Trek the Tour du Mont Blanc in a Week: Self-Launched Edition

Arrive in Chamonix the evening before and stay overnight (budget £40–55 for a hostel or budget hotel — try Chamonix Lodge or Hôtel de l'Arve). On Day 1, take the La Flégère cable car (book tickets at the station, ~£18 return) up to 1877m and join the TMB trail. Follow the well-marked balcony path up to the stunning Lac Blanc (2353m) for panoramic views of the Mont Blanc massif — Les Drus, Aiguille Verte and the Midi all in one sweep. Pack your own lunch from a Chamonix supermarket (Carrefour or Spar) the night before. Continue past the Cheserys Lakes and descend to the peaceful village of Argentière. The trail is extremely well waymarked with red-and-white TMB blazes throughout — no guide needed.

🚌Cable car from Chamonix to La Flégère (~£18). Walk to Argentière (end of day's hike). Chamonix is reached from Geneva Airport by SAT Mont Blanc Express bus (~£18, ~75 mins, book at sat-montblanc.com).

🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel in Argentière — try Auberge de la Boerne or a chambres d'hôtes. Expect ~£45–60pp twin share.

• →La Flégère cable car up to 1877m (~£18 return, buy at station or online via Mont Blanc Multipass)
• →Hike the TMB balcony trail to Lac Blanc (2353m) — 10km, ~6hrs, 530m ascent/1060m descent
• →Take in views of Les Drus, Aiguille Verte and Aiguille du Midi from Lac Blanc
• →Hike past the Cheserys Lakes and descend to Argentière

Take the local PostBus or a pre-arranged shared taxi (~£15–20pp) from Argentière to Trient in Switzerland to pick up the trail. Today's route climbs through pine and larch forest up to the high alpine pastures of Bovine, where you'll be rewarded with sweeping views over the Martigny Valley. Bring a packed lunch from Argentière or grab supplies in Martigny. Wind down through the woods and arrive at the gorgeous lakeside village of Champex-Lac. Note: luggage transfer between hotels can be arranged independently via Luggage Forward or local TMB baggage transfer services (e.g. Taxi Collomb or TMB Bagages) for around £15–25 per bag per transfer — book ahead online.

🚌PostBus from Argentière to Trient via Vallorcine and Martigny (check sbb.ch for Swiss connections, ~£15–20). Alternatively arrange a shared shuttle via local taxi services.

🛏Auberge du Club Alpin or Pension En Plein Air in Champex-Lac — ~£45–60pp twin share including breakfast options.

• →Local PostBus or shared taxi from Argentière to Trient (~£15–20pp)
• →Hike Trient to Bovine high pastures — 17km, ~7.5hrs, 1170m ascent/825m descent
• →Panoramic views over the Martigny Valley from Bovine
• →Arrive at Champex-Lac — explore the lakeside village

Take the PostBus from Champex-Lac to La Fouly (~£8, check sbb.ch) to pick up the TMB trail heading up the Val Ferret valley towards the Grand Col Ferret (2537m) — the iconic Swiss-Italian border crossing. At the top, dramatic views open up over the Italian Val Ferret with Mont Dolent, the Grandes Jorasses and Dent du Géant filling the horizon. Descend to Arnouvaz on the Italian side. From Arnouvaz, the local Val Ferret bus service (free or low cost in summer) runs down to Courmayeur. Spend the evening in Courmayeur sampling Aosta Valley cuisine — try a local osteria for hearty pasta and local cheese.

🚌PostBus Champex to La Fouly (~£8). Free Val Ferret summer shuttle bus Arnouvaz to Courmayeur (runs July–September, check comune.courmayeur.ao.it).

🛏Budget hotel or guesthouse in Courmayeur — try Albergo Venezia or a B&B in the old town. ~£50–70pp twin share.

• →PostBus from Champex-Lac to La Fouly (~£8)
• →Hike La Fouly to Grand Col Ferret (2537m) — 18km, ~7hrs, 990m ascent/940m descent
• →Cross the Swiss-Italian border at Grand Col Ferret
• →Val Ferret valley bus from Arnouvaz to Courmayeur (free summer shuttle)
• →Dinner in Courmayeur — explore local Aosta Valley restaurants

Take the free Val Ferret shuttle bus back up to Arnouvaz to continue the trail. Today is arguably the most scenic section of the entire TMB, with uninterrupted views of the Italian face of Monte Bianco, the Dent du Géant and the Grandes Jorasses as the trail levels out into a long, glorious high-valley traverse. Pass the famous Rifugio Walter Bonatti (stop for a coffee — worth every cent) and Rifugio Bertone before descending on forest trails back to Courmayeur for a second night. If you need a rest day, Courmayeur's cafes, shops and shorter valley walks make it an ideal base — the town itself is a highlight.

🚌Free Val Ferret summer shuttle bus to Arnouvaz (departs Courmayeur bus station, check timetable locally). Walk back to Courmayeur at end of day.

🛏Second night in Courmayeur — same accommodation as Day 3 (~£50–70pp twin share).

• →Free Val Ferret shuttle bus back to Arnouvaz
• →Hike Arnouvaz to Courmayeur via Rifugio Walter Bonatti — 17km, ~7hrs, 510m ascent/1090m descent
• →Coffee stop at Rifugio Walter Bonatti
• →Views of Monte Bianco, Dent du Géant and Grandes Jorasses
• →Optional rest day: explore Courmayeur town, shorter valley walks

Take the Val Veny shuttle bus from Courmayeur to La Visaille (~£5, check local timetables). Today's hike climbs from the Lac Combal plateau past the dramatic Glacier du Miage and up past Rifugio Elisabetta to the Col de la Seigne (2516m) — the Italian-French border. The views from the pass are extraordinary. Descend the long, remote Vallée des Glaciers to Les Chapieux (1549m). From here, a local taxi or the seasonal bus (~£15–20) runs to Bourg-Saint-Maurice for the night. Bourg-Saint-Maurice is a proper mountain town with good supermarkets — stock up for tomorrow.

🚌Val Veny shuttle bus from Courmayeur to La Visaille (~£5, runs July–Sept). Taxi or seasonal Savoie Mont Blanc bus from Les Chapieux to Bourg-Saint-Maurice (~£15–20).

🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Bourg-Saint-Maurice — try Le Roc Noël or similar. ~£40–55pp twin share.

• →Val Veny shuttle bus from Courmayeur to La Visaille (~£5)
• →Hike past Glacier du Miage and Rifugio Elisabetta to Col de la Seigne (2516m) — 16km, ~6hrs, 900m ascent/760m descent
• →Cross the Italian-French border at Col de la Seigne
• →Descend Vallée des Glaciers to Les Chapieux
• →Taxi or seasonal bus to Bourg-Saint-Maurice (~£15–20pp)

The biggest day of the trek. Take the bus or taxi back to Les Chapieux (~£15pp) and begin the steep ascent to Col de la Croix du Bonhomme (2433m) — stop at the refuge for snacks and drinks with epic views. Continue over Col du Bonhomme (2329m) and make the long descent through the Bois de la Rollaz pine forest, past the ancient Roman road, to the Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Gorge and the valley floor leading into Les Contamines-Montjoie. This is a 7–8 hour day with ~1100m ascent and 1400m descent — start early, pack plenty of food and water. Les Contamines is a lovely village with good restaurants for a well-earned dinner.

🚌Taxi or local bus from Bourg-Saint-Maurice to Les Chapieux (~£15pp, arrange with local taxi firms the evening before). Walk to Les Contamines-Montjoie.

🛏Gîte d'étape or budget hotel in Les Contamines — try Le Christiania Hotel & Spa (budget rooms) or Gîte Le Pontet. ~£40–55pp twin share.

• →Bus or taxi from Bourg-Saint-Maurice to Les Chapieux (~£15pp)
• →Hike to Col de la Croix du Bonhomme (2433m) and Col du Bonhomme (2329m) — 19km, ~7–8hrs, 1100m ascent/1400m descent
• →Snack stop at the Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme
• →Descend through pine forest past Notre-Dame de la Gorge chapel
• →Arrive in Les Contamines-Montjoie — dinner at a local restaurant

The final day! From Les Contamines, follow the TMB trail up through the hamlets of Gruvaz, Champel and the beautiful 17th-century chapel at Bionnassay. Climb to the Col de Voza (1653m) for sweeping final views of the Mont Blanc massif. From Col de Voza, take the Bellevue Gondola down to Les Houches (~£15, buy tickets at the top) — the traditional start/finish point of the full TMB circuit. From Les Houches, hop on the Chamonix Bus (Line 1, ~£3) or the Mont Blanc Express train back to Chamonix town centre. Celebrate with a well-earned meal and a beer in Chamonix — you've just trekked around Mont Blanc!

🚌Walk from Les Contamines to Col de Voza. Bellevue Gondola to Les Houches (~£15). Chamonix Bus Line 1 to Chamonix town centre (~£3, free with Chamonix Guest Card if your accommodation provides one).

🛏None (end of trek — return to Chamonix for onward travel or an extra night at your choice of accommodation).

• →Final TMB hike from Les Contamines through Bionnassay to Col de Voza (1653m) — 13km, ~5–6hrs, 784m ascent
• →Visit the 17th-century chapel at the hamlet of Bionnassay
• →Bellevue Gondola from Col de Voza to Les Houches (~£15, buy at top station)
• →Chamonix Bus Line 1 or Mont Blanc Express train from Les Houches to Chamonix (~£3)
• →Celebratory dinner and drinks in Chamonix