Self-guided · France · Italy · Switzerland
Nine days,
the whole circuit,
no shortcuts.
The full Tour of Mont Blanc, walked at a sane pace over nine days — three countries, the classic high passes, and a full rest day's worth of extra time spread through the week so you're not racing the schedule.
- Days
- 9
- Distance
- 130 km
- Ascent
- 7,100 m
- Grade
- Moderate to challenging
“An amazing and very memorable experience”Bhagyashree & Akhil
Read the reviewsTrip Essentials
Walked in reverse
We run the circuit anti-clockwise, against the direction most groups take. You pass the crowds on the passes rather than queuing behind them all week.
Walking solo?
Both Mont Blanc trips are available to solo walkers with a private room every night — something several of the larger operators won't offer.
Read the solo detailsThe walk
The complete circuit,
properly paced.
This is the Tour of Mont Blanc done in full, without compressing it into a week that leaves no room for a slow morning or a change in the weather. Nine days is enough to take the high variants where they're offered, stop for the views, and still be in bed at a reasonable hour each night.
You walk anti-clockwise from the Chamonix valley, out through the Swiss Val Ferret and over the Grand Col Ferret into Italy, along the balcony trail of the Mont de la Saxe under the Grandes Jorasses, back into France over the Col de la Seigne, and home over the Col des Fours and the Col du Tricot with Mont Blanc's glaciers close by for most of the last two days.
Everything is booked ahead — gîtes, refuges and small hotels each night — and luggage transfer is available if you'd rather walk with just a daypack. You navigate with route notes and a map; the trail itself is well waymarked throughout.
The route, day by day.
A fixed self-guided package: every stage, every night's accommodation and every luggage transfer is arranged before you set off.
- 01
Les Praz de Chamonix → Lac Blanc → Le Tour
5.5 h · +600 m / −950 m · 13 kmThe Flégère gondola lifts you straight onto the Balcons du Mont Blanc, with the Lac Blanc at 2,300 m as the day's high point. Descend past the Col des Montets and the Aiguilles Rouges visitor centre to Montroc and the village of Le Tour. Night in a gîte.
- 02
Col de Balme → Trient
5 h · +840 m / −930 m · 13 kmClimb the Posettes balcony trail to the Col de Balme (2,200 m) on the French–Swiss border, with the Argentière, Le Tour and Mont Blanc glaciers all close and clear. Descend through Swiss pasture to the village of Trient. Night in a gîte.
- 03
Bovine or Fenêtre d'Arpette → Champex
6–7 h · +1100–1300 m / −750–970 m · 13–16 kmA choice of routes: the Bovine trail contours above the Rhône valley on easier ground, while the higher option follows the Trient glacier up to the Fenêtre d'Arpette (2,700 m), a proper mountain pass, conditions and fitness allowing. Both end at the lake in Champex. Night in a gîte.
- 04
Swiss Val Ferret → La Fouly
5.5 h · +600 m / −500 m · 15 kmAn easier day through the Swiss Val Ferret, past a string of small villages with the Saleina and A Neuve glaciers visible from the valley floor for most of the walk. Night in a gîte in La Fouly.
- 05
Grand Col Ferret → Italian Val Ferret
6 h · +950 m / −900 m · 14 kmClimb through the summer pastures of La Peule, past herds of small black cows, to the Grand Col Ferret (2,537 m) and the Italian border. Descend into the Italian Val Ferret facing the Mont Dolent and the Pré de Bar glacier, near the point where France, Switzerland and Italy meet. A short transfer may be needed to reach the gîte.
- 06
Mont de la Saxe → Courmayeur
6–8 h · +600–1100 m / −750–1250 m · 14–19 kmClimb to the pasture hamlet of Arminaz for the balcony traverse of the Mont de la Saxe, one of the best viewpoints of the whole tour, looking straight across at Mont Blanc, the Aiguille Triolet and the Grandes Jorasses. An optional higher variant runs via the Col Sapin and the ridge itself. Descend to Courmayeur, then a short bus up to a refuge above the town.
- 07
Col de la Seigne → Les Mottets
6 h · +850 m / −650 m · 18 kmUp the Val Veny past the glacial Lake Miage to the Col de la Seigne, the border ridge between Italy and France. An optional detour via the Balcon de Chécroui and the Mont Fortin gives another angle on the Mont Blanc massif. Night in a refuge.
- 08
Col des Fours → Col du Bonhomme → Les Contamines
6 h · +850 m / −1500 m · 15 kmClimb through pasture and past waterfalls to the Col des Fours (2,665 m), the highest point of the tour, with the Beaufort region's dairy farmers often out working the slopes. Cross the Col du Bonhomme, then descend the old Roman road to the chapel at Notre-Dame-de-la-Gorge and a short bus into Les Contamines-Montjoie. Night in a gîte.
- 09
Bionnassay Glacier → Col du Tricot → Les Houches
5–6.5 h · +850–1100 m / −850–1250 m · 13–17 kmThe final day, with a choice of routes to the Bionnassay glacier: the gentler line via the village of Champel, or the higher Col du Tricot (2,120 m), with a close, memorable view of the Dômes de Miage, the Chamonix valley and Mont Blanc itself. Descend to Les Houches, where the trip ends mid-afternoon.
Solo walkers
Walking solo
You can walk this trip on your own, in your own room every night.
Mountain refuges don't have single rooms — you either share a dormitory or share a twin — so solo walkers go on a hotel-based version of the trip. You get five nights in small hotels and three in gîtes, in a room of your own throughout. The price is £2,215 per person.
The route is exactly the same as the day-by-day above — same start at the Flégère gondola, same stages, same finish at Les Houches. Only the accommodation changes.
Departures for the solo version run on Sundays and Mondays. Tell us your preferred dates on the enquiry form and we'll confirm availability.
Where you'll stay
A good bed at the end of every day.
A mix of family-run mountain gîtes, high-mountain refuges and small valley hotels, all pre-booked before you set off. Comfort is eight nights in a gîte, refuge or hotel in a twin or double room (triple available). All accommodation has hot showers. Classic accommodation is dormitory-style in gîtes and refuges.
Getting there
Nearest airport: Geneva (about 1 hour by transfer or bus). We can help arrange the transfer to Les Praz de Chamonix and the onward journey from Les Houches at the end.
What's included?
A fixed self-guided package — accommodation, luggage transfer and route notes all taken care of before you arrive.
Eight nights on a half-board basis — dinner, bed and breakfast
Route notes, IGN maps and a printed guidebook for the group
Digital route notes on your phone
All planning, booking and support before and during the walk
Daily luggage transfer between accommodations (1 bag per person, 10kg max)
One soft sports-type bag per person, 10kg maximum. Drivers cannot accept oversized or overweight bags. An extra bag can be held and forwarded to the finish for €6 per day.
Not included
- Picnic lunches
- Bus transfers on the trail (approx. €5 per person)
- Flégère cable car on day 1 (approx. €19 per person)
- Tourist taxes, which some accommodation may ask you to pay locally
- Personal expenses, drinks, souvenirs, cancellation insurance
- Guiding — this is a self-guided tour, you are responsible for your own safety
Reviews from walkers
What walkers made of this one.
Every review here comes from someone who actually travelled with us — we only ask once the trip's over, and we don't edit what they say.
“An amazing and very memorable experience”
We had a really wonderful experience and are very happy that we went ahead with the trek. It was challenging at times, but overall it was an amazing and very memorable experience. The scenery, the trails and the whole journey were absolutely beautiful. Bhagyashree did have some issues with her knee during the trek, which made a few sections difficult. We didn't let that stop us — we completed most of the trek and, wherever necessary, adapted our plans and took a bus or train for certain stretches rather than putting too much strain on her knee. Managing the trek despite the knee issue made the achievement feel even more special.
Thank you once again for all your help and guidance in planning the trek. Will definitely recommend Big Trail Adventures to all.
And from walkers on our other trails.
Different routes, same team doing the planning, the bookings and the hand-holding — so these say a lot about what to expect here too.
“Solo or in a group, I would do this again tomorrow!”
One of the best experiences I have had. I did this solo and felt supported all the way with the BigTrailAdventures team, especially in inclement weather. The vistas were incredible and overnight accommodation was faultlessly organised. Pushing myself during the day ( I ran rather than walked the trail), and then being fed and watered in a hotel in the evening was a treat.
The planning was exceptional and all details were covered.
There is a special time every day when you are overcome with the beauty of the nature that you are seeing, the sweeping vistas and the gratitude for being able to experience this. It rejuvenates your soul.
“Awesome support from start to finish”
The hike, which challenged me in different ways each day, was great. There was so much to see in every direction. The Highlands are simply stunning, clouds and all. The stays were good for the most part, some better than others (one night my room was above the kitchen so it was quite noisy until late into the night and the haunted Inn was a bit much for me :)). The Rowardennan Hotel and Craig Nevis guesthouse were my favorites. All of them offered great breakfasts and most had dinner options with good selections as well.
The planning was amazing. No glitches, except for one minor one at the start where the luggage van changed their drop off location without my knowledge. Thankfully Craig was there in the morning and quickly figured out where they were and even dropped off my luggage for me. Everything else was planned and executed perfectly; my itinerary for each day included great detail of what to expect. The app was awesome and my friends and family loved tracking me every day with the GPS. I had read that the West Highland Way is very popular in spring (when I initially had planned to go) and late summer. It took a lot of back and forth communication about potential dates but Craig very patiently worked it all out. All communication was prompt and thorough. I very much appreciate all the support I received prior and during my adventure!! Thank you Craig!
There are so many moments I will carry with me for a long time, like my first glimpse of the Highlands, all the water everywhere, the coos, day 2 along Loch Lomond when I wished I was a mountain goat and was grateful that it did not rain, arriving at Kingshouse after 19 miles, midges (haha), and so much more.
This route. These nights.
One clear price.
You are booking the itinerary above: your walking days, your overnight stays and the support that carries you between them.
Organising this trail for friends? Build a group trip with individual payments
- Free cancellation to 60 days
- Confirmation within 24 hrs
- ABTOT financially protected
We'll start planning your trip right away. Not happy with anything? We'll adjust it or refund you — no questions asked.
The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT) provides financial protection under The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 for Big Trail Adventures (member 5690). Protection is provided for non-flight packages. Full details in our booking conditions.
Things walkers ask us.
Is it really self-guided? What if something goes wrong?
Yes — you walk without a guide, with detailed route notes and a paper map. You'll also have a WhatsApp contact for the whole trip and 24/7 emergency support in case of weather changes, injury or a booking issue. Big Trail Adventures is your first point of contact from the moment you enquire.
How fit do I need to be?
Level 3 out of 4. Expect five to seven hours of walking a day with around 900 metres of ascent on most days, on good mountain paths with no technical climbing. If you already do long hill days — a full Lake District horseshoe, a Snowdonia day — you'll manage this fine. Regular cardio in the months before makes a real difference.
Why nine days rather than seven or eleven?
Nine days gives you the full circuit and the option to take the higher variants — the Fenêtre d'Arpette, the Mont de la Saxe ridge — without a schedule so tight that a poor-weather day forces you to skip something. It's a middle ground between the fast compressed versions and the traditional eleven- or twelve-day tour.
Can I book for one person?
Yes, and you'll have a room to yourself every night. Mountain refuges don't have single rooms, so solo walkers go on a hotel-based version of the trip instead — more nights in small hotels, fewer in refuges, a private room throughout. The price is higher as a result, and on the seven-day trip the first two days follow a slightly different route. Full details are in the "Walking solo" section above.
When can I start?
The season runs 13 June to 15 September 2027. Departures for two people sharing are possible on Fridays, Sundays and Mondays; solo departures run on Sundays and Mondays. Snow is possible on the higher passes into June — good boots, gaiters and poles are essential early in the season. Give us three or four preferred dates on the enquiry form and we'll come back with what's available.
When do I get my maps and route notes?
Your travel documents are sent out one month before departure. The paper pack includes an IGN map with the route marked, a printed road book, a card holder and your accommodation list. Digital route notes are available to every walker in the party via an app, with download details sent by email.
Do you handle payments and refunds?
Yes. You book with Big Trail Adventures, pay us, and we handle the rest. Cancellation terms are set out in our booking conditions.
Is the Complete Tour of Mont Blanc tour self-guided?
Yes. This is a self-guided trip: you walk the 130 km route independently, with no guide and no group. Accommodation for all 8 nights is booked for you, route notes and maps are provided, and there is local support in the region if anything goes wrong.
Do I need a guide or can I walk it alone?
No guide is needed. The route is walked on marked paths with the notes and mapping supplied in your pack. You choose your own start date within the season (13 June – 15 September 2027) and walk each day at your own pace.
Who arranges the accommodation?
We do. A mix of family-run mountain gîtes, high-mountain refuges and small valley hotels, all pre-booked before you set off. Comfort is eight nights in a gîte, refuge or hotel in a twin or double room (triple available). All accommodation has hot showers. Classic accommodation is dormitory-style in gîtes and refuges.