So you are thinking of guiding yourself on the Tour du Mont Blanc, one of the best multi day long distance treks in the world. You will not be disappointed, the TMB is an truly amazing walking holiday starting & finishing in Chamonix & trekking through three countries, France, Italy & Switzerland & the 4 alpine regions of the Mont Blanc Massif, Beaufortain Alps, Aosta valley & the Swiss Valais.

Generally speaking we find that the kind of person that is interested in our Tour du Mont Blanc self guided treks are an experience mountain walkers who have trekked in their home country & sometimes in other mountainous areas of the world. It might be that they have read an article on the TMB or have been recommended by friends or family that have experienced this for themselves.

Setting your sights on the Tour of Mont Blanc is an exciting challenge, you can of course organize it all yourself, book the accommodation, source the maps & guide book & away you go! Or as many prefer they enlist the help of a local company that can provide you with a hassle free adventure trekking though the French, Italian and Swiss Alps.

Why use a Mont Blanc Teks to organise your trek?

Being based in Chamonix all year round gives us a wealth of local knowledge & experience. We have trekked the Tour du Mont Blanc & all its variants for many years with our guided groups which is why we can suggest the optimum routes, the nicest accommodation and of course the places to avoid, we can also tailor make an itinerary to suit your needs.

By trekking self-guided with Mont Blanc Treks you can tap into that knowledge and we will be available to help anytime before and during your trek. All planning & preparation is done for you and we will provide you with all you need so you can just enjoy your holiday.

How hard physically is the Tour du Mont Blanc?

We grade our treks from 1 to 5 (1 being relatively easy & 5 being extremely hard), each trek receives a grade depending on the difficulty of terrain and numbers of days of sustained trekking.

To explain in more detail:

GRADE 3 STRENUOUS: Tour du Mont Blanc: These treks are strenuous & a good level of fitness needed before you arrive. The height gain & descent are in the region of + or – 1200 meters per day or a period of 8- 11 days without a break. The terrain is difficult at times with steep & rocky ascents & descents.

Once you have signed up for your preferred trek you need to prepare physically for the experience so you arrive ready for the challenge, see further information on: http://www.montblanctreks.com/trekking-grades-fitness-preparation

What experience do I need to do the Tour du Mont Blanc Self Guided?

The Tour du Mont Blanc is for sure a stunningly beautiful trek but it isn’t easy and each day you will experience some challenging terrain. Do not under estimate that in bad weather this environment is harsh & potentially dangerous so make sure you have the necessary skills before you arrive. A good degree of mountain sense is required in order to route find and navigate your way along the trails as it can be difficult at times especially in bad weather and visibility.

Our Tour du Mont Blanc Self-guided itineraries

All our treks are offered as either guided or self guided. We offer full or half stages of the Tour du Mont Blanc, Walkers Haute Route, Gran Paradiso and Chamonix Classic treks.

Follow the links below for further information.

  • Tour du Mont Blanc Full Self Guided Trek
  • Westerly Tour du Mont Blanc Self Guided Trek
  • Easterly Tour du Mont Blanc Full Self Guided Trek
  • Best Of Tour du Mont Blanc Self Guided Trek
  • Tour du Mont Blanc Full Self Guided Trek in Refuges
  • Best Of Tour du Mont Blanc Self Guided Trek in Refuges

Can the itinerary be altered?

We offer 6 set Tour Mont Blanc itineraries but these are only our tried & tested suggestions. If you require a different itinerary to one of those advertised on our website we can tailor make the itinerary to suit you. Perhaps you require additional rest days or would like to start or finish in a different location.

It's sometimes a good idea to add in an extra day before the trek starts or after it finishes to explore the area fully. Let us know what you have in mind and we can tailor the self-guided trek to suit you (additional costs will apply if extra nights are required).

What is included in a Tour du Mont Blanc Self guided trek?

· Good quality accommodation

· Breakfast and evening meals

· Unlimited expert advise

· Detailed itinerary

· Trek guide book

· Daily route cards

· 1:25,000/ 1:50,000 maps

· Historical & environmental information booklet

· Safety & emergency cards

· Bag transfer (if required at additional cost if required)

We take the hassle out of all the planning & preparation, we book your accommodation and meals, give you unlimited expert advise and supply you will all the necessary information before you depart.

We will supply you with detailed itinerary, daily route cards, emergency and transport information, IGN 1:25,000 maps that cover the Tour du Mont Blanc, safety & information cards giving you further essential information on the TMB. One pack will be sent per booking and will be sent in advance of your trek start date so you will have time to fully prepare for your trek, additional packs can be purchased on request.

Being based in Chamonix enables us to meet you before you start your trek to give you any last minute advise and route information that will be essential to the smooth running of the trek. If you require this service please let us know at the time of booking & we will organise a time & place & put it in the diary.

What level of accommodation is available?

Accommodation: For our standard trek we use 3* hotel, auberge or mountain refuge accommodation depending on location. Rooms are on a twin/ double basis unless requested otherwise. Single rooms are available most nights at a supplement. Twin rooms are available in the Refuge Mottets & Refuge Bonatti at a supplement and are subject to availability. Please request your room preference at the time of booking.

Meal arrangements: Bed, breakfast and 3 course evening meals will be included with the exception of Chamonix & Courmayeur, which will be breakfast only. Please let us know any dietary requirements at the time of booking.

The following gives an idea of the typical accommodation used by Mont Blanc Treks on the Tour du Mont Blanc, this list is not exhaustive & we have many more options from 5 star hotels to remote mountain refuges along the route.

See our previous blog for further information on our Tour du Mont Blanc accommodation: http://www.montblanctreks.com/tour-du-mont-blanc/accommodation
TMB bag transfer, is this available?

We offer a bag transfer service on the Tour du Mont Blanc for those who do not want to carry a larger multi-day backpack enabling you to trek with a day backpack containing just the essential gear for the day. Your bags will be collected each day from your accommodation and taken to your next destination ready for when you arrive.

Bag transfer is available each night apart from when in Mountain huts or when accommodation is too remote or distant for vehicular access.

We ask that bags weigh no more than 15kgs and they are no bigger than a standard suitcase size.

Take a look at our bag transfer page for further information: http://www.montblanctreks.com/bag-transfer

What if I am trekking solo?

It is possible to provide self-guided treks for solo trekkers however when trekking alone you must be proficient in navigation (use of map, compass & altimeter) in case of bad weather conditions where visibility and route finding can be difficult. There will be a solo traveler supplement added to the self-guided trek price, please ask for further details.

How do I get to and from Chamonix?

Geneva is the nearest International airport to Chamonix & travel from the airport to your start hotel is up to you to arrange but is very easy. There are various options available, which include private taxi, minibus transfer and public transport. The cost is not included in your holiday.

Getting to & from Geneva, Chamonix & Courmayeur
With regard to airport transfer this can be booked on-line, see their website at: https://www.mountaindropoffs.com and by using our promotional code you will receive a discount off their flexi fare. The flex fare gives you peace of mind if your flight is delayed as they will transfer to the next available transfer unlike the supersaver which if missed will be recharged. This would cost approx 35€ per person each way.

If you are heading to Courmayeur for the TMB easterly trek then once in Chamonix you would need to take the bus from the train station, buses run approx. 4 times a day, please ask for further details.

If you are a group of 4 or more we can get preferential rates for you, please contact Mike Booth at Resort Rides and mention that you are trekking with us. He can be contacted via the Resort Rides website: http://www.resortrides.com or by email: info@resortrides.com
For further information on any aspect of self guided trekking contact Sara at: info@montblanctreks.com

Tour du Mont Blanc: The Tour du Mont Blanc features in the world’s top ten 'must do' treks & it's not hard to understand why as this trek is outstanding with amazing views day after day.

Walkers Haute Route: The Walkers Haute Route also features as one of the worlds top ten treks & is approximately 180km in length, the route crosses 11 high mountain passes with 12,000m of ascent through France and Switzerland the Haute Route walk makes for a fabulous challenge.