At 15,777 feet (4,809 meters), Mont Blanc is the tallest peak in the Alps, but its reputation is even bigger. After all, almost everyone has heard of this legendary mountain that straddles the border between France and Italy. And for adventurous trekkers from around the world, the Tour du Mont Blanc is a life-changing experience — complete with unbeatable scenery.
If you’d like a sneak peek of this famous trek, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s hit the trail.
What to know about the Tour du Mont Blanc
This multi-day trek begins in Chamonix, France, and follows a counterclockwise circular route around the entire mountain. Organized tours usually take anywhere between 10 days and two weeks to go the distance, but you’ll probably wish your adventure never had to end.
The Tour du Mont Blanc traverses three scenic European countries, so remember to bring a camera. On a typical itinerary, trekkers might stop in Les Houches and Les Chapieux (France); Courmayeur (Italy); Champex and Trient (Switzerland); and Argentière (France). Of course, there are other towns along the way, so specific plans can vary from group to group.
En route, expect to meet lots of adventurous souls — after all, you’re following the most popular trek in Europe. You’ll also find more than enough lodging to accommodate all the foot traffic. From mountain huts to beautiful hotels in the villages off the trail, there are plenty of places where trekkers can spend each night.
Interestingly, an ultramarathon takes place on the route every year, with the average participant finishing the race in 40 hours. While we admire the athletes’ dedication and endurance, we prefer experiencing the Tour du Mont Blanc the traditional way. It gives us more time to check out our surroundings!
What you’ll see on the Tour du Mont Blanc
Get ready to ogle scenery that will forever ruin other mountain views for you. From glaciers to granite spires, lakes, wildflower-covered slopes, and alpine villages, you’ll have a hard time putting your camera down.
Although the entire route is gorgeous, some of our favorite spots along the way include the Lacs des Cheserys, the Col de Balme, and the Val Ferret. You’ll see why when you hike through these stretches on the trail.
We’ll also spot some wildlife from the trail. Keep an eye out for ibex, chamois, and marmots, as well as plenty of other species. And as far as wildflowers go, you’ll see thousands of them as we hike, especially if you join us on the trail between mid-June and mid-July.
Planning your experience
It takes a fair amount of planning to pull off the perfect trekking experience. But that’s what we’re here for!
We’d be happy to take you on the Tour du Mont Blanc any time between mid-June and mid-September. The wildflowers, weather, and crowds vary considerably between those months, so choose your time of year carefully.
We incorporate a rest day into our itinerary, giving your legs and feet a welcome break in Courmayeur, Italy. We also offer luggage transfers and comfortable hotel accommodations to our guests. That way, you’ll only need to bring a light backpack on the trail, and you can relax in a soft bed every night.
Unfortunately, it’s getting harder and harder to book hotel rooms on this trek. As the route becomes more popular, rooms tend to fill up even more quickly, so we recommend contacting us as early as possible. That way, we can guarantee accommodation and plan your trip the right way.
We can’t think of many routes we love more than the Tour du Mont Blanc. If you’d like to join us, check our tour dates and reach out to our destination specialists. We’d be happy to share this exciting experience with you!
If you’d like to consider another strenuous trek through the Alps, we recommend checking out the Haute Route.
- It’s almost Swiss National Day! - July 26, 2018
- Celebrating Christmas in Switzerland - June 25, 2018
- The Tour du Mont Blanc: one of the world’s greatest adventures - June 7, 2018
Thanks, it is quite informative
Are there age limits for participants? We are a 75 year old couple in good physical condition. Is this route best considered as hiking or climbing? Thank you!
Hello there!
We apologize for the late reply, please forgive us. No, there is not an age limit for our tours. In fact, we have a regular client named Bob that is 86 years old! He’s in excellent shape! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZHJr8W5PG0&t) If you’re still interested in the Tour du Mot Blanc, please call us at 1+801-226-9026 and we’ll ensure you get to hike it. If you’ve already hiked it, you might enjoy the Best of the Engadine and Saint Moritz or Italian Dolomites!
Best regards,
The Alpenwild Team