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

Start in Chamonix and take the local Chamonix Mobilité bus (or a cheap shared taxi) to Les Houches, where the official TMB archway marks the start of the circuit. Skip the first climb by riding the Bellevue cable car (buy on the day, ~£20 return/one-way options) into alpine terrain. From the top, climb over the Col du Tricot, cross the suspension bridge above the Bionnassay Glacier, then descend through forest and meadow into the Contamines Valley. Check into a budget mountain hostel or guesthouse in Les Contamines for the night.

🚌Local Chamonix bus to Les Houches (~£3) + Bellevue cable car (~£20) + optional short bus to Les Contamines

🛏Budget hostel/guesthouse in Les Contamines (e.g. gîte d'étape dorm or basic twin, £25-35)

• →Chamonix to Les Houches transfer
• →Bellevue cable car ascent
• →Col du Tricot hike
• →Bionnassay Glacier suspension bridge
• →Descent to Contamines Valley

Walk or catch a short local connection to Notre Dame de la Gorge, the old pilgrimage church at the foot of the valley, and follow the ancient Roman road into the mountains. Today is the biggest climb of the trek — roughly 1,450m of ascent to the Col du Bonhomme at 2,329m, then across a high exposed plateau before descending into the quiet Les Chapieux valley. Overnight in a gîte or refuge at Les Chapieux (cheaper and more remote than Bourg-Saint-Maurice) or take the local bus down to Bourg-Saint-Maurice for a hostel bed.

🚌On foot to trailhead; optional local bus Les Chapieux-Bourg-Saint-Maurice (~£3)

🛏Gîte/refuge at Les Chapieux or hostel in Bourg-Saint-Maurice (£25-35)

• →Notre Dame de la Gorge
• →Col du Bonhomme ascent (2,329m)
• →High plateau traverse
• →Descent to Les Chapieux

Fuel up with breakfast, then either walk or take a local bus/shared shuttle back to Ville des Glaciers where the trail resumes. Follow the valley upstream, climbing gradually to the Col de la Seigne at 2,516m — the border into Italy — where you get your first views of Mont Blanc's south face. Descend through Val Veny between glacial peaks into Courmayeur. Settle into a budget hostel or family-run guesthouse for two nights, with good coffee and easy streets to explore.

🚌Local bus/shared shuttle to Ville des Glaciers (~£5) + on foot over the col

🛏Budget hostel/guesthouse in Courmayeur (£30-40)

• →Ville des Glaciers trailhead
• →Col de la Seigne crossing (2,516m)
• →Val Veny descent
• →Evening in Courmayeur

Take the local bus to Arnouva at the head of Val Ferret, then climb onto the long balcony path with the Grandes Jorasses towering above. Follow the hillside trail with the valley stretching out below, and stop for lunch at Rifugio Bonatti or Rifugio Bertone — both huts serve good food with serious views. Descend through forest and meadow back to Courmayeur for a second evening in town.

🚌Local bus Courmayeur-Arnouva (~£4 return)

🛏Budget hostel/guesthouse in Courmayeur (£30-40)

• →Val Ferret balcony trail
• →Rifugio Bonatti/Bertone lunch stop
• →Grandes Jorasses views
• →Descent to Courmayeur

Take the local bus back to Arnouva, then follow the trail up Val Ferret towards the Grand Col Ferret at 2,537m — the highest pass of the trek and the Italy-Switzerland border. The climb is gradual through the valley before opening into a wide, treeless bowl beneath the col; the final push is rocky and exposed. Cross into Switzerland, then descend through alpine pastures past grazing cattle to the quiet village of La Fouly. Overnight in a Swiss mountain hostel or guesthouse.

🚌Local bus Courmayeur-Arnouva (~£4) + on foot over the pass

🛏Mountain hostel/gîte in La Fouly (~£30-40)

• →Grand Col Ferret crossing (2,537m)
• →Alpine pasture descent
• →La Fouly village
• →Border crossing into Switzerland

Take a local bus or shared shuttle from La Fouly to Champex-Lac (the TMB bus network runs this route in season), starting the day beside the glassy alpine lake surrounded by forest. Follow the Bovine Route, climbing through meadows to the Alpage de Bovine with the Rhône Valley stretching below, then descend steeply to Trient. From Trient catch the local bus through the Mont Blanc tunnel to Chamonix/Argentière and settle into a budget hostel or guesthouse.

🚌TMB local bus La Fouly-Champex-Lac + Trient-Chamonix bus (~£10-15 total)

🛏Budget hostel/guesthouse in Argentière or Chamonix (£25-40)

• →Champex-Lac
• →Bovine Route
• →Alpage de Bovine viewpoint
• →Descent to Trient
• →Return to France

Head into the Aiguilles Rouges Nature Reserve and climb to Lac Blanc, a high alpine lake with the Mont Blanc Massif laid out directly opposite — one of the real highlights of the TMB. Soak up the views across the water to the glaciers and summits above Chamonix, then descend to La Flégère and take the cable car down to Les Praz before following the river path back into Chamonix. Celebrate completing the circuit with a well-earned drink.

🚌Local bus to Les Praz/La Flégère trailhead (~£3) + La Flégère cable car descent (~£18)

🛏Final night in a Chamonix budget hostel, or onward travel (not included in total)

• →Lac Blanc hike
• →Aiguilles Rouges Nature Reserve
• →La Flégère cable car
• →River path to Chamonix