HIKE AROUND MONT BLANC, A 5-DAY TREK
As its name suggests, the Mont Blanc Trail takes place around Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the European Alps (4,809 meters), a truly iconic location.
Our itinerary, which is part of the famous Tour of Mont Blanc, is an intense 5-day hike that undoubtedly belongs on the bucket list of any adventurer who loves hiking. From pass to valley, this exceptional trail will lead you through breathtaking mountain landscapes, along authentic villages with unmatched hospitality, in three unique countries: France, Italy, and Switzerland.
This trail is being considered for UNESCO World Heritage status.
It's not easy to plan a well-organized hike around the Mont Blanc massif on your own. That's why we've put together a program so you can see the most iconic spots in a week-long trip that includes 5 full hiking days. If the weather doesn't cooperate, the itinerary can, of course, be adjusted by our rangers on-site.
Sleeping under the stars or in a cosy bed? Choose the atmosphere that suits your adventure.
Included in the base price
Included in the base price
The Ultimate Immersion
This is the choice for purists, those who dream of a complete disconnection close to nature.
Imagine: you open your tent every morning to breathtaking views, often before anyone else. It's an adventure in total autonomy.
For your comfort, you'll always camp near shelters or campsites, giving you access to sanitary facilities (except for the second night), while enjoying your experience with full independence.
For the equipment, it's simple:
Option at €445 (meals included)
Option at €445 (meals included)
Want to enjoy the Mont Blanc Trail scenery to the fullest without carrying all your gear and with a little extra comfort? The accommodation option is made for you.
Travel light and leave your tent, sleeping bag and sleeping mat at home.
Each evening, you’ll enjoy the simple comfort of a bed in accommodation, a mountain hut or a glamping tent (for the night in Courmayeur). It’s a unique opportunity to experience the friendly atmosphere of the mountain huts and share your adventure with fellow hikers.
The biggest advantage? Whatever the weather, you’re guaranteed a warm, dry night.
We take care of everything: you’ll be provided with a sleeping bag liner for each accommodation. Just bring a pillowcase if you’d like a little extra comfort.
This option also includes 5 breakfasts and 4 evening meals at the accommodation.
NB: You’ll mainly sleep in single beds in dormitories.
Here’s all the information you need for your trip.
Still have questions? Check out the most frequently asked questions.
The next edition of the Mont Blanc Trail will take place in June, July and August 2027. You can find the departure dates in the calendar below.
You can add options to your trip, click here to discover them.
We carefully chose each campsite so you can stay as close to the trail as possible while enjoying a true escape into nature without giving up comfort.
Campsite 1:
This fully equipped campsite is where your first briefing will take place. You’ll find bathroom facilities and a restaurant where you can eat on the evening you arrive by selecting the option “Day 1: evening meal”. Breakfast at the campsite is included in the food pack option.
Campsite 2:
You’ll pitch your tents on a beautiful spot with an amazing view of the mountains. As this is a small hamlet, there won’t be any showers available. You can cool off in the river instead and use the nearby public toilets free of charge.
Campsite 3:
This charming campsite has all the amenities you need: free toilets and showers, as well as communal areas. If you choose the food pack option, you can enjoy a fresh breakfast at the campsite.
Campsite 4:
Tonight, you can enjoy an amazing view of the glaciers. Bathroom facilities are available.
Campsite 5:
This is a simple but welcoming communal campsite with free showers and toilets.
For extra comfort, you can swap your tent for more comfortable accommodation.
Accommodation 1:
Located at the same campsite as the tent pitches, this accommodation offers dormitory beds. Your first briefing will take place at the tent pitches.
Accommodation 2:
Around a 30-minute shuttle ride from the campsite (included in the price), this place is well worth the trip. This small, cosy and laid-back hotel offers dormitory accommodation with single beds for your group.
Accommodation 3:
A slightly different night awaits you! You’ll be glamping right on the same grounds as the bivouac area. Although the site has all the amenities you need, keep in mind that it isn’t a traditional mountain hut.
Accommodation 4:
Located a 10-minute walk from the campsite, this mountain hut has dormitory accommodation with single beds. From the terrace, you can enjoy sweeping views of the glaciers.
Accommodation 5:
This final option is a lovely hostel with single beds in a dormitory. It’s a 5-minute walk from the campsite and has a sauna that you can use free of charge. It’s usually open from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
This trek is self-guided. That means you’re completely free to explore the trail on your own, without a guide. The best part? You can hike with peace of mind because everything has been arranged for you, from a great hiking route to unique places to stay. Rangers, our local coordinators, will still be on hand at the campsites and accommodations to help if needed and give you all the information you need for your hikes. Each day, you’ll attend a briefing before setting off on the trails.
After booking, you’ll get access to the Travelbase app. It contains all the practical information you need before, during and after your trip, including tips, advice and everything you’ll need along the way. You’ll also use the app to communicate with your rangers.
The app is both your digital guide and your trip-planning tool. Install it before you leave so you always have all the information at your fingertips.
When booking, you can choose to add the following options to your stay at Mont Blanc.
23€
23€
This option will allow you to join the base camp with other group members from the Saint-Gervais train station.
145€
145€
Luggage transport means your belongings are taken from one campsite or accommodation to the next, so you don't have to carry an overly heavy backpack while hiking. Since bags can be delivered to two possible locations (accommodation or campsite), please write your name on the bag you want transported.
All the belongings you want transported must fit into a single bag, as the listed price is per bag. You can use a 90L duffel bag or a 70L hiking backpack. The total weight of this bag must not exceed 15kg.
If you choose this option, please bring an additional backpack of around 40L for your essentials during the hikes (water, rain jacket and trousers, lunch, snacks, first-aid kit, fleece, etc.).
To reach the base camp in Contamines-Montjoie, you have two options:
Tip: check the compatibility of your train schedule with the shuttle. If driving, allow extra time to arrive at the station on time.
To join the start of this trek, you’ll need to get to our base camp in Contamines.
To reach us, you have two options:
The transfer takes place at 5:30 PM.
Our advice: If you choose the shuttle, make sure your train schedule aligns with the transfer times. Similarly, if you’re coming with your own car, ensure you’re at the station on time.
If you’re coming by car, you’re expected at 6:00 PM at the base camp in Les Contamines for the first briefing.
The trip starts at the St. Gervais train station and returns to Chamonix.
You can either choose to leave your car in Saint-Gervais and pick it up at the end of your trip, taking the Chamonix – St Gervais train at your own expense. Or, you can leave it directly in Chamonix and take the Chamonix – St Gervais train, at your own expense, on the first day to join us at the base camp.
Parking in Chamonix or nearby (choose the shuttle option on the first day):
Parking in Saint-Gervais (take a train from Chamonix to St Gervais on the last day) :
On the way there, you can take a high-speed train from your home to Saint-Gervais. Once in Saint-Gervais, you can take our optional shuttle that will take you directly to the base camp. The shuttle departs at 5:30 PM.
On the last day of your stay, you'll be in Chamonix and can catch your return train from Chamonix.
The difficulty of a trek depends on many factors. By considering the following elements, you can assess if this trek is right for you.
Dreaming of taking part in our Tour du Mont Blanc?
Pre-register now for the 2027 season and enjoy the following benefits:
We invite you to check the FAQ below before sending us an email. The FAQ provides comprehensive answers to the most frequently asked questions!
For a week, you'll be sleeping either in a tent (you can bring your own tent or rent one from us), or in huts (please make sure to select the hut option when you book). No matter which option you choose, you'll be sleeping in absolutely unique places.
All campsites have sanitary facilities and hot showers except for the 2nd night; you won't have access to showers, but there is a river nearby if you want to cool off.
All the huts have sanitary facilities and showers. They mainly consist of dormitory beds.
On the last night, you'll be staying in Chamonix, the world capital of mountaineering, where we offer a lovely hotel as an option.
During your hike, you may sometimes come across shelters or small restaurants during the day, but not always. To ensure you always have something to eat, we offer a light meal pack, designed to lighten your load and give you the freedom to explore local products in the evening. In fact, in the evenings, there will always be a restaurant nearby or a small shop where you can buy food.
For those in tents, this pack includes:
Besides the fresh breakfast and picnic, you will receive freeze-dried meals. By choosing the food pack, you will get a pot and a gas stove that will allow you to prepare your meals independently at the campsites or during your hikes. However, don't forget to bring reusable cutlery and a lighter.
For those in shelters, this pack includes:
If you chose the shelter option, you will already have 4 dinners and all breakfasts included in the price of the option. You can complement your meals by choosing this pack. You will then receive freeze-dried meals (and one fresh picnic). You will also receive a pot and a gas stove that will allow you to prepare your meals independently at shelters that do not include meals or during your hikes. However, remember to bring reusable cutlery and a lighter.
This light meal pack allows you to travel lighter while still being well-prepared for the hiking days. These are freeze-dried meals from the brand Real Turmat.
Water is drinkable in the mountains; you will have the chance to refill your camelback or water bottles every evening at the campsite/shelter and sometimes even during the hike.
You will have access to the Travelbase app a few weeks before departure. On this app, you'll find all the itineraries and points of interest. This will allow you to navigate the route independently.
Experienced rangers will be there to brief you every morning and evening. They will be available to assist you if needed.
Nights in a tent:
With the option of nights in refuges for €425:
Passport
For France, Italy, and Switzerland, you will need a valid Passport.
Personal Camping Gear (optional)
You can bring your own camping gear: you will need to take your tent, sleeping mat, and sleeping bag (a minimum 3-season tent).
Camping Gear Rented with Us
If you choose to rent camping gear through us, we will provide you with your tent, sleeping bag, and mat at the start of the hike.
Our camping gear is made with very weather-resistant materials and weighs approximately 5 kg in total.
Bring good hiking shoes that you feel comfortable enough in for a long trek. Hiking shoes, type A/B, with ankle support, are essential for traversing the Mont Blanc trail.
We will also send you a more detailed list of what you need to bring before your departure.
A few weeks in advance, you will receive the exact location of the base camp. It is located in Contamines-Montjoie.
If you are coming by train, choose Saint-Gervais-Le-Fayet station as your destination. If you are coming by car, you can park it in one of the locations mentioned in the "Parking" section.
You can then take the shuttle option with us to get to the base camp.
During the hikes, you'll walk at your own pace independently, so the number of people may vary. You'll meet the other participants at the camps or shelters in the evening.
Our rangers will provide you with a clear daily briefing so you can hike independently and at your own pace. However, if you'd like to hike with other travelers, feel free to join them.
When you book, you can choose to contribute to a certified climate project by Greentripper. Your contribution supports an initiative made up of 11 local projects in Uganda that distributes more efficient cooking stoves. This significantly reduces fuel consumption, helps protect forests from deforestation, and improves indoor air quality for local families. The project is Gold Standard certified, which guarantees the highest international standards for climate projects.
If you decide to contribute, Travelbase will also offset additional local emissions on site. After your trip, you’ll receive an official carbon credit certificate.
Want to learn more about our initiatives for more sustainable travel? Find out more on Travelbase.
Throughout the week, you will cover a total of about 85 km, with daily stages ranging between 13 and 19 km. The days are well distributed and balanced to ensure a good distribution between the number of kilometers traveled and the elevation gain.
In France, the rules regarding hiking are quite strict, especially around Mont Blanc. There are two options: either with a guide, where you must stay with the group and the guide at all times, or on your own, where you can hike at your own pace without a guide.
After carefully analyzing feedback from our participants, at Travelbase, we prefer the second option. This gives you more freedom and the opportunity to enjoy the trail at your own pace, to stop for photos whenever you want, to take breaks to enjoy the scenery, and you won’t have to hike in a group behind a guide. To ensure you reach your daily goal without any issues, we have, of course, taken some precautions.
Every day, the local leaders (our rangers) will give you a clear and detailed briefing so that you can hike safely and without stress. They will also be available in case of any problems.
For motivated adventurers (ages 16–70). More than age, it’s your physical condition that matters. This trek is accessible to anyone in good health, active, and ready for a challenge. You don’t need to be a top-level athlete, but proper preparation is essential to fully enjoy the experience. Please note that participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
The challenge: carrying your backpack. Being fully immersed in nature means carrying your own gear. However, we offer two options to lighten your load:
Route details. To help you prepare, check out our detailed breakdown (distance, elevation, weather, and terrain) in the “Difficulty level” section higher up on this page.
You can carry your own backpack, but it's often more enjoyable to carry less weight while hiking, allowing you to fully appreciate the experience and the scenery.
That's why we offer luggage transportation with our van. This means that your backpack/travel bag will be transported from one accommodation to another. Please note: all your gear and equipment must fit in a single bag.
However, it's very important to bring a daypack that's large enough to carry water, food, snacks, and everything you'll need throughout the day. We recommend a daypack of about 40 liters.
Unfortunately, for safety reasons, we do not allow dogs on the hike. The Trek to Mont Blanc is an intense hike with a lot of elevation changes and is not suitable for a dog.
