One of the World’s classic treks around Mont Blanc (Western Europe’s highest Mountain 4810 Metres).
Total distance 190km (120 Miles) height gain 10,000 Metres (approx).
Grade: Strenuous -10 days with 2 day introductory warm up days.
The T.M.B. is probably one of the most famous circuits in the Alps, a classic that you have to do. You will be filled with wonder at the prestigious summits like Bionnassay, Peuterey, Grand Jorasses, Les Drus, Mont Dolent, not forgetting the highest one of all Le Mont Blanc.
With the trek passing though France, Italy and Switzerland not only do you see 3 different cultures you will discover a variety of architecture, customs, cuisine, wine, language and mainly people.
You will hike good trails, sometimes rocky moraines in front of dramatic tumbling glaciers, through alpine flower pastures and cool pine and larch woods. After a days hiking, approximately 6 – 8 hrs with 800 – 1000m up and down per day on average you will welcome the excellent simple but tasty local meals with regional wines. You will be lead by our team of experienced, local mountain guides who bring a wonderful dimension of history, geology, anecdotes, and local colour to every aspect of the trip.
To enjoy this fantastic experience as much as possible we recommend that you are in a good physical condition, used to walking up hill and down for a number of hours carrying a small day rucksack on your back.
2 day Introductory warm up
Sunday 10th June – Travel in Chamonix and transfer to our luxury Chalet Jumelles, nestling at the foot of Mont Blanc.
├─┐ 1 night accommodation in chalet, dinner in a local restaurant. France
Monday 11th June – Walk to the Montenvers at 1913 m and enjoy the magnificent views over the Mer du Glace and surrounding mountains. Lunch at your leisure on the sunny terrace of the traditional hotel Montenvers overlooking the Mer de Glace. In the afternoon you can either enjoy visiting the glacier via the gondola access or take the mountain cog railway. The more energetic may prefer to walk back down to the Chamonix valley floor. 4. 5 hrs of walking.
├─┐ 1 night in the chalet, dinner in a local restaurant. France
Tuesday 12th June – Taking the Brevent Gondola from Chamonix up to Plan Praz at 2000m we walk to the Col du Brevent at 2550m, along the ridge taking in the spectacular views of Mont Blanc and the glaciated Chamonix valley. Walking past the Lac du Brevent to the Bel Lachat and down to the valley floor via the Parc du Merlet you may be lucky enough to see an inquisitive Marmotte or Bouquetin. Transfer back to the chalet. 6 hrs of walking.
├─┐ 1 night in the chalet, dinner in a local restaurant. France
TMB ITINERARY
Day 1 - Wednesday 13th June – Transfer to nearby village of Les Houches and take the Bellevue cable car to 1794 m. Start the TMB by taking the trail down to the pretty village of Bionassay. We walk up to a senic lunch spot at the Chalet du Miage. With another short climb up and down through the thickly wooded hillside to eh charming village of Les Contamines. 6 hrs of walking.
├─┐Night in a hotel in Les Contamines, dinner in a local restaurant. France
Day 2 - Thursday 14th June – Leaving from Les Contamines we hike up an old Roman road following following the TMB trail walking into the Beaufortain region renowned for its mountain cheese and then over the Col du Bonhomme at 2329M taking in the superb views of the Tarantaise area; for lunch. You descend down through the flower meadows with chances of seeing chamois and marmots to the village of Le Chapieux.
├─┐Night in Le Chapieux in a hotel including dinner. France
Day 3 - Friday 15th June – After a quick visit to a cheese factory, our path leads us out of France and into Italy. You will enjoy a hike over the Col de la Seigne (2516m) where the boarder is crossing into Italy and seeing the great south face of the Mont Blanc for the first time. Down into Italy and the Lac Combal and Visaille, the day ends with a steep ascent through the larch trees to the famous “Giacomo Hutt” where you will stay the night after a real taste of Italia dinner. 7 hrs of walking.
├─┐Night in the hut based on dorm rooms, including dinner. Italy
Day 4 - Saturday 16th June – A short walk today takes you into the pretty Italian village of Courmayeur (1200m) where you have the afternoon to rest and enjoy the local surroundings. Why not wander down the main cobbled high street and try some irresistible Italian ice-cream. 2 hrs of walking.
├─┐Night in hotel in Courmayeur including dinner. Italy
Day 5 - Sunday 17th June – Today you will walk up a nice trail enjoying the spectacular Glacier de Pre-de-Bar with the summit of Mont Dolent above. This is the meeting point of the boarders of France, Italy and Switzerland. After crossing over the Grand Col Ferret (2537m), we enter Switzerland and descend to the scenic village of La Fouly and the hotel for the evening, enjoying a traditional raclette dinner. 6 hrs of walking.
├─┐Night in local hotel with dinner included. Switzerland
Day 6 - Monday 18th June – Today will bring us along the quiet Val Ferret Suisse walking through charming villages you will visit a very old mill engines and discover its history and local significance. Lunch will be taken in this beautiful place with magnificent views. After lunch the hike will get a bit steeper as we climb through the forests tot eh well know alpine village and like of Champex. 5 hrs walking.
├─┐Night in Champex in a lovely hotel and dinner in a local restaurant. Switzerland
Day 7 - Tuesday 19th June – The name Bovine (meaning cow), sums up perfectly the spirit of the day as you will hike accompanied by the music of the cow bells. After a steep winding path across alpine pastures, you will arrive to eh Bovine Hutt with it’s fantastic views of Martigny and the Vallee du Rhone. After a gently decent to the Col de la Forclaz you can enjoy a good local “Fendant” the local Swiss wine. 6 hrs walking.
├─┐Night in a hotel on the pass with dinner included. Switzerland
Day 8 - Wednesday 20th June –Today your path follows the “Smuggler’s Route” from the chocolate country to the bear valley of Vallorcine. After a steep mornings walk through the pine trees, soon you will see the Mont Blanc again and enter back into France. After lunch you descend into Vallorcine and with a gentle walk to the hotel at Le Beut. 7 hrs of walking.
├─┐Night in the traditional hotel and enjoy a speciality dinner of Fondue. France
Day 9 - Thursday 21st June – After a short minibus transfer to the Col des Montets you will walk up through the Nature Reserve of the Aiguilles Rouges to the Lacs des Cheserys with the dramatic scenery of the North side of the Mont Blanc chain. Along the Grand Balcon Sud you will see Ibex, Chamois and Marmottes. With a detour to the famous Lac Blanc at 2350m and lunch over looking the Grand Jorasses you will walk downhill to the village of Argentiere and enjoy a refreshing beer before the short drive back to the chalet. 8 hrs walking.
├─┐Night in the chalet, dinner in a local restaurant. France
Day 10 - Friday 22nd June – Short minibus transfers to the Flegere cable car, lift to La Flegere at 1877 m and a magnificent walk across the Grand Balcon Sud to Plan Praz though the flower meadows and alpine scenery all above 2000m. Option of taking the gondola down to Chamonix or walking down to Chamonix and back to the chalet. 5 hrs of walking.
├─┐Farewell evening with a well deserved gourmet dinner and night in the chalet.
Saturday 23rd June – Travel back to the UK.
