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Tour du Mont Blanc

Hiking Trail

Hard
107.07 mi
37,247 ft
Circumnavigate the iconic Mont Blanc massif on this epic multi-day route.

The Tour du Mont Blanc, also known as the TMB, is one of the most popular long-distance hikes in the world. The route circles the entire Mont Blanc Massif, which rises to a height of 4,808 meters above sea level—the highest point in Western Europe and the European Union. The hiking route covers "a distance of roughly 170 kilometres (110 mi) with 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) of ascent/descent and passes through parts of Switzerland, Italy and France,” according to Wikipedia.

While this epic route doesn’t climb to the summit of Mont Blanc, "the Tour du Mont Blanc is bursting with epic alpine scenery—glaciers, mountains, rivers, lakes, meadows and wildlife," writes Leslie Hittmeier on []( Some of the best scenery comes from the top of high alpine passes—or "cols," in French. There are at least six major cols along the route, and according to FATMAP, you'll top out at a high point of 2,556 meters.

The route mostly follows narrow singletrack hiking trails, with some sections of road walking as you enter and exit the villages along the way. Most of these trails are historic routes dating back to time immemorial. Throughout the hike, you'll pass "churches still intact from the 18th century and walk the same paths that Roman soldiers used 2,000 years ago," according to Hittmeier.

Thanks to a well-developed hut system, along with towns and hotels along the route, there are numerous options for staying overnight and resupplying as you journey around the loop. You can find a hut every 6-10 miles, which prevents you from having to carry too much food or supplies with you.

Hikers complete the loop in anywhere from three to 13 days, or in just about one day if you're an ultrarunner competing in the UTMB. Due to the plethora of huts and 17 different villages along the route, you can easily create thru-hike itineraries of radically different difficulties, depending on the experience you're looking for. For a detailed itinerary breaking out every single day, be sure to dive deeper into the [full TMB guidebook](

The version of the TMB mapped here begins from the top of Le Brevent lift. To access the beginning of the route as mapped, take [Le Brevent]( from the town of Chamonix. Written by Greg Heil
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Strava Routes

Route and Elevation

Segments

NameDistanceElev. Diff.Avg. Grade
Chemin de l'Are Climb0.19 mi138 ft13.4%
Chemin De L'Are Climb0.22 mi157 ft13.5%
Route Des Chalets De Miage Climb1.04 mi1,371 ft24.8%
Col du Tricot (descente sur Miage)0.99 mi-1,660 ft-31.6%
TMB - Mont Truc0.40 mi538 ft25.2%
Col du Bonhomme5.36 mi3,648 ft12.9%
La Voie Romaine - Notre-Dame-de-la-Gorge à Alpine Lodge0.85 mi640 ft14.2%
ND Groge > Refuge de la Balme2.66 mi1,591 ft11.3%
Le Bon Nant3.29 mi2,182 ft12.5%
Ancienne Route Nationale N°202 De Thonon à Nice Climb1.66 mi1,230 ft14.0%
Ancienne Route Nationale N°202 De Thonon à Nice Climb0.35 mi207 ft11.1%
Ancienne Route Nationale N°202 de Thonon à Nice Climb1.55 mi1,260 ft15.3%
Ancienne Route Nationale N°202 De Thonon à Nice Climb2.08 mi1,696 ft15.4%
Chalets de Jovet - Col du Bonhomme1.65 mi1,266 ft14.5%
Col du Bonhomme - Col de la Croix du Bonhomme1.22 mi522 ft7.4%
Croix du bonhomme - Chapieux DOWNHILL2.87 mi-2,759 ft-18.2%
Refuge des Mottets - Col de la Seigne2.84 mi2,090 ft13.9%
Col de la Seigne climb2.55 mi2,067 ft15.3%
Col Du Bonhomme Climb0.41 mi430 ft18.5%
Strada Val Veny Climb1.87 mi1,549 ft15.6%
Lac Combal - Mont Favre Spur1.66 mi1,411 ft15.9%
TMB - Checrouit - Dolonne1.55 mi-1,923 ft-23.5%
Val Sapin - Refuge Bertone1.42 mi1,490 ft19.9%
Località Planpincieux Climb0.63 mi1,014 ft30.3%
Mont de la Saxe2.52 mi1,742 ft13.1%
Panettone above Bertone0.29 mi472 ft30.0%
Località Planpincieux, 3 Climb0.74 mi282 ft7.2%
Strada Comunale Della Collina Climb0.27 mi295 ft20.2%
Frazione Tronchey Climb0.83 mi830 ft18.8%
DH dal Bonatti by Gambetta1.11 mi-1,060 ft-18.0%
Refuge Elena - Grand Col Ferret1.36 mi1,453 ft20.1%
Up to Champex1.57 mi1,148 ft13.8%
Route De Champex 13 Climb1.53 mi1,135 ft14.0%
Chemin du Tennis Climb0.50 mi502 ft18.7%
Montée à Bovine2.74 mi1,896 ft13.1%
Plan de l'Au Climb0.57 mi666 ft21.8%
Le Fays Climb1.48 mi1,194 ft15.1%
Segment0.35 mi167 ft9.1%
La Peuty to Col de la Balme 3.02 mi2,789 ft17.5%
Mot Le Tour1.44 mi1,132 ft14.8%
Ancienne Voie Communale N°7 d'Argentière au Col de la Balme Climb0.82 mi584 ft13.5%
Aiguillette des Posettes par Balme0.91 mi617 ft12.8%
Montée aiguillette des posettes depuis le col0.85 mi633 ft13.9%
06/26/10 Chamonix Mont Blanc, Rhône-Alpes, France1.38 mi1,601 ft21.9%
Montée du lac blanc3.14 mi2,723 ft16.3%
Chemin De Servitude D'Argentières à La Flegere Climb0.46 mi272 ft11.2%
Chemin de Servitude des Chesery à la Flegere Climb0.19 mi220 ft21.5%
Chemin D'Intérêt Commun N°29 De Chamonix à Sixt Climb0.30 mi266 ft16.3%
Planpraz - Col du Brévent0.78 mi902 ft21.7%
Chemin D'Intérêt Commun N°29 De Chamonix à Sixt Climb0.30 mi174 ft10.6%