Self-Launched Tour du Mont Blanc: The Full Circuit
10 days · Tour du Mont Blanc (France, Italy, Switzerland)
Much Better Adventures charges £1,695
No-markup version: ~£985 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, independent version of the classic 10-day Tour du Mont Blanc full circuit, circumnavigating the Mont Blanc massif through France, Italy and Switzerland. Instead of a guided group departure, you book your own mountain refuges and guesthouses, follow the waymarked TMB trail (well-signposted with red-and-white GR balises and easy to navigate with the Cicerone guidebook or a GPX file), and carry your own pack between huts. Highlights include the Bellevue cable car, Col de la Seigne border crossing into Italy, the 4000m peaks above Courmayeur, Rifugio Walter Bonatti, Grand Col Ferret into Switzerland, and the Grand Balcon Sud back to Chamonix. Costs are approximate per person in GBP and exclude flights.
Day-by-day
Chamonix to Les Contamines via Bellevue & Col de Tricot
Les Contamines-Montjoie, France
Base yourself in Chamonix the night before (there's a cheap hostel dorm or campsite in the valley). In the morning take the local Chamonix Mobilité bus or Mont Blanc Express train to Les Houches (about 15-20 mins, £2-3) and start at the TMB archway beside the tourist office. Buy a one-way ticket for the Bellevue cable car (£12-15) and hike over Col de Tricot, crossing the suspension bridge above the Bionnassay glacier waterfalls. In poor weather, follow the sheltered forest route via the Contamines valley. End in Les Contamines-Montjoie. Book your refuge directly by email or phone a few weeks ahead in high season.
🚌Local bus/train Chamonix to Les Houches (£2-3); Bellevue cable car (£12-15)
🛏Gîte/hostel dorm in Les Contamines (e.g. Gîte Le Pontet or similar); half-board dorm £40-50
- →Chamonix Mobilité bus to Les Houches
- →Bellevue cable car ascent
- →Col de Tricot hike
- →Bionnassay glacier suspension bridge
Trek through France: Col du Bonhomme to Les Chapieux
Les Chapieux / Bourg St Maurice, France
Pause at the 14th-century Notre Dame de la Gorge church before climbing to the Col du Bonhomme and on through the Savoie nature reserve and mountain pass. Pass the Roman bridge, alpine lakes and traditional farmhouses at Le Balme, then descend to the hamlet of Les Chapieux (or take a short local transfer/taxi to Bourg St Maurice if accommodation is full). Distances and ascent are big today, so start early.
🚌On foot; optional shared taxi Les Chapieux-Bourg St Maurice if booked there (£15-20)
🛏Gîte/refuge dorm in Les Chapieux (e.g. Refuge des Mottets, Chambres du Soleil) or hostel in Bourg St Maurice; half-board £40-55
- →Notre Dame de la Gorge church
- →Col du Bonhomme ascent
- →Savoie nature reserve crossing
- →Le Balme farmhouses
Cross into Italy over Col de la Seigne
Val Veny / Rifugio Monte Bianco, Italy
Follow the river through alpine valleys and climb to the Col de la Seigne (2,516m), straddling the French-Italian border. Descend to Rifugio Monte Bianco in Val Veny for the night. Book the rifugio directly online; half-board is standard and includes a hearty dinner and breakfast. Carry cash in euros for drinks and extras, as card machines can be unreliable in the high huts.
🚌On foot
🛏Rifugio Monte Bianco dorm, half-board (approx €65-80 / £55-70)
- →Col de la Seigne border crossing
- →Val Veny descent
- →Rifugio Monte Bianco overnight
The High 4000s: Mont Blanc massif to Courmayeur
Courmayeur, Italy
A shorter, spectacular day from Rifugio Monte Bianco down to the resort town of Courmayeur, with the range's famous 4000m peaks in view throughout. Use the afternoon to restock supplies, enjoy Italian coffee and gelato, and pick up any gear at the many outdoor shops. Cheaper guesthouses and a couple of hostels sit on the edge of town.
🚌On foot; local bus around Courmayeur if needed (€1-2)
🛏Budget hotel/guesthouse in Courmayeur (e.g. Hotel Croux) or hostel dorm; £35-50
- →4000m peak viewpoints
- →Courmayeur village exploration
- →Gear and food resupply
Val Ferret to Rifugio Walter Bonatti
Val Ferret, Italy
Hike through the Val Ferret towards the Italy-Switzerland border, with Mont Blanc, the Dent du Géant and the Grandes Jorasses towering above. Arrive at the famous Rifugio Walter Bonatti, which has epic mountain views and no road access. Book well ahead as this is a popular hut; you'll only need an overnight bag here since there's no luggage transfer possible.
🚌On foot
🛏Rifugio Walter Bonatti dorm, half-board (approx €70-85 / £60-75)
- →Val Ferret trail
- →Dent du Géant and Grandes Jorasses views
- →Rifugio Walter Bonatti overnight
Grand Col Ferret into Switzerland
La Fouly, Switzerland
Traverse the High Balcon Val Ferret trail, drop to Chalet Ferret for a last Italian coffee, then climb 700m to the Grand Col Ferret on the Italian-Swiss border. Descend to the village of La Fouly. Note Switzerland is not in the EU customs area, so expect pricier food and drink from here on — shop at supermarkets where you can.
🚌On foot
🛏Guesthouse/hostel dorm in La Fouly (e.g. Auberge Maya Joie); half-board CHF 70-90 / £60-80
- →High Balcon Val Ferret trail
- →Chalet Ferret coffee stop
- →Grand Col Ferret border crossing
- →La Fouly village
Rolling Valleys to Champex
Champex, Switzerland
An easier day walking through rolling green valleys, quaint villages and rustic farmhouses to the picturesque Swiss resort of Champex. If you have energy, add the short side trip to the alpine botanic garden or relax by the lake before dinner.
🚌On foot
🛏Guesthouse dorm in Champex (e.g. Relais d'Arpette); half-board CHF 70-90 / £60-80
- →La Fouly to Champex valley walk
- →Champex lake and alpine garden
Fenêtre d'Arpette or Bovine to Trient
Trient, Switzerland
Two route options today: the harder Fenêtre d'Arpette (the highest point of the trek, with matching views) or the easier official route over Bovine. Both end in the small village of Trient. As an independent hiker you choose your own route — check local weather and avalanche/snow conditions before committing to the Arpette window.
🚌On foot; local bus Trient to Col de la Forclaz if needed (CHF 5-8)
🛏Guesthouse/hotel dorm in Trient (e.g. Hotel la Grande Ourse); half-board CHF 65-85 / £55-75
- →Fenêtre d'Arpette or Bovine crossing
- →Trient village
- →Optional Col de la Forclaz local bus
Col de Balme and back to France
Argentière / Tré-le-Champ, France
Walk up to the Col de Balme (2,190m) marking the Swiss-French border, with sweeping views down the Chamonix valley to the Aiguille du Midi and the summit of Mont Blanc. Descend to Tré-le-Champ / Argentière. You could also take the Charamillon cable car up or down to save the legs — tickets are bought on the spot.
🚌On foot; optional Charamillon cable car (€10-14)
🛏Gîte/hostel dorm in Argentière (e.g. Gîte le Moulin); half-board £35-50
- →Col de Balme border crossing
- →Chamonix valley viewpoints
- →Tré-le-Champ descent
Grand Balcon Sud to Chamonix
Chamonix, France
Finish over the Grand Balcon Sud past Lac Blanc, then down to Flégère or Planpraz. Ride the cable car down to Chamonix if you've had enough, or walk the final descent. From Chamonix, buses and trains connect back down the valley, and Ouibus/FlixBus or the local bus run to Geneva (about 1hr, £6-20) or onward trains. Book any Geneva onward train after 19:30 and flights after 20:30 to be safe.
🚌Flégère/Planpraz cable car down (£12-16); Chamonix to Geneva bus (£6-20) or train via St Gervais
🛏Not included (optional extra night in a Chamonix hostel, £20-35)
- →Grand Balcon Sud trail
- →Lac Blanc
- →Flégère/Planpraz cable car
- →Chamonix farewell
Self-launched vs. Much Better Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Much Better Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£985 | £1,695 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £710 per person (42%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Much Better Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£985
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Tour du Mont Blanc: The Full Circuit cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £985 per person for 10 days in Tour du Mont Blanc (France, Italy, Switzerland). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Much Better Adventures?+
Yes — Much Better Adventures charges around £1,695 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £985 — a saving of roughly £710 (42%) per person.
How long is the Tour du Mont Blanc (France, Italy, Switzerland) trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through Tour du Mont Blanc (France, Italy, Switzerland).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a hiking, adventure, gap-year trip through Tour du Mont Blanc (France, Italy, Switzerland), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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