Tour du Mont Blanc

What I loved about the Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) is that there are a wide variety of options for various levels of challenge. The traditional route takes you about 100 miles and 35,000 feet of elevation change, with a high point of around 8,400 feet. Alternate routes can offer additional challenge, or options for shorter hikes by taking advantage of ski lifts, gondolas, or buses. Venturing onto the TMB does require a certain level of physical fitness for maximum enjoyment and getting to the best views (unless you are just going to ride gondolas and not step onto the trail). 

Booking lodging around the TMB can be quite a challenge as there are only so many options along the trail. Because of the changing elevation along the trail, all signs directing the way are marked in time, which is thought to give a more accurate estimate than saying it’s 2 miles away without any indication that there is 2,000 feet of elevation change in the those 2 miles. Regardless, having someone that has done the trail before and knows the terrain is helpful in mapping out a lodging plan that fits your physical fitness level. 

Based on available lodging and time allotted, our counterclockwise route was 8 nights/9 days and ranged in distance from around 7 miles to 15 miles per day. That 7 mile day included 5,000 feet of elevation change, so while a short distance day, it was 3.5 miles down and 3.5 miles back up, with a sweet little town in the valley which was great for refueling. Most hikers we spoke with along the trail were doing the route between 9 - 11 days, with a few outliers on either end. Those doing the trail in under 9 days, typically were not doing the complete route, but were using buses or starting/stopping in two different places. Again, there are options for completing this hike that suit a wide variety of skills and time-frames. 

Of all of the hikes that I’ve done around the world, the TMB holds a special place in my heart. I appreciated the international flavor on the trail, I met hikers from all over the world, one introduction actually led to a future trip to New Zealand. Going counterclockwise on the trail seemed to allow the mountain views to get increasingly more amazing with each step, so that direction gets my vote. The TMB also has great lodging options, so no need to carry a tent (unless you want to), and meals also included in the cost which limits the amount of food you need to carry around the mountain.

I recommend stopping at the bookstore in Chamonix to pick up a map of the trail. This will help you pick the routes, as there are a few options for taking mountain passes or going through small villages on the traditional route. There were a few times when I had to consult the map mid-hike, most of the signs on the trail helped keep us on the trail, but there were a few spots where it was ambiguous. Completing the TMB has now added another trail to my list, going from Chamonix to Zermatt called the Haute Route.