Forclaz - Refuge les Grands - Tré-le-Champ /
This stage offers two variants: Trient - Vallorcine - Buet - Col des Montets - Tré-le-Champ, and Col de Balme - Chalet de Charamillon - Tour - Montroc - Tré-le-Champ.
Stage 10 Tré-le-Champ - Refuge La Flégère
From the Tre-le-Champ you can see the Aiguillette d'Argentière and from La Blanc you can see the Mer de Glace, Aguille Verte (northern part of the Grandes Jorasses).
Stage 11 Refuge La Flégère - Le Brévent - Les Houches
Finally we reach the last stage of this wonderful tour of Mont Blanc and it is time to end the experience.
Tour du Mont Blanc - Clockwise
- Stage 1 Champex - Ferret
- Stage 2 Ferret - Grand Col Ferret - Rifugio Bonatti
- Stage 3 Rifugio Bonatti - Courmayeur
- Stage 4 Courmayeur - Rifugio Elisabetta
- Stage 5 Rifugio Elisabetta - Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme
- Stage 6 Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme - Les Contamines
- Stage 7 Les Contamines - Bionnassay - Les Houches / Alternative Stage 7 Les Contamines - Refuge de Miage - Les Houches /
- Stage 8 Les Houches - Le Brévent - La Flégère
- Stage 9 La Flégère - Col de Balme - Trient
- Stage 10 Trient - Alp Bovine - Champex / Alternative Stage 10 Refuge les Grands - Fenêtre d'Arpette - Champex /
