Self-Launched Tour du Mont Blanc Trek

Fly into Geneva Airport (GVA). Take the train from Geneva Airport to Saint-Gervais-les-Bains — roughly 2 hours with one or two connections via Annemasse or Lancy-Banchet, costing around £15–20 each way (book via SBB or SNCF). Check into your guesthouse or budget hotel in Saint-Gervais, then wander the town's cafes for a Savoyard dinner — try tartiflette or raclette at a local brasserie for around £15–20.

🚌Train: Geneva Airport → Saint-Gervais-les-Bains (~£18, ~2 hrs)

🛏Hôtel du Mont Blanc or similar 2-star guesthouse in Saint-Gervais (~£45–55pp/night in twin share)

• →Train from Geneva Airport to Saint-Gervais (approx. £18, ~2 hrs, book via sbb.ch or sncf.fr)
• →Explore Saint-Gervais town centre and mountain views
• →Dinner at a local Savoyard brasserie (budget ~£15–20)

Take the local Les Contamines bus from Saint-Gervais to Notre Dame de la Gorge (line T73/local Savoyard network, ~£3–5, 20 mins). Follow the classic TMB route up the old Roman road past Refuge de la Balme to Lac Jovet (2,180m) — a stunning glacial lake ideal for a packed picnic lunch (buy supplies at the Saint-Gervais market or supermarket beforehand). Descend to Les Contamines, then take the bus back to Saint-Gervais. Evening at leisure — pick up a self-catering meal or eat at a local café.

🚌Local bus: Saint-Gervais ↔ Notre Dame de la Gorge / Les Contamines (~£8 return)

🛏Hôtel du Mont Blanc or similar 2-star guesthouse in Saint-Gervais (~£45–55pp/night)

• →Bus from Saint-Gervais to Notre Dame de la Gorge (~£4)
• →Hike: Notre Dame de la Gorge → Refuge de la Balme → Lac Jovet → Les Contamines (11 miles, ~5–6 hrs, 1,140m ascent)
• →Packed picnic lunch at Lac Jovet (buy supplies the evening before)
• →Bus back from Les Contamines to Saint-Gervais (~£4)
• →Spot ibex and marmots around Refuge de la Balme

Take a local taxi or early bus to Le Champel (~£10–15 shared taxi). Hike via the Miage Refuge to the dramatic Col du Tricot (2,120m), crossing the suspension bridge over the glacial stream and passing beneath the Glacier de Bionnassay. Descend to the Bellevue cable car station — either hike down into the Chamonix valley or take the Bellevue gondola (approx. £12–15 one way, bookable on-site). Check into a well-rated hostel or budget hotel in Chamonix — the town has excellent options. Reward yourself with dinner in Chamonix's lively restaurant scene.

🚌Taxi to Le Champel (~£12 shared); Bellevue gondola descent (~£14)

🛏Chamonix Lodge, Gîte Le Vagabond or similar hostel/budget hotel (~£35–50pp/night in twin share)

• →Shared taxi or local bus to Le Champel (~£12)
• →Hike: Le Champel → Miage Refuge → Col du Tricot → Bellevue (6 miles, ~4–5 hrs, 1,360m ascent)
• →Bellevue gondola descent into Chamonix valley (~£14, optional if hiking down)
• →Check in and explore Chamonix town
• →Dinner at a Chamonix brasserie or pizzeria (~£18–22)

Take the La Flégère cable car from Chamonix (approx. £18 return, book at the base station or online via Compagnie du Mont-Blanc). Hike the spectacular Grand Balcon Sud trail to Planpraz — a high-level traverse with jaw-dropping views of Mont Blanc and the Aiguilles Rouges. Strong walkers can continue to the summit of Le Brévent (2,525m) for a 360° panorama. Descend by cable car from Planpraz or Brévent (covered by return ticket). The afternoon and evening are free to explore Chamonix's cafes, wine bars and gear shops.

🚌La Flégère and Brévent cable cars (~£18 return, included in activities)

🛏Chamonix Lodge, Gîte Le Vagabond or similar (~£35–50pp/night)

• →La Flégère cable car up (~£18 return, Compagnie du Mont-Blanc)
• →Hike: Grand Balcon Sud from La Flégère to Planpraz (~3 miles, ~3–4 hrs)
• →Optional extension to Le Brévent summit (2,525m, 360° panorama)
• →Cable car descent from Planpraz/Brévent
• →Afternoon free in Chamonix — cafes, wine bars, Maison de la Montagne
• →Self-catered or restaurant dinner (~£15–22)

Cross into Italy via the iconic Aiguille du Midi and Pointe Helbronner cable cars over the Vallée Blanche glacier — a world-famous crossing (book in advance at compagniedumontblanc.fr, approx. £55–70pp). If conditions don't permit, take the Mont Blanc Tunnel bus instead (~£15). From the Italian side, take a local bus or taxi from La Palud to Dolonne and hike the beautiful balcony trail above Val Veny past Chalet de Miage to Lac de Combal. Transfer by local bus or taxi to Courmayeur and check into a central hotel or guesthouse. Dine on Aosta Valley specialities — try the fonduta or carbonade at a local trattoria (~£18–24).

🚌Aiguille du Midi/Helbronner cable cars (~£60); local bus/taxi to Courmayeur (~£10)

🛏Hotel Croux or similar 2–3 star hotel in central Courmayeur (~£50–65pp/night in twin share)

• →Aiguille du Midi + Pointe Helbronner cable car crossing (~£60pp, book at compagniedumontblanc.fr)
• →OR Mont Blanc Tunnel bus (weather alternative, ~£15)
• →Hike: Dolonne → Chalet de Miage → Lac de Combal (5 miles, ~4–5 hrs, 445m ascent)
• →Bus or taxi transfer to Courmayeur (~£8–12)
• →Explore Courmayeur old town
• →Dinner at a local Aosta Valley trattoria (~£20–24)

Walk directly from Courmayeur on the TMB trail, climbing through pine forest to Rifugio Bertone — stop for a morning coffee on the terrace (£3–5) with sweeping views of the Mont Blanc massif. Continue along the classic panoramic high trail through the Val Ferret to the legendary Rifugio Bonatti (named after alpinist Walter Bonatti) — grab lunch here for around £12–15. Descend through larch forest and either take a local taxi back to Courmayeur (~£10–15 shared) or hike back via the valley path. Spend the evening exploring Courmayeur — gelato, aperitivo, or a leisurely dinner at your own pace (~£18–22).

🚌Walk from hotel to trailhead; shared taxi return from Val Ferret (~£12)

🛏Hotel Croux or similar in Courmayeur (~£50–65pp/night)

• →Hike: Courmayeur → Rifugio Bertone → Rifugio Bonatti → Val Ferret valley (7 miles, ~5–6 hrs, 1,035m ascent)
• →Morning coffee at Rifugio Bertone terrace (~£4)
• →Lunch at Rifugio Bonatti (~£13)
• →Views of Grandes Jorasses and Mont Blanc massif
• →Taxi return to Courmayeur (~£12 shared)
• →Evening aperitivo and dinner in Courmayeur (~£20)

Take a morning taxi from Courmayeur up to the upper Val Ferret trailhead (~£10–12 shared). Hike the magnificent Col du Grand Ferret (2,537m), crossing from Italy into Switzerland — one of the most memorable moments on the entire TMB. Descend past Le Peule Farm (famous for summer cheese production) to the Swiss village of La Fouly. Take the local PostBus from La Fouly to Orsières, then connect by train to Martigny and onward to Vevey on Lake Geneva (total ~2.5 hrs, approx. £25–30, bookable at sbb.ch). Check into your hotel or guesthouse in Vevey and head out for a celebratory farewell dinner by the lake (~£22–28).

🚌Taxi to trailhead (~£11); PostBus + train La Fouly → Vevey (~£27)

🛏Hotel des Négociants or similar 2–3 star hotel in Vevey (~£55–70pp/night in twin share)

• →Taxi to upper Val Ferret trailhead (~£11 shared)
• →Hike: Upper Val Ferret → Col du Grand Ferret (2,537m) → Le Peule Farm → La Fouly (11 miles, ~7–8 hrs, 835m ascent)
• →Visit Le Peule Farm — summer cheese production
• →PostBus: La Fouly → Orsières (~£5, sbb.ch)
• →Train: Orsières → Martigny → Vevey (~£22, ~2 hrs, sbb.ch)
• →Celebratory farewell dinner in Vevey by Lake Geneva (~£25)

After breakfast, take the direct train from Vevey to Geneva Airport (1 hr 20 mins, ~£18, frequent departures throughout the day — book at sbb.ch). If you have time before your flight, consider a morning stroll along the Vevey lakefront, a quick trip by boat to the medieval village of Yvoire, or a wander through the UNESCO-listed Lavaux vineyards terraces just east of Vevey.

🚌Train: Vevey → Geneva Airport (~£18, ~1 hr 20 mins)

• →Train: Vevey → Geneva Airport (~£18, ~1 hr 20 mins, sbb.ch)
• →Optional: morning walk along Vevey lakefront and Charlie Chaplin statue
• →Optional: boat to medieval village of Yvoire (~£12–15 return)
• →Optional: walk the UNESCO Lavaux vineyard terraces