Self-Launched Tour du Mont Blanc: 13-Day Circuit from Chamonix
13 days · Tour du Mont Blanc (France, Italy & Switzerland)
No Roads Expeditions charges £3,950
No-markup version: ~£1,170 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, fully independent version of the classic 13-day guided Tour du Mont Blanc circuit, circling Europe's highest peak through France, Italy and Switzerland. You book your own budget hotels, guesthouses and mountain refuges (roughly 8-9 nights of trail accommodation instead of the operator's boutique 3-star hotels), follow the well-waymarked TMB trail on your own or with hiking friends, use public buses and the Mont Blanc Express train for transfers, and eat in village cafés and refuge kitchens. It's the same breathtaking route — Les Houches, Les Contamines, Les Chapieux, Courmayeur, Val Ferret, La Fouly, Champex, Col de la Forclaz, Argentière and back to Chamonix — for a fraction of the US$4,998 (approx. £3,950) group tour price. All costs are rough backpacker estimates in GBP per person, excluding international flights.
Day-by-day
Geneva Airport to Chamonix
Chamonix, France
Land at Geneva (GVA). Instead of a private group transfer, take the Swiss-side bus (or train) to Chamonix via Geneva city: the Flixbus/BlaBlaCar Bus from Geneva Airport stops straight in Chamonix in about 1h45 (~£12-18), or take the train Geneva-Airport → Annemasse/Sallanches or Martigny (Swiss Travel System ~£18). Check into a budget hotel or hostel dorm in the centre of town (e.g. Mont Blanc Hostel or a basic chalet B&B). Evening: walk the cobbled streets, stock up on trekking snacks at Carrefour/Casino, and orient yourself — the Chamonix tourist office has free TMB maps and trail condition updates.
🚌Geneva Airport → Chamonix bus ~£12-18 (Flixbus/BlaBlaCar Bus); ~2h including border
🛏Budget hotel or hostel dorm in Chamonix centre (~£30-45/night shared/double equivalent)
- →Walk Chamonix old town
- →Pick up free TMB maps at the tourist office
- →Mountain gear shopping / snack stock-up
Chamonix preparation day
Chamonix, France
Rest and acclimatise. Check the forecast on the Chamonix tourist office site or the TMB trail apps (e.g. AllTrails/Komoot and the official TMB guidebook). Buy any missing gear on Chamonix's main street (Décathlon and the myriad outdoor shops). Optional: take the Brévent cable car (Les Brévent, ~£32 return) for a spectacular warm-up view of the Mont Blanc massif. Evening: prep your pack, buy passes for the first few huts, and confirm tomorrow's Les Houches bus times (Chamonix Chamonix Mobilites bus line 1, €2 flat fare).
🚌Local Chamonix bus €2; Brévent cable car optional ~£32
🛏Same Chamonix budget hotel/hostel
- →Brévent cable car (optional)
- →Gear check and gear shopping
- →Review TMB route and weather forecast
Chamonix → Les Houches → Les Contamines
Les Contamines, France
Catch the local Chamonix bus to Les Houches (~20 min, €2). Take the Bellevue cable car up to Col de Voza (~£12) — this saves a long boring climb. From Col de Voza hike the classic variant over Col de Tricot (2,120m) and past the Miage refuge with glacier views, then descend to Les Contamines (11.8km / 745m ascent). Book a guesthouse or gîte d'étape in Les Contamines in advance (Les Contamines is highly popular in summer — book 2-3 months ahead). Expect a filling set dinner or self-cater from the village grocery.
🚌Chamonix local bus to Les Houches €2; Bellevue cable car ~£12
🛏Gîte d'étape / cheap hotel in Les Contamines (~£30-40)
- →Bellevue cable car to Col de Voza
- →Col de Tricot variant hike
- →Refuge de Miage rest stop
- →11.8km hiking day
Les Contamines → Les Chapieux
Les Chapieux, France
Walk out to Notre-Dame de la Gorge via the old Roman road and cross the Roman stone bridge. Climb steadily to Col du Bonhomme (2,329m) and Col de la Croix de Bonhomme (2,483m), then descend to Les Chapieux (17km / 1,281m ascent — the longest day, start early). Les Chapieux has very limited beds: book a refuge/bunk room early or overnight at the nearby Ville des Glaciers gîte. Carry water (few sources at altitude) and expect to pay refuge prices.
🚌On foot; optional shuttle bus from Les Chapieux up to Ville des Glaciers in the morning (~£3)
🛏Refuge/gîte d'étape at Les Chapieux or Ville des Glaciers (~£28-38 half-board)
- →Notre-Dame de la Gorge & Roman bridge
- →Col du Bonhomme & Col de la Croix de Bonhomme
- →17km hiking day
Les Chapieux → Courmayeur, Italy
Courmayeur, Italy
Walk to Ville des Glaciers (or catch the local shuttle), then climb to Col de la Seigne (2,516m) — the French/Swiss/Italian border crossing with a superb view of the Aiguille des Glaciers. Cross into Italy and descend past the classic Rifugio Elisabetta (good hot chocolate or pasta for lunch) into the Vallée des Glaciers toward Courmayeur (16km / 700m ascent). Note: because of the Val Ferret glacier-of-the-Frêbouze road closures, some days need a local bus — but today you can finish on foot, or take the Dolonne/La Saxe local bus the last few km if your knees are complaining. Check in to a Courmayeur budget hotel or biennale-type guesthouse.
🚌On foot across Col de la Seigne; optional local bus Courmayeur ~€2-3
🛏Budget hotel / guesthouse in Courmayeur (~£35-50, Italian side pricier than France)
- →Col de la Seigne border crossing
- →Rifugio Elisabetta stop
- →Peuterey Ridge and Brouillard Face views
- →16km hiking day
Courmayeur rest day & Aosta day trip
Courmayeur / Aosta, Italy
Free day. Take the local SAVDA/Arriva bus down to Aosta (~1h, €5.50 each way) to see the Roman amphitheatre, Arch of Augustus and the medieval town centre — proper Italian town food (pizza/piadina ~£8-12). Back in Courmayeur, wander the old cobbled streets and, weather permitting, take the Skyway Monte Bianco cable car (€57, pricey but stunning). Stock up at the Conad supermarket — Italian food is the cheapest on the whole trail.
🚌Courmayeur ↔ Aosta local bus ~£10 return; Skyway optional £48
🛏Same Courmayeur budget hotel
- →Aosta Roman ruins and old town
- →Courmayeur cobbled streets
- →Skyway Monte Bianco cable car (optional)
- →Supermarket restock
Courmayeur → Val Ferret (Arnouva / Refuge Bonatti)
Val Ferret, Italy
From Courmayeur trek through larch forests up to Refuge Bertone for coffee, then take the high Mont de la Saxe ridge traverse with huge Grandes Jorasses views (weather-permitting) or the easier low valley route to Arnouva. Overnight at Rifugio Bonatti or the Arnouva refuge/hotel end of Val Ferret (16km / ~1,000m ascent). Refuges along here include dinner, breakfast and a packed lunch for €75-95 — worth the half-board deal. Book direct by email/phone several weeks ahead.
🚌On foot; note the morning local Courmayeur Val Ferret bus (~€2.50) if road closures apply
🛏Mountain refuge Val Ferret / Arnouva (half-board ~£65-80)
- →Refuge Bertone
- →Mont de la Saxe ridge traverse
- →Grandes Jorasses views
- →16km hiking day
Val Ferret → La Fouly, Switzerland
La Fouly, Switzerland
Climb to Grand Col Ferret (2,537m) — the Swiss-Italian border — via Refuge Elena for a coffee stop, then descend to La Fouly via la Peule, where the cheese and bread lunch is a trail legend (~£12-15). 14.3km / 822m ascent. La Fouly is a small Swiss village: book a hostel or chalet/gîte (La Fouly Auberge / Hotel Edelweiss equivalent) — Switzerland is expensive, expect £40-55 per person. Use Swiss francs from here; the ATM in town may only take cash, so withdraw at Courmayeur or Champex.
🚌On foot across Grand Col Ferret; optional daily La Fouly–Orsières postal bus if bailing (~£5)
🛏Budget auberge/chalet in La Fouly (~£40-55)
- →Grand Col Ferret border crossing
- →Refuge Elena
- →La Peule cheese lunch
- →14.3km hiking day
La Fouly → Champex / Relais d'Arpette
Champex / Relais d'Arpette, Switzerland
An easier rolling day through Swiss pastoral villages — Praz de Fort and Issert — to Champex (15km / 420m ascent). Champex-lac is a beautiful little lakeside town. Stay in Champex (hostel/budget hotel) or continue a short way up to Relais d'Arpette to set up tomorrow's pass. If tired, take the local bus from La Fouly to Champex (~£4-6).
🚌On foot; optional local bus La Fouly → Champex ~£5
🛏Champex hostel or Relais d'Arpette gîte (~£35-50)
- →Praz de Fort and Issert villages
- →Champex lake swim
- →15km hiking day
Champex → Col de la Forclaz via Fenêtre d'Arpette
Col de la Forclaz / Martigny area, Switzerland
The big one: the Fenêtre d'Arpette (2,665m) with the Trient Glacier and Plateau du Trient views — genuinely steep and loose, so only in good weather and with an early start. Bad-weather alternative: the easier Plateau du Bovine crossing to Col de la Forclaz. 15km / 800m ascent. Overnight at Col de la Forclaz (auberge) or descend by local bus/postbus to Martigny for a cheaper hotel. Swiss accommodation is the priciest stretch — book early.
🚌On foot; postbus Col de la Forclaz → Martigny ~£6
🛏Auberge at Col de la Forclaz (~£45-60) or budget hotel in Martigny (~£55-70)
- →Fenêtre d'Arpette (2,665m)
- →Trient Glacier views
- →Plateau du Bovine alternative
- →15km hiking day
Col de la Forclaz → Col de Balme → Argentière, France
Argentière, France
Back into France: trek from Col de la Forclaz up to Col de Balme (17.4km / 1,147m ascent), with the full Chamonix-Mont Blanc massif returning on the skyline, then descend via Le Tour to Argentière. From Martigny, catch the morning train to Le Châtelard and the Mont Blanc Express through to Le Tour or Vallorcine if you're starting from the valley. Stay in Argentière's cheap hotels/gîtes (French prices again, ~£30-45).
🚌On foot; optional Mont Blanc Express train Martigny → Le Châtelard → Vallorcine (~£12-18)
🛏Budget hotel or gîte in Argentière (~£30-45)
- →Col de Balme
- →Le Tour & the Aiguillette des Posettes
- →17.4km hiking day
Argentière → Lac Blanc → Chamonix
Chamonix, France
Take the local bus to Col des Montets (~€2) and hike the famous Grand Balcon Sud with the Aiguilles Rouges on one side and Mont Blanc on the other. The detour to Lac Blanc (2,352m) is a highlight, though the ladders and chains require care. Descend via Les Cheserys lakes to Plan Praz and take the Plan Praz cable car down to Chamonix (~£20 one-way), or walk the final 900m of descent. 16km / ~900m ascent. Celebrate the circuit in Chamonix with a well-earned dinner.
🚌Local bus Argentière → Col des Montets €2; Plan Praz cable car one-way ~£20
🛏Chamonix budget hotel/hostel (~£30-45)
- →Lac Blanc detour
- →Grand Balcon Sud
- →Cheserys lakes
- →Plan Praz cable car descent
- →16km hiking day
Chamonix → Geneva
Chamonix → Geneva Airport
Morning in Chamonix. Take the direct bus or the Mont Blanc Express train + Swiss rail to Geneva Airport (~£12-18, 2h-2h30). Sit on the correct side of the bus for one last Mont Blanc view. Fly home or continue onward.
🚌Chamonix → Geneva Airport bus ~£12-18 or train ~£18-25; ~2h
🛏None (departure day)
- →Final morning walk
- →Bus/train to Geneva
Self-launched vs. No Roads Expeditions
| This itinerary (self-launched) | No Roads Expeditions | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,170 | £3,950 |
| Duration | 13 days | 13 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,780 per person (70%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more No Roads Expeditions-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,170
estimated per person
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Tour du Mont Blanc: 13-Day Circuit from Chamonix cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,170 per person for 13 days in Tour du Mont Blanc (France, Italy & Switzerland). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with No Roads Expeditions?+
Yes — No Roads Expeditions charges around £3,950 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,170 — a saving of roughly £2,780 (70%) per person.
How long is the Tour du Mont Blanc (France, Italy & Switzerland) trip?+
This itinerary runs 13 days, covering 13 day-by-day stops through Tour du Mont Blanc (France, Italy & Switzerland).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, backpacker trip through Tour du Mont Blanc (France, Italy & Switzerland), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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