Tour du Mont Blanc – 8-Day Backpacking & Camping Guide

The Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) is one of the most iconic long-distance hiking trails in Europe. The 170 km (105-mile) circular route takes you through three countries - France, Italy and Switzerland.

It had been on my bucket list for a long time, and in June 2025, Morton and I (Tia) finally took it on.

We completed the TMB in eight days, carrying everything we needed and camping for six nights along the way. It was a proper opportunity to spend time outdoors with the kit we rely on, through long days, steep climbs, snow and nights under canvas.

The trail is generally well marked and there are plenty of opportunities to resupply along the route. However, I would still rate it as a difficult multi-day hike. The combination of long days, steep ascents and descents, and more than 10,000 m of cumulative elevation gain makes it a serious challenge - especially with a fully loaded backpack.

Here's how we did it.

Day 1 - Les Houches to Les Contamines-Montjoie

Distance: 18 km
Elevation gain: 1,077 m; descent: 1,151 m
Campsite: Camping Le Pontet

Les Houches is where the classic TMB route starts and finishes. And of course, don't forget to take a photo at the famous wooden TMB starting-point door!

The first day certainly made an impression. We started with a big climb of around 700 m towards Bellevue and Col de Voza, so there was no gentle warm-up.

We stayed at Camping Le Pontet, which had good facilities. This was also where we bought our TMB passport, which allowed us to collect stamps along the route.

A pretty memorable way to start eight days in the mountains.

Day 2 - Les Contamines-Montjoie to Les Chapieux

Distance: 18.5 km
Elevation gain: 1,372 m; descent: 996 m
Campsite: Bivouac des Chapieux

We continued through the Contamines-Montjoie Nature Reserve, passing the beautiful Notre-Dame de la Gorge chapel before climbing higher into the mountains.

The highest point of the day was Col du Bonhomme, where we were rewarded with spectacular panoramic views across the Beaufortain and towards the Aiguille des Glaciers.

We stayed at Bivouac des Chapieux, where bivouac is permitted in the designated area. There was a public toilet nearby, a small shop and a couple of places to eat, which made it a convenient stop.

But what I remember most is the view. It was one of my favourite views from a tent during the entire TMB.

Day 3 - Les Chapieux to La Visaille

Distance: 24 km
Elevation gain: 1,120 m; descent: 1,148 m
Campsite: Camping Hobo

Halfway through the day, we reached Col de la Seigne at 2,516 m, which marks the border between France and Italy. Crossing into Italy felt like a pretty special moment.

There was still quite a bit of snow on parts of the trail, particularly on the descent. I decided the safest - and most fun - way down was to sit down and slide!

Camping Hobo requires a short detour from the main TMB route, but I thought it was absolutely worth it. Honestly, it was probably the best campsite we stayed at during the whole trip.

There was a restaurant and bar, a small shop selling fresh fruit, vegetables, cheese and other essentials, very clean bathrooms and toilets, a well-equipped kitchen, and even a campfire in the evening. What more could you ask for after a long day on the trail?

Day 4 - La Visaille to Arminaz Dessot

Distance: 24 km
Elevation gain: 1,720 m; descent: 1,120 m
Accommodation: Wild camping

The climb from Camping Hobo back up to the main TMB route was steep and tough. But once we reached Courmayeur, we rewarded ourselves with a lovely meal and, of course, ice cream.

Then it was time to climb again. We continued towards Mont de la Saxe, with incredible views of Mont Blanc appearing clearly to our right as we crossed the ridge.

That evening, we wild camped somewhere near Rifugio Walter Bonatti. Nothing quite beats waking up in the mountains after a night under the stars.

The sky was completely clear that night, filled with stars, and the next morning I woke up to an incredible view of the Grandes Jorasses. One of those moments that makes carrying a heavy backpack feel completely worth it.

Day 5 - Arminaz Dessot to La Fouly

Distance: 25.5 km
Elevation gain: 1,292 m; descent: 1,812 m
Campsite: Camping des Glaciers

Today we crossed the highest point on the classic TMB route: Grand Col Ferret at 2,537 m. The pass forms the natural border between Italy and Switzerland.

But this wasn't actually the highest point of our TMB adventure. I decided to add an extra challenge and climbed up to the nearby summit of Tete de Ferret at 2,714 m. And the views? Even more spectacular.

It was a long and tough day, and we didn't reach the campsite until around 8 pm. By then, we were absolutely exhausted.

Day 6 - La Fouly to Trient

Distance: 33.5 km
Elevation gain: 1,367 m; descent: 1,671 m
Accommodation: Auberge Mont-Blanc

This was our longest day on the trail. The route winds through alpine pastures grazed by Herens cattle and beautiful larch forests.

There was still quite a lot of snow on some sections, so we had to take extra care when crossing.

After five days of carrying a heavy backpack and camping, I was honestly very happy when I finally spotted the distinctive pink church in Trient. We had made it!

That night, we decided to stay in a hostel instead of camping. As much as I love sleeping in a tent, I was incredibly grateful to have a proper bed that night - and, most importantly, not to have to set up and pack away the tent! After five tough days, we definitely needed the rest.

Day 7 - Trient to Lac des Cheserys

Distance: 20 km
Elevation gain: 1,095 m; descent: 1,045 m
Campsite: Bivouac at Lac des Cheserys

The route towards Lac des Cheserys was one of the most spectacular sections of the entire TMB. It was also one of the most challenging.

There were some steep sections with ladders built into the cliffs, which can feel particularly tricky when you're carrying a fully loaded backpack.

Camping at Lac des Cheserys is only permitted in the designated area and requires registration in advance. There were also patrols checking the camping areas at night with torches, so make sure you follow the local regulations.

It was another unforgettable night in the mountains.

Day 8 - Lac des Cheserys to Les Houches

Distance: 23.7 km
Elevation gain: 1,166 m; descent: 2,351 m

And finally - our last day. After seven days of walking, you would think the hardest part was over. It wasn't.

One thing I particularly struggled with was finding water. There was a long section without a reliable water source, and eventually I had to melt some snow and filter it so that I could drink.

And then came the descents. So. Many. Descents.

My knees were hurting by the end. Even now, just thinking about that final descent makes my legs remember it! But eventually, we made it back to Les Houches - exactly where we had started eight days earlier.

We made it.

Thank you, Tour du Mont Blanc

Eight days.
187 km.
10,000+ metres of elevation gain.
Three countries.
Six nights under the stars.
A lot of tired legs, sore knees and questionable decisions.

But also incredible landscapes, new friends, kindness from complete strangers, and a much better understanding of what my body is capable of.

The TMB gave me much more than just a route to walk. It showed me that sometimes, you don't need to make the journey easier. You just need to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Thank you, Tour du Mont Blanc. I had a great time.