Tour du Mont Blanc: Budget Friendly

Take the day to enjoy the facilities at your hotel and get plenty of rest, because tomorrow your journey begins. Overnight at Hotel de l'Arve or a similar 3-star hotel.

Climb on the gondola to ride from Chamonix Valley to the top of Le Brévent at 8,284 feet (2,525 meters). On your very first day, weather permitting you will have a clear view of Mont Blanc. After savoring the view, you will make your way downhill to Les Houches (3,300 feet / 1,007 meters). At 3 hours, today’s hike is short in order to ease your body into the physical demands of mountain hiking. Overnight at Hotel du Bois or similar 3-star hotel. (incl. Half Board)

Multiple transport options are available to make this trek easier. It’s about 2.5 hours to Col de Voza (Col = saddle), which sits at 1,653 meters (5,423 feet). You can take one of two cable cars to a point above the col (either Prarion or Bellevue) and walk down. From the col, it is then roughly 2 hours to get to Tresse, where a bus is available to take you into Les Contamines. Continuing past Tresse, you will hike through more hamlets before reaching the river, which you will follow all the way into Les Contamines. From Les Contamines, it will take approximately 50 minutes to reach Notre Dame le Gorge. Stop to admire the baroque church and the old roman bridge, before starting a steep ascent to Refuge Nant Borrant, which you should reach within another 45 minutes. Overnight at Refuge Nant Borrant. (incl. Half Board)

A beautiful, yet difficult stage, today you will be heading over Col du Bonhomme and Col de la Croix du Bonhomme. After reaching the second col, there are two options, one which goes directly to Refuge des Mottets through Col des Fours (time savings of 1 hour), and one which continues down to Les Chapieux. If there is bad weather, or snow on the passes, it is recommended to take the lower route to Les Chapieux. Please note that you are now entering a more wild section of the TMB - there will be no ATMs until you reach Courmayeur. Still, there are quite a few shelters along the way. Overnight at Refuge des Mottets in four person dormitory. (incl. Half Board)

Since you bypassed Les Chapieux the day before, you have a fairly easy 3-hour day in front of you passing over Col de la Seigne. If you have time constraints or wish to avoid staying in a communal dorm, you can combine this stage with the next one and overnight in Courmayeur. Overnight at Rifugio Elisabetta. (incl. Half Board)

It keeps getting better—today’s views of the Monte Bianco from the Italian side might be the best of the tour. After an initial climb out of Courmayeur which gains most of your elevation for the day, the main route follows an easy route along Mont de la Saxe with views of Mont Blanc and ice of the Val Ferret. For the more hearty walkers, two higher elevation alternatives exist, however the main route will take you about 5 hours to complete. Your day ends at Rifugio Bonatti, possibly the nicest and most well-equipped refuge on the tour. Overnight in private en suite at Rifugio Bonatti (spaces limited, inquire early to reserve spot; incl. Half Board).

Do you hear those cow bells? That's the sound of Switzerland. The high point of today's hike is the Grand Col Ferret (8,356 feet / 2,537 meters) and is a taxing climb that separates Italy from Switzerland. The TMB in Switzerland may lack some of the big mountain appeal of Italy and France, but it more than makes up for it with the idyllic landscape and quaint hamlets of the Val Ferret, the Swiss valley through which the TMB snakes. Overnight at Hotel Col du Fenetre. (incl. Half Board)

After your long hike up Col Ferret, you are rewarded with perhaps the easiest stage of the TMB. Today's hike is through a valley dotted with farms and pastoral life. It's a throwback to a different time. Take your time here and let a slower way of life fill your day. Overnight at Hotel Splendide. (incl. Half Board)

Hikers have two options to reach Col de Forclaz and later Trient. The main route goes over "Alp Bovine", and Collet Portalo, the highest point of the stage at 2,048 meters above sea level. Although perhaps not as spectacular as the alternative high route, it still impresses with views of the Martigny Valley miles below. The path snakes its way across fields, meadows and forests and provides a good amount of elevation change and challenge. The long climb to Alp Bovine can seem to take an eternity. Be prepared for two hours of uphill. Carrying an altimeter can help you know how close you are to the top of the trek at Collet Portalo. The alternate route goes through Fenetre d'Arpette, and is a true high route. Overnight at Hotel La Grande Ourse. (incl. Half Board)

Ah chérie, you have made it back to France! The trip from Trient to Argentière is not particularly difficult and you catch the first glimpse of the rounded peak of Mont Blanc since you left Italy. In France, you return to the Vallée de l'Arve, which appears at the foot of Mont Blanc, the Monarch of the Alps. Overnight at Gite Le Boerne (incl. Half Board)

We've saved one of the most interesting treks with perhaps the most splendid views for last. The main route uses a number of ladder and chain systems to ascend to Tête aux Vents. If you have vertigo or are jittery with heights, there is an alternative route via Col des Montets that avoids the ladder section. After reaching Tête aux Vents, the route levels off and descends gradually to Refuge de la Flégère (4 hours). The refuge is a nice spot to sit and take lunch and gather your strength for the final push to Le Brévent, where you started your hike. Le Brévent has long been considered the best view point of Mont Blanc and is where many people stood to witness the historic first climb of the mountain. The final ascent to Le Brévent includes two ladders near the top; optionally, take the cable car down at Planpraz and avoid some 1,700 feet (518 meters) of climbing. Congrats! You've done it. Take the lift down to Chamonix from Le Brévent and enjoy your evening at Hotel de l'Arve. (incl. Breakfast)

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