Climbing the mont blanc massif is a whole other story and should never be attempted unless you have serious mountaineering experience under your belt. During my 2009 hike, i used the tour du mont blanc guide book by trailblazer publications. The tour du mont blanc tmb is one of the most spectacular trekking trips in the world. It combines inspiring mountain scenery with cultural vibrancy in the alpine regions of france, switzerland, and italy and their distinct yet intertwined cultures. Oct 03, 2010 the tour du mont blanc tmb is a spectacular multiday trek around western europes highest peak 4807 m 15,771 ft. I completed the tour du mont blanc in august of this year. Its the perfect alpine trek for those who prefer their trekking in comfort. The best of the tour du mont blanc selfguided tour starts in les houches and finishes in chamonix. One of the best of the worlds classic walks, which circumnavigates the mont blanc massif in about eleven days through france, switzerland and italy. Known as one of the most challenging peaks to reach the summit in the alps, mont blanc can be reached from multiple routes that start either in france chamonix, switzerland or italy. Explore marvellous winter landscapes in mont blanc check here the cost of a mont blanc tour with an amazing hiking and trekking tour, or a guided walk. Au tour du montblanc is a project is focused on hiking as the privileged form to discover the.
The tour du mont blanc is first and foremost a walk, not a climb. Experience the rarified air of europe as you trek the alps from france to italy and switzerland along the tour du mont blanc. Feb 27, 2015 an essential guidebook for walking the tour of mont blanc. The tour du mont blanc tmb takes trekkers through france, italy, and switzerland on one of the most spectacular trails in the world. May 22, 2019 the tour du mont blanc tmb is considered a rite of passage for many alpine enthusiasts.
Jul 14, 2018 the most popularly recommended guide book by far is the tour of mont blanc. The tour du mont blanc is arguably one of the best and most popular hiking trips in europe. The tour du mont blanc is a spectacular trek that unwinds around the mont blanc massif and that crosses the italian, swiss and french territories. Your trek starts and finishes in les houches with the last night in chamonix and covers all of the trail so that you wont miss a single step of this fabulous walk. The 170km route typically takes 11 days to trek around the mont blanc massif. The tmb is recognised as one of the worlds classic treks. The t our du mont blanc is a circular trek around mont blanc, s tarting and ending in the famous chamonix valley.
Advice for the tour du mont blanc tour du mont blanc. Trekking mont blanc in france, europe g adventures. An essential guidebook for walking the tour of mont blanc. The kev reynolds cicerone guide book is invaluable to your planning and should definitely be your first point of call in planning your tour du mont blanc hike. Trekking the tour du mont blanc travel the guardian. Tour of mont blanc hike maps, routes and itineraries. Tour of mont blanc guidebook walk, hike, trek the cicerone press. Luggage transfer service tour du mont blanc selfguided. It will be open from the 10th june 2020 until 20th september 2020. The full circuit takes you on a 170 kilometre journey around the mont blanc mountain range with an accumulation of 10,000m of height gain and descent.
Travel across high passes and through alpine meadows, recharging at night with delicious mountain cuisine in simple refuges. Have a look at the nature, faune and flora page for more information on wildlife you might encounter on the tour of mont blanc. Tips for hiking the tour du mont blanc blog jess wandering. We assist you on your tour du mont blanc self guided trek accommodation, meals etc. Tour du mont blanc tmb walking holiday sherpa expeditions. Tour du mont blanc selfguided hiking tours monkeys and. The most popularly recommended guide book by far is the tour of mont blanc. The tour du mont blanc is a trek filled with superlatives from beginning to end and the ever changing mountain panoramas will just blow you away. Tour du mont blanc selfguided trekking holiday with. The book describes both anticlockwise and clockwise directions, with variants and information about huts, refuges and facilities en route. Tour du mont blanc includes accommodation as well as an expert guide, meals, transport and more. The tour du mont blanc, one of the worlds most classic treks, is a circuit hike around western europes tallest mountain. Hikers, climbers and mountaineers will greatly appreciate stop overs offered by refuges and.
As you trek the tour du mont blanc, youll experience the culture, the rich history of the alps along with the stories of how this massive mountain has beckoned hikers and. The tour du mont blanc is comprehensively way marked at all junctions and by regular paint marks along the trail. The tour du montblanc route and the espace montblanc trails. The ultra trail du mont blanc utmb starts tomorrow at 6pm but events of various distances have been happening all week that crisscross with the tmb hiking trails. A 170km highaltitude trail circling the entire range, the tmb is generally walked anti. Guide to camping on the tour of mont blanc tmbtent. Tour du mont blanc self guided treks mont blanc treks. Hikers, climbers and mountaineers will greatly appreciate stop overs offered by refuges and gites along the tour du mont blanc. The tour du mont blanc is a unique trek of approximately 200km around mont blanc that can be completed in between 7 and 10 days passing through italy, switzerland and france. It circles the mont blanc massif, covering a distance of roughly 170 kilometres 110 mi with 10 kilometres 6. The tour du mont blanc is one of the worlds most famous longdistance hikes, following a 165km trail through italy, switzerland, and france. Tour du mont blanc known on the trail as tmb is the most famous multiday alps hiking journey in europe. Carte postale ancienne chamonix mont blanc col du tour vus du chardonnet and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
The tour du mont blanc tmb is considered a rite of passage for many alpine enthusiasts. The tour du mont blanc or tmb is one of the most popular longdistance walks in europe. We stay in clean and comfortable accommodation all with ensuite bathrooms and amazing views. The tour du mont blanc is a superb trek among snowy mountains with outstanding scenery throughout. Refuge des mottets at bourg saint maurice tour du mont blanc. The ultimate self guided tour du mont blanc guide the. Our tour du mont blanc highlights in comfort walking holiday will lead you from france to italy and switzerland, taking in the best sections of the tour du mont blanc circuit while we transfer your main luggage. Our tour comprises 11 stages and 1 rest day in courmayeur. Select your tour and check availability, either by phoning us or sending an online enquiry. I have a company that books and organizes hut to hut tours, and other adventures in the alps, for people who want to do it on their own without a guide, and i have the tour des combins on my website as an alternate to the tour du mont blanc.
If you want to hike the tour du mont blanc with a few added comforts and no extra weight on your back, book your luggage transfer with us. Complete twoway trekking guide trekking guides kev reynolds. Its a trek of superlatives, forming a circuit of western europes highest mountain. Reserve your tour du mont blanc refuges autour du mont. The tour du mont blanc is a classic inntoinn alpine trekone which alpenwild has refined with many creature comforts, exquisite cuisine, and superb accommodations. The tour du mont blanc tmb is a spectacular multiday trek around western europes highest peak 4807 m 15,771 ft. Complete tour du mont blanc in huts self guided walking holiday. The official tour du mont blanc follows an established route around the main block of. Trekking the tour du mont blanc covering 170km and 10,000m of ascent, and taking in france, italy and switzerland, the tmb is one of the worlds greatest walks, offering trekkers a tough. Every year thousands of walkers embark on the tour of mont blanc, a 170km route that is recognised as one of the worlds classic walks. For the serious walker with a sense of aesthetic there really is no other option for the tour du mont blanc. The complete circuit is approximately 107 miles and has an altitude gain and loss of 6. Its a comprehensive guide to hiking the tour du mont blanc, offering a lot of description about the trails surrounding landscape, with information about lodging, services, and towns. Search in real time for the availability of refuges and gites around mont blanc.
For those that have hiked the tmb, youll appreciate how challenging it is to go all the way around the mont blanc massif with just your own two feet. Circumnavigating the massif and passing through france, italy and switzerland, the tour du mont blanc is a waymarked trail of 105 miles 168km, taking 1014 days. We have wanted to hike the tour du mont blanc for some years and finally did it, booking through sherpa expeditions, starting at the end of august 2019. Complete tour du mont blanc in huts self guided walking. For the adventurous solo traveller that is looking for a tenday getaway and good introduction to long distance walking in the alps, there is nowhere to look further. The mont blanc massif at sunset, seen from rifugio bonatti, halfway round the tour du mont blanc tmb. Walk the complete tour du mont blanc through france, italy and switzerland, staying in comfortable accommodation each night. Lastly, make sure to enjoy the tour du mont blanc as it is memorable and hopefully will have you coming back for more. The mont blanc takes lives every year most often because of unpreparedness. Apr 27, 2015 the official tour du mont blanc follows an established route around the main block of mountains containing not only mont blanc but its principal allied summits such as aiguille verte, aiguille du chardonnet, aiguille du gouter, dent du geant, grandes jorasses, aiguille dargentiere, mont dolent and numerous others. I started talking about doing mont blanc back in 2010 and made my first attempt in 2015 on my own, 25kg on my back, and with poor local knowledge.
Mont blanc bags are here to take the weight off the selfguided hikers looking to experience one of the worlds greatest adventures. Our tour du mont blanc blog has posts on everything you need to know about the tour du mont blanc hike. The refuges on the tour du mont blanc route have full time gaurdiansstaff that prepare meals, clean and provide advice for their guests. This guidebook contains indepth route description for both the classic 11 day anticlockwise circuit and an alternative 10 day clockwise trip. Refuge des mottets at bourg saint maurice tour du mont. Its got detailed information on trekking the tmb both in the traditional anticlockwise direction and clockwise, plus its small enough to take with you on. We trekked the tour du mont blanc self guided just carrying our own. The classic trail climbs above 2,500 meters five times, totaling somewhere around 30,000 feet of total elevation gain as it circumnavigates mount blanc, the highest peak in western europe.
Alpine treks specialise in the tour du mont blanc trek and offer a large choice of guided and selfguided tour du mont blanc walking holidays in 2020. It is a great shame as the tour du mont blanc is awesome. The tour du mont blanc is a long distance trekking trail passing through france, switzerland and italy. How to book the tour du mont blanc tour du mont blanc. The tour du mont blanc is the classic hike circling western europes highest peak. The ultimate self guided tour du mont blanc guide the family. Youll hike the most scenic parts of the trail and skip the less beautiful parts via transfers, totally 92 km 57 miles. Here in this blog well talk about all things tmb, which is the famous tour du mont blanc. Upon arrival, most hikers typically have a shower, then head onto the patio in their cleanwarm set of clothes to enjoy a drink alcoholic or non alcoholic, a snack freshly baked fruit pie or chocolate. The trail passes through seven unique and beautiful valleys, where.
Originally published in 20, updated in jan 2016 and most recently in feb 2019. Complete tour du mont blanc trek in comfort selfguided. On your traverse around the mont blanc mountain range, youll hike through france, italy, and switzerland thereby enjoying views of this spectacular mountain from many different angles. The tour du mont blanc is a walk that doesnt require technical skills, has plenty of accommodation and is wellmarked for the tens of thousands that walk the trail every year. Chamois, deer, eagles and a range of beautiful alpine flowers can all be seen and photographed. Hiking it, walking it, all the beautiful scenery and things you can do.
The trail passes through seven unique and beautiful valleys, where charming hamlets and regional. Mont blanc circuit tour du mont blanc trip active adventures. We were extremely fortunate with the weather, beautiful blue skies for most of the walk and stunning scenery and views of the mountains. A trek of a lifetime around mont blanc, which rises over 15,770 feet 4,808 meters above sea level, is the queen of the alps. Used this book for the entirety of the trail 2 years ago june. As the tour du mont blanc is a circular tour, you can hike the route in either direction, however traditionally the tour du mont blanc is hiked counterclockwise. The official tour du mont blanc follows an established route around the main block of mountains containing not only mont blanc but its principal allied summits such as aiguille verte, aiguille du chardonnet, aiguille du gouter, dent du geant, grandes jorasses, aiguille dargentiere, mont dolent and numerous others. This challenging hiking circuit will reward you with mesmerizing views of glaciers, steep valleys, and, of course, mont blanc itself. Located to the south of the montblanc mountain range. The tour du mont blanc features in the worlds top ten must do treks and its not hard to understand why as this trek is outstanding with amazing views day after day. Jul 19, 2015 wild alpine goats werent the only exotic creatures i met on the tour du mont blanc, one of the worlds greatest walks, a highaltitude trail around the entire massif that takes the hiker anti.
Typically completed in 11 stages, the route circumnavigates mont blanc, the highest peak in western europe. Mont blanc, or white mountain, is the highest mountain in the european alps at an imposing 4,810 metres 15,781 feet. The full circuit takes you on a 170 kilometre journey around the mont blanc mountain range with an accumulation of. Needless to say it was a failure, lack of knowledge read more. Overnights are in nice 3 or 4star hotels and mountain lodges with private rooms on all nights. Once on the trail, maps and waymarking signs sufficed, but the books highlighted the options on the variant routes.