Tour du Mont Blanc
Trekking 5 days

Trip

Tour du Mont Blanc in 5 days

The Tour Mont du Blanc in 5 days, you will leave Saint Gervais to hike in France and then in Italy: the hikes are sporty with beautiful alternative paths outside the Tour du Mont Blanc classical route, the itinerary we have chosen is wild with generally much less people than on the classic path. We favor the Italian part, which is on our opinion the most beautiful side of Tour du Mont Blanc. The Southern side of Mont Blanc is worthy of the Himalayas with vertiginous faces, which are more than 3000 meters high.

Program

Program of the Tour du Mont Blanc in 5 days 

DAY 1

BOURG SAINT MAURICE - LA VILLE DES GLACIERS - VAL VENY

Distance and elevation gain: 18km and + 1000m and - 1300m

Walking time : 7 to 8 hours
 

Meeting point: in front of Bourg Saint Maurice SNCF station at 7.30 a.m., to get to know each other and have a coffee together. Departure by shuttle bus at 8 a.m. to the Ville des Glaciers, where you will begin your 7-day Tour of Mont Blanc with one of the most impressive stages of the trip.

You'll pass over the Col de la Saigne at 2516m before continuing your ascent to 2700m via a little-known variant, but one of the most beautiful on the Tour du Mont Blanc, where you'll follow a balcony path offering breathtaking views. The day finishes in the Val Veny after a stop at the Miage lakes.

DAY 2

VAL FERRET - VAL VENY

Distance and elevation gain: 11km and +900m and -900m

Walking time : approximately 6 to 7 hours

After a short transfer to Val Ferret, you'll climb the slopes of this valley, where you'll enjoy some fine views, before doing a loop that takes you below the Tête de Sècheron, where the high point of the day is at almost 2500m. Return via the Rifugio Bonatti. 2nd night in Val Veny in the same accommodation. You'll be travelling light, carrying only your day pack.
 

DAY 3

GRAND COL FERRET - ARGENTIERE

Distance and elevation gain: 12km and + 800m and - 800 m

Walking time : approx. 6 hours

Transfer to Arp Nova, then head for the Grand Col Ferret, which marks the border between Switzerland and Italy and is often regarded as one of the highlights of the TMB, with an ascent punctuated by waterfalls and impressive rock formations. From the pass, the views of the Italian side of the Mont Blanc massif are spectacular. You can admire iconic peaks such as the Grandes Jorasses and the Pré de Bar glaciers. From Ferret, transfer by bus to Orsière and train to Chamonix. Overnight in a refuge in Argentière.
 

DAY 4

ARGENTIERE - LAC BLANC

Distance and elevation gain : 12km and +1000 m and - 1100 m

Walking time: approximately 6 to 7 hours

Starting from Montroc, you'll climb up to one of the TMB's landmarks, Lac Blanc, at an altitude of 2352m. Once at the lake, you'll be amazed by the striking contrast between the turquoise waters of the lake and the majestic panorama of Mont Blanc in the background. This is a popular spot for photographers and hikers, particularly in summer when the snow melts to reveal the full splendour of the landscape. Descend to l'Argentière then return to the refuge by shuttle bus, where you will spend a 2nd consecutive night in the same accommodation. You will carry a light rucksack for the day.
 

DAY 5

ARGENTIERE - AIGUILLETTE DES POSETTES - SAINT GERVAIS

Distance and elevation gain: 12km and +950m and - 750m

Walking time: approximately 6 hours

The day begins with a loop towards the Aiguillettes de Poussette at 2201m. The path climbs gradually through the mountain pastures, offering panoramic views of the Chamonix valley and the surrounding glaciers. Once you reach the Aiguillette (2,201 metres), the summit offers 360° views of the surrounding mountains, including Mont-Blanc and Mont Buet. You'll be carrying a light rucksack for the morning.

We take the cogwheel train to Saint Gervais, which marks the end of this 5-day Tour du Mont Blanc.

End of the trip: The group meets at Argentière or Saint Gervais station, at your convenience, in the mid/late afternoon.

Please note : There is no return journey available to Bourg Saint Maurice, so you may need to arrange your own transport. It is therefore advisable to come by train if you can, to make it easier for you to get there and back.

Materiel

How to prepare your backpack for your Tour du Mont Blanc Trekking

The hiking backpack

If possible, take a bag that is light enough to be carried well, and no heavier than 1.5 kilos.

Small : 45 litres max
Large : 50 litres max
Your rucksack should have 10 to 15 litres of space for the food you will be carrying for lunch and sometimes the next day, which the mountain huts or guides will give you.

Kilos to carry - it's better to wash than to carry :

Small : 5/6 kilos max, without water and food
Large : 6/7 kilos max, without water and food
Allow 2 litres of water and 500 grams of food for the day.

Head-to-toe equipment for the trek:

• a cap or hat for the sun
• a hat for the cold
• a buff or choker (optional, but great in bad weather)
• a Gore Tex jacket or equivalent for bad weather
• a pair of gloves, waterproof if possible
• a small down jacket or fleece to withstand sub-zero temperatures
• two jumpers: one light and one warmer; if it's cold, we'll use all the layers
• two or three technical T-shirts
• 2 to 4 pairs of socks, which you can wash in the torrents near the refuges (use solid soap to wash)
• trousers
• tights
• shorts
• a bag cover for the rain
• a waterproof bag to keep a change of clothes dry
• a change of clothes for the refuge
• A pair of hiking boots with Vibram soles or good quality trail shoes from 20 July, if possible try them on before the trek.

Essential items:

• a sleeping sheet for the hut
• 2 telescopic walking poles
• Canteen or water bottle to provide at least 2 litres of water
• sun cream factor 30 to 50
• A pair of category 3 sunglasses
• a light headlamp
• small treats such as dried fruit and chocolate
• cash and your identity card or valid passport

Toiletries :

• a light, quick-drying towel, hiking style
• body soap
• toothbrush with toothpaste or solid toothpaste
• small shampoo (specialist shops sell small bottles that you can keep for the rest of your hiking life)
• a pair of earplugs to help you sleep at night in the refuge

Pharmacy & other items :

• your medication
• a light survival blanket
• nail clippers
• enough to make small dressings
• a few compresses and plasters or, better still, Strappal

Your guide will have a more comprehensive first-aid kit in case of a major accident.

A small book or card game (weighing less than 150 grams)...

Necessities for meals :

• a light Opinel-type knife
• a fork and a spoon
• A local speciality to share with the rest of the team, liquid or solid.

Weight is the hiker's enemy, but a frozen or soaked hiker is a hiker without pleasure!

So take the time to prepare your rucksack well and weigh it before you set off, to check that without water or food your rucksack weighs 6 to 7 KG, but no more !

IMPORTANT: if a person is not properly equipped and dressed, the mountain guide may decide not to allow him/her to take part in the climb. We ask you to read carefully the equipment list provided in the programme PDF and to call us if you have any doubts.

Level

Physical level 3/5

For sporty people, we will have some good walking days and make some beautiful summits, you are confirmed in the activity or welcome in Trail initiation! Effort corresponding to approximately 900 - 1200 m of elevation gain in trekking.

Technical Level 3/5

Difficult trekking, there are several vertiginous, physical and technical passages, the path is sometimes equipped with cables and ladders to help the progression, it is not a Via Ferrata but we are obliged to use them. You must master the activity, you are independent in the mountains in easy passages, the guide will help you in difficult passages.
Weather forecast learning and learning of walking progression techniques with a mountain rope.
Maximum 10 people per trekking guide.

Useful infos

Useful Info to plan your TMB Trekking Tour

Insurance

Cancellation and repatriation insurance is mandatory, as is mountain search and rescue insurance (minimum cover of 10,000 Euros).

Esprit Montagne offers the following insurance: https://www.assurance-multi-sports.com.

How to get to Bourg Saint Maurice (73700)

• By train, you can get to Bourg Saint Maurice by TGV . From Saint Gervais, allow around 6 hours.
• By car, take the motorway to Albertville, then the main road to Bourg Saint Maurice.

Meeting on the first day:

In front of Bourg Saint Maurice SNCF station at 7.30am.

You can park your car in the funicular car park next to the station for the week without any problem.

For those arriving by train, you will find your guide just outside the station.

End of the trip 

In Saint Gervais or Argentière (train station) at the end of the day on D5.

Please note : There is no return journey available to Bourg Saint Maurice, so you may need to arrange your own return transport. It is therefore advisable to come by train if you can, to make it easier for you to get there and back. If you leave your car in Bourg Saint Maurice, take an extra night in Saint Gervais so that you can return by train (about 6 hours) the day after the end of the trek.

Accommodation before or after your stay

In Bourg Saint Maurice:
 

Hôtel Base Camp Lodge

Hotel L'Autantic

Hôtel L'Angival

For those who wish to leave later to take advantage of the thermal baths, here are a few tips and links to three hotels very close to the station to help you organise your stay as you wish:

Hôtel Le Terminus

Hotel Des Deux Gares

Hôtel de La Chaumière

And of course the Thermes de Saint Gervais, where you can enjoy the waters of Saint Gervais.

CAR SHARING

When you register online, you can choose whether or not you wish to take part in the car-sharing scheme to get to the starting point of your course. Once you have made your booking, you can log back into your Esprit Montagne account to access a section dedicated to carpooling. Here you will find the contacts of the other participants who are interested in car-sharing, so that you can contact them directly.

Video