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Express Tour Mont Blanc 2021
9 days holiday, with 7 days UIMLA guided trekking
Tour du Mont Blanc
Course overview

This version of the legendary Tour du Mont Blanc trek is a perfect option for those who want to complete the tour in a week, and to tackle all the high passes, but with less kilometers to walk each day than our tough Rugged TMB trek, as on this trip we use public transport on some of the easy valley sections.
On the way around, your leader will discuss any variations of the route that you could undertake each day, to make it easier or even more challenging for you. That's one of the delights of the TMB, in that it has so many options and variations for you to trek along each day.
There is so much history and information about the local area that our leaders have to share with you, as well as showing you the amazing scenery, and you have the added experience of staying in traditional mountain huts for two or three nights set high in the mountains, away from the valley villages.
Key features of this trip are that you are based in more comfortable Gites and lodges, rather than more basic high mountain huts. Also there is a mid trip baggage transfer included for your night in Courmayeur, and extra bag transfers are available (for a fee) on almost every single night of the trek.
During the week you pass through France, Italy and Switzerland, so can enjoy the different cultures, architecture, and the food of each country over the week. The treks are guaranteed to be led by a qualified International Mountain Leader, to ensure your safety and the highest levels of mountain leadership.
Dates: these are listed in the column on the right, and they show the live availability from our secure online booking system. When you book online, you receive immediate confirmation, your Alpine Information Booklet, course specific kit list and invoice.
Tour du Mont Blanc

Brief Course Itinerary
The itinerary below is designed to give you a flavour of exactly where you will trek to each day, but one of the great things about the Tour du Mont Blanc, is that there are many variations on certain sections, so you can select more challenging routes or even some summits. These options could even affect where you stay each night, but do mean that you can tailor the route a little on most days to suit how you are feeling, the weather and conditions. Your guide will have a massive local knowledge and experience, and will discuss the options with you en-route.
Saturday
Travel to Chamonix to arrive for the 17:00 check-in followed by a course safety and itinerary briefing. These are really useful, as you discuss the exact current weather and conditions, and get tips on what to carry in your pack. You will meet your guide, and be able to ask them any queries, and are shown the route on a map, to talk through the plans for the week. There is time for kit checks and to pick up any last minute supplies. Briefings are over by 18:00 and the Chamonix hosts accompany you for a drink to answer any last minute questions. The group usually goes out for dinner and drinks. Night in Chamonix on B&B basis.

Sunday - Les Houches to Les Contamines,16km, 5.5 hrs, 650m+, 650m-
After a short transfer / train to Les Houches you take the cable car up to Bellevue, where there is a great view of the Bionassay Glacier and back into Chamonix valley. The Tour du Mont Blanc trek leads through forest to the exhilarating river crossing of the Bionassay suspension bridge, then up to the Col du Tricot (2119m). You descend to the huts of Chalets de Miage, where you usually stop for lunch, then trek up to the Chalets du Truc, and descend through the woods to Les Contamines. In this area you stop for the night, staying in a Gite / lodge in the Contamines valley. You stay the night here on a half board basis.

Monday - Les Contamines to Les Chapieux, 17km, 6.5 hrs, 1325m+, 950m-
The route starts near the baroque church of Notre Dame de La Gorge, and ascends up the old Roman road over hewn rock. It winds slowly upwards through woods and alpages with stunning mountain views, past the Refuges Nant Borrant and La Balme, and up to the high Col du Bonhomme. Here you traverse across rocky ground to reach the Col de la Croix du Bonhomme, with it's hut just below. After a quick break, you descend to the valley floor in the wild Les Chapieux and Ville des Glaciers valley. This long descent is long, but the prospect of a shower and a drink beckons you onwards. Stay the night in a Gite / lodge in the area on half board basis.
Tuesday - Les Chapieux to Courmayeur, 16km, 5.5 hrs, 850m+, 1000m-
You start the day ascending the valley past Les Mottets, you ascend steeply at first, before the trail eases its gradient to lead upwards to the Col de la Seigne (2513m), and into Italy. This is the Val Veni, a beautiful region, with great views of the huge Brenva face of Mont Blanc. There is a short descent to the Elizabetta Soldini hut, which is famous for its cakes. After passing Lac Combal, you continue along the valley floor to La Visaille, where you catch the bus down the Val Veni to reach Courmayeur. Here you can explore the old cobbled streets of Courmayeur with it's labyrinth streets and shops. Night in a Gite / lodge Courmayeur.

Wednesday - Courmayeur to Champex, 16km, 5 hrs, 1050m+, 1400m-
From Courmayeur you take the bus up the Val Ferret to the road head at Arnouva. After leaving Arnouva, you start the long climb to towards the Elena hut, and then ascend onwards to reach the Grand Col Ferret (2537m), where you pass into Switzerland. Here the view is stunning, where on a clear day you can see the summit of Mont Blanc, and look all the way across Italy to the French border at Col de la Seigne, which you crossed yesterday. Descend past La Peule, then once on the river track, you reach the village or Ferret or La Fouly. Here you take the bus along the Swiss Val Ferret and up to the village of Champex. Night in a Gite / lodge on half board basis.

Thursday - Champex to Le Trient, 16km, 6.5 hrs, 1500m+, 1750m-
As you leave Champex behind you, the trail descends gently down the valley, before starting to ascend once more towards the Bovine alpage and farm. The path crosses some meltwater streams then as it breaches the treeline, you traverse around the hillside to the Bovine farm, and onwards with a stupendous view down to Martigny and the Rhone valley below you. At the end of the alpage, you re-enter the forest again to descend over Col du Forclaz and down into the sleepy Swiss village of Le Trient. You stay in a Gite / lodge in the village of Le Trient on a half board basis, on your last night in Switzerland.

Friday - Le Trient to Chamonix, 16km, 5.5 hrs, 1150m, 1400m-
The route heads up the valley, before ascending more steeply up through the woods, on its way towards the Col de Balme and the Swiss-French border. As you hike above the treeline, the views ahead are magnificent, and finally the pass is reached. You can stop for a rest at the hut on the col, before setting off down the French side. On the far side of the pass you traverse over the Aiguillette des Posettes to descend to Tre-le-Champ, then to Montroc / Le Tour. This section of the route follows the highest section of the Marathon du Mont Blanc! Once you reach the valley again, you reach the Gite / lodge where you stay for the night on a half board basis.

Saturday - Aiguilles Rouges and Le Brevent, 13km, 5.5 hrs, 750m+, 1550m-,
Take the bus down the valley to Le Praz, and take the cable car to La Flegere. Here you trek across the balcony trail to reach Planpraz, where you ascent to Col du Brevent, and then over a beautiful remote rocky trail to reach the summit of Le Brevent. Here you start to descend, to reach the Refuge du Bellachat, and from here there is a choice of trails, either down to Les Houches or directly to Chamonix. The descent is long, but the views across to Mont Blanc and its tumbling icefalls more than recompense your efforts. If you trek to Les Houches, you catch the bus back to Chamonix. Once in town, you stay the night in a B&B basis in Chamonix for the last night.

Sunday
Breakfast in Chamonix, then the accommodation check out is by 10:00. You are free to depart at any time, but note that airport transfers leave the resort approximately three hours before your flight takes off. Most people aim for flights leaving in the early afternoon, so they have a little time in Chamonix before leaving for the airport, to allow a little time for buying any last minute souvenirs or presents.

ITINERARY NOTES: Where possible we follow itineraries. Mountain adventures are weather and conditions dependant, so occasionaly we are forced to alter the plans. If this is the case, suitable alternatives are offered. Please use this outline itinerary as a guide to the types of route / activity that you will attempt.
Tour du Mont Blanc

Course Prices
Standard course
7 full days UIMLA guiding, 1:12 max ratio
9 days holiday in total, Saturday-Sunday
£899
Live availability
Click on the planner logo to the right to
see the real time live course availability
Latest Availability
Secure online booking system
Inclusions: 1) UIMLA guide for seven days, 2) Chamonix course hosts for logistics, bag storage, support and briefings, 3) Pre course detailed kit list and information booklet, 4) Equipment discount voucher for UK shop, 5) 2 nights B&B accommodation in Chamonix (inc. bedding, linen & towels), 6) 6 nights Gite / lodge on a half board basis whilst on the trek (breakfast and dinner each day), 7) Baggage transfer included for the night in Courmayeur, 8) Client VIP discounts for reductions in local shops and restaurants in Chamonix.
Exclusions: 1) Travel to and from Chamonix, 2) Personal laundry, kit hire, telephone calls, lunches, evening meals in Chamonix, & any purchases in lodges / mountain huts / hotels / restaurants, 3) Cable cars (none are included in this itinerary price, but budget for 50€ in total) and valley buses / trains (budget 20€ total), 4) Saturday pre-dinner drinks & final evening celebratory meal & drinks, 5) Activities insurance, & excess baggage charges.
Flexibility: To provide you the greatest freedom to elect how much (or little) you wish to use public transport in the valley sections, we leave it to each group to discuss with their guide on a daily basis. The budgets above are a typical maximum per person, including their share of the guides ticket. Likewise, groups can elect where to take lunches each day, on the same basis, so you can decide whether to have picnics or cooked lunches.
Notes: Group sizes are a minimum 6, to maximum 12 clients, with 1 leader. For the baggage transfer included to Courmayeur, this is a shared drop / swop of a few essential items per trekker (i.e. clean base layers, socks, etc), at a volumetric capacity of c.8 litres each.
Tour du Mont Blanc
Current course availability

Course Dates
Express TMB trek
  • No Dates Available
Spaces are indicated by the
number in square brackets
before each course date.
NOTE: This trip has scheduled
dates, but if you prefer to have
a private group who are booking
together, it can be operated on
any date
, though a supplement
or discount may apply*
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Price: £899 Book online

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click here to view page
Client feedback


As you know, this was our second time doing the TMB, and we enjoyed it even more than the first time

Andris P , Express TMB Trek

Unforgettable views, great food, and a brilliant craic with the group

Christine E , Express TMB Trek

It was a brilliant achievement for us both to complete this trek that we'd been planning for years. Thank you

Jaime A , Express TMB Trek
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Location data for this trip
The trips all start in Chamonix valley in the French Alps, at the foot of Mont Blanc. It is easily accessed via a 90 minute transfer from Geneva airport.
Time Difference
GMT +1hr
Local Currency
€ & CHF
Travel from UK
1hr flight
View TMB Google Earth
Icicle Google Earth TMB Map

We have developed a Google Earth file with all the key features and places of interest marked on it. Click here for Google Earth file. If you do not already have Google Earth installed on your computer, click here. This is a totally free download, and the satellite images are constantly uploaded. You can alter the viewing angles to 'see' the TMB in 3D, and to explore the route.
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Suggested reading and kit
View full course equipment list, with examples of kit, click here
So why choose us?
We are true specialists in the Alps. See our blog, by clicking on the logo.
Icicle Blog
Itinerary flexibility to allow you to take full advantage of the weather and conditions each day, so that you maximise the amount you can achieve each day.
Our prices are fixed in £ pounds sterling, to protect you from euro currency fluctuations, so that you can budget accurately.
We have a team of over 30 guides, and a resort support team, who all want you to have the best time possible! For more details on the guiding team and qualifications, please click here.
Any further questions?
A key part of choosing a company is being able to come and talk about your plans with an experienced course advisor face to face. In an increasingly virtual world, we know our clients value speaking to real people, getting open and honest advice. The vast majority of our clients are British, and our office and outdoor store is based in Windermere in the English Lake District.



Get in contact to arrange a meeting, and come in for a coffee to discuss your course in person with a trip advisor. Many people opt for this service, and it is an integral part of what we offer, as we are keen to ensure that you are prepared as possible, and that you select a course that is suitable for you. It makes it easier and more enjoyable for you and us, if you are on the right trip.
NEW Tour du Mont Blanc guidebook and map


A brand NEW guidebook for the Tour du Mont Blanc, and an accompanying waterproof map, has recently been launched by Vertebrate Publishing. It's unique and innovative, in several ways; timings for trip planning for all trail users from steady walkers to faster trail runners, 1:40,000 scale custom mapping provided on the description pages of the guidebook, and full appendices and kit lists to help you plan a trip and learn all about the route. The book is a nice size format of 175mm x 120mm, and it's detailed yet compact at 140 pages long, weighing only 300g. It's been designed by a TMB expert
.

That expert is none other than multi award-winning author, and veteran of over 50 laps of the TMB, Kingsley Jones from our guiding team. All of that experience of the route, timings, where to eat or stay, and customised itinerary planning, comes from him spending over a year of his life on the route. We are going to supply a FREE copy of the guidebook (RRP £16.95) and map (RRP £14.95) to each group on our self-guided TMB trips. If you'd like extra copies, or are on a guided trip, you can get them in advance of your trip for reading and planning. Order them from us; TMB guidebook and TMB waterproof map.


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