Tour du Mont Blanc Itinerary: 11-Day Stage Guide

The Tour du Mont Blanc complete guide tells the full story — this page is the scannable hub: 11 stages, distances, elevation and where we slept each night on our self-guided loop starting from Les Houches via Chamonix.

Also read: Complete TMB Guide · Refuges guide · Official Swiss diversion (Autour du Mont-Blanc) · Trek overview

TMB at a glance

Distance	~170 km (105 mi) loop
Elevation gain	~10,000 m
Duration	11 hiking days (+ Chamonix pre-night)
Countries	France → Italy → Switzerland → France
Start / finish	Les Houches (traditional)
Style	Hut-to-hut + hotels

11-day itinerary — overview table

Day	Route	Distance	Elev. gain	Time*	Overnight
0	Chamonix (rest day)	—	—	—	Chamonix
1	Les Houches → Nant Borrant	18 km	900 m	~7 h	Refuge Nant Borrant
2	Nant Borrant → Robert Blanc (variant)	18 km	2,050 m	~12 h	Refuge Robert Blanc
3	Robert Blanc → Rifugio Elisabetta	8 km	330 m	~6 h	Rifugio Elisabetta
4	Elisabetta → Courmayeur	17 km	850 m	~7 h	Courmayeur (hotel)
5	Courmayeur → Bonatti → Courmayeur	15 km	1,100 m	~7.5 h	Courmayeur (hotel)
6	Courmayeur → La Fouly	16 km	840 m	~7.5 h	Auberge des Glaciers, La Fouly
7	La Fouly → Champex-Lac	16 km	550 m	~6.5 h	Hotel du Glacier, Champex
8	Champex-Lac → Trient	17 km	800 m	~7.5 h	Auberge du Mont Blanc, Trient
9	Trient → Tré-le-Champ	7 km	940 m	~4 h†	Auberge la Boërne (tent)
10	Tré-le-Champ → La Flégère	9 km	950 m	~6.5 h	Refuge de la Flégère
11	La Flégère → Les Houches	~15 km	~700 m↓	~6 h	Finish → Chamonix

*Including breaks; our actual times from the trail.
†Shortened day 9 — ski lift descent from Col de Balme in bad weather.

Stage notes (highlights only)

Day 0 — Chamonix base

Fly into Geneva, bus to Chamonix, gear check and first Mont Blanc views. See getting there guide.

Day 1 — Les Houches to Nant Borrant

Classic opener: optional Bellevue cable car skips the first big climb. Gentle introduction to refuge life — dorm bunks, half board, cowbells.

Days 2–3 — Robert Blanc variant (France → Italy)

We swapped the standard Col du Bonhomme stage for the Robert Blanc high route — spectacular but technical and long (12 hours on day 2 after a navigation mistake). Day 3 is short in distance but exposed; we crossed into Italy at Col de la Seigne.

Only attempt variants in clear weather with offline maps downloaded.

Days 4–5 — Courmayeur (Italy)

Town stop for gelato, laundry and hotels. Day 5 out-and-back to Rifugio Bonatti — we could not get a bed at Bonatti and bussed back to Courmayeur. Book Bonatti first.

Day 6 — Into Switzerland

Grand Col Ferret border crossing. Long day with crowds near the col; La Fouly is a tiny Swiss village — expensive but charming.

Day 7 — Swiss valleys to Champex-Lac

Many hikers’ “easy” day; one of our favourites. Fairy-tale pastures and Hotel du Glacier with dinner included — worth the CHF.

2026+ hikers: This stage crosses the Prayon–Branche (Treutsebo) sector where the official TMB diversion applies from 11 July 2026. Use the waymarked new line only — the former path is closed for rockfall safety. Do not wild camp or bivouac here; see the navigation guide for campsite rules.

Day 8 — Bovine or Fenêtre d’Arpette

We took the Bovine route to Trient (moderate). Fenêtre d’Arpette is the high alternative — stunning but demanding; check weather.

Day 9 — Col de Balme (weather day)

Sleet and hail at the col; we took the ski lift down and slept in a refuge tent at Tré-le-Champ. Shortest hiking day, hardest conditions.

Day 10 — Ladders & Lac Blanc

Famous metal ladders, Mirror Lakes crowds and a final refuge night at La Flégère above Chamonix. Many hikers cable-car down from here — we stayed to finish on foot.

Day 11 — Les Houches finish

Long descent through the Aiguilles Rouges and back to Les Houches. Emotional finish; bus back to Chamonix for celebration nights.

Classic vs our route

Segment	Classic TMB	Our choice
Days 2–3	Col du Bonhomme → Les Chapieux → Elisabetta	Robert Blanc variant (harder, shorter day 3)
Day 5	Bonatti overnight	Day hike + Courmayeur hotel (Bonatti full)
Day 8	Bovine or Arpette	Bovine
Day 9	Full descent to valley	Lift from Balme in storm
Day 10–11	Some skip final stage	Walked full route to Les Houches

Shorter or longer options

• 9–10 days — skip variants, use cable cars (Bellevue, Flégère, Balme lift)
• 12–13 days — add rest day in Courmayeur or Champex; easier cols
• Reverse direction — equally valid; book refuges in your walking order
• Alternative starts — Courmayeur or Champex-Lac (see getting there)

Planning tools

• Packing list — hut kit and weight targets
• Cost guide — per-night prices from our bookings
• Trek Comparison — compare TMB with Alta Via 1, Bernina, etc.