Tour du Mont Blanc

Quick overview: A 170 km, 10-11 day circumnavigation of the Mont Blanc massif through France, Italy and Switzerland.

Time to Hike: 10-11 days covering about 170 km; most walkers plan 9 to 12 stages so days are a mix of long approaches and shorter summit-style stages.

Best Time to Go: High season is midsummer when most refuges and services operate; shoulder months are possible with route variations and snow caution.

Getting there: Regular international flights go to Geneva with onward buses and trains to the trailheads around Chamonix and Les Houches. Many itineraries start or finish in Chamonix.

Costs: Budget depends on accommodation choices; expect higher daily costs if staying in mountain refuges and eating hut dinners. There is no single route permit, but refuges and some campsites should be booked in July and August.

Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous: sustained ascents and descents on alpine trails, uneven rocky paths and some exposed sections. Weather changes and occasional lingering snow can increase difficulty.

The route circles the Mont Blanc massif and alternates open alpine passes, glacier-framed valleys and pastures dotted with stone villages. You move from the high, glaciated skyline to wooded lower valleys, passing viewpoints that frame Mont Blanc and neighbouring peaks.

Accommodation is a mix of mountain refuges, small guesthouses and valley hotels; campsites exist in several valleys but wild camping rules vary by country. Highlights include classic mountain towns such as Chamonix and Courmayeur, intimate village stops like Champex-Lac and continual panoramic views rather than a single summit objective. The trail is notable for its international flavour - changing language, food and mountain traditions as you cross borders.

• Stage 1: Les Houches to Les Contamines-Montjoie (approx. first 15-25 km) - A classic opening through forest tracks and balcony paths above the Chamonix valley, often with big views of the Mont Blanc massif if the weather is clear.
• Stage 2: Les Contamines-Montjoie to Les Chapieux (via Col du Bonhomme) - A longer mountain day over high passes and open alpine terrain, with a distinctly wilder feel once you leave the valley villages.
• Stage 3: Les Chapieux to Courmayeur (via Col de la Seigne) - A border crossing into Italy with expansive scenery as you crest the pass, then a long descent toward the Val Veny side and on to Courmayeur.
• Stage 4: Courmayeur to Val Ferret (Italian side) - Steep, scenic traverses above the valley with frequent viewpoints back to the south face of the Mont Blanc massif; options vary between higher balcony routes and lower valley tracks.
• Stage 5: Val Ferret to La Fouly (via Grand Col Ferret) - Another international crossing, this time into Switzerland, with a high col and a steady descent into quieter Swiss valleys and pastureland.
• Stage 6: La Fouly to Champex-Lac - A comparatively gentler section on lanes, farm tracks and woodland paths, finishing at the lakeside resort of Champex-Lac.
• Stage 7: Champex-Lac to Trient (via the high route option) - The terrain becomes more rugged again as you climb away from the valley floor; the high variants are often the most dramatic but are also more committing in bad weather.
• Stage 8: Trient to Chamonix (via Col de Balme and the Aiguilles Rouges) - A final border return to France with sweeping views toward Chamonix and the Mont Blanc range, often followed by airy traverses and a descent back to the valley.
• Stage 9: Chamonix to Les Houches (closing the loop) - A short finishing leg that ties the circuit together, typically on valley-side paths and forest trails back to the traditional start point.

The walkable season is generally late June to mid-September when most high passes are free of persistent snow and refuges are open. In July and August expect the fullest services and busiest trails; book refuges and popular gites in advance for that period.

Outside the core months you may encounter significant snow on higher cols and shorter daylight plus a higher risk of afternoon thunderstorms. No general permit is required but check open dates for specific refuges and local campsite rules before setting out.

The nearest major airport is Geneva, with frequent shuttle buses and trains to Chamonix and nearby towns. Regional trains and buses connect other trailheads such as Les Houches and valley access points; many walkers arrive by public transport to avoid parking issues.

Most people begin in Chamonix or Les Houches and tackle the loop so that the high mountains are on one side of the valley; both clockwise and counterclockwise itineraries are common and well served by accommodations and transport.

No trek permit is required to walk the Tour du Mont Blanc on the standard routes, and there is no single official pass for the circuit.

What you will need to plan for instead is accommodation booking. Mountain refuges and popular campsites in France, Italy and Switzerland can fill well ahead in peak season, and some facilities operate with set meal times or half-board arrangements that are worth confirming when you reserve.

Most hikers mix staffed mountain refuges and simple inns in the larger stops on the Tour du Mont Blanc, with plenty of choice around Les Houches, Les Contamines-Montjoie, Courmayeur, La Fouly, Champex-Lac, Trient and Chamonix. In between, refuges provide the most direct stage-to-stage options, but availability can be the limiting factor.

Camping is also common where local rules and designated sites allow it, but do not assume you can camp anywhere on the circuit. If you want maximum flexibility in summer, booking ahead for refuges and key valley nights is usually the difference between staying on your preferred itinerary and having to reroute around full accommodations.