Icicle: Guide to the Tour du Mont Blanc TMB trek - guided and self-guided options

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Tour du Mont Blanc guided & self-guided treks

Click one of the course images below, to view the trip itinerary...

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The Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) is the 180km circuit of Mont Blanc. This is one of the world's finest most famous circular treks. Mont Blanc presents a different landscape on each of its aspects, and is a constantly picturesque.		Icicle is a genuine specialist in the TMB, as we have groups on it every week of the summer season (June to September). If you have a group of four or more don't worry if no scheduled dates suit, as we can run a private trip on any dates.		The TMB traverses the three Alpine countries of France, Italy and Switzerland, each of which have a unique mix of culture, food and architecture. These provide a great variety of flavours and feels along the trek, and really add to the experience.

UIMLA guided Tour Mont Blanc

Self-guided Tour Mont Blanc treks

Alternatives

Express
TMB trek

9 days holiday, 7 days guided trekking, staying in Gites / lodges

Fast Packing Full TMB

9 days holiday, 7 days guided trekking, via the classic TMB route

Full TMB with bag transfers

12 days holiday, 10 days guided trekking, & bag transfers

10d TMB
self-guided

9 days holiday, 7 days trekking, av day 16.7km & +1000m height gain.

7d TMB
self-guided

9 days holiday, 7 days trekking, av day 23.9km & +1430m height gain.

4d UTMB
self-guided

6 days holiday, 4 days running, av day 41.8km & +2500m height gain.

Haute Route
self-guided

The classic Walkers Haute Route trek from Chamonix to Zermatt.

TMB West
long weekend

5 days holiday, 3 days guiding, Les Contamines to Courmayeur

TMB East
long weekend

5 days holiday, 3 days guiding, Courmayeur to Chamonix

Full UTMB race recce

7 days holiday, run the whole UTMB race route, with 2 nights in huts.

TMB West
self-guided

6 days holiday, 4 days trekking,17.2km & +1100m height gain

TMB East
self-guided

8 days holiday, 6 days trekking,16.3km & +930m height gain

Questions
& answers

Read about what it
involves trekking in
the Alps

Chamonix
self-guided

A week trekking the classic Chamonix trails. Nights in town.

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.

Advice about the guided Tour du Mont Blanc

Read our article on TMB

Guided TMB leaders

	Experience - The Tour du Mont Blanc is suitable for people with previous hiking experience, as every day you are walking for around six hours, and often more if you opt for tougher variations. Don't worry about technical experience such as scrambling or navigation, as that is what your leader is there to help you with and to show you the way. The TMB is a great challenge to undertake, but it is still a holiday rather than a boot camp.
	Mountain Huts - Whilst on the trek, all accommodation is in mountain huts or gites. If you have never stayed in a hut before, you may not know what to expect, so here goes... They are purpose built refuges, sleeping between 20 and 120 people. They are run by a guardian and their staff, and rooms generally vary from four to twenty people in size. Your evening meal and breakfast is provided, and you can order a packed lunch.
	Training & Fitness - The TMB is a popular trek, but you should not underestimate the level of fitness that you will require. Each day involves roughly six to eight hours trekking, & while each day may not be difficult on its own, the cumulative effect is tougher.
	Lightweight Daypack Only - You do not need to carry any more than a 30 litre pack, as bedding and half board food is provided each trek day. All you carry is a day bag, with a spare layer of clothing, waterproofs, water and a packed lunch.

Trip advisor - If you would like to speak to an experienced trip advisor who has been on, or who has even guided your chosen Icicle TMB trip, please click on the link above.

Equipment advice

We send a course specific equipment list to all those booking on courses, but due to the popularity of this course, we outline a typical packing list below...

	Basic clothing - Light colour wicking base layer - Trekking or soft shell trousers - Mid layer fleece jacket / gillet - Shorts for hot weather trekking - Very well worn in trekking boots
	Equipment - Telescopic trekking poles - Head torch (LED is lightest) - Waterproof jacket (eg Goretex) - Gaiters to keep boots / feet dry - Sleeping bag liner for in huts
	Altitude gear - Synthetic insulation jacket - Thick waterproof gloves / mitts - Waterproof trousers (eg PacLite) - Survival blanket for emergencies - Warm hat & gloves, sunhat / cap
	General kit - Close fitting sun glasses - Pocket snacks (eg Haribos) - Water bottle or bladder type - Rucksack (up to 35 litres max) - Blister kit, Aspirin, suncream

For more equipment advice, please visit the equipment pages

	Leaders - On guided treks you are led by an International Mountain Leader (IML). This is the highest qualification for leading trekking groups in the Alps (where it is a legal requirement) and worldwide.
	Illegals - Some trekking operators do not provide qualified leaders, and flaunt the laws, by stating that their paid employees are walking 'with the group, not leading them'. Check before you book! We cut no corners with your safety.
	Training - To become an IML, it takes several years to train. During the treks their focus is on your comfort, enjoyment, education and safety, all equally important.
	Value added - You will learn about the environment, flora, fauna, glaciology, geology, and geography of the region. It's essential to have leaders who speak the language.

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.