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Tour of Mont Blanc - Route Description
You have plenty of options: from 4 day sportive hikes to leisurely 12 day cultural experiences; there is no one way to do the Tour of Mont Blanc. Here are a couple of different suggestions which may help you make up your mind on your particular style.
* You can go on your own, or benefit from a mountain leaders' experience
* You can carry your own gear or be hike with a light pack with vehicle support
* You can sleep and eat in the refuges or carry a tent
Here is a list of contact information for the various mountain huts.4 day trip: Not quite racing - but fast enough: For the hard core hiker
This itinerary follows pretty much in the footsteps of the Ultra Trail race (which varies slightly from year to year). This is for very fit hikers and is done with only a light day pack, eating and sleeping in huts and is basically the run/walking version of the Tour du Mont Blanc. The times noted are for fit spandex-wearing (not obligatory!) hikers.Day Start Via Finish Times (very quick) Day 1 Chamonix Les Houches - La Charme - Saint-Gervais Les Contamines 5.5h Day 2 Les Contamines Notre Dame de la Gorge - La Balme - Col du Bonhomme - Croix du Bonhomme - Les Chapieux - La Ville des Glaciers - Col de la Seigne - Refuge Elisabetta - Lac Combal - Arête Mont Favre - Col Checrouit Maison Vielle Courmayeur 7.5h Day 3 Courmayeur Refuge Bertone - Refuge Bonatti - Arnuva - Refuge Elena - Grand Col Ferret - La Peule - La Fouly - Praz de Fort Champex 7h Day 4 Champex Bovine - Trient - Catogne - Vallorcine - Col des Montets - Flégère Chamonix 6.5h 7 day trip: Hiking the Tour of Mont Blanc - hiker
Start with the previously mentioned itinerary and break up the days a bit depending on where you would like to spend the night.
For people who carry their own gear, plan on a 7 day trip.9-11 day trip: Taking the time to look at the flowers
Of course if you really do have time, you can expand the experience. Here's an example of a slower pace, with time to veer a little off the path. This is described as an 11 day trip, but it would be really easy to knock off the first and last days as those days are dedicated to trekking in the Chamonix Valley.Day Start Via Finish Hours Day 1 Chamonix Gondola to Planpraz - Brévent - Bel Lachat - Merlet Les Houches 5h Day 2 Les Houches Chavants - Col de Voza - Bellevue - Col du Tricot - chalets de Miage Les Contamines 6h Day 3 Les Contamines Croix du Bonhomme - Col des Fours - Tete Nord des Fours Les Chapieux 7h Day 4 Les Chapieux Ville des Glaciers - Col de la Seigne Refuge Elisabetta 5h Day 5 Refuge Elisabetta Lac Combal - Alpages d'arp Veille - Col Chécroui Courmayeur 5h Day 6 Courmayeur Tete Bernarda La Vachey 5.5h Day 7 La Vachey Arnuva - Col Ferret La Fouly 6h Day 8 La Fouly Champex 4.5h Day 9 Champex Bovine - Col de la Forclaz Trient 5.3h Day 10 Trient Col de Balme Tre le Champ 5h Day 11 Tre le Champ Cheserys - Flégère Chamonix 4.5h