Tour du Mont Blanc: Basecamp

Take the day to enjoy the facilities at your hotel and get plenty of rest, because tomorrow your hiking adventure begins. Overnight at a hotel in Courmayeur city center.

Start your trek with a bus from Courmayeur to La Visaille, and then a hike to the main trail at Cabane du Combal. From here the trail takes a steeper climb to the Mont Favre spur, the highest point of the stage at 2,422 meters. This high route has some really nice views of Mont Blanc and the surrounding peaks. Care is needed as there are some steep sections on the way to the spur. At the end of the trek, there is a lot of elevation loss when you descend into Courmayeur, so prepare accordingly.

Warm up before taking the bus from Courmayeur to Chalet Val Ferret, because your day starts with a brisk, leg-pumping climb over 1.5 km. Thankfully, most of your day is a pleasant hike along rolling trail with wonderful views of the Mont Blanc Massif. At about 5 km, pass by Rifugio Bonatti, possibly the nicest refuge on the tour and a good place to stop for lunch. After passing Rifugio Bertone at 13 km, test your legs with a steep descent into the Courmayeur valley.

Return to yesterday's starting point at Chalet Val Ferret and aim your boots northeast towards Grand Col Ferret, your goal for today. The hike is taxing, climbing 700 meters over the course of 4 km. You'll have Rifugio Elena at about the halfway mark, which is a great place to stop for a rest and a bite to eat. Once you reach the col, step into Switzerland if only just for a moment, as this is one of only two opportunities on the trek. Then make your way back down to Chalet Val Ferret and return to Courmayeur by bus.

Chamonix is popular worldwide for being one of Europe's skiing capitals and a summer mountaineering destination. Its landscape is dominated by the pointy "aiguilles"—sharp pinnacles of rock—around Mont Blanc, western Europe's tallest mountain at 4,810 meters. Take the 20-minute cable car ride from Chamonix center to the top of the famous Aiguille du Midi and its viewing platform. In the evening, explore Chamonix's international restaurant scene, which features French, Indian, Scandinavian, Chinese, and fusion cuisine.

From Chamonix, take the bus to the Bellevue stop in Les Houches, and then hop on the cable car to reach your starting point at Bellevue. Today's hike first passes the Glacier de Bionnassay before climbing to the highest point at Col de Tricot; take a quick detour here to the top of Mont Vorassay for a view of the Domes de Miage and into the Contamines valley. Descend steeply to Miage, where you can stop for an early lunch at Refuge de Miage, or push on to Le Champel. Turn back uphill and towards Bionnassay and Auberge de Bionnassay, a perfect location for late lunch or a nice coffee. Continue your reasonable climb up to Col de Voza and then to Bellevue, where you'll catch the cable car back down to the valley floor.

Today you'll head the opposite direction up the Chamonix valley to Le Tour for a short hike that promises some of the finest Mont Blanc views on the tour. After your bus ride, take the cable car from Le Tour to Autannes and then turn towards Col de Balme and Col des Posettes. Optionally descend here for a quick refreshments detour to Alpage de Balme. Continue on the trail to Aiguillette des Posettes for a breathtaking view of the Mont Blanc massif. From here it's a steady descent to Tré-le-Champ, and eventually your ending point in Montroc. Return to Chamonix via train or bus.

Return to your ending point from the previous day by your preferred means of transport, and then head back up the hill to Tré-le-Champ to rejoin the main TMB trail. Like yesterday's stage, this hiking section has amazing views of the Mont Blanc massif all day long. It also will take you up and over the famed ladder section at Aiguillette d'Argentière; if you suffer from vertigo, there is an alternative route around the backside of the mountain that skips the ladders. At Tête aux Vents, make your planned detour to Lac Blanc, a gorgeous high-altitude lake well loved by photographers for its reflection of the massif. After enjoying the view here, start your steady descent downhill to La Flégère, where you will take the cable car to Les Praz and then a bus to your accommodation.

This may be the shortest stage of the tour, but with 1,000 meters of ascent your legs are sure to be burning by the end! Return to La Flégère via cable car to begin the day, then start with a pleasant hike along this relatively flat section of the Grand Balcon Sud trail. At about 2.5 km, you will begin the easier ascent section; at 5 km, stop in at the Altitude restaurant for a rest and refreshments. After this point the ascent becomes noticeably steeper and will remain so until the ending point for the day: Le Brévent. This 2,525-meter high peak offers an unobstructed view of the Mont Blanc massif in its entirety, as well as the French Alps to the west. Once you've had your fill of the view, take the cable car down to the valley floor.

Start your day with a cable car ride back to Le Brévent, and a view of the massif backlit by the morning sun. Whereas the previous day was almost exclusively ascent, today will be pure descent to Les Houches. Tighten up those boot laces and get out your hiking poles! Stop at Refuge de Bellachat at 2.5 km if you fancy an early lunch; otherwise continue descending until you pass Parc de Merlet and then come to the Christ Roi statue. Aim yourself straight down the hill and towards the Arve river, which you will follow and then cross before reaching Les Houches. Return to Chamonix by bus and enjoy your final evening in this mountain wonderland. Congratulations on completing your tour!

After a leisurely breakfast, you have the day open until your departure to enjoy the town. Alternatively, why not have a spa day? You've earned it. Ciao! Au revoir!