This
version of the legendary Tour du Mont Blanc
trek is a perfect option for those who want
to complete the tour in a week, and to tackle
all the high passes, but with less kilometers
to walk each day than our tough Rugged
TMB trek, as on this trip
we use public transport on some of the easy
valley sections.
On
the way around, your leader will discuss any
variations of the route that you could undertake
each day, to make it easier or even more challenging
for you. That's one of the delights of the
TMB, in that it has so many options and variations
for you to trek along each day.
There
is so much history and information about the
local area that our leaders have to share
with you, as well as showing you the amazing
scenery, and you have the added experience
of staying in traditional mountain huts for
two or three nights set high in the mountains,
away from the valley villages.
Key
features of this trip are that you are based
in more comfortable Gites and lodges, rather
than more basic high mountain huts. Also there
is a mid trip baggage transfer included for
your night in Courmayeur, and extra bag transfers
are available (for a fee) on almost every
single night of the trek.
During
the week you pass through France, Italy and
Switzerland, so can enjoy the different cultures,
architecture, and the food of each country
over the week. The
treks are guaranteed to be led by a qualified
International Mountain Leader, to ensure your
safety and the highest levels of mountain
leadership.
Dates:
these are listed in the column on the right,
and they show the live availability from our
secure online booking system. When you book
online, you receive immediate confirmation,
your Alpine Information Booklet, course specific
kit list and invoice.
Brief
Course Itinerary The itinerary below is designed
to give you a flavour of exactly where you will trek to
each day, but one of the great things about the Tour du
Mont Blanc, is that there are many variations on certain
sections, so you can select more challenging routes or
even some summits. These options could even affect where
you stay each night, but do mean that you can tailor the
route a little on most days to suit how you are feeling,
the weather and conditions. Your guide will have a massive
local knowledge and experience, and will discuss the options
with you en-route.
Saturday
Travel to Chamonix to arrive for the 17:00 check-in
followed by a course safety and itinerary briefing.
These are really useful, as you discuss the exact
current weather and conditions, and get tips on
what to carry in your pack. You will meet your guide,
and be able to ask them any queries, and are shown
the route on a map, to talk through the plans for
the week. There is time for kit checks and to pick
up any last minute supplies. Briefings are over
by 18:00 and the Chamonix hosts accompany you for
a drink to answer any last minute questions. The
group usually goes out for dinner and drinks. Night
in Chamonix on B&B basis.
Sunday - Les Houches to Les Contamines,16km, 5.5 hrs,
650m+, 650m- After
a short transfer / train to Les Houches you take
the cable car up to Bellevue, where there is a
great view of the Bionassay Glacier and back into
Chamonix valley. The Tour du Mont Blanc trek leads
through forest to the exhilarating river crossing
of the Bionassay suspension bridge, then up to
the Col du Tricot (2119m). You descend to the
huts of Chalets de Miage, where you usually stop
for lunch, then trek up to the Chalets du Truc,
and descend through the woods to Les Contamines.
In this area you stop for the night, staying in
a Gite / lodge in the Contamines valley. You stay
the night here on a half board basis.
Monday - Les Contamines to Les Chapieux, 17km, 6.5 hrs,
1325m+, 950m- The
route starts near the baroque church of Notre Dame
de La Gorge, and ascends up the old Roman road over
hewn rock. It winds slowly upwards through woods
and alpages with stunning mountain views, past the
Refuges Nant Borrant and La Balme, and up to the
high Col du Bonhomme. Here you traverse across rocky
ground to reach the Col de la Croix du Bonhomme,
with it's hut just below. After a quick break, you
descend to the valley floor in the wild Les Chapieux
and Ville des Glaciers valley. This long descent
is long, but the prospect of a shower and a drink
beckons you onwards. Stay the night in a Gite /
lodge in the area on half board basis.
Tuesday - Les Chapieux to Courmayeur, 16km, 5.5 hrs, 850m+,
1000m- You
start the day ascending the valley past Les Mottets, you ascend steeply at first, before
the trail eases its gradient to lead upwards to
the Col de la Seigne (2513m), and into Italy. This
is the Val Veni, a beautiful region, with great
views of the huge Brenva face of Mont Blanc. There
is a short descent to the Elizabetta Soldini hut,
which is famous for its cakes. After passing Lac
Combal, you continue along the valley floor to La
Visaille, where you catch the bus down the Val Veni
to reach Courmayeur. Here you can explore the old
cobbled streets of Courmayeur with it's labyrinth
streets and shops. Night in a Gite / lodge Courmayeur.
Wednesday - Courmayeur to Champex, 16km, 5 hrs, 1050m+,
1400m-
From
Courmayeur you take the bus up the Val Ferret
to the road head at Arnouva. After leaving Arnouva,
you start the long climb to towards the Elena
hut, and then ascend onwards to reach the Grand
Col Ferret (2537m), where you pass into Switzerland.
Here the view is stunning, where on a clear day
you can see the summit of Mont Blanc, and look
all the way across Italy to the French border
at Col de la Seigne, which you crossed yesterday.
Descend past La Peule, then once on the river
track, you reach the village or Ferret or La Fouly.
Here you take the bus along the Swiss Val Ferret
and up to the village of Champex. Night in a Gite
/ lodge on half board basis.
Thursday - Champex to Le Trient, 16km, 6.5 hrs, 1500m+, 1750m- As you leave Champex behind you, the trail descends
gently down the valley, before starting to ascend
once more towards the Bovine alpage and farm. The
path crosses some meltwater streams then as it breaches
the treeline, you traverse around the hillside to
the Bovine farm, and onwards with a stupendous view
down to Martigny and the Rhone valley below you.
At the end of the alpage, you re-enter the forest
again to descend over Col du Forclaz and down into
the sleepy Swiss village of Le Trient. You stay
in a Gite / lodge in the village of Le Trient on
a half board basis, on your last night in Switzerland.
Friday - Le Trient to Chamonix, 16km, 5.5 hrs, 1150m,
1400m- The route heads up the valley, before
ascending more steeply up through the woods, on
its way towards the Col de Balme and the Swiss-French
border. As you hike above the treeline, the views
ahead are magnificent, and finally the pass is
reached. You can stop for a rest at the hut on
the col, before setting off down the French side.
On the far side of the pass you traverse over
the Aiguillette des Posettes to descend to Tre-le-Champ,
then to Montroc / Le Tour. This section of the
route follows the highest section of the Marathon
du Mont Blanc! Once you reach the valley again,
you reach the Gite / lodge where you stay for
the night on a half board basis.
Saturday - Aiguilles Rouges and Le Brevent, 13km, 5.5 hrs,
750m+, 1550m-, Take the bus down the valley to Le Praz, and
take the cable car to La Flegere. Here you trek
across the balcony trail to reach Planpraz, where
you ascent to Col du Brevent, and then over a
beautiful remote rocky trail to reach the summit
of Le Brevent. Here you start to descend, to reach
the Refuge du Bellachat, and from here there is
a choice of trails, either down to Les Houches
or directly to Chamonix. The descent is long,
but the views across to Mont Blanc and its tumbling
icefalls more than recompense your efforts. If
you trek to Les Houches, you catch the bus back
to Chamonix. Once in town, you stay the night
in a B&B basis in Chamonix for the last night.
Sunday
Breakfast in Chamonix, then the accommodation check
out is by 10:00. You are free to depart at any time,
but note that airport transfers leave the resort
approximately three hours before your flight takes
off. Most people aim for flights leaving in the
early afternoon, so they have a little time in Chamonix
before leaving for the airport, to allow a little
time for buying any last minute souvenirs or presents.
ITINERARY NOTES: Where possible we follow itineraries.
Mountain adventures are weather and conditions dependant,
so occasionaly we are forced to alter the plans.
If this is the case, suitable alternatives are offered.
Please use this outline itinerary as a guide to
the types of route / activity that you will attempt.
Course Prices
Standard
course
7
full days UIMLA guiding, 1:12 max ratio
9 days holiday in total, Saturday-Sunday
£899
Live
availability
Click
on the planner logo to the right to
see the real time live course availability
Inclusions:
1) UIMLA guide for seven days, 2) Chamonix course hosts
for logistics, bag storage, support and briefings, 3)
Pre course detailed kit list and information booklet,
4) Equipment discount voucher for UK shop, 5) 2 nights
B&B accommodation in Chamonix (inc. bedding, linen
& towels), 6) 6 nights Gite / lodge on a half board
basis whilst on the trek (breakfast and dinner each day),
7) Baggage transfer included for the night in Courmayeur,
8) Client VIP discounts for reductions in local shops
and restaurants in Chamonix.
Exclusions:
1) Travel to and from Chamonix, 2) Personal laundry, kit
hire, telephone calls, lunches, evening meals in Chamonix,
& any purchases in lodges / mountain huts / hotels
/ restaurants, 3) Cable cars (none are included in this
itinerary price, but budget for 50€ in total) and
valley buses / trains (budget 20€ total), 4) Saturday
pre-dinner drinks & final evening celebratory meal
& drinks, 5) Activities insurance, & excess baggage
charges.
Flexibility: To
provide you the greatest freedom to elect how much (or
little) you wish to use public transport in the valley
sections, we leave it to each group to discuss with their
guide on a daily basis. The budgets above are a typical
maximum per person, including their share of the guides
ticket. Likewise, groups can elect where to take lunches
each day, on the same basis, so you can decide whether
to have picnics or cooked lunches.
Notes: Group
sizes are a minimum 6, to maximum 12 clients, with 1
leader. For the baggage transfer included to Courmayeur,
this is a shared drop / swop of a few essential items
per trekker (i.e. clean base layers, socks, etc), at a
volumetric capacity of c.8 litres each.
Current
course availability
Course Dates Express TMB trek
No Dates Available
Spaces
are indicated by the
number in square brackets
before each course date.
NOTE:
This trip has scheduled
dates, but if you prefer to have
a private group who are booking
together, it can be operated on
any date,
though a supplement
or discount may apply*
As
you know, this was our second time doing
the TMB, and we enjoyed it even more
than the first time Andris
P , Express TMB Trek
Unforgettable
views, great food, and a brilliant craic
with the group Christine
E , Express
TMB Trek
It
was a brilliant achievement for us both
to complete this trek that we'd been
planning for years. Thank you
Jaime
A , Express
TMB Trek
Testimonials
Press
& media
Films
& videos
Photo
gallery
Read
our full TMB article
Location
data for this trip
The
trips all start in Chamonix valley in the French Alps,
at the foot of Mont Blanc. It is easily accessed via a
90 minute transfer from Geneva airport.
Time
Difference
GMT +1hr
Local
Currency
€ & CHF
Travel
from UK
1hr flight
View
TMB Google Earth
We
have developed a Google Earth file with all the key features
and places of interest marked on it. Click
here for Google Earth file.
If you do not already have Google Earth installed on your
computer, click
here. This is
a totally free download, and the satellite images are
constantly uploaded. You can alter the viewing angles
to 'see' the TMB in 3D, and to explore the route.
View
full course equipment list, with examples of kit,
click
here
So
why choose us?
We
are true specialists in the Alps. See our blog,
by clicking on the logo.
Itinerary
flexibility to allow you to take full advantage
of the weather and conditions each day, so that
you maximise the amount you can achieve each day.
Our
prices are fixed in £ pounds sterling, to
protect you from euro currency fluctuations, so
that you can budget accurately.
We
have a team of over 30 guides, and a resort support
team, who all want you to have the best time possible!
For more details on the guiding team and qualifications,
please click
here.
Any
further questions?
A
key part of choosing a company is being able to come and
talk about your plans with an experienced course advisor
face to face. In an increasingly virtual world, we know
our clients value speaking to real people, getting open
and honest advice. The vast majority of our clients are
British, and our office and outdoor store is based in
Windermere in the English Lake District.
Get
in contact to arrange a meeting, and come in for a coffee
to discuss your course in person with a trip
advisor. Many people opt for this service,
and it is an integral part of what we offer, as we are
keen to ensure that you are prepared as possible, and
that you select a course that is suitable for you. It
makes it easier and more enjoyable for you and us, if
you are on the right trip.
NEW Tour du Mont Blanc guidebook and map
A brand NEW guidebook for the Tour du Mont Blanc, and an accompanying waterproof map, has recently been launched by Vertebrate Publishing. It's unique and innovative, in several ways; timings for trip planning for all trail users from steady walkers to faster trail runners, 1:40,000 scale custom mapping provided on the description pages of the guidebook, and full appendices and kit lists to help you plan a trip and learn all about the route. The book is a nice size format of 175mm x 120mm, and it's detailed yet compact at 140 pages long, weighing only 300g. It's been designed by a TMB expert.
That expert is none other than multi award-winning author, and veteran of over 50 laps of the TMB, Kingsley Jones from our guiding team. All of that experience of the route, timings, where to eat or stay, and customised itinerary planning, comes from him spending over a year of his life on the route. We are going to supply a FREE copy of the guidebook (RRP £16.95) and map (RRP £14.95) to each group on our self-guided TMB trips. If you'd like extra copies, or are on a guided trip, you can get them in advance of your trip for reading and planning. Order them from us; TMB guidebook and TMB waterproof map.
