Hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc in 11 Days - Camping Edition
📍11 days ↔️170km/104mi ↗️9,880m/3200ft
The Tour du Mont Blanc is a classic long-distance trek that loops around one of Europe’s most iconic mountains. Along the way, you pass through France, Italy, and Switzerland, moving between charming villages, scenic valleys, and dramatic alpine passes. The views are consistently stunning, and the route has a great balance of challenge and accessibility.
After countless hours of digging through guides and YouTube videos—and after completing several tours myself—I wanted to gather everything I learned in one handy place. This guide is my personal take which focuses on camping and can be a little harder than other traditional routes.
Activity Overview
Distance: 170km / 104mi.
Elevation gain: 10,000m / 32,500, ft.
Highest point: 2,526m / 8,287 ft.
Number of days: 11 (at steady pace)
💵Costs
Airfares from London - 280.00GBP
Transfers - 20.00GBP
Pitches - 130.00GBP
Total - 430.00GBP
🚌Transport to trail head
Bus - ~£30 - Geneva to Chamonix via coach; SwissTours, Flixbus, Alpybus, BlaBlaCar
Around town - No costs for trains and buses are €2 in the Chamonix area if you stay there (Carte d'hote Guest Card)
Courmayeur to Chamonix - ~£30 - Bus; Flixbus
The maps provided on this website are intended as a general guide only. Conditions, routes, and features may change at any time. Always rely on your own judgement and seek local or professional advice if possible.
Key Highlights of the
Tour du Mont Blanc
The Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) is widely considered Europe’s best long-distance hike, offering the perfect blend of challenge, comfort, and unforgettable alpine scenery. For keen backpackers looking for a bucket-list adventure, here’s what makes the TMB truly stand out:
Circle the entire Mont Blanc massif, crossing through France, Italy, and Switzerland on a single loop.
Experience 170 km of ever-changing landscapes—from glacier-carved valleys and high passes to wildflower meadows and classic alpine villages.
Enjoy the ideal balance of challenging but accessible, with well-marked trails and plenty of support along the way.
Customize your adventure with flexible daily stages, scenic variants, and easy opportunities to add rest days or shorten tougher sections.
Savor world-class French, Italian, and Swiss mountain cuisine, from fresh pastries to polenta and hearty alpine stews.
Meet a diverse and friendly international community of hikers, adding inspiration and camaraderie to every stage.
Take on diverse, rewarding terrain, including panoramic ridgelines, forested paths, suspension bridges, and high alpine passes.
Stage 1 - Les Houches to Les Containmines via Col de Tricot Variant
Top Tips
Start early. Ideally, get to the official starting point at 8:30am to give yourself plenty of time to enjoy the day. This is especially important if you have prebooked dinner at Camping Le Pontet which is served at 7:15pm.
Save the legs and take the Bellevue cable car up. One way ticket will cost about 14 euros.
Get to the campsite to secure the best spots. First come, best dressed.
Food
Breakfast
Bakery next to Fromagerie de la Fruitiere and close by to the Bellevue cable car has amazing pasties and baguettes. Grab something for both breakfast and lunch.
Carrefour Contact supermarket is next to the starting point and great for getting supplies.
Lunch
Refuge de Miage is a great place to stop and have a bite to eat.
For the budget conscious, takeaway from bakery or supermarket.
Evening
Camping Le Pontet has a 3 course dinner option which needs to be prebooked for about 20 euros. Please note that you must arrive before 7pm otherwise you might miss out. They also do pizzas which can be ordered on the day.
Food from Spar Supermarket which is about an hour before reaching the campsite.
Campsite
Stage 2 - Les Contamines to Les Chapieux
Top Tips
Again, start early. This will give you plenty of time to get to refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme for a hot meal.
Arrive early and go for a swim in the rivers around Les Chapieux. Very handy as there are no official showers here.
If you plan to catch a bus up to Refuge des Mottets for the next day, then purchase your tickets as soon as you can. It sells out quickly.
The kitchen for most restaurants closes at 8:00pm.
Food
Breakfast
Most usually eat things from from the Spar Supermarket on the previous day.
Coffee and basic pastries are available from Camping Le Pontet.
Prebooked breakfast and picnic lunch is also available from Camping Le Pontet.
Lunch
Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme is a great place to stop to grab a hot meal if you’re early enough.
Prebooked lunch from Camping Le Pontet.
For the budget conscious, takeaway from supermarket.
Evening
Pizza at Le Relais Montagnard is great value. Just get here early as it can take a while. There have been times when they have stop taking orders at 7:30pm as they had too many.
Bar food is also available at Auberge Refuge Nova.
Campsite
Aire naturelle de camping - 🗺️Maps
Stage 3 - Les Chapieux to Val Veny
Top Tips
Save some time and energy and catch the bus to Refuge des Mottets. Tickets can be bought from the self service machine outside the tourist center.
Rifugio Elisabetta is an amazing place and well worth the hike uphill. The food is great and the views are spectacular.
The bus for the campsite (which also goes to Courmayeur) departs from just outside Chalet del Miage.
Speak to Camping Aiguille Noire about their transfer services from Courmayeur. It is one of the only convenient ways to get back to the campsite at night (10pm for about 5 euros per person). Very handy if you have the energy to go into town for dinner.
Food
Breakfast
Pain au chocolat from Le Relais Montagnard (previous known as L´Epicerie des Chapieux) is a must here. I recommend at least 3. They also serve coffee, other bake goods and baguettes which is handy for those who prefer to picnic lunch.
Lunch
Rifugio Elisabetta is a great place to stop for lunch.
For those a bit more price sensitive, don’t forget to grab a baguette from Le Relais Montagnard for a picnic lunch back in Les Chapieux.
Evening
Pizza and traditional Italian dishes are available at the two restaurants in Camping Aiguille Noire.
They also have a well stocked food shop at reception if you prefer to cook your own meal.
Campsite
Camping Aiguille Noire - 🗺️Maps 🌐Website
Stage 4 - Val Veny to Courmayeur
Top Tips
As this is a relatively short day, you can afford to sleep in a bit.
Catch the lift and cable car down to save about an hour of walking through a ski resort.
Eat at least 3 scoops of gelato at Crème et chocolat.
Restock on supplies (especially things for breakfast) for the next few days as options are fairly limited in the mornings.
Buses are free! But do take note the time table as the last bus is quite early (about 7:00pm). Taxis are quite hard to come by at night.
Food
Breakfast
Camping Aiguille Noire serves various hot drinks, cakes and pasties.
The food shop at reception also have various goods if you’re on a budget.
Lunch
Rifugio Maison Vieille, which is on top of Maison Vieille lift, is a great place to stop for a drink and a quick bite to eat.
For more of a selection, head straight into Courmayeur and eat at one of the many restaurants and bars.
Courmayeur also has lots of well stocked supermarkets to resupply.
Evening
Pizza at the restaurant in Camping Grand Jorasses.
Food from the supermarket from Courmayeur.
Campsite
Stage 5 - Courmayeur to Grandes Jorasses via variant
Top Tips
Catch the bus into town early and grab a proper breakfast.
Get another 3 scoops of gelato at Crème et chocolat.
Aim to to get to Rifugio Giorgio Bertone to enjoy the views and grab a bite to eat. It does get quite crowded though.
Take in the views from the summit of Mont de la Saxe and Tête de la Tronche — few people pick this route, so you’ll likely have the place to yourself.
Food
Breakfast
Plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants in Courmayeur.
Supermarkets are a good choice too for those wanting to save a few euros.
There’s a few bake goods available at Camping Grand Jorasses but the options are fairly limited.
Lunch
Rifugio Giorgio Bertone serves amazing drinks and food.
Packed lunch from the supermarket.
Evening
Pizza at the restaurant in Camping Grand Jorasses.
Campsite
Stage 6 - Grandes Jorasses to Arp Nouvaz
Top Tips
Take your time as it is a relatively short day with dramatic 360 degree views.
Eating at Rifugio Walter Bonatti is a must. The food is great and the views at the refuge is spectacular.
If you finish early, bus back into Courmayeur and discover the town. Do be mindful of the time though as buses don’t run at night.
Food
Breakfast
A few bake goods at Camping Grand Jorasses.
Food from the supermarket from previous days.
Lunch
Rifugio Walter Bonatti serves some great food and drinks (but it can be quite expensive).
Picnic lunch from the supermarket from the previous days.
Evening
Pizza at the restaurant in Camping Grand Jorasses.
Campsite
Stage 7 - Arp Nouvaz to La Fouly
Top Tips
The bus from Camping Grand Jorasses to Arp Nouvaz can be very busy. Best to start early.
Slow and steady wins the race. You pretty much do all the ascent upfront.
Eat a picnic lunch at the Grand Col Ferret and enjoy the stunning views of the Val Ferret valley.
Grab an ice cream and a cold drink from Alpage de la Peule (Peulaz).
If you are travelling as a group, it is worth prebooking your pitches at Camping des Glaciers so that you are all put on the same pitch. It also makes it cheaper.
Food
Breakfast
A few bake goods at Camping Grand Jorasses.
Food from the supermarket from previous days.
Lunch
Pack lunch from the previous days.
If you can survive long enough, you can get food at Alpage de la Peule (Peulaz).
Evening
Auberge-restaurant des Glaciers is the main eatery in La Fouly. Keep in mind that you are now in Switzerland and prices are very different when compared with Italy 😅.
There is a decent sized supermarket (Marché des Cimes) for those wanting to save a few euros.
Campsite
Camping Les Rocailles - 🗺️Maps
Camping du Relais d'Arpette - 🗺️Maps 🌐Website - This campsite only makes sense if you were going to tackle the variant the next day.
Stage 8 - La Fouly to Champex-Lac
Top Tips
One of the more chilled days with little elevation (comparative to the other stages 😅).
Admire the traditional houses as you wander through the towns.
Have a very very cold dip in Lac de Champex.
Stop at the supermarket to get some snacks and food for the evening and the next day.
Food
Breakfast
Food from the supermarket will be the most convenient. If you need to head here first thing in the morning, you can rejoin the trail by walking down the main street and follow the signs for the TMB.
The campsite also has some bakery goods delivered daily but the options are fairly limited.
Lunch
Crepes and desserts are available from La Kabana.
Café restaurant "Le portalet" offers some great traditional Swiss foods and pizzas.
Packed lunch from the supermarket.
Evening
There are plenty of restaurants in Champex-Lac to suit all budgets particular for those who want to spend a bit more.
For those on a tighter budget, the Edelweiss Market Champex-Lac supermarket will be your best bet.
Campsite
Camping Les Rocailles - 🗺️Maps
Camping du Relais d'Arpette - 🗺️Maps 🌐Website - This campsite only makes sense if you were going to tackle the variant the next day.
Stage 9 - Champex-Lac to Trient via Variant
Top Tips
Bring more water than you think you need (3 litres or more if it is hot). This is one of the hardest stages on the TMB with a lot of elevation gain and with little to no cover.
Have lunch on the highest point of the Fenêtre d'Arpette mountain pass. You will be rewarded with 360 degree panorama views and front row seats to the stunning Trient glacier.
After the grueling downhill, have a dip at the Trient River Picnic and Swimming Spot (located just before Chalet du Glacier).
Have a well earned beverage at Chalet du Glacier.
Food
Breakfast
Pre-ordered breakfast is available from Camping du Relais d'Arpette.
Food from the supermarket from the day before.
Lunch
Packed lunch from the supermarket.
In additional to the pack lunch, it is worth stopping at Chalet du Glacier for a drink and to rest the poor legs.
Evening
Refuge Le Peuty has a selection of snacks and hot food available if you order before 5pm. They also offer a 4 course meal but again, you need to arrive early and subject to availability. This is served at 7:00pm and costs about 25 francs.
There’s a small stall called Au P'tit Peuty Pinsa where you can get pinsa (lighter version of a pizza).
If you bring your own cooking gear, you can buy instant noodles, pasta, and other basic backpacking staples at the camp reception.
Campsite
Stage 10 - Trient to La Flégère via Lac Blanc
Top Tips
This is normally done in two very short stages but logistically, it works out better to do this in one. However, it does make it arguably, the hardest stage of the tour with a whopping 2km/1.2mi of accent .
Start early and eat as much as possible on the way as food and facilities are few and far between closer to the end of this stage.
It is possible to catch the lift and gondola down to save the legs but you do miss out on some incredible views.
Keep your eyes peeled for Ibexs and marmottes as they are quite common
Bring a water filter as there is no potable water at the end of this stage. Refuge de La Flégère provides some basic amenities like toilets and non-potable water for campers/bivouac which is summarised on their website.
Food
Breakfast
Refuge Le Peuty has hot tea and coffee and bake goods available but they do sell out fast.
Self cater using food from previous days.
Lunch
Refuge du Col de Balme makes a good first stop, serving up soups, local dishes and best of all, delicious deserts. Do keep in mind that if you started early (which I recommend) then kitchen won’t be fully open yet but the next place will more than make up for it.
Auberge la Boerne marks the half way point of the stage and a great place to refuel. I recommend something very hearty like the tartiflette as food for dinner will be a bit light.
Evening
Most people self cater for this stage.
It is possible to book dinner at Refuge de La Flégère but make sure you do it well in advance. You will also need to confirm on the day via phone or by arriving before 5pm. Dinner is served at 7:00pm sharp.
Campsite
Wild camping at the lake near Refuge de La Flégère - 🗺️Maps
Stage 11 - La Flégère to Les Houches
Top Tips
With Mont Blanc always on your left, enjoy the views of the last day.
There a short tricky ladder section on the approach to the Brevent cable car.
The final downhill section is long and brutal. Rather than hiking down for 4.5 hours, many people take the Brévent cable car into Chamonix and then finish with an easy stroll or a short bus ride to Les Houches.
Food
Breakfast
Self cater is the best option.
It is possible to prebook for breakfast at Refuge de La Flégère but it is subject to availability and needs to be done well in advance.
Lunch
Bergerie de Planpraz serves a selection of hot food and drinks served between 12:00pm and 2:00pm.
Le Panoramic is a restaurant located at the top of the Brevent cable car. A great place to finish up the trail if you plan to skip the long decent. Do keep in mind that it is on the expensive side.
For those a bit more budget conscious, there’s also a small creperie located a walk from the Brevent cable car.
Evening
Kitsch Inn is a great place with an energetic atmosphere, bar food from from all cultures and an outdoor area which is awesome when the weather is nice. It does get quite busy though so try and get here early.
La Chavanne is another nice pick serving up traditional French cuisine.
Carrefour Contact supermarket is next to the finish point and great for getting supplies to restock food and drinks.
And of course, you can always head into Chamonix for a proper celebration.
Campsite
Helpful Links
Tour du Mont Blanc Hike - This has really good articles about shortcuts if you are short on time or are not 100%.
TMBTENT - A great general guide for the TMB.
Your Questions, Answered
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Excluding flights, you can expect to pay between 600GBP to 800GBP. The main thing which will cause costs will be food and drinks. Expect to pay between 20 and 30EUR per meal at refuges.