The Tour du Mont Blanc self-guided - 11 days

Today your hike truly begins. You'll start gently by taking the Bellevue cable car, then continue on foot through the woods above Bionassay. Your walk will take you through picturesque hamlets where you can admire the foothills of the Alps and, of course, Mont Blanc. The ascent will end at the Col du Tricot, from where you'll descend at a leisurely pace back to Les Contamines.

Overnight stay in Les Contamines in a 2* hotel with half-board

5 hours of walking; 11.5 km; + 653m, - 1287m.

You will first be transferred to Notre Dame de la Gorge, from where you will begin your ascent to the Croix du Bonhomme via the eponymous pass. The main highlight of this stage is the spectacular view of the Aiguille des Glaciers.

Overnight stay at the Nova refuge-inn with half-board

7 hours of walking; 15.25km; + 1200m, - 930m.

Alternative accommodation in Les Chapieux

If no rooms are available in Les Chapieux, we will book a hotel in Bourg-Saint-Maurice. Depending on availability, this will be either a 2-star hotel with half-board or a 3-star hotel with bed and breakfast.

1. Extras:
2. - +€30 / person for the dormitory-based version of the tour.
3. No extra charge for the room version
4. Transfer: departure from Les Chapieux by public shuttle to Bourg-Saint-Maurice (€8 per person to be paid on site).

Attention: in low season (before June 25 and after August 27, dates to be confirmed), the transfer must be private: +€230 return (Day 3 evening + Day 4 morning).

You first hike up to Ville des Glaciers (45 min) ( in summer a shuttle is available to shorten the hike) where the real hike begins: an ascent to the Italian border (Col de la Seigne). You then begin a descent that will offer you a fabulous view of the Aiguilles de Peuterey and Mont Blanc de Courmayeur.

You pack your things for tonight.

Overnight stay at the Elisabetta refuge only in a dormitory with half-board ( The Elisabetta refuge is a very simple and rustic refuge, bring a sleeping bag liner or sleeping bag)

5 hours of walking, + 730m, - 315 m.

Transfer from Bourg-Saint-Maurice

If you spent the night in Bourg-Saint-Maurice the day before: departure by public shuttle at 6:55 am to the City of Glaciers, starting point of the day's hike (€8 per person to be paid on site).

Attention: in low season (before June 25 and after August 27, dates to be confirmed), the transfer must be private: +€230 return (Day 3 evening + Day 4 morning).

This day trip involves hiking along one of the most beautiful viewpoints of the Tour du Mont Blanc. After crossing the Col de Chécrouit, you can descend to Cormayeur on foot or by cable car.

Room option: Overnight stay in Courmayeur in a B&B hotel

16km, 4h30 of walking, +550m, -980m.

Dormitory option: Transfer by public bus to the end of the Val Ferret. From there, it's a short walk

hour to reach the beautiful Elena refuge, facing the Pré de Bar glacier.

Overnight stay at the Elena refuge with half-board

5h30 of walking, + 800m, - 980m.

Room option: After a short bus transfer to Val Ferret, you'll reach the charming Elena refuge, from where today's hike begins with a view of the imposing Pré de Bar glacier. You'll cross into Switzerland via the Col Ferret pass, before descending to Fouly, a delightful little village overlooked by the Combins massif.

Overnight stay in La Fouly in a 3-star hotel with half-board

4h30 walking time; 12.6 km; +475 m, -930 m. (from Courmayeur, +1h walking time, 1.8km, +250m)

This stage takes place in one of the most sublime valleys of Valais, where you can enjoy picturesque farming villages. You will climb up to the high-altitude lake of the village of Champex and, after enjoying it, you can begin the ascent of the Val d'Arpette.

Overnight stay at the Relais d'Arpette with half-board

5 to 6 hours of walking; 15.5km; + 600m, - 500m.

Today's challenge: the Arpette window, an unmissable part of the Tour du Mont Blanc due to its altitude (2850m) but also because of the spectacular descent to the village of Trient, which will take your breath away in every sense of the word.

If the weather is not suitable or you do not feel up to it, you can go via the Col de Bovine instead.

Overnight stay at the Col de la Forclaz or in Trient, mountain inn, half-board.

Via the Fenêtre d'Arpette: 7 to 9 hours of walking; +1100m, -1400m.

Via the Col de Bovine: 5h30 walk; 13.7km; +800m

On this ninth day, you return to France via the Col de la Balme. This stage will offer you a beautiful view of the Aiguille Verte in the distance as you head towards Le Tour.

Dormitory option: Overnight stay at the Club Alpin du Tour refuge with half-board

Room option: Overnight stay in Argentière in a 3-star hotel with half-board

6 to 7 hours of walking; 15.5km (from La Forclaz to Argentière) +1000m, -750m

Today you're setting off for a magnificent balcony – perhaps the most beautiful in the mountains: the Balcon des Aiguilles Rouges. You'll reach Lac Blanc, facing the Aiguille Verte and the Drus peaks. But that's not all: you'll also have the opportunity to admire the Mer de Glace glacier, the Aiguilles de Chamonix, and the Aiguille du Goûter. You'll then descend to Chamonix via Le Praz. A regular (and very frequent) bus will take you to the center of Chamonix.

Overnight stay in Chamonix in a 3-star hotel with bed and breakfast

6 hours of walking; 21 km from Argentière; +900m, -1300m.

This final stage begins with a cable car ride to Planpraz. From there you will walk to Les Houches via the Col du Brévent.

During periods when the cable cars are not operating (June and September) or if there is still too much snow, this day is equivalent to a "day off" to visit Chamonix before taking the train to Les Houches.

End of the stay in Les Houches in the afternoon.

6 hours of walking, 13km, +515m, -1540m