Tour Du Mont Blanc: 21 Essential Tips For Your Hike

The Tour du Mont Blanc is one of the most famous long-distance treks in the world. Also known as TMB, this epic trek is a 160-kilometer-long circuit around the Mont Blanc mountain massif.

It’s usually done between 8 to 12 days, with each day boasting beautiful mountain scenery, dramatic peaks, high mountain passes, colorful flower-filled meadows, and lots of animal spottings too!

Trekking through three separate countries — France, Italy and Switzerland — you will be able to enjoy delicious food in authentic mountain huts, alpine hotels, and guest houses.

You’re familiar with what to expect of the Tour Du Mont Blanc from a mileage perspective, good! You’re familiar with what to pack, great!

What about gathering learnings from someone who’s done it in the past? Well, you’re in the right place for that.

In this post, I’ll reveal my top tips for conquering the Tour Du Mont Blanc so you can have the best possible time on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

*Please note: This post may contain affiliate links. You won’t be paying a cent more, but in the event of a sale, the small affiliate commission I receive will help keep this blog running/pumping out useful content. Thanks!

Tour Du Mont Blanc: 21 Essential Tips For Your Hike

Tip #1: This trek is not a walk in the park.

Just because the Tour Du Mont Blanc is categorized as a “walking holiday”, does not mean it is going to be a week-long stroll through the rolling hills of the Alps.

No, no, no. I mean yes, you will be walking, and yes it is a “holiday” because you’ll be taking time off work to do this, but by no means is it easy.

The daily stages are usually between 12 to 20 kilometers (7.5 to 12 miles) long and include around 1,000 vertical meters of climbing.

Day after day, you’ll encounter some other body part that’ll be extremely sore from either trudging up mountains or from carrying your pack all day long. Trust me, you will be putting in work. So make sure your body is prepared and that your fitness level is where you’d like it to be.

Having some training/getting your body used to the movements and the daily mileage requirements will make your experience that much better.

Tour Du Mont Blanc Hiking Tips — Expect lots of mountain passes on the TMB trek!

Tip #2: Don’t overpack on clothing.

Due to the proximity of the towns and villages, you’ll end up in on various legs of your trek, there will be access to laundry facilities. If there are no laundry facilities around, all you really need is wilderness washing detergent and a sink. So pack light.

The best way of doing that is to minimize the amount of clothing you bring. You can definitely get away with 2-3 pairs of pants, 2-3 shirts, and 3-4 socks, underwear, and sports bras. Some people in my hiking group carried way less and had no issues with running out of clothes, as long as you stay diligent about washing/drying them in time for their next use.

Tip #3: Pack as light as possible.

Depending on the number of overnight stops you plan on making for the TMB (this typically ranges from 6-12 days), you will be hiking 6-10 hours non-stop each day.

If you’re hiking the Tour Du Mont Blanc without some sort of paid luggage transfer (aka you will be carrying all your belongings on your back), remember that backpack weight will be with you every step of the way!

If you have to ask yourself whether or not you will need an item, chances are you won’t.

Saving pack weight on food

If you’re going to be staying in mountain huts, chalets, refugios, or hotels, then you won’t need to carry too much food– just lunch and snacks. Another option to packing a lunch: buy lunch at the mountain huts/refuges you encounter throughout the hike (the food is actually good).

My favorite on-the-go snacks for this trek include Honey Stinger Waffles and Honey Stinger Organic Energy Chews. Not only are they super light, portable and mess-free, but they’re also meant to be consumed before and even during physical activity. The great thing about them is that they don’t melt or crumble into a mess if stuffed carelessly in your bag.

Saving pack weight on camping gear

You also won’t need to be carrying a tent or sleeping bag, which will lighten your load significantly. However, if you plan on camping throughout the trek, then attempt to get “ultralight”/“backpacking” versions of everything you need.

Tip #4: Carry cash with you.

Along the Tour du Mont Blanc, most of the places you’ll stop do not accept credit cards. You should bring cash with you here if you plan on getting any of the following: an espresso or other beverage, pastry, lunch, post-hike beer/wine, etc.

In my opinion, trying the local food here is part of the experience! Bringing euros is highly recommended (no need to get francs–you can use euros even at the Switzerland portion of the trek).

How much is enough? My hiking guide told us to be prepared and assume we’ll need 20-30 euros per day. You can always use the extra at a gift shop or at the airport later anyway.

Tip #5: If you’re not a breakfast person, you still have to eat.

And eat a lot. Stocking up on those calories is important for not only your energy levels but also for your endurance. Shortly after you begin your day, you will be burning hundreds of calories each hour.

Many mornings during my trek, I had no appetite. After all, we were waking up and eating communal breakfast before 7:00 am (not something I typically do in my everyday life). But because I knew I was going to be hiking up and through mountain passes, I knew I would need energy reserves. So three slices of buttered toast with jam it was!

If you’re worried about the calories, don’t. You’ll be amazed by how all the carbs will burn right off as you continue hiking. I actually ended up losing fat and gaining a bunch of muscle on this trek despite all the carbo-loading I was doing (mmm… all the fresh bread, pastries, energy bars, pasta, and cheeses!).

Tip #6: Prepare some sort of activity for your down-time.

Upon reaching your next accommodation after a day of intense hiking, you will find a bunch of downtime to relax and essentially do whatever you like.

This is your zen time, you earned it! You should consider bringing reading or writing materials to pass the time by. I spent a lot of time hanging out and chatting with my hiking group mates, but there were definitely times when I tucked myself in a corner to enjoy the book I had brought along with me.

Kindles are great for minimizing the weight of books while still allowing you to get in some reading. Put on some background classical music while you read for extra relaxation vibes! The Kindle Paperwhite edition is great if you plan on doing some reading outdoors.

Don’t like to read? Consider bringing fun portable games / activities like Uno, Monopoly Deal, tarot cards, a palmistry guide, or even a regular deck of cards.

Tip #7: If you plan on staying in mountain huts, bring a sleeping sheet.

If you are a germaphobe and can avoid staying in mountain huts, then I’d recommend staying in an auberge or hotel if possible. The one good thing about mountain huts is that they’re much more affordable and won’t break the bank.

Mountain huts typically consist of one large room filled with many beds/mattresses lined against a wall. The turnover rate of hikers staying in those beds is extremely high–usually one night and they’re out.

With such a high turnover rate, the huts likely don’t have time to wash the sheets, blankets, or pillows after each individual use. Do yourself a favor and bring a sleeping sheet. Mentally and hygienically, you will feel so much better about your night’s rest.

👉 Pro Tip: Check your beds for signs of bed bugs! Otherwise, I recommend using your sleeping sheet whenever possible, even in rooms that come with individual bunk beds. I never witnessed any bed bugs during my trip, but my friend did TMB recently and told me two of her hike mates slept in a set of bunk beds that resulted in overnight mite/bug bites on their bodies! Ah!!

Tip #8: Take care of your feet.

The moment you start feeling a potential blister coming on, take care of it! Especially in the early stages of your trek–remember that the TMB is a marathon. Blisters can be common; either your feet may not be used to so much continuous walking at one time, or maybe you didn’t have enough time to fully break your hiking boots in.

Treat them with blister cushions! This is a TMB essential in my opinion. Even if you don’t end up getting blisters, there will definitely be someone in your group who would benefit from your blister bandaids.

I’d also recommend giving your feet a break by bringing an extra pair of tennis shoes for lounging at the refuges/hotels. Some refuges also provide slippers or Crocs for you to borrow during your time there, but you should bring your own if you have backpack space.

Your feet are so important in this trek; the last thing you want is to experience pain and raw abrasion with every step you take.

Lastly, I recommend you bring a set of massage balls for the feet! Your feet will be sore after every day’s hike, so be sure to roll them out as part of your post-hike routine.

Massage balls reduce inflammation and strain on soft tissue trigger points with daily fascia massage so you can feel refreshed for the following day’s hike. I like RAD Rounds because they offer a set of three, with each massage ball having its own different size and density.

Tip #9: Try to hike as much as you can by avoiding transfers.

The TMB is best experienced on foot, point blank.

If you’re physically able to, try to avoid transfers in your tour operator’s minivan or with public transportation as much as possible in order to get the full hiking experience.

If you end up twisting an ankle or developing severe blisters on your feet, I totally get that transfers and use of cable cars are a must. But if you’re just tired or just don’t feel like hiking for the day, I’d suggest you suck it up, pace yourself, and continue forward on foot!

You won’t want to miss the beauty of this trek. Every day brings something new and worthy of experiencing!

Tip #10: Not every accommodation will be to your liking.

Depending on whether you book through a tour operator or plan a TMB trek on your own as well as how early you book, you may come across a few nights of rugged accommodations that aren’t to your liking.

A lot of tour operators offer hiking packages that include basic accommodations.

Basic means staying in mountain huts (refuge/rifugio) and guest houses (gite/auberge/albergo) in shared bedrooms (dormitory-style). You will experience both accommodations high up in the mountains far away from civilization as well as those located in a typical mountain village or even a small town.

The accommodations typically offer amenities such as dinner and breakfast, hot showers and running water (usually in a shared bathroom), bunk beds, a bar with cold drinks, electricity to charge your devices, and free Wi-Fi.

The fact of the matter is, you’re going to experience the mountain lifestyle on this trek.

If you want more elevated accommodations such as those with double rooms and private bathrooms, you’ll need to request to upgrade to private accommodations (which will usually cost a few hundred euros more) or do research on nicer hotel options if you’re going the self-guided route.

Not sure which tour company to go with?

What is the best tour company to do the Tour du Mont Blanc hike with?

I did my 10-day guided tour with Happy Tracks, a small and intimate Swiss tour company run by an amazing adventure couple, Raphael and Anja. I would highly recommend this small, local tour company because I’ve experienced it firsthand — they actually care about your experience every step of the way!

Raphael went above and beyond what a tour guide was required to do, such as carrying a full watermelon up the mountain so that the group had something refreshing to enjoy after a hard climb, or carrying a group member’s backpack up the mountain when she was struggling – on top of his carrying his own!

Not to mention, all meals were included with the tour. Seriously, they are the best and you won’t be disappointed if you go with them.

BOOK YOUR 10-DAY TOUR WITH HAPPY TRACKS

Tip #11: Enjoy the assortment of foods you’ll come across during your trek.

The TMB hike is equal parts eating and hiking, seriously! It’s like a bootcamp for your body and an gastronomic adventure for your tastebuds.

During the Tour du Mont Blanc hike, you will have the chance to taste a great variety of local specialties.

The mountain huts offer half-board with your stay which includes breakfast and a three-course dinner. Breakfast usually consists of the staples of coffee, bread, butter and jam. Depending on the location of the accommodation, you may also find orange-juice, cereals, yogurt, fruits, cheese, and meats available for breakfast.

The three-course dinners in the evenings are hearty and the plates are quite big. Sometimes it’s family-style, sometimes you’ll get your own serving. Sometimes you get a choice, sometimes everyone eats whatever’s on the menu for that night.

A typical menu could be a soup for the starter, a main course with meat, vegetables and a carb (rice, polenta, pasta), followed by a dessert (such as vanilla pudding, crème brulée, etc.)

Enjoy every moment of the eating because chances are once you go home, you’re going to miss the experience of eating TMB food!

Tip #12: Carry enough water every day.

During the summers it can be quite warm in the Alps so it is important to carry enough water. It’s recommended to take between 1.5 to 3 liters of water on each daily trek.

You can take at least two lightweight 1-liter bottles or a hydration reservoir to carry your water.

I took my 3L hydration reservoir, plus an extra bottle just to be safe and I never ran out of water, nor did I have to worry about running out on the longer hike days!

The tap water at your accommodations is usually drinkable, so you’ll want to fill up there. Keep in mind there are limited resources along the way (during your daily hiking) to fill up your bottle.

Tip #13: Be prepared for all kinds of weather conditions.

During the summer (June – September), the Alps experiences pleasant and warm weather. It is often sunny and the temperatures can reach 30° C (86° F).

Having said that, you’re in the mountains. The weather in the mountains can be sometimes quite unpredictable and weather situations can change very quickly. In addition to that, you will be hiking at different altitude levels so there will be a significant change between the weather in the valley ground and the weather high up in the mountain passes.

On a rainy day (which I encountered on 1 out of my 10 days of hiking), temperatures can drop quite low so it is in your best interest to pack a good rain jacket, waterproof backpack cover, and maybe even a hat and a pair of gloves if you run cold.

Tip #14: Assume you won’t have internet most of the time.

While most of the mountain accommodations offer free internet and Wi-Fi use, sometimes the internet can be very slow or you might not even be able to join the network if there are too many users accessing it.

If you’re in a larger town like Chamonix or Courmayeur, the internet will be easier to access.

In any case, it’s a good idea to let your family, friends, and coworkers know that it might take a little bit longer to reply than usual.

Tip #15: You should get travel and mountain evacuation insurance for this trek.

In fact, some tour operators require you to get valid travel, medical, and mountain evacuation insurance.

If you have a premium travel credit card, your card may cover you on this front, so be sure to read up on your benefits and policy. If not, I’d highly suggest you protect yourself in the case of an emergency.

If something unfortunate were to happen on the mountain, mountain rescues can be costly. While rescues in France and Italy are usually not charged, in Switzerland, you will be asked to pay.

Without insurance, this could cost you several thousand Swiss francs, especially if helicopters are involved. And that’s not taking into consideration the cost of hospitalization and subsequent care–the most expensive part of any accident.

One of the best budget-friendly travel insurances for those traveling outside their home country is SafetyWing.

SafetyWing Insurance provides coverage for unexpected illness or injury, including eligible expenses for hospital, doctor, or prescription drugs. This means that if you get ill or injured, they will cover the medical expenses.

In addition, it provides emergency travel-related benefits such as emergency medical evacuation (much needed if you like to go hiking / trekking in the wild), travel delay, and lost checked luggage.

Click here to price out how much travel insurance would be for your trip.

Tip #16: Got bad knees? The cable cars can help.

One of the best tips for hikers with knee issues is to take advantage of the cable cars that are available along the route. These cable cars can be a real lifesaver for those who may be struggling with knee joint pain or chondromalacia, as they allow you to bypass some of the steepest and most challenging descents.

To take advantage of the cable cars, you’ll need to plan your route (or ask your tour guide for help) and check the schedules of the cable cars in advance. Some of the most popular cable cars along the route include the Aiguille du Midi cable car in Chamonix, the Skyway Monte Bianco in Courmayeur, and the cable car in Champex-Lac.

It’s important to note that while cable cars can be a great option for those with knee pain or other physical limitations, they are not free and can also be quite expensive! If you think you’re going to need to take a cable car or two down mountain passes, you should budget accordingly and be prepared to pay for the cost of the cable cars.

Tip #17: There’s no need to buy water for your hike.

Water is plentiful along the TMB hike! You can easily pull up along the trail at various mountain springs to fill up.

To give you a sense of what I’m talking about, there will typically be fountains or refill stations that spurt out water outside of every rifugio and along the trail too.

Per day, you’ll pass by at least 1-2 mountain huts before you reach your nightly accommodation. These are all chances to fill up your hydration bladder with water!

Don’t drink that much water? If you’re someone who doesn’t drink too much water, our friend Theo brought a 16-ounce Hydroflask and successfully did the hike by just filling up his bottle multiple times throughout the day.

While I don’t recommend bringing JUST a bottle of water for this hike, I wanted to mention that it is doable given the ample amounts of water refill opportunities!

Tip #18: The sun is no joke. Go with a sleeved hiking shirt over something sleeveless.

If you’re hiking during the summer (and chances are you are), I’d recommend wearing a t-shirt or a proper hiking top (over a tank top) for adequate protection of your shoulders and arms.

Remember, you’re literally hiking all day under the sun. For the most part, the Italy and France portions are exposed with very little shade.

You can also bring a pair of lightweight gloves if you’re worried about aging hands and sun damage. Choose a sunhat that covers your neck too!

Tip #19: There’s no need to fly snacks abroad for your hike.

Because the Tour du Mont Blanc hike is so… civilized (meaning you’ll have easy access to towns with full grocery shops most nights), you can get away with stocking up on snacks as you go — as opposed to stockpiling and carrying all 10 days’ worth of snacks with you from Day 1!

You can buy Haribo gummies and other snacks at local grocery stores instead of flying snacks there from your home country.

Tip #20: Going on a guided tour? Consider ‘sharing’ the luggage transfer upgrade.

If you’re going on a guided tour and luggage transfer is an option, try sharing with somebody you’re really close to. Like a BFF or a significant other.

Luggage transfer is considered an upgrade option, so it tends to be quite expensive and can range anywhere from $250-400 per person depending on which tour company you go with.

The tour companies typically limit by luggage weights instead of # of bags so you can share a large bag or backpack as long as you don’t go over the weight limit. The average weight limit is about 15 kg (33 pounds) so aim to stay around this range but DO NOT go over.

Also, make sure all of your guys’ stuff fits into your bag BEFORE you take off on your trip. Do a trial run of stuffing all your belongings into a shared bag. Make sure everything fits with ease — that way unpacking and re-packing every night/morning is less of a struggle.

This tip only works if you and your sharing buddy are minimalist packers though!

Tip #21: Properly tie your shoes when you hike downhill.

When hiking downhill, it’s important to be mindful of how your shoes are tied to prevent foot sliding and bruising. Improper lacing can cause your foot to slide forward on steep descents (aka jammed toes and blistered feet). You don’t want that — especially if you have 8-10 days of back-to-back hiking to do.

Using the surgeon’s knot can help hold your foot securely toward the heel of your boot and prevent your heel from slipping and sliding everywhere. This acts as an anchor and allows you to adjust the tension levels between your foot and ankle, making it a great option if you have a narrow heel or your boots don’t fit quite right.

The repetitive motion of hiking downhill can cause your laces to loosen, especially if you’re using rounded, synthetic laces that tend to slip. It’s important to periodically check your laces and tighten them as needed during long downhill stretches. To prevent your laces from loosening, double-tie your last knot.

By using the proper lacing technique and keeping your laces tight, you can help prevent foot sliding and bruising while hiking downhill.

Tour Du Mont Blanc Packing Guide – The Essentials

Hiking Gear

Backpacking pack | For multi-day or weeklong backpacking trips where you’ll be carrying all of your gear, you’re going to want to go with something ranging from 50 to 80 liters. I am a huge fan of Osprey bags due to their genius design and high quality (they are my personal favorites)! One great thing about the Osprey Aura (women) and the Osprey Atmos (men) is that you can remove the top lid for shorter hikes, thereby turning them into a smaller, less bulky packs. I went with the Osprey Aura for the TMB.

Daypack and rain cover | If you’re going ultralight or getting luggage transfer, a 35-45L backpack is ideal. My friend who was opting in for luggage transfer used the Osprey Kyte 36 on the trail, which was perfect in size for the amount of gear she had for the day.

Rain Cover | If your backpack doesn’t come with a rain cover, the Osprey Ultralight Rain Cover is a good one to consider getting. A rain cover is essential, given the unpredictability of mountain weather. (Though we went on our trek in late July, it rained the day before we started our trek, as well as on day 7 of our trek).

Overnight Bag or Luggage | Some sort of wheeled duffel bag or carry-on luggage to hold all of the extra gear you don’t want to carry on your back as you hike. You’ll only need this if you’re opting for luggage transfer. Likely, your overnight bag will need to stay under 25 pounds (for most baggage operators). Keep in mind you won’t have access to this during the day.

Hiking Boots | My favorites are the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid Hiking Boot. Durable, waterproof, and out-of-the-box comfort. They make these for both men and women.

Post-Hike Gear

Quick-Drying Camp Towel | Lightweight and quick-drying, what else could you ask for? Not all of the accommodations you stay at will provide you with towels, so do bring one of your own. I have this one.

1 Swimsuit | Optional, only needed if you are going to swim in alpine lakes or pools for fun.

Sleeping Bag Liner | This is required by the mountain huts. You might not need this for hotels, but some of the beds in the refuges and mountain huts do not come with sheets (gross). For hygienic purposes and germaphobic sanity, get a liner. If you’re trying to invest in your outdoor gear and would like something more lightweight with added warmth, I would recommend splurging on the Sea To Summit Reactor Thermolite liner, which you can use for other backpacking/camping trips. For a more affordable option, this one will do just fine.

Casual Loungewear/PJ’s | A good pair of stretchy leggings can double as sleeping pants as well as hiking pants. I brought my Lululemon leggings, which I hiked in on certain days and slept in for others. They really are that comfortable! As I was carrying everything on my back, I didn’t bother with a separate set of pajamas.

Flip Flops/Slippers | For showering in the communal showers and for hanging out in the huts. Some huts won’t allow you to wear your hiking boots around indoors, but they have communal Crocs that you can borrow. If you can make one pair of shoes count for both purposes, even better. You’ll also want a comfortable, lighter pair of running shoes (such as the Adidas Women’s Cloudfoam Pure) to give your feet a rest from the hiking boots.

Kindle/Books | You will find that you’ll have a lot of downtime once you finish hiking for the day. If you enjoy reading, bring a book or a Kindle.