West Tour du Mont Blanc Trek
Join an unforgettable 4-day hike that will take you through the western half of the Tour du Mont Blanc, starting from Courmayeur and ending in Les Houches.
Group
Alps
4 Days
Jun - Aug
High
Intermediate
Highlights
- Discover the beautiful western segment of the famous Tour du Mont Blanc trail.
- Spend the nights under the starry skies in remote mountain huts.
- Join a group of like-minded adventurers on an unforgettable 4-day trek in the Alps.
Description
This 4-day group Tour du Mont Blanc tour will take you through its western half and allow you a delicious taste of one of the Alps' most famous long-distance treks.
The trip starts and ends with a pick-up and drop-off at Geneva Airport, all timed so that you can start hiking the day you arrive. The starting point of our trail will be in La Visaille, near Courmayeur, and we will end in Les Houches, in Chamonix. If you want to stay a few more days in Chamonix after the tour, we can also offer an airport transfer at a later date. Below, you can find a detailed day-by-day itinerary.
Keep in mind that in order to join this tour, you will need to be fit and ready to walk up to 9 hours with an 1100m altitude gain each day. The highest altitude we will reach is 2500m, so acclimatization is not necessary, though you might feel some shortness of breath. Of course, we will be there to help and guide you every step of the way.
If you would like to join this exciting adventure, then all you have to do is contact us and we can start planning an unforgettable TMB trek together!
Price includes
- Accommodation included
- Guiding fee
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Transport during the trip
- Transportation start and back
- Mountain guide expenses
- Lifts tickets
- Clean drinkable water
- Hot shower
Price details
- Transfers to and from Geneva airport (meeting in Chamonix is possible too)
- Three nights halfboard mountain refuge accommodation in shared dormitories
- Picnic lunch on the first day
- Four days guiding by a qualified International Mountain Leader with a UIMLA certified diploma
Itinerary
Day 1: La Visaille to Rifugio Elisabetta
We will pick you up at Geneva airport between 11 and 11.30 am. From there, we'll head to Chamonix, then through the Mont-Blanc tunnel until we reach La Visaille. After a picnic lunch there, we will hike to the Rifugio Elisabetta hut via the old military road over Lac Combal. Our trail will wind beneath the grandiose granite of Mont Blanc's Italian side as we climb to the hut where we will spend the night. Accommodation: Mountain hut Distance: 7km Altitude Gain/Loss: 600m/0m Maximum Altitude: 2197m
Day 2: Rifugio Elisabetta to Col de la Croix du Bonhomme
After breakfast, our hike will take us up Val Veny to the historic Col de la Seigne. After admiring the view, we’ll cross over to France and descend to the Mottets refuge and the Vallée des Glaciers. After resting in the valley, we will begin the steep climb to the Col de la Croix de Bonhomme where we will spend the night in a remote and awe-inspiring hut. Accommodation: Mountain hut Distance: 18km Altitude Gain/Loss: 1280m/1020m Maximum Altitude: 2516m
Day 3: Col de la Croix du Bonhomme to Chalets Miage
We will set off early to the Col de Bonhomme and the head of the Montjoie valley. An ancient Roman Road that was once used by salt traders will take us down to cross a Roman bridge. Then, we will continue to the valley until we reach Les Contamines. From there, we will hike towards Mont Blanc to reach the round peak of Le Truc. A short descent will take us to the beautiful meadows where the Miage chalets are located and where we will spend our final night.
Accommodation: Mountain hut Distance: 19km Altitude Gain/Loss: 650m/1530m Maximum Altitude: 2485m
Day 4: Chalets Miage to Les Houches
An early and final steep climb to the Col de Tricot will wrap up an amazing trekking adventure and will be one of the trip's highlights. We will then hike down the Combe de Tricot to the impressive suspension bridge below the Bionassey glacier. We will move through a quiet forest to the Bellevue cable car station, from where we can take the cable car or follow the four-wheel-drive track via the Col de Voza to reach Les Houches.
Accommodation: Mountain hut Distance: 13km (or 7km with the cable car) Altitude Gain/Loss: 710m/1020m (or 710m/480m with the cable car) Maximum Altitude: 2120m
Equipment you will need to bring
Rucksack large enough to carry everything – around 30 litres is normally enough Waterproof jacket Warm jacket T-shirts or base layers Jumpers or long-sleeve tops Long trousers (feel free to wear shorts, but please bring long trousers too) Spare underwear and socks Cotton or silk sleeping bag liner (available from Decathlon) Travel towel Water bottles (1-2 litres – please fill up before we leave Geneva) Sunscreen Toothbrush and toothpaste Soap/shampoo/shower gel – Top tip: try a solid shampoo bar to save weight Any personal medication Sunglasses Hat Sun hat or cap Trekking poles (optional but recommended – you can hire them from us if you need to)
FAQs
Do you have any group tours with fixed dates?
Yes I do have upcoming group tours and the dates are the following:
- 20-23 June 2024
- 18-21 July 2024
- 12-15 August 2024
What experience do I need to have? How fit do I need to be? Is this program suitable for children or older people?
You don’t need any specific experience. You need to be happy walking on uneven ground and hiking for around 8 hours per day. To give an example, days 2 and 3 are similar in distance and altitude gain to hiking up Snowdon or Scafell in the UK. The trip isn’t suitable for young children, but 16- and 17-year-olds are welcome if accompanied by an adult. We don’t have an upper age limit as long as people are fit enough to complete the hike.
Which is the meeting point?
We meet at Geneva Airport Arrivals Hall, in front of the Tekoé tea shop which is opposite on the left as you enter the main concourse from the baggage claim. We’ll be there from 11 am and aim to leave the airport by 11.30. We can also pick you up at Chamonix Sud Bus Station (Gare Routiere) between 12.30 and 1 pm.
What happens in the event of bad weather?
We find people enjoy hiking this route in almost all weather conditions. If it rains we’ll use our waterproofs, and if it’s cold we’ll put on an extra layer. In the event of very bad weather, the trekking guide may take the group via an alternative route, or in extreme cases arrange alternative transport (at our expense) to reach the next destination.
What is the best time of the year for this hike?
The season runs from mid-June until September. Outside of this period, the refuges are mostly closed and the high passes can be too snowy.
Are there any other special requirements, such as permits/insurance that I need to consider before the tour?
You’ll need to have insurance to cover search and rescue (including by helicopter) and medical expenses.
How will accommodation and meals be handled during the trek?
Half-board dormitory accommodation in mountain refuges is included in the price. You’ll be sharing a room with other hikers in quite remote locations. Breakfast and dinner are provided in the refuges, and we’ll provide a picnic lunch on arrival. Other lunches are not included – you’ll be able to buy a packed lunch at the overnight accommodation or stop at a mountain café on the route.
What is the average distance and altitude gain that we will hike each day?
The average distance and altitude that we'll hike varies a bit. The middle two days are longer at around 20km plus 1000 meters of ascent and the start and finish days being a bit shorter.
What are some recommended accommodations near our adventure location?
About the guide
Ian
5.0
(1)
Mountain Leader
Living in the mountains was a childhood dream for me, and for the last twenty years I’ve been making that dream happen. I live in Chamonix, at the foot of Mont-Blanc, and can’t think of anywhere I’d rather call home.
I’m an International Mountain Leader and a qualified ski instructor. This combination lets me help people explore the beautiful mountains we live in almost year-round. In the summer and autumn, I run hiking trips around the world-renowned Tour du Mont Blanc circuit as well as provide navigation courses to help you gain the confidence and skills to venture into the hills alone. In the winter and spring, I teach skiing and ski touring.
Please get in touch to book a group trekking holiday or a navigation course.
Languages
English | French | Spanish
Certificates
UIMLA
What people are saying about this trip
Sean
We had 4 days trekking with Ian on the Tour De Mont Blanc, the booking and communication from the start was excellent with the whole package being first class. The pick up and drop off to the airport was super helpful and not rushed in any way, Ian met us all at the airport. The route was fantastic, every day was different, some really good stops for lunch, coffee and cake (really worth it), the huts at night gave you a real alpine experience finishing in Chamonix with pizza and beer, what more could you want! Well recommended thank you Ian.
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