LE TOUR DU MONT-BLANC

The Mont-Blanc tour is a loop of 250 km, in Alpine meadows, on the French, Italian and Swiss territories, possible for any trained hiker, able to walk on varied terrain with a loaded rucksack.

This itinerary can become difficult, even tricky until end of June beginning of July, when the passes are still covered with snow (light crampons, telescopic poles, sometimes an axe can be necessary)

This GR is normally done in eight to ten days, with an average of six hours of walk per day. Stops can be chosen according to physical abilities, training, weight to carry (campers) and weather conditions.

We warmly advise hikers without enough experience to join an association or a group run by a professional walking guide.

• Accomodation

Along the tour you will find huts, halts (gites) and hotels where you will be served a meal and a breakfast. Dormitories are equipped with blankets; take with you a sleeping bag liner.
It is advisable and sometimes obligatory to reserve. Out of the opening periods (middle of June- middle of September), you can contact hut wardens at their private domicile (this information can be found on the page huts of our site).

Booking is possible via TMB official website :

• Bivouac

The definition of a bivouac is a camp set up from sunset to sunrise.
In the valleys : camping and bivouacking are only allowed on equipped campsites.
On the mountain : bivouacking is tolerated in France, permitted in Val d''Aosta above 2500 m. It is forbidden in Switzerland.
Some of the huts or halts have equipped camp sites: contact the management for information.

• Documentation

Various documents exist on Tour du Mont-Blanc among them :
• The guide of TMB edited by the Fédération Française de la Randonnée Pédestre (french speaking)
• The english guidebook  "Tour of Mont-Blanc" by Kev Reynolds - Cicerone Press
• The topographic map 1/50 000 carte en poche "Massif et Tour du Mont-Blanc" edited by Rando editions
• The two topographic maps 1/25 000 IGN TOP 25 :  3630 OT and 3531 ET

• Equipment

Good walking boots, a comfortable rucksack, some warm clothing, rain gear and a change of cloths, a small first aid kit, some food (shopping places available along the tour)?
All relevant information in the "Guide Pratique du Randonneur"(the hikers practical guide) edited by the Fédération Française de la Randonnée Pédestre.
Contacts

• Tourist Office of Les Houches : +33(0)4.50.55.50.62
• Tourist Office of Les Contamines : +33(0)4.50.47.01.58
• Tourist Office of Courmayeur : +39.0165.842.060
• Tourist Office of Champex : +41(0)27.783.12.27
• Tourist Office of Vallorcine : +33(0)4.50.54.60.71
• Bus company in Val Vény and Val Ferret - Italy : +39.0165.84.13.05/+39.0165.84.20.31
• Bus company in Val Ferret  - Switzerland : +41.(0)27.783.11.43
• Bus company Chamonix - Courmayeur : +33(0)4.50.53.01.15 / +39.0165.84.13.05
• Luggage porterage : Taxi Besson : +33(0)4.50.93.61.47 - taxibesson@hotmail.com / Taxi Miage : +33(0)4.50.47.74.89 - +33(0)6.08.63.65.34

VISIT the official TMB website