Tour du Mont Blanc Self-Launched Loop (8 Days)

Arrive into Chamonix (Geneva is the nearest airport — take a direct FlixBus or shared shuttle, ~£20-30, roughly 1.5 hrs). Check into a budget hostel or guesthouse in town, pick up any last-minute supplies, and get a fixed-rope-free map of the TMB (the IGN 'Tour du Mont Blanc' 1:50,000 map or a GPX on your phone). Use the day to acclimatise and enjoy the Mont-Blanc views from the valley before your first hiking day. Confirm onward reservations and note the local bus timetables for the Chamonix valley.

🚌FlixBus/shared shuttle Geneva Airport–Chamonix, ~£20-30

🛏Budget hostel/guesthouse in Chamonix (dorm from ~£25, private from ~£45)

• →Orientation walk along Chamonix high street
• →Pick up TMB map/GPX and trail stages app
• →View of Mont-Blanc massif

Take the cable car (téléphérique) from Chamonix up to Planpraz (2,000m) — buy a single 'montée' ticket (~£16-18 at the lift station; the MultiPass can reduce this). Hike the balcony trail northwards with panoramic views of the Mont-Blanc north face, Les Bossons Glacier and the Mer de Glace, then detour to the lovely Lakes of Chéserys. Finally descend into Argentière village for the night. Roughly 6-7 hrs of walking with a steady descent at the end.

🚌Cable car Chamonix–Planpraz, ~£16-18; local Chamonix valley bus available if needed, ~£3

🛏Budget hotel or gîte d'étape in Argentière (dorm/~£25-30, private from ~£55)

• →Téléphérique to Planpraz
• →Balcony trail hike
• →Lakes of Chéserys viewpoint
• →Mer de Glace & Les Bossons Glacier views

Catch the local bus from Argentière over to Trient (about 20 mins, ~£4-5, check the Martigny-bound line times). From Trient choose either the easier Bovine pastures balcony trail with Rhône Valley views, or the tougher déroute via the Fenêtre d'Arpette (a steep scree col — only in good weather). Descend into Champex-les-Lacs in Switzerland and settle in. Note you're crossing into Switzerland; keep some Swiss francs or a card that avoids FX fees.

🚌Local bus Argentière–Trient, ~£4-5

🛏Guesthouse/gîte in Champex-les-Lacs (private room ~£60-75)

• →Bovine pastures balcony trail or Fenêtre d'Arpette déroute
• →Rhône Valley viewpoints
• →Arrival at lakeside Champex

Take the local bus across the Val Fouly to the trailhead (TMB bus, small fare), then hike self-guided through alpine pastures up to the Grand Col Ferret (2,537m) — the Swiss/Italian border. Optional detour to Tête Ferret before descending into the Italian Val Ferret. Catch the local SAVDA/Val Ferret bus down to Courmayeur for the night. This is a big crossing day — start early and carry water.

🚌Local Val Fouly bus + Val Ferret bus to Courmayeur, ~£6-8 combined

🛏Budget hotel/guesthouse in Courmayeur (private from ~£55-70)

• →Grand Col Ferret border crossing (CH→IT)
• →Optional Tête Ferret detour
• →Val Ferret descent

Take the local bus from Courmayeur to La Visaille (~£3), then hike up Val Veny past Elisabetta Refuge and climb to the Col de la Seigne — crossing back from Italy into France. Optional detours to the glacial Lake Miage at the foot of the Miage Glacier or via Le Balcon de Chécrouí / Le Mont Fortin. Descend to Refuge Les Mottets or continue to Les Chapieux. Book accommodation ahead — beds in Les Chapieux are limited and book out well in advance.

🚌Local bus Courmayeur–La Visaille, ~£3

🛏Auberge/refuge in Les Chapieux or Les Mottets (dorm/private, ~£30-55)

• →Val Veny hike
• →Elisabetta Refuge
• →Col de la Seigne (IT→FR)
• →Optional Lake Miage / Miage Glacier detour

A demanding day with options. The high line goes over the Col des Fours (2,665m) — the highest point of the circuit — while the classic route descends via the Col du Bonhomme. Hike through the Vallée des Glaciers, cross into the Montjoie Valley, and follow the old Roman road down past Notre Dame de la Gorge chapel into Les Contamines-Montjoie. Check the Le Chapieux–Les Contamines bus if you want to shorten the descent.

🚌Optional local bus/van Les Chapieux valley, ~£3-5

🛏Budget hotel/gîte in Les Contamines-Montjoie (private from ~£50-65)

• →Col des Fours (highest point) or Col du Bonhomme
• →Vallée des Glaciers
• →Notre Dame de la Gorge chapel
• →Arrival Les Contamines

Take the free/local transfer to La Gruvaz (small local bus/shuttle), then climb through Champel village toward the Bionnassay Glacier, or take the alternative route over the Col du Tricot (2,100m) with views of the Dômes de Miage and Chamonix Valley. Descend to Les Houches village, then catch the regular Chamonix valley bus back into Chamonix (~£3). Celebrate completing the circuit with dinner in town.

🚌Local transfer to La Gruvaz + Chamonix valley bus from Les Houches, ~£4-6

🛏Budget hostel/guesthouse in Chamonix (dorm from ~£25, private from ~£45)

• →Bionnassay Glacier or Col du Tricot
• →Dômes de Miage & Chamonix Valley views
• →Circuit completion in Chamonix

Breakfast and a relaxed morning in Chamonix. Take a final stroll along the river, maybe a short valley lift or a soak at the QC Terme spa if you want to recover. Then catch your FlixBus or shared shuttle back to Geneva Airport (or onward rail via Martigny/Geneva) for your flight home.

🚌FlixBus/shared shuttle Chamonix–Geneva, ~£20-30

🛏—

• →Optional QC Terme spa
• →Last Mont-Blanc views before departure