Tour Du Mont Blanc (TMB) in 8 days – itinerary for the busy adventurer
In July-August of 2017, we took a trekking tour of the Mont Blanc region by circumnavigating the Massif. The famous trail that we used for this circumnavigation is called the Tour Du Mont Blanc. See daily kit details here.
We were a group of 6 with varying levels of fitness, ability and time constraints. We managed to do the tour in 8 days using various options at our disposal – ski lifts, buses, taxis. Here is the itinerary we stuck to, and that served us well.
27 July – Travel to Chamonix from Geneva airport. Used the Alpy Bus transfer service. Afternoon at leisure, buying ski lift pass and shopping.
28 July – Acclimatization trek to Lac Blanc. Half way up via Ski lift and trekking the rest of the way. Stunning views and weather. Back the same way.
29 July – Started day 1 of TMB at 7:30 AM from Les Houches ski lift to Prarion and Col De Voza. Climb down to Les Contamines for lunch and then climb up to Nant Borrant for the night.
30 July – From Nant Borrant a 1400 mts climb up and then a 900 mts climb down to Refuge de Mottets. Hard day of elevation.
31 July – From Refuge de Mottets climb to Col De la Seigne and then climb down to the Italian side. We passed Refugio Elizabetta and a few kilometers head was the bus stop. We took the bus into Courmayeur town from here.
1 Aug – Climb from Courmayeur to refuge Bertone for lunch. Pushing on further from this refuge we use the beautiful Balcon trail to climb to Refugio Bonatti.
2 Aug – The day starts with a climb down to Val Ferret and then a climb to Col Ferret. Past the Col the trail leads to the village of Les Ars Dessous. From here you can take a bus to La Fouly or walk it there.
3 Aug – The trail from La Fouly to Champex Lac is through an enchanting forest. You pass the village of Issert and cross over the bridge of Praz du Fort on the way.
4 Aug – On this day you have a choice of 2 routes to Trient. One is hard and is to be avoided in inclemental weather – the Route via Fenetre De Arpette. The other is easier and closer to civilization – Route via Bovine. We chose the easier route since rain was predicted that day.
5 Aug -Trient to Chamonix via Col de Balme is an easy day. There is no fun in going downhill into La Tour using the trail, it is full of families and cyclist. Take the ski lift into town instead and then take the bus into Chamonix.
Thus ends the fabulous Tour Du Mont Blanc on a tight schedule.
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