Tour du Mont Blanc
7 days Hiking in the Alps

Trip

Hiking Tour du Mont Blanc 7 days

7 hiking days around the Mont Blanc Massif, discovering the most beautiful variants of the TMB apart from the classical Trekking Route. Esprit Montagne will guide you between France, Italy and Switzerland. The Italian part with its Mont Blanc Southern Side is for us the most beautiful part of the Tour. We will therefore follow the ridge lines to admire the South Face of Mont Blanc, which is worthy of the Himalayas with its gigantic walls of more than 3000 meters of vertical drop. In the Chamonix valley we will head in direction of the wonderful Lac Blanc, and in Italy you will discover the beautiful Val Veny.

Program

PROGRAMME OF the Tour du Mont Blanc in 7 days :
 

DAY 1

BOURG SAINT MAURICE - LA VILLE DES GLACIERS - VAL VENY

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

Walking time : 7 to 8h

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 / -900m

Walking time : 6 to 7h

After a short transfer to Val Ferret, you'll climb up 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 / -800m

Walking time : approx 6h

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 hiking bag 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 hiking bag for the morning.

We take the cogwheel train to Saint Gervais. We then take the ski lifts up to Mont d'Arbois before reaching the refuge 3km further on. We're at an altitude of 2000m, facing Mont Blanc, in a small refuge that sleeps 20.

DAY 6

REFUGE ABOVE SAINT GERVAIS - MONT JOLY - REFUGE FACING MONT BLANC
 

Distance and elevation gain: 14.5km and +850m and 900m

Walking time : approx. 5h30

The day begins with a climb to the summit of Mont Joly at 2525m, the highest point of the day. The trail then descends through panoramic ridges, with views over the Megève valley and the Mont Blanc massif. The descent to the refuge is gradual, with sections through lush green mountain pastures and flower-filled meadows. The sunrise and sunset will fill you with wonder.

DAY 7

REFUGE FACE AU MONT BLANC - COL DU BONHOMME - COL DES FOURS - VILLE DES GLACIERS - BOURG SAINT MAURICE
 

Distance and elevation gain: 11.5km and +800m and - 950m

Walking time: approximately 5 hours
 

The route takes in other great classics of the TMB: the Col du Bonhomme (2329m) and the Col des Fours (2665m). After a final stop at Lac de Mya, you descend to the Ville des Glaciers, which marks the end of this 7-day Tour du Mont Blanc. You can take the opportunity to buy some delicious cheeses before taking the shuttle back down to Bourg Saint Maurice.
 

End of the tour :

In Bourg Saint Maurice (train station) at the end of the day. Do not take any transport before 7.30pm in Bourg Saint Maurice.

Materiel

How to prepare your backpack for your hiking trip

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

Technical Level

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 Guide.

Physical Level

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 800 -1000 m of elevation gain in trekking.

Useful Info

Useful information to prepare your Tour du Mont Blanc 7 days Trekking

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 take the TGV to Bourg Saint Maurice station
• By car, take the motorway to Albertville, then the main road to Bourg Saint Maurice.

Meeting point on the first day

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

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 Bourg Saint Maurice (train station) at the end of the day.

Accommodation before or after the trip

In Bourg Saint Maurice:

Hôtel Base Camp Lodge

Hotel L'Autantic

Hôtel L'Angival

Accommodation

Nights in a refuge or campsite, in rooms or dormitories according to availability.

Car pooling

When you register online, you can choose whether or not you wish to carpool to the starting point of your course. Once you have made your reservation, you can log back into your Esprit Montagne account to access a section dedicated to carpooling. Here you will find the contacts of participants on your course who are interested in carpooling, enabling you to contact them directly.