Trek the Tour du Mont Blanc in a Week — Self-Launched
7 days · Tour du Mont Blanc (France, Italy & Switzerland)
Much Better Adventures charges £1,595
No-markup version: ~£470 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Circumnavigate the Mont Blanc massif on a self-launched, week-long trek through France, Italy and Switzerland. You'll hike between remote mountain refuges on the classic TMB route — over Col de Tricot, Col du Bonhomme, Col de la Seigne, Grand Col Ferret and Col de Balme — crossing three borders and taking in pristine lakes, alpine farms and 4000m peaks. Rather than paying a guided operator, you book your own refuges, buy a TMB multi-day bus/cable pass, and follow the well-marked, waymarked trail (or a GPX from the official TMB site). Estimated costs are approximate and per person, excluding travel to/from Geneva.
Day-by-day
Les Houches to Les Contamines
Chamonix Valley / Les Contamines-Montjoie, France
Start at the TMB archway in Les Houches (reachable by local bus or the Mont Blanc Express train from Chamonix, ~£3). Ride the Bellevue cable car (self-booked ticket ~£14) and hike to Col de Tricot over the suspension bridge beneath the Bionnassay Glacier, then descend to Les Contamines-Montjoie. Follow the red-and-white TMB waymarks or your downloaded GPX. Approx 7hrs, 16km, 730m up, 1300m down. Book your refuge/gîte dorm place ahead (the TMB refuges fill up in peak July–August).
🚌Local bus or Mont Blanc Express train Chamonix–Les Houches (~£3); Bellevue cable car (~£14)
🛏Gîte/hostel dorm in Les Contamines-Montjoie (e.g. Gîte Le Pontet or similar) — mixed dorm, ~£22
- →Bellevue cable car ascent
- →Col de Tricot hike
- →Bionnassay Glacier suspension bridge
- →Waymarked TMB Col de Voza/Prarion alternative
Les Contamines to Les Chapieux via Col du Bonhomme
Les Chapieux / Bourg St Maurice, France
Walk out to Notre Dame de la Gorge (14th-century church) then climb the Col du Bonhomme and traverse 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. Carry a packed lunch — there are limited shops, so buy supplies in Les Contamines the day before. Approx 9hrs, 20km, 1450m up, 1000m down. Book a dorm at Refuge des Mottets or a Les Chapieux gîte, or a cheap hotel in Bourg-St-Maurice if refuges are full.
🚌On foot; short local transfer to Bourg-St-Maurice if staying there (~£4)
🛏Mountain refuge/gîte dorm at Les Chapieux (e.g. Refuge des Mottets) — mixed dorm, ~£24
- →Notre Dame de la Gorge church
- →Col du Bonhomme climb
- →Roman bridge & Le Balme farmhouses
- →Alpine lake viewpoint
Hop Across to Italy — Courmayeur
Courmayeur, Val Veny, Italy
From the refuge, follow the river through alpine valleys and climb to Col de la Seigne (2516m) on the French–Italian border. Descend into Italy's Val Veny with views of Mont Blanc's south face, reaching the road at La Visaille. Take a local bus or shared taxi into Courmayeur (public bus SN1/SVAP ~£3, or shared taxi ~£6 each). A hotel tonight gives you a proper shower and bed. Approx 6.5hrs, 15km, 800m up, 1034m down.
🚌On foot; local bus or shared taxi La Visaille–Courmayeur (~£3–6)
🛏Budget hotel/guesthouse twin or dorm in Courmayeur (e.g. Hotel Croux equivalent) — ~£38
- →Col de la Seigne border crossing
- →Val Veny descent
- →Mont Blanc south face views
- →Courmayeur old town
The High 4000s — Val Ferret to Rifugio Elena
Val Ferret, Italy
Hike through the Val Ferret beside the Swiss and French borders, with Mont Blanc, Dent du Géant and Grandes Jorasses — three 4000m+ peaks — towering above. End at Rifugio Elena. Book your dorm directly with the rifugio (they take online/direct email bookings; expect ~£28 with half-board). Alternatively walk on to Rifugio Bonatti. Carry cash — many Italian rifugi are cash-preferred. Approx 8.5hrs, 20km, 1400m up, 612m down.
🚌On foot
🛏Mountain hut dorm (Rifugio Elena or Rifugio Walter Bonatti), half-board — mixed dorm, ~£28
- →Val Ferret hike
- →Grandes Jorasses & Dent du Géant viewpoints
- →Rifugio Elena sunset
Climb the Grand Col Ferret into Switzerland
La Fouly, Switzerland
Early start — grab coffee at the hut before the 600m climb to the Grand Col Ferret, crossing the border into Switzerland. A final parade of alpine vistas as the trail winds down into the village of La Fouly. Book a dorm at a La Fouly gîte (e.g. Auberge Maya-Joie equivalent). Swiss prices are higher — budget accordingly. Approx 6.5hrs, 13km, 600m up, 1005m down.
🚌On foot
🛏Swiss gîte/auberge dorm in La Fouly — mixed dorm, ~£30
- →Grand Col Ferret border crossing
- →La Fouly village
- →Swiss Val Ferret scenery
Champex Lac to Trient
Champex Lac & Trient, Switzerland
Take the short morning postbus from La Fouly to Champex Lac (~£7). Have a croissant by the lake, then hike through forest to Alpage de Bovine, a traditional alpine farm (stop for cake), before descending to Trient. Book a dorm at the Trient gîte or Auberge du Mont Blanc. Approx 6hrs, 16km, 739m up, 873m down.
🚌Swiss PostBus La Fouly–Champex Lac (~£7)
🛏Gîte/auberge dorm in Trient — mixed dorm, ~£28
- →Champex Lac morning
- →Alpage de Bovine farm stop
- →Forest descent to Trient
Col de Balme and Back to Chamonix
Trient, Switzerland to Le Tour / Chamonix, France
Hike from Trient up to the French border at Col de Balme for the best views of Mont Blanc and the Chamonix Valley, then descend into the village of Le Tour. Enjoy a celebratory drink, then take the local bus or cable car down and the Chamonix valley bus back to Chamonix. Trip finishes in Chamonix. Approx 7hrs, 13km, 875m up, 992m down.
🚌On foot; Le Tour–Chamonix local bus (~£4)
🛏Not included — book your own Chamonix hotel/hostel if staying on (dorm ~£30)
- →Col de Balme summit
- →Mont Blanc panorama
- →Le Tour descent
- →Chamonix celebration
Self-launched vs. Much Better Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Much Better Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£470 | £1,595 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,125 per person (71%) | |
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.~£470
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 Trek the Tour du Mont Blanc in a Week — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £470 per person for 7 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 £1,595 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £470 — a saving of roughly £1,125 (71%) per person.
How long is the Tour du Mont Blanc (France, Italy & Switzerland) trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 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 adventure, hiking, backpacker 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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