FRANCE · ITALY · SWITZERLAND
Tour du Mont Blanc
The Tour du Mont Blanc is a non-technical alpine circuit through France, Italy and Switzerland: long climbs, steep descents and a different valley almost every day.
Mont Blanc massif · Western Alps
Explore this trek
Plan the route
Tour du Mont Blanc at a glance
- Distance
- ~170 km loop
- Time on trail
- 7–12 days · 9–10 at a balanced pace
- Highest point
- ~2,537 m Grand Col Ferret · variants to ~2,665 m
- Best season
- Mid-Jun – mid-Sep
- Route type
- Loop · non-technical trek
- Where you stay
- Refuges / gîtes / hotels
Times, conditions and route variants can change. Check current local guidance before you set your itinerary.
Is the Tour du Mont Blanc the right trek for you?
It is a marked, non-technical mountain circuit, but the challenge is repeating long climbs and steep descents for more than a week. Decide these three things before choosing your dates:
- Your pace. Choose days by ascent and descent, not kilometres alone. The pace slider below shows what 7–12 days means.
- Your route and refuge plan. Check current pass conditions and each refuge’s availability before locking in stages.
- Your preparation. Rehearse two hilly days in a row with your actual pack, then assess your downhill legs.
On the trail in France, Italy and Switzerland
A hut and the Mont Blanc massif
France · forest and the first big climb
France to Italy · the high passes
Italy · balcony paths above the valleys
Switzerland · alpine pastures and huts
The circuit at a glance
Four big passes, four valleys, and a lot of height gained and lost between them. On a phone, swipe sideways to pan the profile.
Four passes, four tests
Swipe through the crossings that define the Tour. Heights are rounded, and real days always add extra ups and downs.
Inside France
Col de la Croix du Bonhomme
2,479 m
Les Contamines, 1,164 m
to Les Chapieux, 1,549 mOften felt as the real entry into the high Tour: forest gives way to pasture, then rock.
Train it: Sustained climbing at a conversational pace, then a long, controlled descent.
France to Italy
Col de la Seigne
2,516 m
Les Chapieux, 1,549 m
to Courmayeur, 1,224 mThe border crossing into Italy, with the big descent into Val Veny and on to Courmayeur.
Train it: Step-downs and downhill walking. The descent is longer than the climb.
Italy to Switzerland
Grand Col Ferret
2,537 m
Courmayeur, 1,224 m
to La Fouly, 1,600 mThe highest pass on the classic route and the way into Switzerland.
Train it: Back-to-back long days. This climb arrives when you are already tired.
Switzerland to France
Col de Balme
2,191 m
Trient, 1,300 m
to Le Tour / Argentière, 1,460 mThe way back into France, with the Chamonix valley and the massif opening out below.
Train it: Pacing and fuelling. You are deep into the trek and recovery matters most.
Three countries, three kinds of day
Les Houches, Les Contamines, Les Chapieux
France
Forest paths, pastures and the first high pass. You also return along the Chamonix side of the massif at the end.
For training: Sustained climbing and your first long descent. This is where your legs meet the Tour.
How many days should you take?
The official site gives 7 to 12 days. Move the slider to see what it means for your legs.
Balanced
1,000 m average ascent per day
A balanced pace and a kinder fit for most trained walkers. Leaves a little room for weather.
Simple arithmetic: 10,000 m divided by 10 days. Real stages are uneven.
Read these before you decide
Start with the route’s physical demands, check your current fitness, then use the training guide. The descent guide answers the question that catches many walkers out.
Start here
Free, written by Nathan Gee.
Where do you stand for Tour du Mont Blanc?
Three quick taps show where to start. It is not your full score.
Which Peaksted plan fits your Tour du Mont Blanc preparation?
The loop rewards steady climbing, descents that do not wreck your legs and the ability to repeat long days. Pick the support that fits your timeline.
Answer both questions to see the plan that fits your TMB preparation.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need for the Tour du Mont Blanc?+
The classic loop is commonly planned over 7 to 12 walking days. Nine or ten days gives many prepared walkers a more balanced pace than a seven-day schedule. Compare daily ascent and descent on your exact itinerary; extra days do not change the total climb.
Which direction should I walk the Tour du Mont Blanc?+
The circuit is often walked anticlockwise from the Chamonix valley, but either direction is possible. Choose the sequence that fits your refuge bookings, transport and daily stages, then check the current route information before departure.
When should I book Tour du Mont Blanc refuges?+
Reserve as early as your chosen refuges allow, especially for the busiest summer dates. Opening periods and booking windows vary, so use each refuge’s current information and keep a fallback stage or accommodation option.
Is the Tour du Mont Blanc technically difficult?+
The standard summer route follows marked mountain paths and usually needs no climbing equipment. Rocky footing, exposed weather and lingering snow on high passes can still change the difficulty. Check current conditions and be willing to alter a stage.
What should I train for before walking the Tour du Mont Blanc?+
Prioritise repeatable uphill walking, long descents and consecutive days with your real pack. Use the free fitness and training guides above to turn those demands into a plan suited to your starting point.
Peaksted does not book treks. Huts, transport and reservations are your own to arrange, so check current information with official sources. What we cover is arriving prepared.
Written by Nathan Gee · Reviewed 6 Oct 2026 · General education, not medical advice. If you have a health condition, talk to a doctor before you train or book.
OFFICIAL INFORMATION
NAVIGATION & MAPS
