Hiking - Tour du Mount Blanc
Discussion
My (we) misses wants to do this next year in summer as part of her 50th birthday, we want to be guided by a company over one week or ten days so we don't have the faff of map reading and can soak up the views at our lesuire.,
We are both v active and fit, has anyone here done it, can recommend a company and or have any essential tips please.
TIA.
We are both v active and fit, has anyone here done it, can recommend a company and or have any essential tips please.
TIA.
I did it last September. I have also done a number of other Alps hut hikes (Alta Via 1 and the Haute Route). Firstly there's not really any map reading on TMB! It's very easy to follow the trail and very difficult to get lost. The trail is mostly very non-technical and can be very busy. There is no need to have a guide for this hike. One of my favourites aspects of TMB is how social it is, and I'd strongly recommend staying in the huts as much as possible. They're a big part of hiking in the Alps. You can easily book yourself, but it's extremely busy and can be difficult to find spaces (https://www.montourdumontblanc.com/uk/index.aspx).
Some basic tips I would have for hikes like this:
- Start early every day and finish early
- Use the huts. Stop for lunch, and finish early and enjoy a beer with a view
- Hiking poles are basically essential
- Pack LIGHT. You need very little to hike these trails. My pack weight before food/water/big camera is sub 4kg.
- Embrace the social aspect of these busier trails
- Have a day or two before and after the hike to relax
- Remember there are lifts/buses if weather is bad, or you want to skip an ascent/descent
- Many people enjoy taking a rest day part way through (for TMB this could be somewhere like Courmayeur)
Some basic tips I would have for hikes like this:
- Start early every day and finish early
- Use the huts. Stop for lunch, and finish early and enjoy a beer with a view
- Hiking poles are basically essential
- Pack LIGHT. You need very little to hike these trails. My pack weight before food/water/big camera is sub 4kg.
- Embrace the social aspect of these busier trails
- Have a day or two before and after the hike to relax
- Remember there are lifts/buses if weather is bad, or you want to skip an ascent/descent
- Many people enjoy taking a rest day part way through (for TMB this could be somewhere like Courmayeur)
Edited by Matt.. on Monday 6th November 08:40
Did it a while ago backpacking.
+1 for using the hut system. They are very civilised now with proper toilets and showers. Some even have twin rooms rather than Dorms.
You definitely don't need a guide. The route is very straightforward to follow and well way marked.
Having said that, a guide will take care of hut bookings; changing plans if there's a problem; will carry spares, first iad kit etc so you don't have to; will point out features and wildlife that you may not notice and if they are good will be great company and do everything to make your experience as good as it can be
+1 for using the hut system. They are very civilised now with proper toilets and showers. Some even have twin rooms rather than Dorms.
You definitely don't need a guide. The route is very straightforward to follow and well way marked.
Having said that, a guide will take care of hut bookings; changing plans if there's a problem; will carry spares, first iad kit etc so you don't have to; will point out features and wildlife that you may not notice and if they are good will be great company and do everything to make your experience as good as it can be
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff