hiking complete tour du mont blanc

• Mont Blanc Experience roadbook with hike descriptions and detailed itinerary maps.
• IGN maps for your hike (TOP 25 St Gervais 3531 ET & TOP 25 Chamonix 3630 OT at 1/25 000°).
• My Roadbook" travel assistant via our mobile application.
• All documents required to organize your stay.

NB : at the start and/or end of the season, some public shuttles necessary for the tour are not operational. We will offer alternative solutions and give you taxi contacts in the roadbook.

We draw your attention to the fact that wearing a seat belt is compulsory at the front and rear in all vehicles you use during the trip, when they are equipped with one, regardless of the regulations in effect in the country visited. By booking an Mont Blanc Experience trip, you agree to respect this obligation. Mont Blanc Experience cannot be held liable in the event of bodily injury(s) and/or material damage(s) if it turns out that this provision was not respected by you. 

You'll stay mainly in small mountain inns and refuges, carefully selected for their warm welcome and authentic atmosphere.
Most offer private rooms, but shared bathrooms are the norm, usually located along the same corridor.
On some stages, you'll stay in 2* or 3* hotels located in the valleys (like in Chamonix, Les Houches, Argentière and Courmayeur), chosen for their proximity to the route and their comfort after a long day's walk.

The Tour du Mont Blanc is an extremely popular itinerary, and accommodation options can be limited, especially in high season.
We always do our best to secure private rooms in mountain lodges, but availability can vary depending on the period and location.
In some cases, to maintain the itinerary and comfort level, a night in a nearby valley hotel may be arranged.

If no other option is available, shared dormitories in mountain huts may be used - the Mont Blanc experience team will let you know informed.

In mountain hut and inn, you will find a duvet (or blanket) and a pillow - Please, remember to bring your own towel, pillowcase and sleeping bag liner. Lightweight and space-saving, this accessory guarantees better hygiene, particularly in areas frequented by hikers during the summer months.

Important : it's possible to book a single room in hotels. However, it may be more difficult, or even impossible, in some mountain huts and lodges. If you would like to make this request, feel free to contact us. We will then inform you of the accommodations where a single room can be offered.

You'll receive all the details of your accommodation before the final confirmation of your trip, and you'll also find these information in your roadbook.

If you prefer a higher level of comfort with private bathrooms every night, discover our Tour du Mont Blanc - In Hotel version. 

Our goal is to ensure that you eat well-balanced meals suited for the effort required each day, and to lighten your pack load as much as possible.

Breakfast :
The hotels offer a generous and varied buffet: pastries, fresh bread, homemade jams, fruit and cereals. Savory lovers will also find something to their liking, with a choice of breads, cheeses, ham and eggs.

In mountain inns or huts, breakfasts are often simple: bread, butter, jam, coffee, tea and orange juice. If you need extra energy for your day's hiking, remember to pack dried fruit, cereal bars or other snacks.

Dinners :
In the hotels, dinner typically consists of a fixed three-course menu, including a starter, main course, and dessert.

In mountain inns or huts, meals are convivial moments when you share the table with other hikers. These meals are a real highlight of the day, providing an opportunity to savor home-cooked meals while sharing with people from all over the world. Meals generally consist of a soup starter, followed by a meat-based main course with carbohydrates (pasta, rice, polenta, etc.), then cheese and dessert. If you wish, you can add a beer or glass of wine to your meal for an additional charge.

If you have strict dietary constraints, we invite you to communicate them to us before departure, in your personal space.

Dinners in Chamonix and Courmayeur are not included to give you all options in town and a dinner on your own.

Lunches :
You can buy local products in supermarkets or bakeries in the valley. If you are staying in the mountains, you also have the option of ordering a packed lunch from the refuge upon your arrival, for around 15 euros per day. These packed lunch usually include one or two sandwiches, a fruit, a bottle of water and a cookie or chocolate bar.

Drinks :
Beverages (excluding water) are not included. Please pay for all drinks consumed on site before your departure, to avoid any additional charges after your stay.

Depending on the package you choose:

- With luggage transfers included: you will only carry what you need for the day's hike. Your bags are transported to your accommodations by vehicle, and you will have access to them every night (except at Bonatti Hut, which is not reachable by car, you will carry spare clothes for the night and the day after).

- Without luggage transfers: plan to carry everything you need for the entire week on your back (pay attention to weight!).

• The identification of service providers operating during your stay
• GPS guidance on a map background
• Photos of crossings
• The various points of interest on the hike: natural or heritage.

This application, included for this trip, must be downloaded before your departure and works offline (without network).
To learn more, feel free to read our article: Mon Roadbook, your digital travel guide.

For each stage, make sure you check the latest information on trail conditions; the manager at your accommodations should also be able to provide you with up-to-date information if you ask.

Considering the Environment:
While trekking you have to be careful not to destroy the environment you are enjoying so much. It is not only for your enjoyment, but people and wildlife also rely on this environment.
 
Here are some simple tips:

• Pick up any litter along the trail,
• Burn all your toilet paper and bury your faeces, make sure you go at least 50m away from any water source,
• Drink tap water instead of mineral water as plastic bottles are an unnecessary waste,
• Stick to the trails to prevent erosion and damage to fragile alpine flora,
• Ensure all rubbish is packed and bring them back down to the villages.

Insurance :
All tour participants should obtain their own personal insurance which covers medical and emergency evacuation at a minimum. You will of course also want cover for loss or damage to personal effects, flight or trip cancellation etc. Please ask us for advice.

Final tips!

• To ensure that you have the best time possible, please respect local traditions, customs, values and the environment.
• Respect privacy when taking photographs.
• Your attempts at speaking some French or Italian will open hearts and break the ice!
• Protect the natural environment, see above.

• No visa is required for American, Canadian, British or Australian citizens for stays of up to 90 days within the Schengen Area (France, Italy and Switzerland included).

Passport Requirements
Travellers must hold a passport that:

• is valid upon entry, and
• remains valid for at least 3 months beyond the planned departure date from the Schengen Area.

It is strongly recommended to ensure a minimum of 6 months' validity prior to expiration to avoid potential boarding refusals by airlines.

• no visa required,
• passport valid for at least 3 months beyond the planned departure date.

Asian Travellers - Visa-Required Countries

Travellers holding passports from China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, and other South and Southeast Asian countries must obtain a Schengen short-stay visa prior to travel, including for stays of less than 30 days.

• Visa applications must be submitted to the relevant French, Swiss or Italian consular authorities in the traveller's country of residence. Processing times may vary.
• Passports must be in good, undamaged condition (no tears, stains, staples, clips, or other alterations).

• Tetanus - diphtheria - pertussis (Tdap)
• Measles - mumps - rubella (MMR)
• Polio
• Seasonal influenza
• COVID-19

These vaccinations are generally recommended for all adults.

Altitude and Physical Effort
Our tours involves sustained daily effort and includes sections at moderate altitude. Travellers are advised to :

• ensure they are in adequate physical condition,
• consult a healthcare professional in case of medical conditions potentially affected by altitude or exertion,
• bring all personal medication required for the entire duration of the trip.

Dentist and general physician:
We recommend a checkup with both before leaving on your trip.  

• wash hands regularly,
• use a clean reusable water bottle,
• avoid drinking untreated natural water sources without proper filtration or purification.

• An analgesic.
• An anti-inflammatory (pills or gels).
• An anti-diarrheal tablets,
• A disinfectant, band aids (several sizes), mole skin, sterile compresses, medical tape, Steri-Strips, non-stick bandages, and an elastic bandage.
• An antiseptic.
• Sunscreen and a burn cream.
• Eye drops.
• Other : survival blanket, scissors, 2 or 3 safety pins, a tick remover, a pair of latex gloves, earplugs.
• Any personal medication.

You will have access to our 24/24 7/7 support hotline to assists you during your trip.
Each participant will have access on his phone to our "Roadbook" app which includes an itinerary descriptions as well GPS guidance.

What you need to bring:

If you don't have the luggage transfer option, pack light, remember that you will have to carry all your stuff during the whole trip. We recommend that your backpack doesn't exceed 10 to 15% of your weight. Take only the essentials.

If you've booked the luggage transfer:

• Duffle bag (soft) and not exceeding 15 kg to carry your extra stuff.

 Head:

• Warm hat.
• Cap or sun hat.
• Sunglasses with good UV protection.
• Buff or neck gaiter.

Clothing :

• Base layers (Merino Wool recommended).
• Fleece or lightweight synthetic jacket.
• Quick drying T-shirt.
• A water and windproof layer (jacket and pants) eg. Gore-Tex.
• A natural or synthetic down jacket.
• Light gloves.
• 1 or 2 pairs of walking trousers.
• 1 or 2 pairs of shorts.
• Casual clothes & footwear for evenings. One set is enough as you will not wear them for a long time.
• Nightwear and underwear.

Footwear:

• Broken-in hiking boots (very important).
• Light hut sandals/flip flap or comfortable shoes for refuges.
• Comfortable shoes for evenings in town (optional).
• Good-quality merino wool walking socks.

For the night:

• Sleeping bag liner - either silk, cotton or fleece (only if you're staying in dormitories in mountain inns, huts). Blankets and pillow are provided in mountains huts.
• Headlamp and batteries (spare batteries too).
• Earplugs.

Equipment :

• Hiking backpack. A chest strap and waist strap are essential to help to distribute the weight. The size 30 L to 45 L is more than enough.
• Large rucksack if you have booked luggage transfer.
• Walking poles are highly recommended on Alpine trails.
• Resealable bags are handy for convenient leak-proof storage.
• Energy bars/snacks (2 per day)
• Airtight and waterproof ‘dry bags' are great for keeping your clothes dry and storing your dirty laundry separate from clean clothes!
• Cash & Cards (Euros and Swiss Francs).
• Pocket knives or cutlery can be useful for picnics.
• Water bottle or camelback - please be able to carry 2 liters of water.

Electronic & useful extras :

• Travel adapter.
• Phone, Camera, batteries and charger.
• Book to read or Kindle.
• Binoculars.
• Notebook and pen.

Toiletries, Health & Personal Medical Kit :

• Any personal medications you need to take.
• Personal toiletries: shampoo, soap, shavers, moisturizer, travel towel (if you're staying in mountains Huts), etc
• Sunscreen & lip balm - 30+ SPF
• Toilet roll/tissues.
• Travel towel for showering in refuges.

Note: All of these items can be purchased there. Please ask us if you'd like some advice about where to go to get any gear.

What about gear I want to leave before the trek?
Before departure for your trek you might pack your ‘town clothes' or anything you don't want on trek with you and ask your hotel (if you come back to the same hotel). If you want to do this, then consider bringing or buying a simple bag here for this purpose. We can also help you organize the storage of a larger suitcase, Please ask us for advice.