{"id":23660,"date":"2018-05-15T10:10:40","date_gmt":"2018-05-15T00:40:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.snowys.com.au\/blog\/?p=23660"},"modified":"2022-11-07T13:31:10","modified_gmt":"2022-11-07T03:01:10","slug":"walking-tour-du-mont-blanc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.snowys.com.au\/blog\/walking-tour-du-mont-blanc\/","title":{"rendered":"Walking the Tour du Mont Blanc in Europe"},"content":{"rendered":"

Standing so powerful and beautiful, Mont Blanc is the grand monarch of the European Alps. Sitting at an altitude of 4,810m above sea level, this is the highest peak in Europe. And, what makes her so incredible is that she\u2019s accessible to all. You don\u2019t need to be an \u201calpinist\u201d to reach her as there are cable cars that can help non-climbers get up close to experience her from up high.<\/p>\n

Mont Blanc is situated on a 40km mountain range that enters 3 countries – France, Italy and Switzerland with her summit being on the French side. There are glaciers that cover around 100sq km of this mountain, which is why she is known as Mont Blanc, meaning white mountain.<\/p>\n

\"Heading-up-Col-Du-Bonhomme\"<\/p>\n

Heading up the Col du Bonhomme mountain pass.<\/em><\/p>\n

I first visited the town of Chamonix in France back in 2010 and saw the grandeur of Mont Blanc. This is when I fell in love with this area. My husband and I spent a few days exploring, playing as happy tourists taking the cable car up to the Aiguille du Midi, 3842m high, which is the highest I have ever been.<\/p>\n

Up here you have the most stunning views overlooking Italy and Switzerland and on a good day, Mont Blanc shows herself proudly.<\/p>\n

\"Cable-cars-to-Aiguille-du-Midi\"<\/p>\n

Hikers hopping in a cable car up to Aiguille du Midi.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Our trip<\/h2>\n

Last year saw us back and ready to experience Mont Blanc in a very different way than we did before. We came back to walk the Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB), which is known as one of the greatest long-distance hikes in Europe. The walk is around 170km with 10,000m of ascent and takes you through the three countries of France, Switzerland and Italy.<\/p>\n

Our journey had us hiking through some of the most spectacular mountain scenery, forest walks, and deep into the valleys. We stayed in a different village every night and sometimes even in a different country!<\/p>\n

\u00a0\"Col-de-la-Seigne-Crossing-Italy-to-France\"<\/p>\n

The Col de la Seigne pass crossing Italy to France.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Hiking the TMB<\/h2>\n

Many people\u00a0start in Les Houches in France and travel anti-clockwise. The trail is marked in both directions, so we chose to start in Chamonix and go clockwise. When planning your flight, it’s best to fly into Geneva. This is where there are shuttle buses that can take you through to Les Houches or many of the other villages in the valley. My recommendation is to first check in with the hotel you will be staying at on the first night, as a lot of the hotels provide this service.<\/p>\n

The time one would take to hike the TMB is anywhere between 5-12 days, depending on what you choose to do. Some of the paths you will be following are of ancient ones that have been used for many centuries. There are old mule and Shepherd\u2019s pathways, old trade routes, roads of the Roman Soldiers and Celtic tribes. I found it really interesting to learn some of this history as we walked along.<\/p>\n

There are several ways you can experience this hike. You can walk it independently or use one of the many companies that offer package deals. These include a self-guided option or a fully guided walk with all luggage transfers and accommodation sorted out for you.<\/p>\n

\"Sitting<\/p>\n

Looking out towards Trient, Switzerland.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

The independent way<\/h2>\n

Maps<\/h2>\n

Maps of this walk are easy enough to obtain if you choose to go this way and the waymarking is very clear as it is a very popular and well-used trail.<\/p>\n

Accommodation<\/h2>\n

You will want to book accommodation ahead of time, as there are so many tour groups going through and they have pre-booked a lot of it, so it can be difficult especially during peak season to find anything despite there being an abundance of choice.<\/p>\n

Camping options<\/h2>\n

You can camp and there are many campgrounds along the way. I do recommend checking out the camping laws for each country if you decide to free camp.<\/p>\n

\"View<\/p>\n

Hikers trekking through the Col de la Seigne pass.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Choosing how many km to walk per day<\/h2>\n

Be realistic on the kilometres you choose to hike each day as some sections have quite a significant ascent and descent, this can make a 20km day in the mountains a lot harder than in the valleys.<\/p>\n

Food and supplies<\/h2>\n

Do be aware of where you can obtain food as some of the mountain huts don\u2019t stock food and other huts have a limited amount.<\/p>\n

Using one of the many tour companies<\/h2>\n

The benefit of using a tour company is that they have a lot of choice in how you can walk the TMB. You can go with a guide and in a small group while having your luggage transferred. You can hike the TMB self-guided and the company will arrange all baggage transfers and accommodation. They will also provide you with up-to-date information and help along the way.<\/p>\n

\"Higher-up-towards-Col-Du-Bonhomme\"<\/p>\n

Higher up towards Col du Bonhomme.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Best time to walk the TMB<\/h2>\n

There is a limited season for walking the TMB which does create a bit of traffic along the way. This is a hiking route you cannot do in the winter months due to the harsh weather. It’s only recommended in the warmer seasons from late June to early September. Be aware that Europe have their main holiday time during August\/September so expect the trail to be at it\u2019s busiest then.<\/p>\n

You must also be aware that the weather in the mountains can be very unpredictable. They can have extreme cold snaps at any time, this can result in snow or blizzards especially on the higher passes. We walked at the end of August, being the height of summer and had a mix of hot and snowy days.<\/p>\n

Another important piece of information to be aware of is that the mountain huts on the passes don\u2019t open till mid-June and usually shut down in mid-September.<\/p>\n

\"High-above-Les-Chapieux\"<\/p>\n

Trekking high above Les Chapieux – a stopover on the trip.<\/em><\/p>\n

The terrain<\/h2>\n

With some lovely valley walks through forests, climbing up high rocky mountain passes, and even scrambling up sections at different points along the way. Be prepared to do it all and expect to get up to heights of 2,665m.<\/p>\n

This is not of altitude that can cause sickness for most people, but it does give you a tough physical challenge nonetheless. Be prepared physically<\/a> before setting out on this hike.<\/p>\n

\"Looking-over-Col-Du-Bonhomme\"<\/p>\n

The view over Col du Bonhomme.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

What to pack<\/h2>\n

To pack for a trip like this where you are heading up over mountain passes, you need to be prepared for all types of weather. Just because it’s summer, there can still be some severe weather at any time. This means that the temperatures drop drastically and fast!<\/p>\n

Typically, June to September, the temperature is between 7\u00b0C and 24\u00b0C. Always check the weather on a regular basis while on this trip and do adhere to any warnings that may be in place. Don\u2019t attempt a mountain pass if you know the weather will be severe. Also, remember the wind chill factor as your body temperature can drop at a fast rate.<\/p>\n

If you are using a company to transport your baggage be sure to check the maximum weight allowance as often this is as little as 7kg.<\/p>\n

\"Crossing-borders,-Italy-France-Col-de-la-Seigne\"<\/p>\n

The border of Italy and France along the trek.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Where you can stash your excess luggage<\/h2>\n

If you are travelling in Europe for a while other than just the walk, speak to your hotel where you will start and end your walk. Often they are happy to hold luggage that you won\u2019t need on the walk.<\/p>\n

Preparing for all kinds of weather<\/h2>\n

Whether you are carrying a day bag (and having your baggage transported) or carrying all your gear, you must have gear for all types of weather. Be sure to have wet weather gear and extra warm clothes like thermals. You will need to carry water, (up to 2 litres), snacks<\/a> and most days you will need lunch. Though do check the map and guidebook as you may head through a village where you can obtain some food.<\/p>\n

Also, carry your map and guidebook in your day bag, don\u2019t leave it in your transferred luggage as it is no good to you in there.<\/p>\n

\"Leaving-Refuge-de-la-Balme\"<\/p>\n

There was snow on the ground when we left the Refuge de la Balme.<\/em><\/p>\n

Packing list for Mont Blanc<\/span><\/h2>\n