Tour du Mont Blanc Highlights – 5 Day Itinerary

On your first day, you can take it relatively easy. Even if you arrive at Courmayeur later in the day, you shouldn’t be in any rush, as the hike to Rifugio Bertone won’t take long. The trail zigzags across the slopes until you reach the hut on a panoramic viewpoint above the Courmayeur Valley. Here, you’ll already enjoy a much more open view of the Mont Blanc massif than you did from the valley before.

Today marks your first full day on Tour du Mont Blanc. You will take the classic TMB route, which takes you along the flank of the mountain with great views of the massif and Val Ferret. There’s an alternative trail along the mountain ridge over Mont de la Saxe, but with a long way ahead, it would make an already demanding day even more so. Soon after passing Rifugio Bonatti, a mountain hut with one of the best views over Mont Blanc, you’ll descend to Val Ferret. From there, you’ll hike towards Grand Col Ferret, where you leave Italy and cross into Switzerland. The landscape will start to look noticeably different. Don’t forget to enjoy the views of the Grand Combin and the Grandes Jorasses before settling in for the night at Alpage de La Peule.

Your day begins by descending into the Alpine village of La Fouly. There you’ll also see Mount Dolent, the tri-border between France, Italy, and Switzerland. Without any cols to traverse, this is the easiest stage on the Tour du Mont Blanc. It will take you slowly through the valley, past green meadows and Alpine villages. It ends at the Champex-Lac, a pretty lake town that looks like something straight out of the Canadian Rockies.

This is the last day in Switzerland, and you have two options on how to spend it. You can leave the relaxing valley and ascend the Col de la Forclaz with great views of the Rhone Valley. This is the easier route, cutting around the mountain with awesome views over Val Valais. In case of good weather and energetic legs, you can also go across the Fenetre d’Arpette. This route is more technically difficult but also more scenic and wild. Don’t worry, they both end up in Trient, where you’ll stay at a cozy auberge.

The first ascent of the day will be to Col du Balme, where the end comes into sight. From the refuge there, you’ll have some awesome views of the whole Chamonix Valley. Continue on into France towards the Col des Posettes and the equally-named ridge that follows. Enjoy the great views of some of the most iconic parts of the massif on the left, while the descent takes you steeply down to Montroc, where you can board the train back to Chamonix and end the trip before 4 pm.You’ll have plenty of time to get to Geneva for an evening flight or stay in Chamonix for some celebration. Either way, inform us in advance and we can help you plan.