Tour du Mont Blanc (known on the trail as TMB) is the most famous multi-day alps hiking journey in Europe. Mont Blanc (French), Monte Bianco (Italian), or “White Mountain”, is the highest mountain in the European Alps at an imposing 4,810m (15,781 ft). The tour follows well maintained trails through France, Italy and Switzerland as it leads hikers around the Mont Blanc massif.

With each side offering contrasting landscapes of unparalleled beauty and host countries welcoming hikers from around the world with their alpine hospitality, it is not surprising that the Tour du Mont Blanc is the most popular hut to hut hiking trail in Europe.

The Tour du Mont Blanc has a well marked main trail that most hikers follow to complete the journey. The “main” trail distance is 166km (103mi), with 10 mountain passes and just under 10,000m (32,700ft) elevation gain.

This is not the only option though, with 18 popular variants allowing hikers to choose extra trail highlights, alternative accommodation, or a shorter path if pressed for time.

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Everything you need to plan, book, prepare and navigate your Tour du Mont Blanc adventure.

It can take between 6 and 12 days to complete the Tour du Mont Blanc. It depends on which route you decide to take, your hiking speed, the desired number of hiking hours per day and whether you will use transport. We have written a detailed blog post all about it!

The following can be used as a rough guide:

Elite Hikers: For those that are fastpacking or trail running sections, the Tour du Mont Blanc could be completed in 4-6 days. 4 days requires approximately a marathon in distance to be completed each day and therefore trail running on flat and downhill sections is required to make your accommodation by dinner time. A 6 day itinerary requires an average daily distance of ~30km (19mi), which could be completed hiking at a fast pace in ~8 hours per day. Both options require a considerable daily elevation change; 6 days averages 3,300m (10,800ft) and 4 days just under 5,000m (16,400ft).

Speedy Hikers: For those that are fit and experienced hikers that can consistently hike at a pace above average, the Tour du Mont Blanc can be completed in 7-9 days. It requires hikers to hike over 20km (12.5mi) each day and the daily elevation change averages between 2,500 and 2,800m (8,200 - 9,200 feet).

Steady Hikers: For those hikers that enjoy the balance of a challenging day on the trail without feeling rushed and hike at an average hiking pace completing the Tour du Mont Blanc in 9-11 days is possible. With an average daily elevation change of up to 2,300m (7,500ft), these hikers still have the firepower to climb over mountains, but are happy to spend most of their time in cruise control as they complete a respectable daily average of 16 - 18km (10 - 11mi).

Wanderers: For those that hike at a speed slower than average pace, and want to regularly stop, smell the wild flowers and take pictures of each and every stunning landscape they come across, completing the trail in 12 or more days is for you. With the biggest day of elevation change registering at over 2,200m (7,200ft), Wanderers will still have the fitness to turn in a solid days work on the trail when required…unless they decide to take one for the team by catching a gondola or bus to their end destination to make sure there are enough refreshments on ice for the arrival of their fellow TMB hikers!

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LES HOUCHES, FRANCE:

This is the most popular start location of the Tour du Mont Blanc and even has an arch to signify the trail head. It is preferred due to its accessibility to Geneva airport (93km / 58mi) and being the location where the trail crosses the Chamonix valley. Those hiking in a counter-clockwise hiking direction also have the option of catching the cable car to the Bellevue plateau which skips the intial 667m / 2,188ft climb to Col Voza, leaving mostly descending trail for their first day.

Chamonix (Plan Praz), France:

One of Europe’s adventure capitals, offering world-class hiking, biking, climbing and paragliding opportunities in the summertime. With over 9,000 permanent residents, it has everything you need to prepare or resupply for your hike. There are several supermarkets, many outdoor stores and facilities. Many people choose to spend an extra night (or two!) in Chamonix either before their hiking adventure to acclimatise or after to enjoy the amenities of the valley - especially the spas!

Please Note: The Tour du Mont Blanc does not pass through Chamonix. It follows a trail about 1,000m / 3,280ft above the valley, which can be easily reached with the Plan Praz Gondola.

1.WARMING UP THE LEGS

Most hikers would prefer to start a long multi-day trail on a flat and/or gradual sloping section to dust off the cobwebs and get used to carrying a pack again. If this is important to you, then the best direction for each of our start locations is as follows;

• Les Houches - Counter Clockwise: Both directions will require a big effort out of the blocks but the 667m / 2,188ft climb to Col de Voza is much easier than the 1,540m / 5,050ft grind to Le Brevent which is the equal highest point on the trail.

• Chamonix (Plan Praz) - Clockwise: The trail clockwise to La Flegere only requires a gain of 100m / 330ft to be made over the first 5km / 3mi, whereas hiking counter clockwise leads you on a 550m / 1,800ft climb over 3km / 2mi to Le Brevent.

• Courmayeur - No material difference: Both directions require about 750m / 2,460ft to be immediately gained over the first 5km / 3mi. Hiking in a counter clockwise direction does allow you to skip most of this gain by catching two chairlifts during peak summer season. However, you’ll still have over 450m / 1,475ft to be made over the first 5km / 3mi on the way to Mont Favre Spur.

• Champex Lac - No material difference: Both directions only require about ~50m elevation gain to be made over the first 5km / 3mi, making it the easiest location to start from. Hiking in a clockwise direction does have a 450m elevation loss over this distance which may provide an extra boost for some but may concern others that are managing knee issues.

2.SKIPPING SECTIONS WITH TRANSPORT

Whether you’re concerned about how your knees will handle the descents or worried about your level of fitness next summer, knowing how much of the ascents and descents can easily be skipped with transport may influence your hiking direction. On the main Tour du Mont Blanc route, it is possible to skip with transport (gondola, cable car, bus) 1,602m / 5,250ft (or about 15%) of the planned of the elevation gain in a counter clockwise direction, or 1,480m / 4,850ft in a clockwise direction. If you’re worried about the descents then switching these amounts shows that hiking in a clockwise direction is best for you.

• Counter Clockwise: It is estimated that 90% of hikers go in a counter clockwise direction, with most of them starting from Chamonix and Les Houches on the weekends. If you are planning to start the trail on the weekend, leaving from a different location can help avoid the big waves of hikers. Once you are on the trail, being the first hikers to leave your accommodation each day can give you a clear run before you join those who have started from accommodation further along. By lunchtime, there will be so much overlap with others that you’re likely to always be close to another hiker/group. Taking a long break during the day and being on the trail late afternoon can give you one more chance at some time on your own, however, just be mindful of any afternoon storms in the weather forecast before using this strategy.

• Clockwise: Given the vast majority of people complete the trail in a counter clockwise direction, hiking in the clockwise direction offers you regular patches of clear trail where you can find your rhythm and mindfulness. This is because hikers going in the same direction tend to bunch up as passing from behind on a narrow paths can be socially awkward, whereas stepping off the trail momentarily for those coming toward you is instantly done. Once you pass a wave of hikers who have departed a particular accommodation destination, you’ll have a long stretch of trail before you reach the next cohort. Because of this, there isn’t typically the need to leave your accommodation early or stay on the trail late in order to have some time on your own.

• Grand Balcon Sud - Best Counter Clockwise: Whilst the whole massif has incredible natural features and beauty, hiking the Grand Balcon Sud in a counter clockwise direction allows you to focus on Mont Blanc as you make your way along the Chamonix Valley.

• Fenetre d’Arpette - Best Clockwise: The alternative route to Fenetre d’Arpette is one of the toughest on the Tour du Mont Blanc but it rewards hikers with stunning views of the Trient Glacier. Those hiking in a clockwise direction are drawn up to the window of Arpette with these views dominating their landscape, whereas those going counter clockwise only see it once reaching the top and when they turn and look behind them during their steep descent.

• Grand Col Ferret - Best Clockwise: The Italian side of Grand Col Ferret offers wonderful views of the Mont Blanc massif down Val Ferret which can be enjoyed on the descent, whereas on the Swiss side you are hiking around La Dotse and away from the massif and views of its glaciated peaks.

1. Check out our 11-day “TMB Anytime” itinerary, which allows you to stay in villages and use transport to access accommodation. Whether you are booking in November, February or July, this itinerary will allow you to keep your TMB dream alive!

2. Read our “Booking Tips and Tricks” blog that outlines ways to tweak your current itinerary to find available accommodation.

3. Need help to find accommodation with availability? Our Expert Access package gives you access to a trail expert who will prepare an itinerary that has accommodation availability for your preferred dates.

Yes - it is possible to bivouac or stay in campgrounds in villages along the Tour du Mont Blanc.

There are very strict rules put in place by the national and local governments for those that wish to bivouac. Due to the prevalence of private land (high alpine farms/ski resorts), protected reserves and inhospitable slopes for sleeping, there are only a handful of locations along the trail that abide by these guidelines and are suitable.

In terms of campgrounds, the type and quality of facilities differ, but in general there are hot showers, kiosk/cafe or restaurant and wifi. The average cost for 1 person in a small tent is 10-25 EUR per night. Unfortunately some villages (and key locations) don’t have campgrounds so you’ll either need to divert off the trail for a few km/mi or take advantage of low cost dormitory or hotel room options available for those nights.