Trek Hut to Hut on the Tour du Mont Blanc

Hikers seeking challenge, endless breathtaking landscapes and the cultures of three different alpine countries will find plenty of opportunities on the Tour du Mont Blanc.

The trek is typically done as a circuit, using a single location as both starting and ending trailhead.  Several sections of the circuit offer “high route” and “low route” alternatives which can be selected based on weather, trail conditions, or participant injury/illness/fitness.  There are options from many places along the route for trekkers to exit via taxi, bus, train, or gondola if required.  These public transit options can also be used to skip sections of the route in case of bad weather, unsafe trail conditions, time constraints, or injury/illness/fitness.

A wide array of lodging, dining, and provisioning opportunities exist along the route, from remote mountain huts – offering simple, hearty meals and selling a limited selection of snacks – to charming small mountain guest houses to elegant hotels, restaurants, and boutiques in vibrant communities such as Chamonix and Courmayeur.  The depth of offerings at Chamonix and Courmayeur – as well as their locations at roughly opposite sides of the circuit – make them popular gateway, rest day, and provisioning locations.

One common itinerary starts and ends in Les Houches, a short train ride from Chamonix, and proceeds counter-clockwise from France to Italy to Switzerland and finally back to France.  Courmayeur is reached slightly before the midpoint of this itinerary.  As counter-clockwise is the most popular direction in which to tackle the Tour du Mont Blanc, trekkers following this itinerary often find themselves “going with the herd” or vying for the most popular vista or photo spots.  But they’re also able to develop a special camaraderie with groups of trekkers from around the world as they all progress together from one hut to the next over the course of the itinerary.  

Another itinerary starts and ends at the summit of Le Brévent, a quick gondola ride from Chamonix, and proceeds clockwise from France to Switzerland to Italy and finally back to France.  Leveraging the region’s excellent gondola network to access and exit the trail at Le Brévent moves a big ascent to the end of the trek, when trail legs are strongest and jet lag has passed.  Courmayeur is reached at the midpoint of this itinerary, providing a better distribution of miles and gain before and after a potential rest day.    Trekking clockwise, the opposite direction of “the herd”, offers many hours of isolation in the morning and afternoon, interrupted briefly during midday as you quickly cross paths with the large numbers of trekkers going counter-clockwise.

A third option is to start either a clockwise or counter-clockwise itinerary from Courmayeur.

Outfitter / Guide Service:

Using an outfitter or guide service is not necessary when trekking the Tour du Mont Blanc.  The circuit’s trails are well-maintained, well-marked, and easily accessed via the region’s excellent public transit network.  Food, lodging, and provisioning opportunities abound.  Huts and hotels offer web-based booking.  There is no need for tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, stoves, fuel, or cookware.

That said, there is tremendous value in using a booking agent for reserving accommodations.  Booking agents have established relationships with huts and hotels, and are adept at tweaking itineraries when one or more huts or hotels in this very popular region are unavailable.

Trekkers preferring easier, higher-service, and/or shorter itinerary options including daily luggage transfers can select from a multitude of outfitters who offer supported Tour du Mont Blanc treks.

Getting there:

The main gateway to the Tour du Mont Blanc is Chamonix, France.  Frequent commercial van shuttles (AlpyTransfers) and rail service (SBB) connect Chamonix to the nearby airport in Genève, Switzerland (GVA), offering one-way travel times of 1.5 to 3 hours.  Multiple airlines offer daily service between Genève (GVA) and cities across North America and Europe.

• Suitable Activities: Backpacking, Day Hiking, Global Adventures
• Seasons: July, August, September
• Weather: View weather forecast

• Difficulty: Very Strenuous
• Length: 105.0 mi
• Elevation Gain: 39,000 ft
• High Point: 8,743 ft

• Land Manager: Land Manager Varies
• Parking Permit Required: see Land Manager
• Recommended Party Size: 12
• Maximum Party Size: 12
• Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 12